Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #6: Standoff

With Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #6 being the series’ penultimate issue, one might think it would be the calm before the storm. While the problem utilizes its time with some story development and explanation to line things up for issue #7, it is far from the calm before the storm. Issue #6 might be the most action-packed issue of the series, though it takes some time to get there. The problem starts with Batman’s narration reiterating some of the revelations from the last point: Amanda Simms isn’t dead, and she’s been the big bad working behind the scenes the whole time. Batman’s narration is followed by the series’ leading players being held by Amanda’s zombie goons while she explains her motives. With this being issue #6, Silvestri may just be taking some time to make sure the ducks are in a row for the finale, but this chunk of the issue feels like it drags a bit with a lot of unnecessary information. Silvestri can trust readers to remember what happened in the previous case and infer what is currently happening. Because of this, Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #6 is one of the weaker issues storywise, but it is some of Silvestri’s best artwork on the series, which is a fair tradeoff. 

Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #6 is filled with great moments. There are fun ones, like the interaction between Batman and Gordon after Batman detonates charges in Joker’s suit to neutralize their attackers. Gorder asks, “Did you just blow up the Joker?” and after Batman replies, “No,” Gordon says, “That’s a shame,” without missing a beat. On the other hand, Silvestri does not hold back on the horror with plenty of images of the zombie goons getting their heads blown off as well as an incredibly awesome moment of Batman cutting off Amanda’s arm with his forearm blades as she chokes him, only for the arm to continue stopping him and reattaching to Amanda. Arif Prianto’s coloring works exceptionally well in these moments, adding much to Silvestri’s highly detailed art. There is another instance where Amanda plucks her father’s head off with a horrifying “SHUK” provided by Troy Peteri. There is more to the story than Amanda wanting revenge; readers might notice a key around her neck throughout the issue. Toward the end of the issue, there is an incredible standoff between Joker and Batman as Joker demands the key and clasps it around his neck before lunging at Joker. Silvestri knows how to end an issue. The art and lettering were a highlight of this issue. The creative team is all on the same page in delivering an excellent book.