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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Tragic in unexpected ways, and quite compelling when it digs beneath the surface of the characters. However, Joker here doesn’t actually do an awful lot, and while I’m aware they are building up something he seems a bit under used at points. The ending is nice though.
The highlight of Tom King's run on Batman. King makes great use of Batman's Rogues gallery. Even more obscure villains like Kite Man get a chance to really shine. The biggest weakness of War of Jokes and Riddles is the fact that it's told entirely in flashback, being narrated by Batman to Catwoman. This robs the story of stakes, since we know characters won't die or be significantly changed. If you're not a fan of Tom King's stories, you'll probably balk at the ending. Regardless, there's a lot to enjoy throughout the story. It might be King's most fun story to-date.
This is the best Batman comic I've ever read in all my life, and the illustrations are perfect for the story.
Questo é in assoluto il miglior numero di Batman che io abbia mai letto e le illustrazioni sono perfette per raccontare questa storia.
THANKS TO EDELWEISS FOR THE PREVIEW!
Questo é in assoluto il miglior numero di Batman che io abbia mai letto e le illustrazioni sono perfette per raccontare questa storia.
THANKS TO EDELWEISS FOR THE PREVIEW!
I had stayed away from Batman after Tom King's initial run and I'm glad a friend suggested I give it another try. SPOILERS FOLLOW.
“The War of Jokes and Riddles” chronicles a gang war between the Riddler and the Joker following an altercation where the Joker left the Riddler for dead. This event happened early in Batman’s career and he is telling this story to Selina Kyle one night while they are in bed together. Bruce has a confession to make, a sin to share, and one that he claims none of the other Bat-family members know about.
As Batman relates the story to Selina, readers discover that many of the Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery took sides in this gang war with the citizens of Gotham and the police caught in the crossfire. Tensions escalate culminating in a final showdown of sorts where Batman’s “sin” is revealed.
I genuinely liked this story. I may have even loved it. I do think it is one of the strongest Batman stories I have read in a very long time. I like Batman’s “voice” and I like that he’s a bit more complicated here than in some other versions of the character. His “sin” isn’t as big a deal as he makes it out to be given the outcome, but it shows that he was driven to a breaking point and he carries enormous guilt about it. He has enough guilt that he shares the story with Selina, a woman he wants to marry. (I rather like this idea.) I find Batman's internal struggles, his desire to share his life with Selina, and the obstacles he goes through to make him a much more relatable character than I'm used to reading. I dig it.
The art chores are primarily handled by Mikel Janín and Clay Mann. Both complement each other well, though they have differing styles. The scenes between Bruce and Selina are extremely sexy in a non-graphic way through Janín. Mann’s art is very expressive, and his grumpy Joker is wonderful to behold.
The story is extremely engaging and won’t leave readers disappointed. There are a number of nonsensical ideas that King puts into the book that he somehow manages to sell and make work for the good of the story. Ideas like Deadshot and Deathstroke’s four-day standoff and Bruce Wayne’s negotiation dinner he hosts for the Riddler and Joker to try and workout a ceasefire among them. Still, even as crazy as those ideas are, King gets readers to buy into them. I also really love his unique version of the Joker. Part of the problem in the story is that the Joker can’t seem to find anything funny anymore and he’s a violent, grumpy, shadow of himself.
The Riddler is the most difficult for me to enjoy. King’s Riddler is cool, suave, dashing, and a villain to the core. He kills, he maims, he even has a child poisoned to further his agenda, and I’m not sure if I’ve made peace with this version of the character. Not yet.
Hell, a handful of years ago, Paul Dini introduced Riddler as an anti-hero detective in Gotham trying to show up Batman. I kind of liked that version. He wasn't a saint by any stretch of the imagination, but I liked how the need to solve riddles drove him to do good.
