The birth of PUNCHLINE in Batman: JOKER WAR!

[@comicpop]

Buy Joker War right here! amzn.to/3D3yP0n

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Batman sheepishly comes back after a fight scene to pick up all his Batarangs he threw. He takes the Batmobile, which is now a public transport bus, to his new Batcave, which is just a Starbucks because they have free WiFi.

[@chrisdaily2077]

You can't understand how poor he is. Instead of the Batcave and Wayne Manor he has two full apartment rooms to himself.

[@JohnClark-tt2bl]

Hey batarangs don't grow on trees ya know.

[@thewilhelmscream7912]

I found this comment too funny, it hit me in my poor feels and I've never wanted to read that comic more haha Batman putting his batarangs in his utility plastic bag that just has Walmart sharpied over with a bat symbol

[@shadowanders]

Is the batcave at that point a garage?

[@gregcourtney751]

I think an actual plot point later is that Bruce just leaves random getaway cars to be batmobiles but like one cop catches on and has some of them towed. Oh and he has a bunch of backup batcaves they keep moving around.

[@smithysforge5309]

Punchline is basically what happens when you take the girls who post crap on social media like "screw prince charming. I want a relationship likely Joker and Harley" and make them a character

[@jrob4795]

You deserve a lot more like’s because this is spot on.

[@smithysforge5309]

@jrob4795 Thank you for that

[@taylorscrews2284]

It’s why writers and editors should exercise some common sense and use actual storytelling skills. Not just try to sell units.

[@Maskedmenace8267]

​​@@taylorscrews2284i feel like that is the point of her cause they know no sane person is getting with her

[@palebluebird171]

and its wonderful

[@curativewriter5518]

Man a Batman event in the last couple years where one of his rogues who take over Gotham.. my favorite

[@tatersalad76]

What a novel and original idea

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

I hope Killer Moth gets to take over Gotham next solely because I think that would be the funniest possible option

[@smhfirebruh5630]

​@@halfmettlealchemist8076and then the Batfamily has to team up with Fire fly and all the bat family has Fire fly suits like when they all had kites in the Riddler Joker war.

[@draxdrexler9009]

Joker did have a sidekick the unforgettable Gaggy

[@mmmdule]

You know, Gaggy

[@tompantaleo9441]

​@@mmmdulesounds like a porn star known for puking on penises

[@joshuanelson6795]

You know this is going to be a good episode when the first thirty-plus minutes are just Sal explaining the background and context of the story.

[@Ducaso]

Absolutely!

[@Henderson10666]

Ben constantly referring to Clown Hunter by different names is my new favorite bit. This is my new favorite Back Issues episode

[@SidAlmond]

The Dan Didio impression makes this episode worth it.

[@metaknight7117]

What I love about these more modern back issues is how the growth of Ethan and Ben are on display Also love how when Sal brings up the nonsense of current canon stuff Ethan and Ben are blown away at how absurd things are Cass and Stephanie finally got a mention on back issues! Hoping someday we cover more Tim’s Robin years and maybe just maybe No mans land so both characters can truly be showcased properly

[@greenberry6019]

Cass and Steph mention, one step closer to the inevitable 4-part 7 hour long No Man's Land review...

[@webtely]

I wouldn't get too excited because although he likes Tim and Cass he sadly doesn't like Steph 😞

[@SpiralSine6]

Cassie was in DCeased: Unkillables! But yeah, guarantee this is the first time Steph has been mentioned except for maybe in a GBU.

[@metaknight7117]

@@SpiralSine6 Cass was in that! Really wish they tackled the rest of DCeased or at least the ending of Worlds end XD

[@metaknight7117]

@@greenberry6019 I’m hoping we get no mans land for this years Xmas video !!

[@PurpleColonel]

Clearly Clownhunter comes from the Ultimate universe, that's why he talks in lower case.

