For many horror fans, one of the most prominent names in the film industry is John Carpenter. And for many comic fans, one of the most iconic figures is The Joker. In what is hopefully a spectacular blend of terror and mania, John Carpenter will be co-writing a one-shot comic for the Clown Prince of Crime.
Known for horror films like Halloween and The Thing, Carpenter will work alongside Anthony Burch to bring fans The Joker: Year of the Villain #1. Philip Tan and Marc Deering will provide the art. The one-shot will tie in with DC’s Year of the Villain event which kicked off at the beginning of May. DC’s opening issue saw Lex Luthor fake his death in order to distribute his resources to villains throughout the DC universe so that they could properly deal with their heroes. All they have to do in return is accept the Legion of Doom’s rule.
The Joker with the resources to finish off Batman is a terrifying thought. However, he apparently won’t be waiting around for a handout. In pure Joker fashion, this issue will see him reject Luthor’s offer and set out to prove himself as the worst (or rather best) villain around. The writers know just how important The Joker is to DC’s fans. During the press release, John Carpenter stated:
“The Joker is the greatest villain in comics. I’m proud to be reunited with Anthony on this project.”
The two previously worked together on Big Trouble in Little China: Old Man Jack for BOOM! Studios. Burch himself is no stranger to sadistically humorous characters, having written for Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!. Burch had this to say:
“I’m excited beyond words to be writing for Gotham’s greatest villain. I hope the Joker’s exploits make you laugh, shudder, and grow nauseous all at once.”
Because of the talent attached to it, Burch’s hopes will undoubtedly come true. The 40-page issue is expected to launch on October 9th for $4.99.
2019 is a big year for The Joker. In addition to this one-shot, another from Jeff Lemire will be launching in that same month on DC’s Black Label called Joker: Killer Smile. And let’s not forget about the upcoming movie from director Todd Phillips. But with the Year of the Villain occurring, it’s only natural that DC’s most famous shines brightly.
