Review: Batman #30

Quick Summary

Pros: Kite Man is a well written, tragic character. The continuation of the “is Batman good?” theme is well done.

Cons: Fans still looking for more action will find some here but not too much.

Overall: Much like the last interlude, this is a necessary piece of the “War of Jokes and Riddles.” It humanizes the villains in a way comics rarely do and brings the hero’s actions into serious question. It still feels a little slow and lacks action but if this is not a problem for you then you’ll love this comic.

Story

“The War of Jokes and Riddles” has been very different from what most readers expected it to be. It has been more subdued and introspective than action packed. Personally, I’ve really enjoyed that aspect of it, though I can understand the frustrations of those who do not like it.

Batman #30 continues this trend, albeit with some compromise. There is more action here than in most issues but still not the craziness that many have desired. However, the level of emotion and introspective analysis has only increased, making it even better for those who have been enjoying this aspect of the book. Put plainly though, if you haven’t liked the “War of Jokes and Riddles” so far you’ll like this one slightly more than the other issues, but if you have liked it then you’ll love this issue.

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After last issue’s distinct lack of action, this issue certainly cranks things up. Man-Bat, Mr. Freeze, Scarecrow, and others all add to the action. Mr. Freeze’s comedic demise was probably the standout of this group and one of the more memorable single moments in this issue. Since lack of any action at all was one of our minor complaints about this series, seeing it addressed here is a joy.

Outside of the random action, the story almost completely revolves around Kite Man. Now working for Joker, he witnesses Batman join Riddler’s team and subsequently take down most of Joker’s forces. Along the way, narration reveals that Kite Man didn’t have the best relationship with his wife, though his relationship with his son was clearly very loving.

All of this makes for an incredibly tragic story. The last Kite Man interlude was already a tear jerker but this one is just piling more on top of that. It presents Kite Man as someone who just cannot seem to catch a break in life and is now thrust in the middle of a conflict he never wanted to be a part of. It is heartbreaking and humanizing for all comic book villains in a way that makes you give a second thought about the thug that the book’s “hero” is beating up.

Speaking of the hero, this issue continues to build on the themes revolving around Batman not being the good guy we expect him to be. He aligns himself with the Riddler, brutally takes down most of Joker’s forces, and beats up Kite Man, a villain he had a hand in creating. Obviously he has good reason for doing most of this but it does bring up the age old “ends justifying means” question. This entire arc has been building up this theme for a while, hopefully the payoff will be coming soon.

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Art

Just like the last Kite Man interlude, Clay Mann steps in to do art for this issue as well. Once again, everything looks great. Mann is able to capture the essence of Mikel Janín’s style while still being able to add his own flair to the book. Just like Batman #27 (Review), everything looks great and works perfectly with the book’s overall tone.

Continuity

This is the sixth issue of “The War of Jokes and Riddles” storyline and the second “interlude.” So all readers need to do to understand this issue is read the previous issues.

Besides references to the past few issues, this book does not reference any other specific comic. Other villains from Batman’s rogues gallery appear but no specific stories about them are referenced.