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Batman Post-Crisis #119
Batman/Joker: Switch
Has someone finally pulled the ultimate joke on the Joker? That unlikely scenario plays out in BATMAN/JOKER: SWITCH, a Prestige Format Special written by Devin Grayson (NIGHTWING, BATMAN: GOTHAM KNIGHTS) with breathtaking painted art and cover by John Bolton (BATMAN: MAN-BAT, THE BOOKS OF MAGIC)! The Joker awakens drugged and confused on the streets of London and he's undergone a shocking transformation. Can Batman find his arch-nemesis before he carves up all of England looking for the source of his mutilation? And even if he can, does Batman have any chance at stopping the man who's finally turned the Joker into a victim of a sadistic joke?
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
87 people want to read
About the author
Devin Grayson
504 books115 followersDevin Grayson is an avid gamer, former acting student, and enthusiastic reader fortunate enough to have turned a lifelong obsession with fictional characters into a dynamic writing career. She has a B.A. from Bard College, where she studied creative writing with novelist Mona Simpson. Best known for her work on the Batman titles for DC Comics, Devin has been a regular writer on Catwoman, Nightwing, and The Titans, and contributed to the award-winning No Man’s Land story arc. With the publication of Batman: Gotham Knights in March of 2000, she became the first (and, sadly, only as of 2020) female to create, launch and write an ongoing Batman title.
Additional career highlights include the launch of the critically acclaimed series Omni for Humanoids, Doctor Strange: The Fate of Dreams, an original novel featuring Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, and USER—a highly personal three-part, creator-owned miniseries about gender identity and online role-playing, originally published by Vertigo and newly available as a collected edition hardcover through Image. Devin is also the creator of Yelena Belova, a Marvel character staring in the upcoming MCU Black Widow movie (played by Florence Pugh), Damien Darhk, a DC character now appearing regularly in CW’s Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow (played by Neal McDonough), and Catalina Flores, a DC character recently featured as the super-villain Tarantula in The Lego Batman Movie.
Frequently cited for compelling character development and nuanced exploration of complex themes, Devin’s work has been showcased in mainstream media such as USA Today and Working Woman as well as in alternative press such as The Village Voice, The Advocate, and Curve magazine. Over the years, she has written in several different media and genres, from comic books and novels to video game scripts and short essays. She is currently working on an original graphic novel for Berger Books.
Devin lives in Northern California with her husband, step-son, devoted Early Alert Canines Diabetic Alert Dog, and somewhat less devoted cat. Openly bisexual, she is a passionate advocate for the GLBTQ community, as well as being a committed environmentalist, and a public speaker for T1 Diabetes awareness and Diabetic Alert Dogs. She is always happy to take on a new challenge, especially if it involves making some new fictional friends.
Additional career highlights include the launch of the critically acclaimed series Omni for Humanoids, Doctor Strange: The Fate of Dreams, an original novel featuring Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, and USER—a highly personal three-part, creator-owned miniseries about gender identity and online role-playing, originally published by Vertigo and newly available as a collected edition hardcover through Image. Devin is also the creator of Yelena Belova, a Marvel character staring in the upcoming MCU Black Widow movie (played by Florence Pugh), Damien Darhk, a DC character now appearing regularly in CW’s Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow (played by Neal McDonough), and Catalina Flores, a DC character recently featured as the super-villain Tarantula in The Lego Batman Movie.
Frequently cited for compelling character development and nuanced exploration of complex themes, Devin’s work has been showcased in mainstream media such as USA Today and Working Woman as well as in alternative press such as The Village Voice, The Advocate, and Curve magazine. Over the years, she has written in several different media and genres, from comic books and novels to video game scripts and short essays. She is currently working on an original graphic novel for Berger Books.
Devin lives in Northern California with her husband, step-son, devoted Early Alert Canines Diabetic Alert Dog, and somewhat less devoted cat. Openly bisexual, she is a passionate advocate for the GLBTQ community, as well as being a committed environmentalist, and a public speaker for T1 Diabetes awareness and Diabetic Alert Dogs. She is always happy to take on a new challenge, especially if it involves making some new fictional friends.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 10, 2019
No está a la altura ni por asomo de los mejores crossovers Batman/Joker. Una buena oportunidad desperdiciada
October 26, 2020
I am a true believer in everything weird and I was super on board with everything, albeit the storyline was fragmented between past and present and it was a little confusing, but when I reached the end all I could say was: "Where's the rest???".
