Batman: The Man Who Laughs

This Batman story takes us back to the early days of the Dark Knights career in Gotham.  There are really two stories collected together in this collection.  The first of which is The Man Who Laughs this is one of the quintessential Joker stories.  The second is titled Made of Wood this is a story that teams-up Batman with the Green Lantern.

The Joker story is by far the main attraction of this book if you were disgusted by Scott Snyder's take on the Joker I would say you may want to shy away from this then.  As this title starts out as a serial killer who done it story that Captain Gordon is investigating.  This is considered to be Batman's first encounter with the Joker after the Red Hood at Ace Chemical.  Joker targets people in this story in his usual fashion with chemicals poisoning them and leaving them grinning and bug eyed.  Joker's introduction in this book is truly chilling I would love to see DC Animation take a stab at this story.  Joker leaves a cryptic message at the newly opened Arkham Asylum even though he hasn't been incarcerated there yet.  The Joker has set his sights on the rich men of Gotham City and to distract the police why he goes about his mission he arms prisoners who are set to be sent to Arkham Asylum.  This story shows Batman's skills as a detective as he starts trying to figure out who the Joker is and it takes him back to Ace Chemical and that fateful night against the Red Hood.  Batman confronts the Joker at the water reservoir.  This tale is directly referenced in Scott Snyder's work and the way the Joker acts in this story is very similar to that of Heath Ledger's portrayal of the character in The Dark Knight. 

The second story is a delight as it shows the history of Gotham City but the really selling point for the story is art by Tim Sale.  Made of Wood is a straight up serial killer murder mystery.  It is told primarily in present time with Jim Gordon taking a staring role as the retired police commissioner returning to the job to solve one last case.  This story while not as gripping as the first is a great detective story none the less.  The killer is nothing special in the story in fact you kind of feel sorry for them in the end.  The team-up between between the original Green Lantern, Alan Scott and Batman heroes from to different eras.  Working together to solve a case lost in between the cracks and forgotten for decades.  Overall if you are a fan of Joker or Tim Sale art this book is a must read.