
Joker: One Operation Joker, vol. 1 | Review

Joker: One Operation Joker, vol. 1
Story by Satoshi Miyagawa
Art by Keisuke Gotou
Kodansha/DC Comics, 9/5/23
Age rating: 12+
We all know how psychotic and deranged The Joker can be. With the countless portrayals of the Clown Prince of Crime, a devoted father was not one of those traits. So when The Joker is suddenly a father figure to a baby, we see a side of Joker that is so absurd and hilarious, readers will be in for a treat.
During one of their many battles, Joker and Batman find themselves at a familiar stomping ground: a chemical plant. It’s an allusion to the Joker’s origin story, but this time it’s Batman who falls into a vat of chemicals. However, instead of becoming deranged like his nemesis, Batman comes out of the vat as… a baby.
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Yes, The Joker is now raising Batman. He decides to raise the baby to become a better crime fighter, and names him… Bruce.
Then a certain millionaire disappears at the same time as Batman becomes a baby.
It’s so ridiculous, absurd, brilliant, and dare I say, wholesome. Imagine pairing the word wholesome with The Joker. Freaks me out too, but here we are.
Now we see the Joker becoming Batman’s dad in hopes of raising him into becoming the crime fighter he should be. That means with trying (and failing) to get Bruce into a good daycare, nurturing him while committing crimes to fund buying diapers and formula, and making sure his goons (who include fan-favorite Harley Quinn) don’t disrupt Bruce’s sleeping schedule or leave shattered glass on the floor that would hurt the baby. It makes for hilarious reading.
Again, it’s so absurd and ridiculous and the funniest story I’ve ever read. I mean, who would have thought that The Joker would go into “dad-mode” while his minions, including Harley, go ga-ga over Baby Bats?
With slight swearing and not-so-graphic violence, I found Joker: One Operation Joker quite enjoyable and look forward to how Batman and The Joker’s relationship develops through the years. This manga is a way to show that. The art is dark and gritty but still fun to follow as Joker struggles to be a good father.
So what happens next with this new father-son duo, and what obstacles and annoyances Joker will face while raising Bruce?
Well tune in next time, readers. Same Bat-time, same Bat-chan, er, manga?
Filed under: Graphic Novels, Manga, Reviews, Young Adult

About Renee Scott
Renee Scott is a young adult librarian based in NYC, as well as a dedicated otaku and gamer. She is a lifelong fan of comics, anime, and manga. She can be found on Bluesky at @libraryladynyc, and on her review blog, The Library Lady of NYC Reviews.
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