Twenty pages more and this could've been such a fun Joker standalone adventure, with the art being super wacky and, at least for me, enjoyable, but alas... maybe next time :/
Twenty pages more and this could've been such a fun Joker standalone adventure, with the art being super wacky and, at least for me, enjoyable, but alas... maybe next time :/
December 17, 2012
А вот этот комикс уже представляет из себя что-то интересное. Другое дело, что “интересное” – это далеко не синоним слова “хорошее”. Это весьма любопытная, небанальная история, действие которой происходит довольно далеко от привычного Готэма – в Лондоне. И главным героем комикса, по сути, является Джокер, который попал в неприятности и пытается как-то решить свои проблемы.
Завязка истории довольно ненормальна, в том плане, что в истории происходят довольно сумасшедшие события, может даже, бредовые. И это одновременно является и плюсом и минусом. С одной стороны, ура, нетипичная история с оригинальной идеей, с другой стороны, некоторые ходы в этом сюжете кажутся диким бредом, который мозг просто отказывается принимать без боя. Но с третьей стороны, это же Джокер. Что с него взять? Он всегда окружен безумием.
Забавно, но и рисунок в этом комиксе довольно странный, в каком-то сумасшедшем стиле, под стать самой истории. Но вот рисунок уже не радует ни с какой из сторон. Тошнотворные цвета, странный стиль, плюс у Джокера тут абсолютно другой, довольно убогий дизайн, который никак не получается принять.
В целом, не самый худший комикс, все же тут действительно весьма интересная история, в которой присутствуют интересные моменты, неплохие сцены, действительно классные находки и финал которой очень хочется увидеть, но в то же время, некоторые вещи в сюжете, да рисунок не вызывают абсолютно никаких положительных эмоций, а только безумно огорчают.
Завязка истории довольно ненормальна, в том плане, что в истории происходят довольно сумасшедшие события, может даже, бредовые. И это одновременно является и плюсом и минусом. С одной стороны, ура, нетипичная история с оригинальной идеей, с другой стороны, некоторые ходы в этом сюжете кажутся диким бредом, который мозг просто отказывается принимать без боя. Но с третьей стороны, это же Джокер. Что с него взять? Он всегда окружен безумием.
Забавно, но и рисунок в этом комиксе довольно странный, в каком-то сумасшедшем стиле, под стать самой истории. Но вот рисунок уже не радует ни с какой из сторон. Тошнотворные цвета, странный стиль, плюс у Джокера тут абсолютно другой, довольно убогий дизайн, который никак не получается принять.
В целом, не самый худший комикс, все же тут действительно весьма интересная история, в которой присутствуют интересные моменты, неплохие сцены, действительно классные находки и финал которой очень хочется увидеть, но в то же время, некоторые вещи в сюжете, да рисунок не вызывают абсолютно никаких положительных эмоций, а только безумно огорчают.
October 14, 2022
The artwork gets all the stars. Sensual, scary, plump, surreal. I felt like I was drugged.
The storyline was okay. Weirdest and maybe... not at all what I'd expect from Batman/Joker story. It definitely needed more pages. I needed more pages, the story seemed to just get cut before the finale.
The storyline was okay. Weirdest and maybe... not at all what I'd expect from Batman/Joker story. It definitely needed more pages. I needed more pages, the story seemed to just get cut before the finale.
June 1, 2012
I wasn't impressed at all. It all felt very messy, jumbled up, and without any purpose or climax altogether. Very weak story, pathetic characterization, and haphazard storytelling.
December 30, 2021
This has got to be the weirdest Batman/Joker story that I've ever read.
On the streets of London, the Clown Prince of Crime finds himself having been drugged and with his signature smile surgically planted onto the back of his neck. Taking a page out of his arch-adversary, The Batman's, book, the Joker decides to get to the bottom of this mutilation. Of course, with Joker's fractured psyche, his version of a Dark Knight Detective is pretty warped, resulting in chaos, tragedy and death in his wake.
I had to read this book twice to understand it. It's very confusing and I think that's because writer Devin Grayson (Nightwing) tried to write most of this book from the Joker's point of view.
