Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo
I have loved this series of Batman, and especially since the start of Death of the Family, which has been phenomenal. Scott Snyder has done a tremendous job on both this series, and this story, and Greg Capullo has produced outstanding artwork throughout.
Plot
This issue sees Batman going through Arkham Asylum where he goes through some of his Rogues Gallery to get to Joker, including Mr. Freeze, Clayface, and Scarecrow. He eventually gets to Joker, who is with Penguin, Riddler, and Two-Face, who are all waiting to great their "King".
The back-up story features the aftermath of this issue and involves Joker, Penguin, Riddler, and Two-Face.
Review
This was a brilliant issue, and Snyder continues to amaze me with this story. Although this issue was a little slow to start of with, and had a few flaws, it was still a very good issue, and the way Joker was written was enough to make this my favourite issue in the storyline so far. To be honest I was slightly disappointed with the start of this issue, as it just felt a little slow, and I didn't like a couple of thing, but I'll talk more on that later. Snyder did however pull this back by once more writing the Joker perfectly, making him the unpredictable. psychotic individual that I love to read. I also loved how he kept the suspense up in this issue, and although some of the scenes looked unrealistic they were still awesome.
Capullo has done an amazing job of the artwork in this issue, and I think this is the main thing that has made the story as brilliant as it's been, as he's taken Snyder's amazing scripts and made them look breathtakingly fantastic. I love how he draws all the characters throughout this issue, but especially Joker. He shows Joker's emotions perfectly, as it's easy to tell if he's clowning about, or having a psychotic thought. Although Joker has been shown as an evil character many times in the past, I don't think he has looked as evil as the way Capullo drew him during certain scenes in this issue, as he looked really deranged and sinister.
The thing I mainly didn't like in this issue was the dancing at the start, as although it's something wacky for Joker to do, whilst also being enough to grab Batman's attention I personally felt that it wasn't right for this issue, and that it slowed the issue down a bit. I can however easily overlook this as it was a decent way to start the issue, making it slightly easier for newer readers to jump on in the middle of the story, and the rest of the issue outweighed this by miles.
I liked the sequence where Batman faces ton's of inmates armed with flaming swords, bats, and other weapons, and thought it looked awesome, but at the same time it looked slightly unrealistic, and all happened a bit to quick for my liking. Although I would have liked this sequence to have lasted a bit longer than it did, at the same time I was happy that it wasn't dragged out, as I'd prefer it to not quite last as long as I'd like, than last too long, taking away time from the Joker/Batman confrontation.
Besides the way Snyder writes Joker, the thing I liked most about this issue was how involved the more well known members of Batman's Rogues Gallery, and not just the main three that Joker recruited in the previous back-up stories. It was nice seeing Freeze, Scarecrow, and Clayface, and it was nice to see a focused Batman take them out easily. I also liked that despite each appearance being brief, it was still thought out, and didn't feel like it was thrown in to make up the pages. Although I liked that Batman took them down with relative ease, hence not wasting too much time, I would have probably preferred maybe one of them (preferable Clayface due to him featuring in Detective Comics recently) dropped to give more time to show Batman facing the other two, but besides that it was still very nice to see them.
I also really enjoyed that Joker had Penguin, Riddler, and Two-Face dressed up in a manner that fitted the game he was playing with Batman. Although I have never seen Joker do anything like this before I am not surprised, as he's very unpredictable, and you'd never be totally shocked by something he'd do. The thing I liked most about the collection of what could easily be considered as Batman's top 4 villains (whether you like them or not) is that it made the back-up stories more worth while, showing a grander purpose. I also liked that the other three didn't have a huge vocal involvement, as at the end of the day the story is mainly between Batman, and Joker, and should stay that way.
I won't talk about the ending much, but will say that it was shocking, and sets up the finally in next issue perfectly.
