
- Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
- Artist: Vanessa Del Rey
- Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
- Letterer: Good Old Neon
- Thanks to Image Comics for the review copy!

HAHA is the brain child of W. Maxwell Prince, the writer behind the ICE CREAM MAN one shot series. Like ICE CREAM MAN, each issue of HAHA will be a stand-alone story.
The first issue of HAHA reminds me a lot of 2019’s JOKER movie. Both feature a down on his luck clown and both have some pretty grim things happen. However, HAHA separates itself with its main character’s cheery disposition. Another interesting wrinkle in this book is the fact that Bart has the picture perfect family – a wife, two kids … and a dog! The book opens with the line “I’m the luckiest guy there ever was.” While that is perhaps a dubious claim, it does make Bart aka Bartelby the Clown an interesting lead.
As befits a book about a clown, the book uses a lot of colors. However, the shading seems muted, like the old classic comic books. Interestingly, after a major plot point, the style moves from fairly realistic to surreal. This is an inspired decision as it fits the storyline perfectly.
The JOKER movie was pretty depressing and I felt uneasy during the entire film. HAHA goes down much smoother and while plenty of bad stuff happens, it is less likely to depress you. If you are trying to figure out if your children should read this, the JOKER movie is a decent comparison. There is some violence and cursing and the subject matter is generally geared toward adults.
HAHA #1 is now available.
Check back in a few weeks for my thoughts on issue #2 of the six part limited series. The second issue is set for release on February 17th, 2021.
Have you read the title? What are your thoughts? Feel free to chat with me on Twitter or leave a comment below!