Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Mirka Andolfo
Published by DC Comics
By far, the most overrated character in comics in years is Punchline.
She is dull, cloying, and annoying. I keep looking for the appeal but I never find it. Now, she has a special out.
Will this special shed any light as to why DC Comics is pushing this character on us so much?
Nope, not at all. The book starts out by introducing us to Alexis Kaye as a young girl.
She is at an event and the Joker comes in and causes some chaos. We even get to see Alexis held hostage by the Clown Prince of Crime. It is an obvious set up and as a reader I felt like I was just going through the motions reading this.
We then get to see Batman save Alexis and the people around her. This somehow makes Alexis snap. We get to see her origin as it were. It involves Harper and Cullen and even Dr. Leslie Thompkins along the way. We get to see how Punchline formed into the villain she is today.
The whole thing even leads up to present day. DC really wants another Harley Quinn size success with this character.
But the difference is, Harley is fun and full of mirth. Punchline is not. This whole issue is flat and even kind of mean, just like the character itself.
The art isn’t bad. It’s nobody’s fault here. They tried. The writers certainly did. The character is just not likable, no matter which way they try to spin her. Maybe instead of stuff like this, DC should make a new Harley Quinn series?
Point is, you can’t copy a proven success. Punchline has no magic. I wish it did.
RATING: C
