Batman Secret Files: Clownhunter #1 is a work of art, finally putting the spotlight onto the most interesting fresh face in Gotham we've seen in decades! Read Full Review

As I mentioned, it's difficult writing in a new character, but the thought process, paralleled with the back and forth between the flashbacks and our hero's hunt is captivating. I was taken in by the story, and felt sad for the character at the end. The way things are left could really provide him with more fun stories in the future. If you'd like to see more of Punchline, check in on the current state of Gotham City, and learn about a character who was introduced a year ago into Gotham, then pick up a copy of Batman: Secret Files: Clownhunter #1. He seems like a perfect match for the Bat-fam… an there's a fun family member cameo at the end! Read Full Review

Overall, Tynion's set a strong foundation on these original characters including Clownhunter, Punchline, and Ghost-Maker, and this issue is a good indication that they could be Bat-line mainstays for years to come. Read Full Review

The journey of Bao Pham continues and while the path he's on looks pretty promising, the road that got him where he currently is didn't do much overall but show us that our main character can take some pain and doesn't like putting up with nonsense. That being said though, I really enjoyed what this issue did for Clownhunter and Punchline, not to mention that I loved the art throughout...... I just hope that it's not too long until we see this character again and pick up where we left off here. Read Full Review

Batman Secret Files: Clownhunter #1 might not be the definitive, Earth-shattering solo story for Bao Pham, but it will likely get readers more excited for that tale's eventual arrival. Read Full Review

Rosi Kampe does some great work with the art in the issue. There are some great action beats to be found and the art advances the story really well. Read Full Review

Clownhunter's back story is a familiar tale in Gotham, but his tenacity and his interactions with Red Hood in this issue have me interested in his story. The art isn't bad, either. Read Full Review

There are elements of Batman: Secret Files: Clownhunter that I really enjoy, and then there are elements that are a complete miss. I question some of the character rationalizations that are set up for Bao here. Brisson's script comes off as though an individual is justified to murder someone if they're bullied, and I don't back that ideology. I don't agree with bullying either, but murder definitely isn't the answer. I am even more let down by some of the technical issues with the script considering minor notes from the editorial team could have elevated this book tremendously before it was ever even sent to the artist. Read Full Review

After eight months, Clownhunter returns in his own Secret Files tale - but sadly, his character regresses back into the edgy cliches of Joker War instead of the beautiful parallelism of Batman Annual #5, and taints some of the best Batman comics of the last ten years in the process. Read Full Review

I was pleasantly surprised by this twist, it is not the most original thing in the world, but there is a respect for the canon that is sorely lacking in current DC comics. Besides something that is not all that left politics is refreshing, just relax and read a comic.
I agree that Brisson knew how to respect both characters canonically.

A little more development on Clownhunter goes a long way. Bao Pham feels alone and has had to deal with predators for a lot of his life. It's no wonder that even with a therapy session, he still feels the need to punish bullies like Punchline's clown army. Only problem is, he doesn't have a lot of people to count on despite being able to take a hit. So having Red Hood show up looks like a good development. They're alike in a lot of ways, plus Jason's willing to help those who have lost their way in life by supervillain activity; as his interactions with Duela Dent show. Who knows, maybe he and Pham can get more development together than apart. Gotta say though, it's getting difficult to know when these issues take place as they change between his Outlaw outfit and his New 52 gear. more

This installment for the first time made me feel sorry for this guy.

"I've alone for years.I ain't afraid of it."
Bao Pham


Although Clownhunter isn't a great character, villain, anti-hero or heroe depending on the direction that DC things to give him, the story was not so bad.

I'm going to be honest. I was pleasantly surprised for this issue. I had no expectations but it has great action and great characterization. Clownhunter seems to be like a more untrained version of Red Hood/Punisher, but I really enjoy his backstory and how he's willing to just murder people.

I would totally love to see Ed Brisson write a Red Hood/Clownhunter series. It would be interesting to see Red Hood be like Batman and train his own apprentice.

This character didn't appeal to me very much, it still does not convince me, but Brisson put a more interesting twist on it. I hope you accept Little Red Riding Hood's proposal, that would be interesting.

Not bad but he's not a very interesting character either, that's why they had to use one of the batkids to attract an audience.

Bao reminds me of the feisty, but not too bright, little brother who keeps coming at big brother and gets the crap beat out of him each time. Okay, we get it...Bao was bullied at school by the bigoted white rich kids. I bought this book because of Red Hood's all too brief appearance. Punchline was really the star. I found it hard to really care much about Bao. He needs more development other than just being driven by a lust for vengeance.

For the bland character they had presented, this was not so bad, definitely the union with Red Hood would make more sense than with Batman. Maybe Jason found his own Robin Lol

Honestly, better than I expected, pretty good surprise especially since Clownhunter is very boring as a character. But I enjoyed how Punchline explains that the clowns want to bait young people into violence. Very similar to what happens these days online with the radicalization of young people who can't take people disagreeing with them and think that violence is the solution. Also, yeah, if anyone should understand about a kid getting in over his head, it's Jason.

Clownhunter isn't an engaging character. I hope this cliffhanger isn't followed up on. Ed Brisson is a capable writer, so this isn't terrible, but I just... do not care.

I will be honest I did not think to touch this book, a tremendous cliche about the boy victim of bullying, however the characterization of Red Hood was more reliable than that of Zdarsky that shows that he did not take a single recent book of the canon and gave us a very bad characterization of the character.
Nice to see Jay in his last uniform without the red bat on his chest.

Bao es un personaje algo insípido lo ha sido desde su creación, solo me tome el tiempo de leerlo por la aparición de RH, la idea de tomar a Bao bajo su ala creo que debió ponerse en la mesa desde el principio. Eso es realmente lo único interesante del libro.