So Punchline debuted. What do you think?

[Vakanai]

Oh my God! We are already reciting a requiem for a character who made her debut less than fortnight ago and until now she appeared in a panel and two story (one of them short). Maybe we should await six or seven issues, before to start to dig her grave; or don't we?

Welcome to the comic book fandom - we deal in doom, gloom, pessimism, cynicism, nihilism, occasional misanthropy, and a generally bitter and jaded world view from which hope can never spring.

[Ascended]

Welcome to the comic book fandom - we deal in doom, gloom, pessimism, cynicism, nihilism, occasional misanthropy, and a generally bitter and jaded world view from which hope can never spring.

All very true.

But let's be honest; how many new characters actually last? Assuming Punchline will fail and not survive long is simply the safe, smart bet, because that's the fate of 99.9% of new characters. Even if the character is good (and I haven't read the issue/s so I can't really comment on the execution) that's not going to lend much protection or increase the odds of success.

[Frontier]

All very true.

But let's be honest; how many new characters actually last? Assuming Punchline will fail and not survive long is simply the safe, smart bet, because that's the fate of 99.9% of new characters. Even if the character is good (and I haven't read the issue/s so I can't really comment on the execution) that's not going to lend much protection or increase the odds of success.

Probably 1 out of 5 or 10.

[sifighter]

I really want here to be a meta.
Something about her appearance make me think she's always about to DO something supernatural. I'd love it if she was a powerhouse villainess that uses knives and was secretly an army killer or planet buster, hell I take a deadly nightshade set.
I hate to think she's just another "juggalette" and that's weird to me but that's what they went with. It'll be a long road before she gets any development power wise like that. I do like her design though and I find her pretty realistic since... well since there are
a plethora who are that way in real life.

That would be interesting, especially since it would mean that the Batfamily would really have to plan against her abilities. I’m not sure what powers she would have though, maybe she can be like anime where she just summons a blade/knife out of no where.

If not that I could see something as anarchist as fire, but then she’s just competing with firefly.

[Ascended]

Probably 1 out of 5 or 10.

I'm not sure if it's even that many.

Back in the 90's, yeah, 1 out of 10 sounds roughly right. We did get several characters in that decade who have (more or less) stuck around; Conner and Tim and Bart and Stargirl, etc. But since the dawn of the 00's? I don't think even 1 out of 10 have managed to last. 1 out of 20 maybe.

I should clarify; I'm thinking of characters who have either carried books consistently, or had a role in team books consistently. I'm not counting someone like, say, Cass Cain, who hasn't managed to carry a book regularly since her creation and doesn't appear in other books consistently either. Cass is still around, and I'm glad she's been getting some attention ('Tec and now Outsiders) but her appearances are too infrequent for me to think she's "stuck." More like she *could* stick, but hasn't yet, and she goes long stretches of time without any meaningful appearances, or any appearances at all.

[king81992]

Based on today's issue, I think Punchline represents the Joker's fanbase. Everything she said, I've heard his fanboys say before.

[the illustrious mr. kenway]

She's alright but her design is stronger than her character so far.

[Vakanai]

All very true.

Kind of sad, ain't it?

[Gotham citizen]

[…]
But let's be honest; how many new characters actually last? Assuming Punchline will fail and not survive long is simply the safe, smart bet, because that's the fate of 99.9% of new characters. Even if the character is good (and I haven't read the issue/s so I can't really comment on the execution) that's not going to lend much protection or increase the odds of success.

Time ago I thought like you, but then I realized that when Harley became a hero/anti-hero, the role of Joker's girlfriend became vacant and because this role has became extremely iconic (like the one of Robin), there are very good chance that Joker and Punchline will become the Bonnie and Clyde of Gotham; if Tynion will play well his cards.

[Frontier]

I'm not sure if it's even that many.