[@SpiralSine6]

“Who cares who changes the tires on the Batmobile?” - Grant Morrison Harold: :(

[@VanCantian01]

"You killed the wrong one Bane"" so delicously cold Sal. Some might say beautifully cold XD

[@Arkios64]

You know it's going to be a good episode, when the first thing out of Sal's mount is a deep sigh. Honestly, I like the idea that there is a "Final Batcave" for when there no longer is a need for the Dark Knight and instead he's just... a normal Superhero. Instead of going fully dark and secretly monitoring everything from the shadows, just in case something of the old Gotham pops up again, he is a more public figure, people see him coming because he wears brighter colors; he is still Batman, but doesn't need to stalk the night.

[@CAPappy]

And then Punchline took out her ukulele and made a KZbin apology even though there’s mountains of evidence against her

[@cbriggsgaming5846]

She literally films an apology video at the end lmao

[@flashtheshapeshafter]

Yay, Sal has to explain clownhunter, Rick Grayson, Punchline, AND how we had 2-3 Joker events at the same time ( This, Three Jokers, dark crisis kind of) Edit: I actually love Bruce and Harley in this, also I meant death metal not dark crisis

[@smashmaster521]

Joker had no presence in Dark Crisis...or Death Metal, actually.

[@flashtheshapeshafter]

@@smashmaster521 that's my bad I was thinking of death metal as well let's be honest Batman who laughs is a joker

[@Martin_TheCollector]

I'm a bit fed up with Joker & Harley getting shoved into a buncha stuff, but I'm always excited when Sal uploads these episodes!! The entertainment value y'all provide is insanely high. Higher than a plane can fly.

[@Martin_TheCollector]

​@@CRIS_IS_ON_INFINITE_EARTHS 🖖🏼👽

[@dna6]

Having just watched your old Clone Saga episode from 8 years ago... Jesus, none of you guys have aged a DAY! Whatever your skin routines are, diets, whatever, keep it up

[@codystork3008]

I now want a Joker story where he hijacks a grocery truck for his monthly needs, from a henchman's perspective and then you reveal he just needed make up and toothpaste. Edit I would also accept it from the trucker's POV.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

This is almost the plot of the “Joker’s Favor” episode of BTAS, which is from the perspective of this one random guy who cuts the Joker off in traffic

[@SpiralSine6]

“Ok Joker, what evil scheme are you plotting this time? Why have you been raiding every Walmart in the city?” “You don’t understand Batsy, I’m just really craving a Kraft blue box and every single store is sold out of mac and cheese.”

[@chrisdaily2077]

Joker taking over Gotham was such a fun idea. I'm sure this idea won't get reused in the next arc of the Tynion's run.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

If Batman editorial can’t come up with any other original story ideas then I want Killer Moth to take over Gotham next. I just think that would be funny.

[@michaellabonte6390]

​​@@halfmettlealchemist8076? he turns all the moths into carriers of a deadly disease that makes people eat fabric until they die

[@dwainjones2251]

​@@halfmettlealchemist8076Not a bad idea. Have him be more like his Titans incarnation and work with Fire Fly.

[@pay7232]

@@halfmettlealchemist8076how is that funny he has a dope name. 😜

[@ianmckee4726]

​@@halfmettlealchemist8076The queue is forming behind rat catcher. After that it goes flamingo, white rabbit, and then Killer Croc.

[@andrewroush8607]

I love that the incentive to read the tie-ins is "you can see what Red Hood thought about this"

[@pay7232]

This story was the perfect jumping off point for monthly Batman. Didn’t hate it, but it made me realize I can save money and just read self contained Batman stuff which I find way better.

[@GeminiTasiri]

I love it when we get books like this that are just such a product of their time because it lets Sal really get into the reactionary executive meddling that creates them

[@donb7519]

Im so used to reactionary in the dumb new political way versus you using it properly here i was confused

[@donb7519]

@@unironicallyablueraspberry4959 it definitely feels new iuln the sense it wasnt half as widespread a few years ago

[@Oppenheimskr]

@donb7519 “Reactionary” and “radical” are the actual political science terms used by the mature. If the wordsmiths of the world are willing to set aside their crayons, I can’t complain.

