REVIEW: The victor gets the head of the Bat in ‘Batman #28′
In BATMAN #28, Gotham City took a turn for the worse as Batman gets caught in the middle of a battle of bullets. Tom King intensifies “The War of Jokes & Riddles” by crippling Gotham City to the point that even its heroes can’t protect it. The war of jokes and riddles is a […]
In BATMAN #28, Gotham City took a turn for the worse as Batman gets caught in the middle of a battle of bullets. Tom King intensifies “The War of Jokes & Riddles” by crippling Gotham City to the point that even its heroes can’t protect it.
The war of jokes and riddles is a fresh new story that rediscovers the early years of Batman’s operation. While the lack of purpose for war is still evident, the story, nonetheless, focuses on the hard decisions Batman has to make. In this issue, Batman is confronted with two options, none of which will save Gotham City from casualty. Tom King is starting to unravel as one of the best story-tellers in this generation. His use of full spreads and 8-panel pages is maximized to its full potential. Mikel Janín also does an amazing job with his work. I just love how he can tell a story using the facial reactions of the characters. The best part of Batman #28 is the battle of Deadshot and Deathstroke. While I can’t remember if the two has battled it off in previous stories, Tom King sets up the battle between the two master marksman perfectly.
Batman #28 enters its turning point as it pushes Batman on the brink of collapse. Tom King’s unorthodox way of telling the story perfectly sets the tone for the next chapters of The War of Jokes & Riddles. While the war isn’t over, the fans are left imagining how this story will end.
Review by Paolo Ollero, co-founder of The Dark Knight Philippines, the premier Batman group in the country.
