Time To Settle Things Once And For All?
Joker War is the highly anticipated second story by James Tynion IV within the larger Batman comic series, taking over from long-time writer, Tom King, who would part ways with the series after the completion of the City of Bane arc. Large boots to fill indeed, but a challenge accepted and demonstrated with impressive aplomb, starting with the Their Dark Designs ark, a series that would continue to lay the foundation for a war that would have the highest of stakes.
Of course, the seeds of the impending onslaught of mayhem and madness would already be planted in a variety of earlier series both within and without the primary comic, spilling out into a variety of tie ins that would form a part of the Collateral Damage series that would walk hand in hand with the primary story. Skillfully weaving through the complexity of the Joker's master scheme, the story once again proves that no rivalry can hold a candle to the one between the Bat and Joker. An unhealthy affair of psychological instability that leaves the two locked in a stalemate due to, on the one hand, Batman's immutable moral code that prevents him from ridding Gotham of Joker once and for and all, and on the other, The Joker's disturbing desire to keep the destructive dance going with the only partner he considers a peer.
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While one can argue that The Joker's past plots have had great ambition, this most recent plan and all its moving parts have the feel of his magnum opus. The Joker acts as a kind of artist who seems interested in only one critic, his efforts acting as a direct rebellion to Batman's plans for Gotham City. Gotham City, no doubt one of the most popular/infamous cities in the DC universe, is used as the canvas for Joker to express his gospel, one that shouts out loud and clear that Gotham is a beast that does not desire to be changed by its so-called defender but rather wishes to remain as the malevolent beast that breeds fear, pain, and death. The Joker evens the odds with key players to match the backup that The Dark Knight has often relied on in the past, even replacing long time partner in crime, Harley Quinn, with a new clown princess in the form of Punchline. A femme fatale infatuated with Joker's vision and overall madness.
In addition to her, lurking deeper within the shadows is another new vigilante crime-fighter who simply goes by Clown Hunter, a young man equipped with a baseball bat with a Batarang attached to the end, which he uses to rid Gotham of any man or woman wearing a clown mask in support of The Joker. And as for the other villains, even they know better than to get in the crossfires when Batman and Joker decide to go toe to toe. The intricacy in Jokers plan involves both subtle and large-scale moves, subtle in his ability to break members of the bat family and even turn them against one another, to larger plans such as seizing all of Bruce Wayne's assets and using them against their owner. Putting his own personal lick of paint on each and everyone of Batman's vehicles, gadgets, weapons and hideouts.
The ongoing chess match pushes batman to both his physical and psychological limit, The Joker having such intimate knowledge of his adversary that pushing the right buttons comes almost naturally. But Batman's strength lies in an unwavering, and often unhealthy belief in the potential of his city, the sanctity of his code, and the very idea of what Batman represents. What Tynion IV has succeeded in doing so well is keeping alive the intimate knowledge that both Joker and The Batman have, even if it is only on a subconscious level. And that's that every generation seems to require a harbinger of chaos and a force that can constrain it. These two rivals walk a higher path that their subordinates can and will never understand, and a large part of the Joker War that creates the most intrigue is exactly how it will all end and what the aftermath will be.
While fans need not read every tie in, it is still highly recommended in understanding all the unique dimensions of an otherwise brilliant arc that promises so much more for so many of the warriors that participate. The numerous tie-in series focus largely on Nightwing, Batgirl and Catwoman to name a few, some issues acting as foundational, others as important side stories and a few simply added for filler. One thing that I know for sure is that I can't wait for issue #101. Here's to The Dark Knight and here's to the clown that keeps him on his toes. Happy reading :)
Sneak Peek
The conclusion of Joker War previewed a new challenge to Batman's guardianship of Gotham. The Ghost-Maker is coming.
Click On the Images Below and Get Started With Your Journey Towards the War
I Am Gotham
I Am Suicide
I Am Bane
City of Bane
Their Dark Designs
The Joker War