War spills out across Gotham.
Despite featuring two of the most iconic Batman villains around, "The War of Jokes and Riddles" is a fairly risky story for writer Tom King and artist Mikel Janin. This is a flashback-heavy arc that promises to dominate the series for the remainder of 2017, and one that significantly downplays Batman himself. It's absolutely crucial that King and Janin keep the reader's interest high and not lose the momentum generated by previous storylines. Luckily, that doesn't look to be much of a problem for the duo.
If issue #26 accomplishes anything, it's in highlighting the futility of Batman's efforts to halt the titular war. Riddler and Joker's feud expands in scope here, as each villain recruits new allies to his side and the spillover begins to claim the lives of more and more Gothamites. In a way, this conflict actually works better framed as a flashback story than it would set in the present day. It comes on the heels of Batman's successful first year on the job, countering his hubristic belief that he's within sight of winning his war on crime. As the younger Bruce Wayne comes to terms with the challenge before him, King is able to build a strong sense of futility and foreboding that paves the way for the rest of this extended storyline. Just don't expect much progress in terms of the present-day framing sequence.
Nor is it a problem to see Batman relegated to more of a supporting role. King's characterization of Joker and Riddler. In both cases, this arc proves to be a breath of fresh air. With Joker, it's nice to see a shift from the nigh-infallible force of nature Joker has been written as for much of the past decade. This is a more flawed, uncertain Clown Prince of Crime, but one who's arguably even more dangerous and unpredictable as a result. As for Riddler, King builds on Scott Snyder's past work as he strives to make Edward Nygma a villain smart enough and driven enough to stay toe-to-te with the very worst Gotham has to offer. King repurposes a classic Joker scene for Riddler in this issue, one that calls back to the east in a fun way even as it highlights Nygma's twisted new state of mind.
In short, this is a story arc that makes the most of the King/Janin partnership. It's more cerebral alternative to, say, "I Am Bane," and it really demands that moody, psychological touch that only Janin can bring to the book. Janin's stark lighting and heavy shadows capture the sense of a Gotham City on edge. His page design also continues to impress. Janis relies on a lot of small, repeat panels in this story, an approach that pairs nicely with the more intimate, character-driven tone of the story. That approach works especially well during a sequence where Joker repeatedly struggles and fails to bring a smile to his face, and during a late scene where the present-day Bruce reflects on the many lives he failed to save.
The Verdict
"The War of Jokes and Riddles" is shaping up to be another classic Batman tale for King and Janin. This issue doesn't do much to push forward the present-day portion of the conflict, but it does built a growing sense of unease and showcase both Joker and Riddler at their best. And Janin's gorgeous art is yet another reminder that he and King make an excellent team.
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