Part of the blame also falls on the cover writer. I really thought that the description of this book made it sound like the Joker was trying to be like Batman. But he's not trying to be the Batman. The Joker is only switching roles in playing detective instead of criminal. The Joker is just being a really bad detective because he's nuts and he's a murdering psycho!
The art was quite good. It's painted. And it reflects that fractured psyche of the Joker. Angles are invented. Shadows are exaggerated. Plus, artist John Bolton (Batman: Manbat) has a sensual style, especially with a trio of beauties that the Joker kidnaps.
Speaking of those beauties. One of the girls intrigued the heck out of me. She stands up to the Joker and the villain refers to her as his 'Robin'. I'd love to see more of her in comics. But it's been 9 years since this graphic novel was published and if she's yet to have shows up in further Batman comics, I doubt the character is gonna show up now!
Enjoyable Read. But man was it confusing and very demented.
On the streets of London, the Clown Prince of Crime finds himself having been drugged and with his signature smile surgically planted onto the back of his neck. Taking a page out of his arch-adversary, The Batman's, book, the Joker decides to get to the bottom of this mutilation. Of course, with Joker's fractured psyche, his version of a Dark Knight Detective is pretty warped, resulting in chaos, tragedy and death in his wake.
I had to read this book twice to understand it. It's very confusing and I think that's because writer Devin Grayson (Nightwing) tried to write most of this book from the Joker's point of view.
Part of the blame also falls on the cover writer. I really thought that the description of this book made it sound like the Joker was trying to be like Batman. But he's not trying to be the Batman. The Joker is only switching roles in playing detective instead of criminal. The Joker is just being a really bad detective because he's nuts and he's a murdering psycho!
The art was quite good. It's painted. And it reflects that fractured psyche of the Joker. Angles are invented. Shadows are exaggerated. Plus, artist John Bolton (Batman: Manbat) has a sensual style, especially with a trio of beauties that the Joker kidnaps.
Speaking of those beauties. One of the girls intrigued the heck out of me. She stands up to the Joker and the villain refers to her as his 'Robin'. I'd love to see more of her in comics. But it's been 9 years since this graphic novel was published and if she's yet to have shows up in further Batman comics, I doubt the character is gonna show up now!
Enjoyable Read. But man was it confusing and very demented.
July 2, 2025
Super cool art like paint or clay oil crayons. A little Tim Burtony. Can be more colorful though like that rainy corner diner painting. J doesn’t have a mouth in the right place so there’s not much talking, just some bluesy love song playing. Hair like a punk jester cap. Some hot nurses part of a music video he kidnaps in London. Not really sure what he’s talking about but he’s painted schitzo so… Maybe a tad lame end.
February 13, 2018
Awkward story, awkward illustrations. Definitely the worst Joker story I've read.
April 3, 2019
A strange, short story with bizarre artwork told in a haphazard fashion with themes of mutilation, murder, and madness - all in all, a decent story about the Joker.
June 3, 2023
Art - 4 star
Story - 2 star
Story - 2 star
December 24, 2024
The Joker is missing and when he resurfaces in Europe he is found with his mouth having been surgically transplanted to the back of his neck. Batman seeks to track down the Joker while the clown prince in turn seeks to track down the nefarious physician who performed this operation while battling his own insanity.
The concept of this story is pretty bonkers and the execution does mine the absurdity a bit but it never really develops a compelling overarching narrative nor does it lean much into something more experimental. I was also a tad disappointed by the art as I typically love Bolton's painted aesthetic but I didn't feel his style was well utilized, even though it seems apt for realizing such a surreal concept.
The concept of this story is pretty bonkers and the execution does mine the absurdity a bit but it never really develops a compelling overarching narrative nor does it lean much into something more experimental. I was also a tad disappointed by the art as I typically love Bolton's painted aesthetic but I didn't feel his style was well utilized, even though it seems apt for realizing such a surreal concept.
June 2, 2009
Weird, but not in a good way. Mostly, the story was weak. The art was interesting, excellent at times, though Batman seemed off.
June 10, 2011
Strange little story, nice artwork but seems not to be of depth. Shame really, could have been quite good.
December 17, 2012
Nice and quirky. :)
December 28, 2014
A short story where the art is really good, but the story fails to deliver.
July 26, 2024
Amazing art, but the story is a real letdown.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews