Written by: Tom King
Art by: Clay Mann
Publisher: DC Comics
What makes a villain? Read and find out!
War of Jokes and Riddles continues to evolve and continues being the best arc so far, even with only seldom use of the main character.
With this arc, Tom King is doing to the villains what he did to Batman in previous arcs; a full deconstruction of the character. Joker and especially Riddler have never gotten that kind of treatment in any media and King gives both of the villains a royal treatment. One of the most interesting things that he has managed to do in this particular issue was to get the reader to care for the villains almost turning the tables and making Dark Knight into a villain.
It is a very brave take on writing a Batman book especially when we take into consideration that we are viewing an evolution of the character that never wanted to be villain in a first place. Without spoiling too much in the book, this issue follows a character we have not seen so far in the arc, most of the issue is being told through his eyes and his perception of how Gotham is being represented on both sides of the law.
Clay Mann, like Janin before him, brings a raw quality to this arc, expressing true feelings all of these characters have towards Batman, and even deeper why they believe that character is bad for Gotham.
Mann is very good in expressing fear through facial expressions, but more than that, he manages to express true disgust the villains have for Batman.. There is none of that here. And it is why it works as well as it does, it is a fresh take completely.
The complete evolution of the said character that is represented here is going to make you feel for this character, for his struggle and the final reveal, and the final words that he says might even make you tear up a bit. It was beautiful, without being over sentimental.
Tom King manages to bring us a new perception on some of the most iconic Batman villains and the fear anyone had what exactly he could have done with them, especially Joker should be put aside as King has given us a most human, but also most terrifying Joker of all. Rest easy and pick up this series, it is clearly in a pantheon of must read arcs for Batman fans!
