Far too many instances of “wait...wtf?” Plot holes and unrealistic actions from characters we know well. Also, Kite Man. I’m just holding out for the relationship stuff between Batman and Catwoman to continue to develop. Stellar artwork, it saves the book. Just beautiful.

In this flashback, Joker loses his sense of humor and goes to war with Riddler over who gets to kill Batman and get their mojo back. Kite Man gets a (very dark and tragic) origin.

At one point, Deadshot and Deathstroke are fighting (like 2 off-brand toys at the dollar store, the same figure painted 2 different colors) for 4 days and about a hundred innocent people die. Then on the fifth day, Batman steps in and kicks their asses in 30 seconds.

Sooooo..... even though he knew about them killing innocent people, he just let it happen for 4 days?

I don’t fucking think so. Nor do I buy Joker throwing a knife at Riddler only to have Nigma catch it midair in his fingers like a fucking king fu movie. Nor do I buy that Joker blows up a building with cops outside, then walks up and shoots 2 cops in the street less than 30 feet from the other cops and walks away without anyone hearing the shots. I don’t buy Riddler escaping from Arkham by saying the names of the guards’ kids and they just let him fucking go instead of unloading on him at point blank.

Ugh. Just get back to the Catwoman stuff... it’s what we’re all here for, right?

Also, if the big reveal, the shameful thing that Batman needs to confess to Catwoman before he can let her marry him, is that he got fed up and tried to stab Riddler in the face... wouldn’t she be more pissed about the hundred people he just LET DIE for no reason? He didn’t kill Riddler but he’s ashamed of trying, and yet he allowed a hundred people to die when he could have stopped it at any time and doesn’t even stop to dwell on it?

now that... that's funny!

My mom and I have been laughing about the ridiculousness of Kite Man (hell yeah) in the previous comics, but his backstory and the role he played in the War of Jokes and Riddles was really well done and made me feel for Kite Man. *insert sad “hell yeah”*

Joker and Riddler started a war to kill Batman, but as none of them have succeeded, they start to kill each other.
Also, we've got a 2 issue for the tragic Kite Man story, which is pretty cool.
At the end, Batman has to take a decision between helping Joker or Riddler.

Still surprised by King's writing & Janin's art (feeling rather spoiled by Snyder & Capullo), and while the premise of the selected issues is good, the execution is mixed. One high point, though, is Kite Man. Hell yeah. (e-galley from Netgalley & DC Comics)

Malo sam nakaradno uskočio u ovog novog Betmena, ali ovo nije bilo loše - svakako je čudno (i originalno) te i vredi videti Džokera kako se mršti. Samo pobogu zašto Ridler izgleda kao žigolo?

3+

4.5/5.

King does a great job balancing so many villains, all wrapped up in the war between Joker and Riddler. More than that, he adds some of the philosophy he's known for, which makes this even more enjoyable. I also love how Batman was featured less prominently (along with the flashback nature), and it focused more on Joker and Riddler.

Wow, this book surprised me. I'm a fan of Tom King's work but I wasn't really a fan of his Batman run. This volume changed my opinion. I think the main reason I love this volume so much is that King really knows how to write joker and riddler. How the riddler needs structure while Joker is more improv and it's layered to the point where it really is a battle between improv and structure. Jokes and riddles. Also having Kite man's origin story was surprisingly serious and sad which I liked. Now if I had a problem with the story it's with the characterization of a few other characters. I like Batman and Catwoman's relationship but for whatever reason, I don't like how King writes it. I can't explain it but there's something about his writing on those characters that bothers me. Still, this is a fantastic batman book and one that may be regarded as a classic a few years down the road.