[@donb7519]

@@Oppenheimskr i mean when theyre constantly misused i would

[@wdcain1]

Jorge Jimenez made this story a must have for me. He might be in my top three Batman artists of all time.

[@smashmaster521]

Jorge Jimenez elevates any comic he draws. Just look at his work on Superman and Justice League...Oh, and a little book called Super Sons. Maybe you've heard of it.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

Jorge Jimenez is legit one of the most innovative and vibrant artists at DC right now and yet he keeps getting paired up with the most mid stories ever (excluding Super Sons, of course). It’s like hiring Werner Herzog to direct StateFarm commercials.

[@chrisbuttonshaw2088]

"Live each day like you've been forced to work for The Joker" is a new favorite saying

[@Rosepetals450]

Maybe it’s because I’m younger and haven’t read all of the classic Batman runs but I really enjoyed this event. I like the new characters, I like the art, and the event is what honestly made me get back into comics because I wanted to see who Punchline was.

[@ChristopherZubin]

1:49:46 "Streets past?" That's verbal wildfire.

[@dedbatt8869]

I love when you guys talk about recent Batman stuff. Mainly because I can’t bring myself to read most of it…

[@SpiralSine6]

It’s amazing to me that Tynion wrote a long run in Detective Comics that was really good, and then a little while later he wrote this.

[@dedbatt8869]

The idea that Joker steals all of Batman’s money is so absolutely ridiculous and nonsensical. I don’t know if I love it or hate it. Would’ve been a great episode of the ‘66 show though.

[@paulkokorotsis8215]

I felt this was a decent read. I really like in the end when Batman choose to save Harley over Joker and Joker got all pissed off lol

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

I liked the moment a little before that, when Batman was telling Joker to just use his own tools to defuse the bomb himself and Joker was like "...No, I'm not gonna do that, actually. I'm having way too much fun right now." That was a good bit

[@zaphero5518]

10:45 "But we can't really kill Damien because his mother owns Lazarus Pits! He always has to come back!" #TotallyTheReasonWhyTheyKilledAlfredOverDamian

[@calvinjluther]

I would really like a Batman comic, maybe a one-and-done or a two parter, where a supervillain is robbing banks in a weird and interesting way, and Batman has to figure out how the robberies happen and then stop it. I realize that's a big ask, but I'm a dreamer.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

My personal interpretation of the “does Joker know who Batman really is” debate is that Joker doesn’t give a shit about Bruce Wayne, because the way he sees it, Batman is Wayne’s secret identity and not the other way around. I think that adheres to his mindset of “everyone’s just as bad as me on the inside” while also adding a level of doubt in his nemesis whenever he really chooses to use that knowledge to get under Bruce’s skin: “Of course I know who you really are, Batsy! How could I not? Oh, the rest of the sheep may be fooled by that plastic smile and those tacky suits and that signature billionaire smarm…but we both know better, don’t we? Beneath that sad rich-kid mask…whenever you stop pretending that the world makes sense…this is who you _really_ are. And you’re too stubborn to admit it to anyone but me. I guess the joke’s on you, then, eh?”

[@Missing_Nin]

1:34:14 Ghostmaker in fact does have a book. He’s heading up Batman Inc with clownhunter

[@comicpop]

And the book ain't called Ghostmaker and Clownhunter.

[@bigcityreporter]

Ethan: "There's never been a Batman without money or gadgets" Darren Arronofsky's Batman Year One.

[@comicpop]

I'm sorry, we don't consider unproduced movie ideas.

[@bigcityreporter]

@@comicpop aww shucks lol

[@arianasof]

"she's an influencer" .... . . . "Oh no."

[@deltafive_o-first2417]

I kind alike this event despite all its many problems. I think Clown Hunter and Punchline had potential but they just are not being used to that potential

[@rabl3535]

The big issue with the characters Tynion made, is that they’re effectively just “ in another coat of paint”.

[@hellocanyourhearme7518]

Y'know It's really interesting on the view of Damien. A lot of older people don't like Damien but young people seem to like Damien. Now obviously there are people on both sides that love and hate him. But for me a 21 year old. The reason I think younger people like Damien is because they grew up with him. When I started reading comics. He already existed and so he was already part of the massive DC universe and I've never thought he didn't belong.