I also won't delve into the back-up story too much as it's an aftermath to the main story, and I don't want to spoil it. I will however say that in my opinion it was the worst back-up story in the Death of the Family story so far, and although it was still interesting it mainly seemed an easy way to possibly take Penquin, Riddler, and Two-Face out of the next issue. I did however love Jock's art, and have loved seeing it in these back-up stories, as it was the main thing I liked about Snyder's run of pre-New 52 Detective Comics.
Final Verdict
Another fantastically brilliant issue, in what has easily been my favourite story in the New 52 so far. I would highly recommend it to anyone, as well as both the rest of the story, and series, and hope that it finishes epically.
Rating: 5/5
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo
I have been enjoying this series overall since it started, but this story in particular has been one of the best Batman stories in the last few years. Scott Snyder has really done something wonderful in this story, and he's written Joker excellently, bringing him back to the Batman series in shocking fashion.
Plot
This issue sees the continuation from the last with Batman tied up on the bridge with Joker. After an explosion Batman captures Joker but is affected by his Joker Toxin. He latter wakes up to find the whole Bat-Family waiting for him, looking for answers.
The backup story shows Joker in Arkham Asylum persuading the Riddler to break out and join in on the fun.
Review
Another amazing issue, in this fabulous story. Snyder has continued what he's been doing throughout this series, and kept the suspense, and drama in this issue. The way Snyder introduced the remaining members of the Bat-Family into the main part of Death of the Family was brilliant, and he write all the different characters perfectly. He continues to show Joker's psychotic side, as well as his unpredictability, and he's doing a great job in making the Joker more sadistic. He also done a brilliant job of introducing Riddler into this story along with James Tynion IV in the backup story, but I'll talk more about that later.
Greg Capullo's artwork continues to amaze me, and it really suits both this series, and story. He does an excellent job of drawing all the characters, and although I probably prefer the art in their own series, I like how Capillo has made them fit into his style of art, whilst keeping there characteristics, and newer character designs from their own series. Capullo also draws action sequences brilliantly, and I loved how he drew Batman coming out of the flames. The emotion he puts into his artwork is also amazing, and I like how you can easily tell what the characters feeling, whether joy, laughter, or fear. The way Capullo has drawn Joker over this story line as also been fantastic, and I love how Joker looks really gruesome, and deranged in his artwork. Even the first page is brilliant, in it's own right, as it shows a really sinister Joker, and due to him being in the shadows it makes him appear even more evil, if that's possible.
The thing I was most looking forward to in this issue was that all the Bat-Family would not only be together in the same issue for the first time in this story, but since the New 52 started. I loved the clash of personalities in this sequence as we have characters like Jason Todd who feels like Batman has betrayed him again, Tim Drake, and Dick Grayson just wanting answers, Barbara Gordon not happy that Batman's kept this from her, and Damian Wayne defending his father, and hoping that Batman's doing the right thing. Believe it or not another reason I loved this sequence was because this cut down Joker's appearance in this issue. I've loved seeing him throughout this story, and he needs to be in most of it due to being centred around him, but it's nice to get a small break, and see what other Bat characters have to say.
When Batman explains what Joker meant about him having his calling card, it shows a past encounter between Batman and Joker in the early years. Batman is fighting Joker on top of a blimp, and later on he finds Joker's calling card in the Batcave. The sequence itself showing Batman's fight with Joker was brilliant, and I've been loving seeing all these different flashbacks. The way it was drawn was also brilliant, and I liked how Joker looked dramatically different, and actually looked similar to the earlier Joker. I also loved how the pages had faint lines through them, making them look like scratched tapes, and easily showed that this fight took place in the past.
The backup story featuring the Riddler was very good, and I liked seeing Riddler for the first time sine the New 52 started. Riddler has been one of my favourite villains of all time, just falling behind Joker, so his absence in the New 52 Universe upset me a bit. I know that Snyder has already mentioned that he planed to reintroduce Riddler into the DC Universe after he was done writing this story, but to see him in this issue was a very nice surprise. The story itself was very good, and I loved how it showed both Riddler and Joker's personalities brilliantly, and how Riddler was forced to use his genius.
