The fact that you get TWO hardcovers is a PLUS. I have read the Joker story before, and YES the larger ABSOLUTE format is very nice. Thanks for the video, Omar!
I hadn't read these before but saw the set on Amazon for $65 (almost half price), so I picked it up a few days ago and read through it all really quickly. I thought both were pretty great, with Luthor being my favorite of the two. I was reading about them online afterwards and saw that Batman: Damned it basically a sequel to the Joker one, so I ordered that and will read it soon. It was cool to get this video right after I had just read them.
Luthor is one of my favorite Superman-adjacent comics of all time, absolutely amazing. Didn't like Joker at all. So very much on the fence here... it does look great, but is it worth upgrading from the hardcover I already have for Luthor? Not sure. Will have to mull it over.
I’ve read both stories at least twice, but I don’t love either of them. That being said, I much preferred the Joker book over the Luthor book. From what I recall, the Luthor story fell apart for me midway through on each read, even though I gave it some slack on grounds of it being an elseworlds tale. If the Joker story had not been narrated by Johnny Frost or some other character that was not the Joker, I don’t think I’d feel as positive about it. I think it works best with Johnny Frost as the narrator because, even though it’s an elseworlds tale, the Joker is meant to be mercurial, and the element of surprise would be lost if you had a front row seat to the Joker’s thoughts in present time. Something like the Killing Joke, in which the Joker is a semi-narrator, works well, in my opinion, because the “flashbacks” are obviously told in a past tense- which, towards the end of the Killing Joke, the Joker confesses that if he were to have a radix of who he was before the Joker, he’d prefer if it were multiple choice because he, himself, has tossed his memories into a blender who knows how many times and with such aggression and existential desperation that he can no longer garner a clue of who he is and why. He doesn’t want to be tied down to the “rationality” that comes with the memorization of how certain events *actually* took place..or if those events even took place in any variation at all..because then he’d be acknowledging that his mental gymnastic fantasies of absurdist “reality” were just a sad bundled facade that he was singlehandedly feeding himself by the gallons all along. His origin pre acid bath is left ambiguous to the reader, and so I think that anything delving into the labyrinths of his mind thereafter should also be treated with ambiguity to keep readers and characters within the stories alike on their heels. If the essence of the Joker can be proven to be ridiculously unpredictable to the likes of canonically renowned gumshoes like the Batman and relentless cesspools like Gotham, then, again, the Joker should also be conveyed with a considerable weight of unpredictability to rival even the most voracious readers just as the Cheshire Cat is as unpredictable to the likes of Alice, the Queen of Hearts, and rest of the dreamt up inhabitants of Wonderland. Though, I do concede that endeavoring to tackle such a character that’s been tried and done over and over within an 80+ year old mythos can be daunting for any writer, experienced or not, and the character can accidentally slip into Flanderization territory as a result (yes, if you ask me, the Joker’s been done to death as a centerpiece). Anyway, before I massively go off topic, I will say that the biggest thing I disliked about Azzarello’s Joker was the scene that took place with Joker and Johnny Frost’s girlfriend/fiancée. I felt that the Joker would pay one of his goons to sexually assault Frost’s partner and make Frost watch before he would ever think about doing it himself, rape’s just not his MO. I’d imagine that the Joker would then probably shoot that same goon right in the face just as the goon would be zipping up his pants after doing the deed. At least in my mind I’d find that the Joker would somehow find that grotesque culmination of events funny..traumatizing everybody involved including the rest of his criminal entourage for no reason except to traumatize them..but, once again, it’s an elseworlds book, so I give it some leeway here and there.
Strange that it’s a box set. Also I honestly feel as though Brian Azarello is a SUPREMELY underrated and under appreciated author. Everything I’ve read of his I’ve enjoyed
Great review, omah. I would've liked there to be a black & white version of these books-looking in the extras, it looks awesome. Still not worth AU$221 for both if you ask me.
Lex Luthor is a legitimate masterpiece so if you haven't read it you're missing so much mate. Joker on the other hand is utter dogshit, people recommend it just for the art, if you want a good story involving Joker with Bermejo's art just read Batman Noel
I think the only other Absolute that has such a huge difference in quality is Frank Miller's Batman. Here we got an actual masterpiece with Luthor and one of the worst Joker stories ever created
A few years back, I can't remember how long ago tbh, I bought the original one for £40 off Facebook still wrapped. I've never opened it, it just sits in my bookcase with the rest of my graphic novels.
Lee Bermejo’s art work is astounding. Colors aren’t too contrasting, but I like how dramatic and realistic the art is.
The fact that you get TWO hardcovers is a PLUS. I have read the Joker story before, and YES the larger ABSOLUTE format is very nice. Thanks for the video, Omar!
I hadn't read these before but saw the set on Amazon for $65 (almost half price), so I picked it up a few days ago and read through it all really quickly. I thought both were pretty great, with Luthor being my favorite of the two. I was reading about them online afterwards and saw that Batman: Damned it basically a sequel to the Joker one, so I ordered that and will read it soon. It was cool to get this video right after I had just read them.