[@robertmathews7971]

"Joker, your last six plans have involved the Monarch Theater. Maybe... change it up?" "Do you have ANY IDEA how much I paid for this place?! I WILL get my money's worth!"

[@DrMadd]

This story really feels like some DC editor was browsing Twitter and saw one of those bait tweets about how Batman is problematic because he’s rich and thought they needed to address it.

[@donb7519]

I dont think those are bait a lot of people actually think that

[@camerondodge2070]

9:05 It also completely steamrolled everything the Joker's Daughter was pre-New 52, ruining a pretty alright character. Somehow this story makes less sense hearing it all at once instead of going issue by issue. An incredible feat.

[@pay7232]

I like this episode but Sal explaining this made me go from being indifferent to this story to thinking it completely sucks. I read it month to month during COVID.

[@superjlk_9538]

@@pay7232I actually liked it a lot when it was coming out. I think the ending was eh though. Joker should have actually died. You can’t get any higher than “War”

[@takeruneverborn4740]

1:04:58 the moment sal went from Harley Quinn the 4th pillar of DC to Harleen Quintel Prime Excutive editor of Decticive comics was a spectacular and untimely transition 😂😂😂

[@eiselmazard]

Quote, "There's never been a version of Batman that wasn't rich." The one exception to this rule _that I know of_ was the BIZARRE script for a Batman movie written by Frank Miller: a movie that (for obvious reasons) never got made. That presented the audience with a "working class" Batman and Alfred, working out of an automotive repair garage, as I recall.

[@comicpop]

It was Darren Aronofsky

[@Sicod79]

KGB Beast, assassin. The guy you go to shoot someone in the head to cause amnesia because comics.

[@mikhaelgribkov4117]

EX-KGB get short end in the America.

[@thepokekid01]

LOL the idea of Batman drone striking the Joker

[@hartthorn]

I can understand Harley using a real bomb on herself because she's just so damn tired of the back and forth. Of just saying "If you LEGIT actually save that asshole instead of me, I will fucking HAUNT you."

[@LogantheSloth]

In the No Man's Land novelization, Harley gets a new origin where she's a just a doctor that got trapped in a supply room at Arkham when the Eaarthquake hit. Joker finds her and she went full crazy. Fun different spin on it

[@ThePongzilla]

This story and the beginning of Ghost Maker broke me on Batman. I haven’t bought it since.

[@PHEONIX_720]

I reread all the Tynion batman issues leading up to this. So I am even more excited to watch this today.

[@chrisharang8118]

Narrator: The audience did not eat up Dickyboy

[@TheRealJameson505]

Three Jokers led me to comicpop so I will always love it 😅. Glad to see the other joker war

[@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038]

Someone must've released the Joker toxin because I can't stop laughing!

[@mrmikermac]

So glad you covered this story. I literally stopped all Bat books after this story.

[@pay7232]

Me too! My Batman stuff ends right after the book in Sal’s hand.

[@titolove6895]

"You're going to poop yourself it's going to be hilarious" 💩😂😂

[@kessonga]

the "boneface killah" ref at the end made me smile real big lol love u guys

[@Revanxbone]

Weekly comic pop is my happy place 😌

[@TheClitCommander530]

Clown Hunter whispering is too funny. I also didn't know what to make of his speech bubbles when I read this.

[@SpiralSine6]

Oh boy, I can’t wait for the gang to discuss my favorite character Punchline!

[@sangera]

I really adore The Joker series from Tynion. It's well written and it doesn't overstay it's welcome (even though the ending is rushed due to Tynion leaving DC).

[@superjlk_9538]

I have to pick it up. I stopped reading around issue 10 I think

[@mickeymeehan6925]

I may be in the minority here, but i feel like most of James Tynion IV original characters arent necessarily bad, they just weren't executed as well as they should have been. Punchline would have been an interesting take as a "Joker" for Jace or for Terry in the future. The Designer not being Bruce/Alfred in an attempt to really foil their plans was also a miss. Clownhunter's character makes sense, but maybe make him older and im cool with Joker killing him. Ghostmaker would've been an excellent counter even though hes not terribly different from Ra's, but they made him more of a weird ally.

