Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #7
Recap
CHAPTER SEVEN
Batman and the Joker have fought across streets, rooftops, railways and caverns, against horrors beyond of their wildest nightmares. Deep underground, witnesses to an undead wedding from Hell, they finally go up against their bitterest enemies: each other! Can the Dark Knight and the Clown Prince of Crime save Commissioner Gordon and Harley Quinn, or will the flames of their reignited rivalry consume all? Find out, detail by bloody detail, in the epic conclusion to Marc Silvestri’s dark and brutal Gotham opus. This oversized finale clocks in at 31 beautiful and horrifying story pages.
Review
Marc Silvestri’s Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo comes to an end with issue #7. The series was a long time in the making and worth the wait. Clearly, Silvestri put a lot of time and care without sacrificing his vision. In addition to Silvestri’s writing and art, the series featured colorist Arif Prianto and letterer Troy Peteri. All three creatives were incredibly consistent throughout all seven issues, and the visuals are undoubtedly the highlight of the series. Silvestri has such a distinct style that it is probably the book’s main draw, but Prianto’s colors did an excellent job working with Silvestri’s inks. Troy Peteri’s lettering was also a standout of the series. Some of the creative choices of speech bubbles and narration boxes for certain characters were excellent touches, but it is dialogue-heavy panels that Peteri’s lettering shined. Silvestri’s writing can sometimes be overly wordy, which results in busy speech balloons that take up a lot of room. Peteri is able to present all of the required information in a way that isn’t straining the reader.
Overall, Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo is driven by incredible art and a story that all fans of Batman will undoubtedly find something to love about, as it blends classic Batman elements with Silvestri’s stunning art. The place isn’t exactly clear when this series takes, which can be a big plus for readers. It feels modern and fresh while not being cemented to a certain period, for the most part. There are a few instances where the writing feels a little dated. One example is when Batman, Joker, and Harley are climbing out of the tunnel, and Batman tells Joker to take his hand so he can pull him up. Joker’s reply is, “Pull my finger.” It’s funny, but it felt a bit out of place. There are also two movie references: Harley proclaims “Yippee Ki-Yay” as she starts firing on the undead goons, and a few pages later, Joker says something along the lines of “There’s no more room on this door, Jack” as he kicks a goon’s head during a flood. Both references might be lost on younger readers, though this is a series for mature readers, and they do come off as fun.
Silvestri finds a nice balance to end the series but leaves the door open if he ever chooses to revisit this version of Batman and Gotham. In the end, this was a series about Batman and Joker, which is what you’d expect going into a series titled Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo. The relationship between the two has been done to death, so the reveal that Joker did everything not to learn the identity of Batman isn’t anything revolutionary or new. The Death of the Family arc of Scott Synder’s Batman run touched on a similar concept, though it was part of the main continuity. Silvestri certainly sticks the landing and feels unique enough not to feel redundant.
Final Thoughts
Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #7 is a satisfying conclusion to a series that all Batman fans should read. Silvestri’s art is worth the price of admission alone, but there are enough cool and fun parts of the story that should appeal to many. DC Black Label is the perfect place for this book. The prestige format is ideal for the art and a regular floppy wouldn’t do it justice. Whether you are a longtime fan or a newcomer to the world of Gotham, this series offers a fresh and exciting take on the timeless hero that is sure to captivate and thrill audiences of all ages.
Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #7: The End
- Writing - 8/108/10
- Storyline - 8/108/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 8/108/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10