Now I’d like to talk to you about a recently emerged in DC Universe character, Punchline.
She is said to be the Joker’s right-hand woman and his new girlfriend as well. She was promised to be a real breakthrough. Well, I don’t know your opinion about her, but I don’t like her.
Her first origin is told in The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular. Alexis Kaye was an ordinary college student when she had her first encounter with the Joker while on a field trip at a TV studio. Joker had hijacked the studio and forced Alexis at gunpoint to act as a newsreader and deliver his 'message' to the citizens of Gotham. The stunt was interrupted by Batman and Alexis was saved, however, she developed an obsession with the Joker and came to believe that the Joker's crimes served a greater purpose. She started an online podcast dedicated to the Joker and soon after that met the Clown in person.
Her story is too simple, dull and uninteresting. It is terribly stereotyped and without a twist. The authors didn't even explain why she is special. There are millions of Joker fans in the world, but the villain somehow chooses a kind of a rude college girl. (Do you remember the League of Smiles committing their crimes under the Merrymaker’s leadership? I consider them having more potential than Punchline.)
Punchline wasn’t so impressive as she had been promised to be.
James Tynion IV has stated that she is intended as an anti-Harley Quinn, being a silent and intimidating serial killer and the fact that the Joker seems to actually care about her.
Perhaps, it’s the main problem of the character. That she was intended to be Harley’s enemy more than the Joker’s henchgirl. I think if her first appearance had been in Harley Quinn’s comics, she would have been a great character. But, obviously, she can’t catch up with the Batman Villains Gallery, especially with the Joker.
It seems that Punchline’s alliance with the Joker is just a PR for her. I certainly understand that new characters need to be promoted and shown that they can do a little more than they actually do. But not so much! Punchline defeated Nightwing and Batgirl (people who have trained for years and are great fighters), Harley Quinn and Catwoman (professional gymnasts) and Batman (it’s bullcrap).
Moreover, it is clear to everyone that the Joker is not one of those who love and humanity should be attributed to.
The only positive thing I’d like to emphasize in Punchline is her appearance. I like the way she is painted.
I'm not a Harley Quinn fan, but Harley is a hundred times more interesting than Punchline. Harleen has her origin, we understand the Joker’s motives for choosing her.
Punchline has already appeared in a lot of comics and has become one of the most important characters of DC (according to the authors). But I think she should be taken away from the pages at all, or at the very least, her origin must be changed.
I think the authors merely wanted Punchline to be as popular as Harley Quinn and put her up on a pedestal. But it took years for Harley (it took ages for all characters) to become one of the most famous characters of DC. Punchline can’t be exceptional.