Final Verdict
Another brilliant issue, in what's shaping up to be DC's best story in the New 52 so far. I would highly recommend this issue, and am looking forward to seeing what Joker has in store for Batman and the Bat-Family next issue.
Rating: 5/5
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Greg Capullo
This has been a brilliant series and Scott Snyder has done an amazing job on it. I have been both a Batman and Joker fan for most of my life and there is nothing I love more that a story involving the two of them that's written well, and nothing I dislike more than a bad story involving both of them. This is why I was very excited about this story line as knowing that Snyder has the skills to produce amazing stories I hoped he would do one with Joker, and so far he has.
Plot
This issue sees Batman returning to his cave to find that Joker has kidnapped Alfred. Joker has since put Commissioner Gordon in hospital and Batman whilst talking to Nightwing believes he knows were Joker will strike next. With Nightwing's help Batman races to Joker's location to finally face him and find out what Joker will do next.
Review
This was another brilliant issue and this story is shaping up to be one of the best Bat stories in years. Snyder has done a fantastic job with these characters and it seems that no matter what he writes he can understand the characters perfectly. He has done an great job writing the Joker and that is one of the best things about this story. He writes Joker's characteristics exactly like they've always been but he has added more darkness to the character and a lot more unpredictability to him, which isn't easy to do as he's unpredictable as it is. I also loved the way he wrote the encounter between Batman and Nightwing talking about the abduction of Alfred and the Joker's future as you could tell that they both were worried about Alfred but that Batman needing to be strong not showing it.
Greg Capullo has once again done amazing artwork for this issue and his art throughout the series has been truly fascinating to look at. I love how he is able to get all of these different emotions flowing though the issue as we have a sad and confused Harley, a serious Batman and a worried Nightwing whilst Gordon is as stubborn as ever, which is brilliant and not easy to do. The detail in the background and scenery is also amazing, and loved how he was able to do it so well whilst focusing on the characters in the panels. I also thought the way he drew Joker with his face on like a mask was stunning and even though we got a small glimpse of this last issue this is the first time we see it properly which was just amazing.
The addition of Nightwing to this issue was also a nice touch as it is made very clear that Joker is after the entire Bat-family and not just Batman. It was also nice because we get to see someone else who has grew up with Alfred around him and some who will be almost as upset as Batman is himself, and someone who doesn't mind showing that sadness. I will also be interested to see who if any other members of the Bat-family will crop up in this title and how they will react to Alfred's abduction.
The Joker and Batman meet itself was also brilliant and the discussion between the two was very interesting to read. I also enjoyed seeing Batman's anger during this conversation and that although he's not wanting to give anything away he's making sure Joker knows he's not kidding around.
I also like how previous Batman and Joker event's especially some of the earlier ones have been mentioned during this story which is nice for people who haven't read them, a nice reference for people who have and also a very fitting reunion for Batman and Joker themselves. It was also nice to see that Joker is fully prepared this time and that he is making it perfectly clear that he is in charge and not Batman.
WARNING: SPOILER AHEAD!
The biggest question this book leaves is does Joker know the identity of not just Batman but the entire Bat-family. The question whether he knows Batman's secret has been asked in the past but now the question is does Joker know all these secrets or is he just using this to make Batman question himself or trip up. Joker could have very well known Batman's secret for a long time and just had to much fun to reveal it whereas now he is a lot more psychotic and is focused on killing Batman and his family. Whether he does know or not will be an interesting thing for the rest of the story and I for one will be looking forward to seeing what he actually knows and how the other members of the Bat-family will react to the knowledge that Joker may know their secrets.
Final Verdict
A brilliant issue and Snyder just keeps making this series better and better. I would highly recommend this comic and the series so far and I for one am really looking forward to seeing the progression of this story and what effects it will have on the other Bat titles or DC titles in general.
Rating: 5/5