Decades ago, Neil Gaiman wrote a brilliant Riddler story in a Secret Origins Special. In the story, a newsman who is trying to claim that it is Batman who has made the criminals victims, interviews the Riddler. Riddler tells of how much fun it used to be, matching wits with Batman, sending Riddles to the police, being chased, arrested, and breaking out to do it all again. But he says it isn’t fun anymore, because no one used to get hurt, it was all just a game, and now the other villains don’t play the game anymore. This version of the character was sad because the Joker was killing people now. It is wonderful because the short tale speaks to a more innocent time in the comics, almost like a trip down memory lane, to when the villains robbed banks, not killed, tortured, poisoned, or anything else we see villains do in the modern era of comics. It is as if the 60’s Batman TV show version of the Riddler has come to a modern Gotham City and this version of it broke his heart.
So you see, the Riddler of King’s Batman comics is that kind of villain now. And as much as it works for the story, I’m not sure I like this version of the character. Maybe time will change that. I think my problems with it are my hang-ups, after all.
Ultimately, I’m going to have to read the other volumes now. I have to see how the Selina/Bruce relationship plays out. I want to know what other outrageous things King makes work in his Batman stories. I want to know more about King’s version of Batman.
He’s got me hooked.
Give this volume a try.
I think it’ll hook you too.
“The War of Jokes and Riddles” chronicles a gang war between the Riddler and the Joker following an altercation where the Joker left the Riddler for dead. This event happened early in Batman’s career and he is telling this story to Selina Kyle one night while they are in bed together. Bruce has a confession to make, a sin to share, and one that he claims none of the other Bat-family members know about.
As Batman relates the story to Selina, readers discover that many of the Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery took sides in this gang war with the citizens of Gotham and the police caught in the crossfire. Tensions escalate culminating in a final showdown of sorts where Batman’s “sin” is revealed.
I genuinely liked this story. I may have even loved it. I do think it is one of the strongest Batman stories I have read in a very long time. I like Batman’s “voice” and I like that he’s a bit more complicated here than in some other versions of the character. His “sin” isn’t as big a deal as he makes it out to be given the outcome, but it shows that he was driven to a breaking point and he carries enormous guilt about it. He has enough guilt that he shares the story with Selina, a woman he wants to marry. (I rather like this idea.) I find Batman's internal struggles, his desire to share his life with Selina, and the obstacles he goes through to make him a much more relatable character than I'm used to reading. I dig it.
The art chores are primarily handled by Mikel Janín and Clay Mann. Both complement each other well, though they have differing styles. The scenes between Bruce and Selina are extremely sexy in a non-graphic way through Janín. Mann’s art is very expressive, and his grumpy Joker is wonderful to behold.
The story is extremely engaging and won’t leave readers disappointed. There are a number of nonsensical ideas that King puts into the book that he somehow manages to sell and make work for the good of the story. Ideas like Deadshot and Deathstroke’s four-day standoff and Bruce Wayne’s negotiation dinner he hosts for the Riddler and Joker to try and workout a ceasefire among them. Still, even as crazy as those ideas are, King gets readers to buy into them. I also really love his unique version of the Joker. Part of the problem in the story is that the Joker can’t seem to find anything funny anymore and he’s a violent, grumpy, shadow of himself.
The Riddler is the most difficult for me to enjoy. King’s Riddler is cool, suave, dashing, and a villain to the core. He kills, he maims, he even has a child poisoned to further his agenda, and I’m not sure if I’ve made peace with this version of the character. Not yet.
Hell, a handful of years ago, Paul Dini introduced Riddler as an anti-hero detective in Gotham trying to show up Batman. I kind of liked that version. He wasn't a saint by any stretch of the imagination, but I liked how the need to solve riddles drove him to do good.
