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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 13:28:06 GMT -5
Although I am going to touch upon The Joker's solo comic, this thread could broaden itself and ask a profound question: can a villain carry a solo title? The Joker had a solo title between 1975 and 1976 (and if anyone has a complete collection to sell me, please message me!). I've read 3 of them. Here are two I have read, the first and eighth one:   If anyone could carry a solo villain title, one would vote for the Joker, right? So I'm quite surprised he lasted a mere nine issues. There could be all sorts of reasons for that, though. Anyone alive in 1975, or anyone with vast knowledge, will know more than me. But I'll throw some questions out, even though some of them may require opinionated answers rather than factual ones. 1.) Why didn't the Joker's solo title last more than 9 issues? (Facts and opinions welcome!). 2.) Has DC ever thought about resurrecting the Joker's solo title? Should they? 3.) On a wider note, can a supervillain ever sustain a solo title? I love the Riddler. As a kid, I wanted him to have his own book, but I realise that what I want, and what is financially viable, are two different things. If the Riddler had had his own book, I'm sure it'd have lasted as long as the Joker's title (or maybe published fewer issues). Thanos appears to have had a modicum of success with various mini-series (has he had an ongoing title?). I wanted a solo Doctor Doom book as a kid. Again, though, like the Riddler and Joker, would it have worked long-term? I'm asking a broad question so throw me your answers, folks. I've mentioned Joker, Riddler, Thanos and Doom, but bring a supervillain of your choice into the conversation if you wish. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 13:51:49 GMT -5
I did a review on this series. Joker series reviews I think it was too constrained by the CCA at the time. The Joker had to be caught by the end of the issue. That led to limited stories you could tell. |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Oct 5, 2019 14:02:34 GMT -5
Most of DC's new comics at the time didn't last a year or more. One that had the problems that The Joker had with Comics Code constraints (as md62 points out) was living on borrowed time from the beginning. The last thing that the world needs is more Joker. I'm all in favor of a moratorium on him for a decade or so. Villains who became more of anti-heroes have been more successful. See, e.g. The Punisher and Catwoman. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 14:14:24 GMT -5
I'll check out Michael's thread.
AS for a moratorium on the Joker, I felt that way around 1999/2000. Why those years? I don't know. I'd been buying Batman comics consistently between 1994 and 1999. I like some of the villains of lesser renown. Personal favourites include Black Spider, Blockbuster, Firefly, Catman, Ratcatcher and a few others. No idea if those guys are still around or alive, but I'd love to see those.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 14:56:11 GMT -5
Comixology just released the digital version of long unpublished The Joker #10 on Thursday.
Haven't read it yet, as it's been a while since I read the series and figured I was due for a reread leading up to #10.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 15:14:25 GMT -5
Comixology just released the digital version of long unpublished The Joker #10 on Thursday. Haven't read it yet, as it's been a while since I read the series and figured I was due for a reread leading up to #10. Is there a letters page in the issue? |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 15:25:51 GMT -5
Comixology just released the digital version of long unpublished The Joker #10 on Thursday. Haven't read it yet, as it's been a while since I read the series and figured I was due for a reread leading up to #10. Is there a letters page in the issue? Just the issue itself. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 15:34:51 GMT -5
Overexposure of any character leads to boredom of that character. Too much of a good thing scenario. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
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Post by Reptisaurus! on Oct 5, 2019 16:45:02 GMT -5
The Joker series was basically DC's super-villain team-up with a wider variety of team-up-ees.
Two-Face
the Creeper
Green Arrow
Catwoman
Sherlock Holmes
Luthor
And the other ones I don't remember. While the Joker might have been DC's most well known villain at the time (probably due to Cesar Romaero's portrayal in the '60s) even Batman wasn't a particularly great seller.* So it wasn't a huge surprise the title didn't last longer.
* I'm not sure what actually sold well for mid-70s DC. Superman was there biggest hit, but I dunno what was second.
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Post by Prince Hal on Oct 5, 2019 18:56:51 GMT -5
Overexposure of any character leads to boredom of that character. Too much of a good thing scenario. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell that to Deadpool, Wolverine, Batman, the X-Men, Lobo, and Venom.  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 20:28:13 GMT -5
The Joker had to be caught by the end of the issue. That led to limited stories you could tell. I think I read something along those lines as well. An ongoing series with a villain only seems to work if they have some redeeming quality, like Catwoman becoming more of a hero type character...same with Venom. Marvel had the Supervillain Team-Up title with Dr. Doom but that didn't last long either. But times have changed & with the success of the new Joker movie maybe we are ready for an ongoing Joker title? I actually hope not, prefer seeing the Joker pop up in the Batman titles sporadically, makes it more of a special event and not over saturation. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 21:06:50 GMT -5
Overexposure of any character leads to boredom of that character. Too much of a good thing scenario. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Tell that to Deadpool, Wolverine, Batman, the X-Men, Lobo, and Venom. I know! The only character on that list that I still read occasionally is Batman. And comics aren't the only form of entertainment that does this. Look at the Star Trek TV series in the 90s. Too many series. Ratings slid. And so on. |
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Post by spoon on Oct 5, 2019 23:24:27 GMT -5
There is a TPB that came out a few years reprinting the whole series.
I think it would be hard for a true villain (as opposed to the reformed villain/anti-hero types) to sustain a title for long period. It would probably take a writer with an unusual take.
Since I don't see anyone having mentioned it, DC also published The Secret Society of Super-Villains.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2019 23:36:29 GMT -5
There is a TPB that came out a few years reprinting the whole series. I think it would be hard for a true villain (as opposed to the reformed villain/anti-hero types) to sustain a title for long period. It would probably take a writer with an unusual take. Since I don't see anyone having mentioned it, DC also published The Secret Society of Super-Villains. I have the TPB, although it does not contain the lost #10. The Joker Omnibus has #10. |
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Post by rberman on Oct 5, 2019 23:37:54 GMT -5
The last thing that the world needs is more Joker. I'm all in favor of a moratorium on him for a decade or so. Can he take Harley Quinn with him? |
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