I love these stories. I also love batman damned. Im hoping it gets the absolute treatment one day to place beside my copy of this absolute 🤞
Just picked this up tje other day...The art looks incredible
Luthor is one of my favorite Superman-adjacent comics of all time, absolutely amazing. Didn't like Joker at all. So very much on the fence here... it does look great, but is it worth upgrading from the hardcover I already have for Luthor? Not sure. Will have to mull it over.
I’ve read both stories at least twice, but I don’t love either of them. That being said, I much preferred the Joker book over the Luthor book.
From what I recall, the Luthor story fell apart for me midway through on each read, even though I gave it some slack on grounds of it being an elseworlds tale. If the Joker story had not been narrated by Johnny Frost or some other character that was not the Joker, I don’t think I’d feel as positive about it. I think it works best with Johnny Frost as the narrator because, even though it’s an elseworlds tale, the Joker is meant to be mercurial, and the element of surprise would be lost if you had a front row seat to the Joker’s thoughts in present time. Something like the Killing Joke, in which the Joker is a semi-narrator, works well, in my opinion, because the “flashbacks” are obviously told in a past tense- which, towards the end of the Killing Joke, the Joker confesses that if he were to have a radix of who he was before the Joker, he’d prefer if it were multiple choice because he, himself, has tossed his memories into a blender who knows how many times and with such aggression and existential desperation that he can no longer garner a clue of who he is and why. He doesn’t want to be tied down to the “rationality” that comes with the memorization of how certain events *actually* took place..or if those events even took place in any variation at all..because then he’d be acknowledging that his mental gymnastic fantasies of absurdist “reality” were just a sad bundled facade that he was singlehandedly feeding himself by the gallons all along. His origin pre acid bath is left ambiguous to the reader, and so I think that anything delving into the labyrinths of his mind thereafter should also be treated with ambiguity to keep readers and characters within the stories alike on their heels. If the essence of the Joker can be proven to be ridiculously unpredictable to the likes of canonically renowned gumshoes like the Batman and relentless cesspools like Gotham, then, again, the Joker should also be conveyed with a considerable weight of unpredictability to rival even the most voracious readers just as the Cheshire Cat is as unpredictable to the likes of Alice, the Queen of Hearts, and rest of the dreamt up inhabitants of Wonderland. Though, I do concede that endeavoring to tackle such a character that’s been tried and done over and over within an 80+ year old mythos can be daunting for any writer, experienced or not, and the character can accidentally slip into Flanderization territory as a result (yes, if you ask me, the Joker’s been done to death as a centerpiece). Anyway, before I massively go off topic, I will say that the biggest thing I disliked about Azzarello’s Joker was the scene that took place with Joker and Johnny Frost’s girlfriend/fiancée. I felt that the Joker would pay one of his goons to sexually assault Frost’s partner and make Frost watch before he would ever think about doing it himself, rape’s just not his MO. I’d imagine that the Joker would then probably shoot that same goon right in the face just as the goon would be zipping up his pants after doing the deed. At least in my mind I’d find that the Joker would somehow find that grotesque culmination of events funny..traumatizing everybody involved including the rest of his criminal entourage for no reason except to traumatize them..but, once again, it’s an elseworlds book, so I give it some leeway here and there.
I have all the azzarello/bermejo collaborations including batman/deathblow lol I love these 2 guys
I'm on the fence with this one
Strange that it’s a box set. Also I honestly feel as though Brian Azarello is a SUPREMELY underrated and under appreciated author. Everything I’ve read of his I’ve enjoyed
I've actually never read the Luthor story before. Might have to look into this.........
I appreciate this set. It's a nice uptick from the previously released edition. 👍🏻
I liked Luthor more than Joker but I don't particularly like either. Sold my HCs years ago and I'm happy without them.
Great review, omah. I would've liked there to be a black & white version of these books-looking in the extras, it looks awesome. Still not worth AU$221 for both if you ask me.
Joker is so good. I really hope he’ll finish his trilogy though. Damned was a good middle part, but I have high expectations in the continuation.
I have the Joker OHC but not the Luthor,.So I paid for this, this morning. (£58.97/$74.59) another absolute for my shelf
When’s the next Omni announcement?! We haven’t got one in a fat minute
Nice😮😮😮😅
If I already have one of these books, is it worth buying both?
Only you can answer that question. Presumably you're spending your own money?
Lex Luthor is a legitimate masterpiece so if you haven't read it you're missing so much mate.
Joker on the other hand is utter dogshit, people recommend it just for the art, if you want a good story involving Joker with Bermejo's art just read Batman Noel
Have the joker OHC. Didnt like the story 2 be honest. Kinda put me off anything Azzarello.
I think the only other Absolute that has such a huge difference in quality is Frank Miller's Batman.
Here we got an actual masterpiece with Luthor and one of the worst Joker stories ever created
Yupp
A few years back, I can't remember how long ago tbh, I bought the original one for £40 off Facebook still wrapped. I've never opened it, it just sits in my bookcase with the rest of my graphic novels.
Didn't have any interest until I watched the video
Its a pass for me
Anything on Ed piskor ?
These two stories are average and don't strictly deserve absolute treatment...
Far less interesting ones get the treatment though, lmao.
I Know but It costed me 10 bucks on 2019 hahahah. Difficult for me to get rid of the set when It was so cheap to get.