The JOKER WEEK finale!
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Welcome to JOKER WEEK! One of the greatest characters in comics history debuted 85 years ago, in Batman #1, on April 24, 1940 — and we’re celebrating with a series of features saluting the Clown Prince of Crime, just like we did with CATWOMAN WEEK. For the complete index of JOKER WEEK features, click here.
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This week, we’ve put the spotlight on Marshall Rogers, Jim Aparo and Neal Adams. As well we should.
But I wanted to make sure Irv Novick got center stage too since, when it comes down to it, I’ve probably read more Batman — and Joker — stories drawn by him than anyone else.
So dig these 13 Novick illos, from the mid-’70s series The Joker:
Issue #8, Tex Blaisdell inks
Issue #5, Blaisdell inks
Issue #9, Blaisdell inks. Joker and Catwoman!
Issue #1, Dick Giordano inks
Issue #7, Frank McLaughlin inks
Issue #5, Blaisdell inks
Issue #2, Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez inks
Issue #7, McLaughlin inks
The “lost” Issue #10. No inker identified.
Issue #1, Giordano inks
Issue #6, Blaisdell inks
Issue #1, Giordano inks
Issue #7 McLaughlin inks
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MORE
— The Complete JOKER WEEK Index of Features. Click here.
— THE JOKER’s Essential Artists: NEAL ADAMS. Click here.
April 26, 2025
Wow! I loved this series! Thanks!
April 26, 2025
Ahhhh . . .I remember many of these pages well, as I have issues 1, 6, 7, and 8 of The Joker (issue # 1 bought as a back issue in the later 1980s). I must say, Irv Novick was quite good illustratively, if too unsung compared to his more famous contemporary Batman illustrators (Adams, Aparo, Rogers). A Novick art appreciation day is most deserved.
And yeah–me too: Apart from Jim Aparo’s B&B and his all too-short work on Archie Goodwin’s run on Detective Comics back in my 1970s heyday of comics buying, Irv Novick was the typical artist I encountered for Batman–and Joker–stories.
Thanks for the memories, Dan.
April 26, 2025
I really enjoyed his BATMAN and his take on the FLASH. I was not sold on his Bruce Wayne however. Irv was definitely an artist that formed the basis of this Bronze Age fan and my take on BATMAN.
I never bought the Joker series in the day. I have never gotten behind the bad guy being front and center. This applies to movies, books and comics. Naturally, I’ve never seen many of the mafia inspired movies like The Godfather. But I may need to revisit my take on the Joker series if for other reasons then to enjoy some “new to me” Novick artwork.
April 26, 2025
As I recall, while the Joker may have been front and center, he typically got some come-uppance at the end of the story.
In issue #6, an actor playing Sherlock Holmes believes he really is the famous detective (a clear subliminal Batman sub) after the Joker clonks him on the head. So, a contrast of mental perception vs mental deception, where “Sherlock” gets his “Moriarty”.
In issue # 7, the Joker and Lex Luthor have an inadvertent switch of personalities when the former bursts in on the latter working with equipment intended to sap Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) of his willpower. End of story: the rational Joker finally gets a hold of zany Luthor, reconnects the equipment, and accomplishes the re-reversal–but the power jolt leaves both unconscious, where the two are apprehended by a police officer (who we are to infer got a helluva promotion for such a never-before dual capture of supervillainy).
So, the Joker is still the “bad guy” even if “front and center”-but DC never glorified his villainy as I recall. Yet the literary motif does advantage the ability to explore more of the criminal mind and its motivations. But your point is rather salient in that the mag lasted only 9 issues . . .
April 26, 2025
I didn’t appreciate his work when i was buying them new off the rack back in the late 70s & early 80s. Neither Vince Colletta nor Tex Blaisdell did him (or anyone else for that matter) any favors but have totally come around… Extremely underrated and unsung artist.
April 26, 2025
RE: Neither Vince Colletta nor Tex Blaisdell did him (or anyone else for that matter) any favors.
Well. Yes.
April 26, 2025
Irv Novick and Jim Aparo were my go-to Batman artists during my early reading days….and later Don Newton. I was a late arrival to Neal Adams, only catching his last few issues sadly. If Novick or Aparo were drawing anything on the racks, I tried to pick it up.