[@comicpop]

Any of their inherent value gets deflated when you do it 5 times in a row.

[@mickeymeehan6925]

@comicpop definitely agree, since each arc he introduced at least one new character. Just wanted to throw it out there he had some good ideas there that could have been more if developed properly

[@99jmaster]

1:34:14 The Ghostmaker book is actually the current Batman Incorporated book and Clown Hunter is Ghostmaker's Robin essentially

[@comicpop]

No publisher calls their Ghostmaker book "Batman Inc" to cash in on his popularity.

[@99jmaster]

@@comicpop I didn't say it was good I dropped off extremely hard it happened because of the Joshua Williamson Batman stuff when Lex Luthor bought bought Batman Incorporated and then Ghost Maker bought it from him or something like that

[@punkxblaze]

There's probably already a comment about this, but there is an episode of the 2004 The Batman show where Joker puts on a shitty knock off Batsuit and runs around pretending to be Batman, and they do come to blows wearing their respective suits.

[@ryan-wt7dy]

It's Fear State time Sal !!!!! These are the best episodes you talking about mediocre Batman events

[@rockmenx8xx411]

I don't think that the Joker would kill Punchline or Clown hunter. Because, in Three Jokers, the killing joke Joker was the Joker that survived. And the killing joke Joker was the only Joker that tried to have a family, and sometimes imagines having a family. Now, that he's operating on his own without any influence from the other 2 Jokers, he probably would be open to having a girlfriend and wouldn't too mad at a kid like Clown hunter because he imagined having a son around that age.

[@ThorneIdentity]

you could use Ethan's dismissive science disdain as an assault weapon.🤣

[@batnick4998]

27:57 I’ve wondered this too.

[@tjjordan4207]

I'm surprised that Gotham hasn't tried to make the Death Penalty legal, just for the case of the Joker alone.

[@architeuthis3476]

Now that Sal mentions it, Gary Oldman circa _Leon the Professional_ would have been a GREAT Joker!

[@TheGreatDevlin]

It's the fact that Sal couldn't even get to Miracle Molly and the Gardener and whoever else was created in this run. JFC.

[@leoncommander]

I had such a great time with this episode, now thats a cycle I dont mind repeating

[@thesavageJ]

Seriously 😳 Superman telling his secret identity was the most stupidest thing ever remember what happened with Spider-Man FML... Curse you BENDIS!!!!

[@ricardorios2355]

I really didn’t think you would do this book considering your feelings on it.

[@reidhansen7978]

I would love if you guys did the New Krypton story on the couch one day

[@cicolasnage5684]

Good lord, from 2019-2021 it must have sucked ass to live in Gotham. You had City Of Bane, The Joker War and Fear State. Hope Gotham had good insurance for all that collateral damage in Gotham in a span of 2 years.

[@antgue756]

Ive seen some dumb things on back issues but the whole Barbara re-paralyzing herself thing made me physically put both hands on my face and just take a deep cringe filled sigh.

[@hatredlord]

Mom said it's my turn on the Monarch Theatre!

[@NONO3441]

I know a guy who absolutely loves ghostmaker and when you said he looks like a destiny character it reminded me that that guy is also a destiny fanboy😂

[@TevyaSmolka]

Joker war in my opinion kind of came out at the worst time sadly because having this story release at the same time though as 3 jokers was a really bad idea at least in my opinion.

[@creed8712]

Correct me if I’m wrong but it also started right before the pandemic went into full lockdown at least in the states

[@TevyaSmolka]

@@creed8712 I think you are right about that as well.

[@smashmaster521]

Yeah, except Joker War is actually worth reading.

[@DiegoAlvarezBeltran1993.]

This reads like a Twitter think piece of "rich people are all bad and evil and have alternative motives and I have crippling trust issues that I have never full explored but I'm going to write it all as a funny, zany, dumb comic book" What the fuck is happening?

