Punchline (character)
DC Comics character
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Punchline (Alexis Kaye) is a supervillain who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with the supervillain The Joker. Created by writer James Tynion IV and artist Jorge Jiménez, she first appears in Batman (Vol. 3) #89 (April 2020), during the "Joker War" story arc.[1][2][3][4]
Jorge Jiménez (artist)
| Punchline | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Batman (vol. 3) #89 (April 2020) |
| Created by | James Tynion IV (writer) Jorge Jiménez (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Alexis Kaye |
| Species | Human |
| Place of origin | Gotham City |
| Partnerships | Joker Royal Flush Gang Legion of Doom |
| Abilities |
|
Character and publication history
DC Rebirth (2016–2017)
Debuting shortly before the "Joker War" story arc, Alexis Kaye is a college student who develops an unhealthy obsession with the Joker, after encountering him during an ill-fated high school trip. Facing the death penalty for the crimes she committed recently, Kaye pleads not guilty. Being released from jail, she develops a plot to become The Joker's new sidekick and girlfriend.
New Justice (2018–2021)
Infinite Frontier (2021–2023)
In 2022, the character was given a limited series, titled Punchline: The Gotham Game, in which she moves on from The Joker and becomes the new leader of Gotham's Royal Flush Gang. The title ran for 6 issues, and was written by Tini Howard, with art provided by Blake Howard, Gleb Melnikov.[5]
Dawn of DC (2023–present)
In the "Knight Terrors" story arc, Punchline and the Royal Flush Gang attempt to break into the supposedly abandoned Clock Tower that was used by the Bat Family. With a large number of heroes in the Knightmare Realm, she believes that the process will be an easy task before coming face-to-face with her deepest fear.[6]
Equipment
Unlike the majority of DC villains, Punchline has no metahuman powers or abilities. However, she is adept at wielding knives and makes use of Joker venom, along with other toxins.[citation needed]
Collected editions
| Title | Material collected | Published date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punchline: The Trial of Alexis Kaye | The Joker 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1; Punchline #1; The Joker #1-14; and Batman: Urban Legends #950 | September 6, 2022 | 9781779517968 |
| Punchline: The Gotham Game | Punchline: The Gotham Game #1-6 | August 1, 2023 | 9781779518361 |