Even when a comic is technically about the Joker, it’s difficult to actually cast the Clown Prince of Crime as the main protagonist. Unlike the Joker movie, DC Comics has always shied away from stories that shed too much light on the character’s origin or his manner of thinking. Better this villain’s story be expressed in multiple choice. With that in mind, Joker: Hidden Smile is another strong addition to the library of Batman comics that are less about the Joker himself than his effect on those trapped in his orbit.
Killer Smile’s premise may sound familiar at first glance. An ambitious psychiatrist thinks they have the key to cracking Joker’s mind and curing his unique brand of madness, only to find their patient may be manipulating them instead. But this isn’t really a retread of the classic Harley Quinn origin. Killer Smile is much more a psychological horror tale in the vein of Jacob’s Ladder and Altered States. It’s a comic where Dr. Ben Arnell finds the lines between reality and horrific fantasy blurring.