[@CapLives]

I wasn't big on this Batman run but I enjoyed what I read from Tynion's Detective run. Zdarsky's Batman has been ok after the strong Failsafe arc but at least Joker isn't a part of it(yet).

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

Zdarsky did technically write a Joker story in one of the backup stories he wrote (which was actually really well-written)

[@CapLives]

​@benparrish672 I can take that. I'm just worried about the Joker event that will "change Batman forever".

[@lesliemyers4159]

ben: "is bea a spy?" sal: "no" Travis Moore like 8 months later: "well do i have news for you"

[@gamemasterbob9]

Ghostmaker and clowhunter are still major characters in the current batman Inc book

[@comicpop]

In a book called Batman Inc

[@gregcourtney751]

One of The best things about punchline is joker fangirls do exist. I knew at least one. Granted it comes with an understanding hes fictional, but yeah punchline doesnt come from nowhere. A side note, the number of things online, fan art and such, romantizcing joker x harley is... conerning, imo.

[@shadowanders]

I actually really like Damian. I grew to like him when Dick was Batman and now after City of Bane I now love the character

[@ianbruno237]

Finally my birthday has appeared in a comicpop video along with being associated with THREE JOKERS…Im gonna play the lottery!

[@JasonLopezII]

Give it another year or two and Todd McFarlane will make toys based on this book cause....Batman.

[@smashmaster521]

I mean, he did make that derpy Batman figure.

[@flywheelshyster]

about to leave work on turkey day, don't know why but i was just enjoying this one in between customers, the long time between lol 2:40 though, I watched armageddon and had the deep impact soundtrack

[@batfreeze56]

I unironically love Joker War, even with all the crazy OCs running around. Gave everyone something to do, and was part of an actual story. Would love to see you cover Detective Comics by JT IV.

[@rabl3535]

It was a decent enough story, more of a “summer blockbuster” than anything with more depth and character. The changes it did to rectify changes done to characters in other books though, those I really appreciate, Nightwing’s return most of all.

[@TheSaviToon]

That’s so weird 52:42 right before this line I got an ad for the new Wonka movie

[@AbrahamAlgarin]

You guys should do the rest of the batman white knight franchise

[@CasualClassroom]

Holy shit, a miranda sings namedrop? Does Sal know about the tea being spilled?

[@christopherpoff4117]

Imagining the three Jokers bickering over who gets to do the Monarch Theater thing is the funniest thing ever. It almost makes it worthwhile that the even had Joker do that at all which is /terrible/. Maybe I'm fussy but I love the idea that the Joker doesn't /care/ who Batman is -- Batman is who Batman really is, as far as he's concerned. Also, I may still be pining over the OTP that the Batman Telltale series gave me if you manage the Vigilante Joker plot line, just sayin'

[@benhramiak8781]

I'm currently reading a joker miniseries. Well, was reading it. It's just kinda spinning its wheels. The current continuity makes me think they should do more flashback series. Like they did with symbiote spiderman

[@sangera]

Y'all gotta do Fear State soon to show how it's the exact same book but slightly more lamer!

[@harlemdeni]

Punchline is the Ice Spice of the DC universe.

[@raray12]

I listened to this twice before I remembered miracle Molly was apart of this event 😂😂😂😂

[@nigelflood7074]

Will they won't they just the tip 😂😂😂 lol

[@MrZsasz25]

Did you ever consider doing "Batman: Prey" by Doug Moench and Paul Gulacy?

[@mohefsociety]

I’m glad someone could make sense of the story. I was reading this issue to issue, and had no clue what was happening. I hated it.

[@chancylvania]

22:13 I mean that’s what the new 52 detective comics were (at least the first 5 volumes). So if you want that, look into those.

[@benjaminloudly]

Clownhunter was the only good thing to come out of this for me. I still want to see a Red Hood and Clownhunter team up series.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

Not sure if this is a hot take, but Clownhunter would be way more interesting as Jason Todd’s protege than as Ghostmaker’s