How did legendary filmmakerJohn Carpentercome to write aJoker comic book?

Im a Batman fan, the director ofThe Thingand the originalHalloweentells EW.

Of all the superheroes, hes the best, represents more stuff, hes more serious as a character.

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And the Jokers just brilliant.

Hes the greatest villain.

This is DC comics.

Joker

DC Comics

This is the Joker.

The Jokers the greatest!

Who wouldnt want to write this?

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DC Comics

So, here we are!

(Burch is also known for his work as the lead writer on the videogameBorderlands 2.)

DC went to John and said, Hey, do you want to write for the Joker?

Joker

DC Comics

and John asked me, says Burch.

I pay him to say these things, you see, Carpenter quips.

Yeah, thats therealgood part, Burch adds.

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DC Comics

Howmuchdo you pay him, John?

Oh, I cant even divulge that, Carpenter replies.

It would make it difficult to negotiate with other sycophants, Burch says.

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DC Comics

It would be a wholething.

The inmates are running the asylum, except the asylum is now the entirety of Gotham City.

What does that look like in a city where chaos is already reigning?

How do you be the crazy guy thats surprising everyone when the world has already gone insane?

They just said, Do you want to write this?

We sent it to them and they said, Oh, its great, go ahead.

He leads, and I follow through the darkness.

Anthony showed up and said some nice things.

I said, Whats your name?

So I was on board.

IsThe Joker: Year of the Villaingoing to be a one-off?

Which we would love to do.BURCH:Absolutely.CARPENTER:But maybe not.

Were happy either way.

Im going to use it.

But as they, say, what have you done for usrecently?BURCH:Brutal!

I dont know, man.

What about you, John?CARPENTER:Well, Im producing two movies,Halloween KillsandHalloween Ends.

See the cover for, and a selection of pages from,The Joker: Year of the Villainbelow.