The Joker #1 Blank Cover Comic
The Joker #1 Blank Cover Comic.
Released 3/9/2021
The Joker #1 (2021), written by James Tynion IV with art by Guillem March, repositions the Clown Prince of Crime as the target of a global manhunt—led not by Batman, but by a weary, haunted Jim Gordon. Following the devastating attack on Arkham Asylum seen in Infinite Frontier #0, Joker is blamed for the massacre and becomes the most wanted man in the world.
Main Story: “What Drives a Man to Hunt Evil?”
Gordon, now retired, is approached by a mysterious benefactor who offers him the resources to track down and kill the Joker. Wrestling with his conscience and haunted by decades of trauma, Gordon accepts the mission—not as a cop, but as a man seeking closure. The issue explores Gordon’s psyche, his memories of Joker’s atrocities, and the moral ambiguity of vengeance.
Joker himself appears only briefly, already several steps ahead, operating from overseas and manipulating events from the shadows. The tone is noir, introspective, and psychological, with March’s art emphasizing dread and tension.
Backup Story: “Punchline”
Written by Sam Johns with art by Mirka Andolfo, the backup follows Punchline in Blackgate Penitentiary, where her cult-like following grows. Harper Row (Bluebird) and Leslie Thompkins work to expose Punchline’s crimes, while her brother begins to fall under her influence—mirroring real-world concerns about radicalization and media manipulation.
