“You’re paying for that window, Joker!”
The Batman And Robin Adventures #5
DC Comics (March, 1996)
“Second Banana”WRITER: Ty Templeton
PENCILER: Tim Harkins
INKER: Rick Burchett
COLORIST: Linda Medley
LETTERING: Richard Starkings & Comicraft
ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Darren Vincenzo
EDITOR: Scott Peterson
When the Joker goes to beat one of his men to death with bananas to death for welshing on a bet, he catches a former Arkham therapist turned writer on TV who claims that the Riddler is the most clever villain he has examined. Naturally this makes the Joker mad and he makes it known he plans to kill the Riddler, but it turns out to be a ruse to kill the doctor…and THEN go after the Riddler. However, the doctor is in protective custody and misses his house being blown up and the Dynamic Duo are waiting for the Joker when he DOES go after the Riddler. Batman and Joker end up on the roof, where the Joker left the peel from the plantains he wanted to kill Riddler with (it’s a callback which is why I mentioned the bananas earlier) and he slips off to be caught by Batman.
What they got right: As a Joker story it shows off how crazy he is but also how smart he can be in his insanity as well as how big his ego is and how easily it can be hurt.
What they got wrong: I’m not a fan of the art style–at least for this story. It’s isn’t bad and I wouldn’t complain ordinarily, but compared to the show and the times this comic better resembles the show this reminds me of those episodes that would be sent to an alternate studio to meet the deadlines because the characters look more cartoony and exaggerated.
Recommendation: While not a must-own story it’s still pretty good. Worth a look.
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