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Joker cover; COMIC BOOK IMPACT rating of 7 (CBI)
As wacky and silly as this cover is trying to come across, there is still something primally unsettling about the Joker; ladders, black cats, and mirrors be damned, the Crown Prince of Crime strangely resists any attempt to make him into a humorous foil, I mean, that bucket of paint brings to mind images of blood, and not the slapstick antics the artists were aiming for. It could be that viewing covers such as this through the window of time, taking into account the Joker’s ongoing and growing violence and psychosis has an unexpected impact, but that is the magic at the center of the character’s makeup, he is at one a clown and a malevolent, sinister presence. It's no wonder he is recognized as one of the top villains in the history of the comic book form. Classic Joker covers are amongst the most popular Batman and Detective issues, and Batman #40 is no exception.