Artist Roge Antonio brings the right touch to this issue - slightly understated but still very shadowy and unsettling. He depicts Gotham as it is for the average man on the ground, while still casting Joker as a larger-than-life figure who seems to be operating on a different plane than everyone else. Read Full Review

If you've been looking for some pure Joker wackiness without being tied to a huge story event, this is the issue for you. Despite being labeled as part of Endgame, it's really more of a self-contained story that slightly leads up Joker's current standing. James Tynion IV delivers some refreshing and twisted moments in Joker's life as we see what it means to be friends with him. The art by Roge Antonio gives us a nice different take on Joker over the years. If you've been wondering what Joker's been up to when not involved in a long battle against Batman, this is an issue you'll want to check out. Read Full Review

This is a solid Joker story, which therefore will succeed or fail on the strength of whether you like Joker stories. As few people who don't like such tales will be reading this book, it is likely to please. Nothing that happens here will add substantially to the legend of the Joker. But, seeing as the Clown Prince of Crime believes all meaning comes from the lack of meaning, the lack of lasting substance probably would not bother him at all. Read Full Review

If you like a good Joker story then here is a good one for you. It actually does have Batman in it, but not much at all. Even without Batman there is a good character study of The Joker and how he might twist a regular person. It's a chilling read by the end of the comic book. I recommend checking this out. Read Full Review

The art of the issue is great too. The issue might not really have anything to do with the Endgame event, but overall, this is still a very nice issue regardless. It reminds us why we should be afraid of the Joker, and don't ever doubt his true insanity. Read Full Review

Batman Annuals are always a treat, an extra installment of a brilliant series is never something to turn down. Last year's Batman Annual introduced us to Eric Border, unbeknownst to us revealing the location of the Joker for the next year as Zero Year took over the main Batman title. This year, we get a supplemental story to Endgame, and whilst it isn't required reading, like most annuals, it does warrant a look at. If you're a fan of creepy Joker stories, and the more human aspect of Gotham City, then this is definitely a book for you, and it's definitely one that makes you think about the Joker in general, just like the main Batman series is doing at the moment too. Read Full Review

I'm not going to go overboard and say that this is a must-read issue, but if you like a good Joker story, pick it up.  Like Tynion's backups to Endgame, you can skip it, but you'll be missing out on some seriously good moments.  While I wasn't a huge fan of Roge Antonio's art, it's dark and gloomy style fit the story well.  Annuals are sometimes a hard sell, but if you are reading Endgame and/or a Joker fan, I can easily recommend this to you. Read Full Review

"Batman Annual" #3 is by no means a must-read in order to understand the "Endgame" story Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are delivering in "Batman," but it certainly does give readers more of the DC Universe's most famous madman at his madcap best. All too often, the focus on the Joker turns to the carnage and body count, but Tynion and company tighten the spotlight here, showing the true cost Tommy Blackcrow pays for his quest for knowledge. The Joker gets just a little more horrific by the end of this comic book and "Endgame" raises the stakes just a little bit more. Joker fans are going to want to pick this up and Batfans in general are certain to find "Batman Annual" #3 disturbingly entertaining. Read Full Review

Overall this issue was pretty decent, and I liked that it shed some light onto Jokers colorful history…will this relationship of Joker and Tommy in any way reflect the relationship of Joker and Batman. If Death of the Family was Jokers way of showing Batman how much he cared, what will happen in Endgame now that Batman has spurned the Clown Prince? Only time will tell what will occur and how this story will influence the Dark Knight and his allies. Read Full Review

I don't know exactly how this book ties into Endgame, but what we're given is a fantastic horror story involving the Joker. James Tynion shows just how far the Joker is willing to go to torture someone just because they said something he didn't like. We don't normally see heroes and super villains involved in horror stories, but the Joker fits perfectly into this one, haunting a reporter who stood up to him, that ultimately ends up ruining his life. There's some great tension, and some creepy moments, like seeing what Joker does to his "best friend's" roommate. Roge Antonio does a pretty good job on art. While I don't really like his depictions of the earlier Joker, once he gets nearer to the modern age, he starts to look appropriately creepy. The true horrific moments involving disfigured faces, tortured bodies, and things of the like are executed perfectly. There's a genuine creep-out element to this. Overall, while it might not be the best tie-in issue, and who knows how long we'll have to wait to see how this plays into Endgame, or the Batman story as a whole, the story told is well done, with great writing and art. Highly recommended. more

This is a great format for an annual. It works great as a self contained story, but still alludes to current events in the main title, while also recapping batman/joker history is a sleek fashion.The art is a little clunky at times, but it's good overall and carries plenty of mood. The story is chilling and very clever. Batman fans won't want to pass this up and anyone that enjoys horror fill be rewarded if they give this a read.