Writer: Marc Silvestri
Art: Marc Silvestri, Arif Prianto, and Greg Capullo
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $4.99
Release Date: March 7th, 2023
When the Deadly Duo’s investigation brings them into the catacombs under Gotham, Batman and The Joker’s adventure becomes a trip into hell. If you thought this series had already shown you its horrors, get ready for a descent into the heart of darkness as Batman and The Joker’s true enemy is revealed. Let’s dive into Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #5 by Marc Silvestri and experience these new horrors together.
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THE DISPATCH
Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #5 opens the same way issue four did, except this time it’s a summary as to why these events are transpiring instead of actual illustrations of the events. Either way, Silvestri gives readers another real quick recap as to the “why”, which is honestly beneficial to everyone. To people who read dozens of comics a month, 30 days is a long time to remember what happened. The point is: the summary is appreciated.
Nevertheless, Silverstri does unravel more backstory after the Joker sets off his bombs and mirrors those images with some incredibly vivid monologuing from Batman. The dialogue resonates so well at some points that the illustrations aren’t even required to feel the pain of that day. Additionally, Silverstri throws in a few wrinkles into the story to spice it up this week and keep the energy moving. He removes some doubt as to who could be behind all of this and he introduces another Bat Family member that adds a ton of tension to the story as well as a killer fight scene.
However, Silvestri twists this tale into something downright eerie and evil. This already haunting story has morphed Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #5 into something much darker and more horrifying. Through scientific means, genetic manipulation, and bone-chilling discoveries, readers will find the reveal to be pretty shocking while leaving with a few more questions that should spook Batman fans for the next issue of Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo. Readers should be able to assume the answers to some of their new questions, however, with the twists and redirections by Silvestri so far, who knows what other curves await?
ART
Arif Prianto is a perfect fit for the story, especially after this dark exchange. Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #5 has escalated to new horrifying heights with some pretty intense graphic displays that will make your skin crawl. Sure, Batman comics have always been a bit darker in tone and style. However, Prianto goes a bit more beyond that mark this week and delivers some pretty wild designs. Moreover, his action sequences and panel progressions make for an epic fight scene between Batgirl and the Joker that just oozed tension in which spilled out from The Killing Joke.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #5 takes creepy to an all-new level providing fans with some next-level Batman villainy. This story by Silvestri has escalated from a regular, run-of-the-mill, Batman/ Joker Team-Up comic to a sinister, almost demonic display overnight. Furthermore, I can’t help but love the monologuing from Batman and the sly, subtle humor from the Joker that uniquely balances out the tone of the issue well. Readers, this has become a Batman Horror Comic that ends with some graphic displays probably not suited for young audiences. However, for the adults out there, Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #5 is some next-level, diabolically creepy storytelling and this issue barely utilized the Joker! Look, I said this after the last issue and I’ll say it again. This story is movie worthy. This story is stream-series worthy. This series on screen would make a killing and could possibly be the best Batman onscreen story ever! Pick this series up, add Batman & The Joker: The Deadly Duo #5, and thank me later.