Decades ago, Neil Gaiman wrote a brilliant Riddler story in a Secret Origins Special. In the story, a newsman who is trying to claim that it is Batman who has made the criminals victims, interviews the Riddler. Riddler tells of how much fun it used to be, matching wits with Batman, sending Riddles to the police, being chased, arrested, and breaking out to do it all again. But he says it isn’t fun anymore, because no one used to get hurt, it was all just a game, and now the other villains don’t play the game anymore. This version of the character was sad because the Joker was killing people now. It is wonderful because the short tale speaks to a more innocent time in the comics, almost like a trip down memory lane, to when the villains robbed banks, not killed, tortured, poisoned, or anything else we see villains do in the modern era of comics. It is as if the 60’s Batman TV show version of the Riddler has come to a modern Gotham City and this version of it broke his heart.
So you see, the Riddler of King’s Batman comics is that kind of villain now. And as much as it works for the story, I’m not sure I like this version of the character. Maybe time will change that. I think my problems with it are my hang-ups, after all.
Ultimately, I’m going to have to read the other volumes now. I have to see how the Selina/Bruce relationship plays out. I want to know what other outrageous things King makes work in his Batman stories. I want to know more about King’s version of Batman.
He’s got me hooked.
Give this volume a try.
I think it’ll hook you too.
Well finally! A Batman volume this series worth reading. We finally get a feeling of just what makes Tom King great - his stories, his insights, his eerie understanding of psychology. This is probably why he just won the Eisner for this series, not for the trollop we had to put up with these past issues, but the intense tension that he builds and creates in this volume.
Two nemeses of Batman decide to go up against each other in an effort to kill the big, black Bat. But, as is the case with all villains in Gotham, many an innocent must die for these bad guys to triumph. But Batman and Commissioner Gordon cannot let evil reign, so they do everything in their power to stop this madness. Will they go mad in their stead?
The volume is a bit confusing at first, but as King eases into the story you understand the method to the madness. Undoubtedly, my favorite part was the Kite Man subplot - this is comics as its finest. The pathos, the silent, heart wrenching grief in each and every panel; I can not recommend this enough. It was such a beautiful read.
My only criticism would be, we have already met Kite Man in this series, so his origin story in the middle of it makes the timelines confusing. Also, Batman’s story arc is about personal turmoil, which is pretty selfish. Scores of people have been brutally killed or injured because of this war, yet Batman is too busy with his own conscience to mourn them. I feel like, as plot heavy as this is, we should have allowed Batman and Gordon to mourn the loss of innocent Gothamites. Instead, Gordon just brushes it off - that’s unthinking of them. It makes it seem like these good guys are too busy using people as bait.
Also, the inclusion of Catwoman as little more than Batman’s love interest and confidante is doing her a great disservice. We can see why Batman wants to be with her, but what is her angle? I’d like to get to know her more in this Rebirth series, other than as just catburgler and Batman’s love.
Having said all that, it’s just such a relief to see King back at his A-game with this volume. I’m hoping the rest is of the same standard.
Two nemeses of Batman decide to go up against each other in an effort to kill the big, black Bat. But, as is the case with all villains in Gotham, many an innocent must die for these bad guys to triumph. But Batman and Commissioner Gordon cannot let evil reign, so they do everything in their power to stop this madness. Will they go mad in their stead?
The volume is a bit confusing at first, but as King eases into the story you understand the method to the madness. Undoubtedly, my favorite part was the Kite Man subplot - this is comics as its finest. The pathos, the silent, heart wrenching grief in each and every panel; I can not recommend this enough. It was such a beautiful read.
My only criticism would be, we have already met Kite Man in this series, so his origin story in the middle of it makes the timelines confusing. Also, Batman’s story arc is about personal turmoil, which is pretty selfish. Scores of people have been brutally killed or injured because of this war, yet Batman is too busy with his own conscience to mourn them. I feel like, as plot heavy as this is, we should have allowed Batman and Gordon to mourn the loss of innocent Gothamites. Instead, Gordon just brushes it off - that’s unthinking of them. It makes it seem like these good guys are too busy using people as bait.
