Batman #25 The War of Jokes and Riddles

Tom King finally gets a chance to write The Joker in this issue, as well as returning to the mystery that was first brought up by the Riddler back in the "I Am Bane" arc.

The premise is that the Joker and Riddler are clashing because neither wants the other to destroy the Dark Knight. This causes chaos as a gang war erupts across the city. However, in this issue we are mostly just shown the ground works for all of this. We also see very little of Batman! This first part focuses on Riddler and Joker but told as a story from Batman's perspective. He's recalling the events for Catwoman. 

This Riddler is a fresh take on the character. He's still extremely intelligent and obsessed with riddles and puzzles- but somehow, he seems much more dangerous than in previous incarnations. Tom King's interpretation of the character is great so far and I cannot wait to see the further machinations of this war, from both sides! This seems to be the story of how they both snapped. Both character's are great villains and King has proven himself as a great writer. This has the makings of a legendary Batman arc!

Overall the artwork in this issue is flawless. It's exactly what we have come to expect from Batman! Nothing less than the best! It is hard not to praise Mikel Janin’s art.

The War of Jokes and Riddles is an 8 issue arc so readers might as well get comfy!  The story is gearing up to be huge. It seems like we will have some awesome villain showdowns (not just Joker vs Riddler!), we will have BIG secrets revealed and a couple of other surprises as well!

I'm giving this issue a B for story. While it sets up a lot of exciting things. It means that the issue itself is lacking a bit of plot. However, I give the art an A. Overall, its a good issue that is definitely worth checking out!