Classic Comics Cavalcade: You Are Cordially Invited To ‘Batman’ #321
by Tony Thornley
This weekend sees the debut of the biggest DC movie of the year. It’s a huge film, and so naturally we wanted to talk about its star- Batman! So let’s take a look at an unknown classic.
Batman #321 was published in December of 1979, and I guarantee that it’s an issue that you haven’t heard much about. However, I came across it in a collection I’d bought but hadn’t finished reading some time ago. Created by Len Wein, Walt Simonson, Dick Giordano, Glynis Wein and Ben Oda, we get to celebrate the Joker’s birthday.
It’s a quiet but rainy night in Gotham City when Commission Jim Gordon arrives in police headquarters. It quickly descends into chaos when the Joker drops in, gassing the on-duty officers and kidnapping Gordon, despite Batman’s intervention. The Dark Knight quickly learns of plans to take revenge on the Joker’s enemies- revenge with the largest audience possible.
This is a hell of a story, particularly with the creative team involved. Wein was at the height of his career, Simonson was just starting to come into his own, and Giordano’s inks over the pencils give it a classic feel. It’s a lot on the same level as The Joker’s Five-Way Revenge and The Laughing Fish.
Wein’s story is dialogue and exposition heavy, but this is also a single issue story. His talky captions are using his limited page space well, and ensuring that the story is satisfying, beginning to end. Oda’s able to take exposition and make it into a part of the book, flowing with art as the story builds.
This issue is Simonson before Simonson. Though you can see hints of his dynamic and sleek storytelling shine through, this issue is most in the house style of the time. Still, earl Simonson is better than most comic artists. His Batman is dynamic, yet he doesn’t hog the point of view with Bruce Wayne. His Joker is frightening and chaotic. Giordano’s inks are clean, and Wein’s color art makes the story come to life as the Joker’s plan unfolds.
I really enjoyed coming across this forgotten little gem. It’s a fun little adventure. The mystery isn’t totally satisfying but it’s got some fantastic action and a number of solid character beats. I would definitely recommend checking it out if you’re looking for an out of the ordinary Batman adventure.