Also, the inclusion of Catwoman as little more than Batman’s love interest and confidante is doing her a great disservice. We can see why Batman wants to be with her, but what is her angle? I’d like to get to know her more in this Rebirth series, other than as just catburgler and Batman’s love.
Having said all that, it’s just such a relief to see King back at his A-game with this volume. I’m hoping the rest is of the same standard.
I love the concept of this. Joker vs Riddler, and all of Gotham suffers. Makes sense and its relevant. But, for some reason, I'm just not invested in this. There isn't enough personality for either villain.
I needed more of the politics. Why do the supervillains choose the sides that they do? What is Joker's endgame, considering his long and storied history with Batman? What about Riddler? Hasn't his stick always been to show the world he's smarter than Batman? We need more motivation for this war being waged on Gotham.
Then there's the detour this volume takes to give the origin story of Kiteman. He is given so much importance in this story but it all stems from Batman having messed up? I didn't need that. Kiteman has been a joke throughout, but his sob story makes his previous appearances uncomfortable to think off. We're expected to laugh at someone whose tragedy was caused by Batman? I can't.
However, the issue where Bruce Wayne invites the two gangs to dinner? Excellent! Amazing writing, great art, so much tension. This is the kind of plotting that makes comics so immersive.
And that conclusion was unexpected and brilliant. That's the kind of characterisation we need in a Batman story.
I needed more of the politics. Why do the supervillains choose the sides that they do? What is Joker's endgame, considering his long and storied history with Batman? What about Riddler? Hasn't his stick always been to show the world he's smarter than Batman? We need more motivation for this war being waged on Gotham.
Then there's the detour this volume takes to give the origin story of Kiteman. He is given so much importance in this story but it all stems from Batman having messed up? I didn't need that. Kiteman has been a joke throughout, but his sob story makes his previous appearances uncomfortable to think off. We're expected to laugh at someone whose tragedy was caused by Batman? I can't.
However, the issue where Bruce Wayne invites the two gangs to dinner? Excellent! Amazing writing, great art, so much tension. This is the kind of plotting that makes comics so immersive.
And that conclusion was unexpected and brilliant. That's the kind of characterisation we need in a Batman story.
Yup, another Batman comic. What can I say: since we went to see the "Joker" movie I have gone full Harley Quinn and will happily read anything featuring my beloved Clown Prince of Crime.
Tom King served me a war between Joker and the Riddler on a silver platter: who was I to say no? While I have been reading his Batman comics a little sporadically (i.e. all in the wrong order, and originally because they were the prelude to Joelle Jones’s Catwoman series), I have also been enjoying them – as much as I am likely to enjoy Batman stories. In “The War of Jokes and Riddles”, we get exactly what the title implies: the Joker and the Riddler go to war over the right to kill Batman.
Considering they are both violent, insane criminals, things escalate and get bloody fast – something King does not shy away from, which I appreciate (the tendency to gloss over what the bad guys do bothers me, not because I love the gore, but because I find it to be a less honest approach to story-telling). In order to curb the bloodshed, Batman himself intervenes, and invites them to debate the matter over a fancy meal.
A really good, dark comic, with a great new twist on the "knock-knock" joke.
Tom King served me a war between Joker and the Riddler on a silver platter: who was I to say no? While I have been reading his Batman comics a little sporadically (i.e. all in the wrong order, and originally because they were the prelude to Joelle Jones’s Catwoman series), I have also been enjoying them – as much as I am likely to enjoy Batman stories. In “The War of Jokes and Riddles”, we get exactly what the title implies: the Joker and the Riddler go to war over the right to kill Batman.
Considering they are both violent, insane criminals, things escalate and get bloody fast – something King does not shy away from, which I appreciate (the tendency to gloss over what the bad guys do bothers me, not because I love the gore, but because I find it to be a less honest approach to story-telling). In order to curb the bloodshed, Batman himself intervenes, and invites them to debate the matter over a fancy meal.
A really good, dark comic, with a great new twist on the "knock-knock" joke.