Back in the 90's, yeah, 1 out of 10 sounds roughly right. We did get several characters in that decade who have (more or less) stuck around; Conner and Tim and Bart and Stargirl, etc. But since the dawn of the 00's? I don't think even 1 out of 10 have managed to last. 1 out of 20 maybe.

I should clarify; I'm thinking of characters who have either carried books consistently, or had a role in team books consistently. I'm not counting someone like, say, Cass Cain, who hasn't managed to carry a book regularly since her creation and doesn't appear in other books consistently either. Cass is still around, and I'm glad she's been getting some attention ('Tec and now Outsiders) but her appearances are too infrequent for me to think she's "stuck." More like she *could* stick, but hasn't yet, and she goes long stretches of time without any meaningful appearances, or any appearances at all.

I guess it depends on our definition of "stick." Cass doesn't have the mass-media popularity of Babs as Batgirl but the fact that she was able to survive a reboot and an editorial that was against her and still be published prominently in an ongoing book (albeit not the extent of her old self) still feels like she stuck well enough to me.

[sifighter]

I think this is a thing DC just wants in general, a new secondary player who can work alongside the Joker. I say that because we have punchline but they also have Harley Sinn (from the Harley Quinn ongoing) over in the black label Birds of Prey mini, you know the one by the Harley Quinn ongoing writers and is sort of the recent Harley Quinn movie but in somewhat comic continuity.

I guess it’s just a thing they want to do overall.

[Rakzo]

Based on today's issue, I think Punchline represents the Joker's fanbase. Everything she said, I've heard his fanboys say before.

This is Tynion we're talking about, he represents that fanbase too. I doubt this is intentional.

God, this week's Batman suuuuuucked.

[Jman27]

I like her so far although they made her look incompetent with Harley sure she slice her neck but why not just kill her then throw her body in the river plus her survival was spoil. I think the whole purpose of her character is to bring back the partnership between Joker and Harley but since Joker is literally Harley abuser and Harley isnt even a villian anymore I beleive they arent going to do that ever again. I just hope Punchline doesnt get betrayed anytime soon or is used as a punching bag as well.

[Frontier]

Based on today's issue, I think Punchline represents the Joker's fanbase. Everything she said, I've heard his fanboys say before.

I'm...not sure if this is a good thing.

(I mean, Harley was a Joker fangirl, but it was kind of amusing how deluded she was about it).

[Ascended]

Time ago I thought like you, but then I realized that when Harley became a hero/anti-hero, the role of Joker's girlfriend became vacant and because this role has became extremely iconic (like the one of Robin), there are very good chance that Joker and Punchline will become the Bonnie and Clyde of Gotham; if Tynion will play well his cards.

I'm sure DC wants the "Joker's girlfriend" niche filled, and you're right it's a role that's been carved out enough for DC to want someone in that position, but that doesn't mean Punchline is going to prove popular enough to hold it. She might, I'm not saying Punchline is awful and will never last six months; I haven't read the books to have an opinion on her. But if DC gets this "right" in one go, I'd be surprised and impressed.

I guess it depends on our definition of "stick." Cass doesn't have the mass-media popularity of Babs as Batgirl but the fact that she was able to survive a reboot and an editorial that was against her and still be published prominently in an ongoing book (albeit not the extent of her old self) still feels like she stuck well enough to me.

Eh, maybe Cass wasn't the best of examples, but my point still came across right?

Regarding Cass......in the last ten-ish years, how much play has she gotten? Far as I know, she was missing for years after the New52 started, showed up in that weekly Batman title, then was limited to rare and occasional guest appearances until Tynion's 'Tec, then spent several more months (maybe a whole year?) waiting for Outsiders to hit. Am I missing any prominent roles or appearances? I feel like Cass hasn't "stuck" fully; she's stuck well enough so that she still gets published a little bit, but that's all. I guess that's kind of a win, but not what I would call successful. Shame too, Cass was one of the most interesting characters DC churned out in the 00's.