The “Batman: Death Of The Family” Gift Set Is The Perfect Halloween Treat About a year ago, the superstar team of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo finished their biggest story in “Batman” yet, the return of the Joker. See, since the Joker had been gone for about a year in DC’s New 52 canon. He was last seen cutting off his own face in a effort to show Bruce something. That beneath Joker’s menacing grin… is his grin. He disappeared without warning, and hadn’t been heard of for a year. Until he turns up in the GCPD, looking for his face. He’s angry, but in love, and he has faith in his love. See, the entire “Death of the Family” storyline is a beautiful and haunting tribute that grinds to the core of the dynamic between Batman and The Joker. This is a horror story through and through, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Halloween this year, than this gift set. Really, and truly. In it you get the trade paperback of “Death of the Family” but you also get a mask made from Joker’s severed face, and it is something truly special. The story is filled with unexpected developments, and tributes to past Joker storylines that spin in insane new directions. It’s riveting for long time fans, and unnerving for those new to Joker’s malice. Synder cuts to the core of Batman unlike anything we’ve seen in recent memory, and shows just how deep the connection runs that he shares with the Joker. Greg Capullo gives us a Joker unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Something more chilling and sinister thanks to his stapled on face hanging in every panel. As the story progresses and Joker gets even wilder, the face deteriorates and starts attracting flies. It’s haunting and sickening. The mask alone makes this set perfect if you’re a huge Batman fan, or if you have one in your life. I cherish the damn thing, even if it is terrifying, and it would serve to help make some really insane look Joker costumes that step outside the realm of the overdone Heath Ledger get up. Here’s my stupid mug in the thing. You can see that the mask is high quality downright awesome. I’m planning on wearing this thing just to stalk up and down the streets in my leisure time. It’s become my new favorite thing on my shelf and the perfect reminder of one of the best Batman stories to grace the page in a long long time. I don’t want to give much away, but if the mask doesn’t interest you, I can’t urge you to check out the story. It’s something you won’t find anywhere else in mainstream superhero comics, it’s a horror story first and a love story second. You don’t need the cape and cowl to understand the depth of the terror on the page. Snyder understands the horror genre, and playfully engages in some genre conventions to really defy your expectations. The mask and the face removal may seem like a cheap gimmick to increase sales, but the reason for the face is so compelling and off putting on the page. You’ll really understand a different side of Joker when you see the husk of rotting flesh hanging from his face in the final chapter. Get in on the joke, and don’t be the punchline, buy this gift set and forever be better for it.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 00:08:33 +0000
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