Critical acclaim was heaped upon "Death of the Family", but if these first two issues are any indication, "Endgame" will be the Joker's magnum opus. For any future creative teams that will dare to follow Snyder, Capullo, Miki, and Plascencia, take notice"this is your benchmark. Read Full Review

I would say, even if you just 'like' Batman or Joker, you won't want to miss this issue. You can see and feel the enthusiasm and fun Snyder and Capullo are having on this story. Joker is back in Batman's life and Snyder is out to make sure the action and storytelling are cranked up higher than ever before. We often feel sorry for Batman when Snyder puts him through the wringer. Snyder and Capullo have been consistently delivering great and solid Batman stories. I can't help but be eager for the next issue. This story is pretty nuts and I'm having a blast reading it. Read Full Review

Batman#36 is yet another phenomenal issue by Snyder and Capullo, it's extremely redundant to keep saying it but who's complaining? Even if you think Joker is too overused you do not want to miss this issue, we are gearing up for one hell of show and it's tough to predict how this one will turn out. One day we'll feel bad for Bruce and what Scott Snyder puts him through, but today is not that day. Read Full Review

The back-up story by James Tynion IV, joined this time by artist Graham Nolan, is another vignette demonstrating the Joker's ability to prey on the weak and, more specifically, the mentally unstable. Nolan's marriage of classic comic book art with cartoonish elements is a perfect match for Tynion's disturbing script. The eerie tale makes for an excellent complement to Snyder's main narrative, further fleshing out the world of "Endgame." Read Full Review

Overall, this issue offers great action-packed moments between Batman and Superman, but the biggest thing in the issue is Joker himself, and Snyder's masterful planning. Now Joker's plan is revealed, we can all look forward to the grand finale between the two. Read Full Review

Overall, Batman #36 is an excellent issue that shows readers that Scott Snyder is not out of ideas for the cape crusader. There are many ways that this story arc could play out and I have faith in Scott Snyder that he will deliver something that all Batman fans will still talk about in years to come. Read Full Review

The second chapter of Endgame is full of all of the intense action you would expect out of a confrontation between the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel. However, all of that is icing on the cake of a story masterfully planned by Scott Snyder who is intent on delivering the final story between his Batman and Joker. Snyder strikes a terrifyingly effective tone with this issue as he lays not-quite-all of it out on the table for the grand finale. Greg Capullo captures all of this beautifully with amazing depictions of his characters that are all brought together by the tireless efforts of inker Danny Miki and FCO Placencia. Read Full Review

I get asked occasionally just why Batman is one of the best-selling, if not THE top-selling book many months. This issue is a perfect example of why " strong story with powerful art. It doesn't get any better than this. Read Full Review

Has this team delivered a bad issue yet? Negative. Do yourself a favor and just buy this issue, strap in and enjoy the ride. We are in for another special story from two guys that redefine awesome. Read Full Review

Leaving me on the edge of my seat with a furiously paced ending, Batman #36 shows a versatility in the Jokers rendering and motivation that I couldnt have imagined possible in such a short period of time. And its genuinely horrifying. Once again, Snyder and Capullo have proven just why theyre deserving of their reputation as modern masters. My only complaint? I have to shut my eyes tonight not knowing for sure whats going to happen next, but feeling like its going to be even worse than I think. Keep your fly swatter handy. Youll likely feel the same. Read Full Review

This issue is an epic culmination for this team, and if it continues to be a good as this issue, it won't disappoint and Bat-fan, and may become another indispensable arc by the Snyder/Capullo team. Read Full Review

Each member of the creative team helps to produce an issue that feels important. We want to find out what happens next because the characters are so real to us. Snyder, Capullo, Miki, and Plascencia mix their strengths together to bring us a book bursting with ideas and excitement. They not only bring the symbol of Batman to glorious life, but more importantly, the man behind that symbol. Mixed with the thrills and excitement are intelligent explorations about character and diverse themes. What more can one ask out of an intelligent Batman story, let alone any comic book? Read Full Review

There has been a slight redesign in Joker's appearance since we last saw him. Obviously his new face being the main one, but he is also in a black suit with shorter hair. This new, more muted appearance (okay he still has green hair and white skin, but muted for Joker) suits the change in his attitude. This Joker is much darker, more sinister than he has ever been. As he tells Batman, after he has locked him in a cell in the old Arkham, "no more games"no more jokes. I'm just here to close up shop!" Read Full Review

Another excellent issue from top to bottom by Snyder that ends on such a shocking cliffhanger, even Sylvester Stallone will be on the edge of his seat. Read Full Review

Endgame, and especially in this issue, has already thrown in other homages to Batlore and that is hardly looking to end here. Endgame also has the potential to be one of the best Batman stories with a strong start thus far. Hopefully for Team Batman, it's executed well and doesn't seem more of just a "Hush" rehash, but something original and leads us down a path of the unknown. Read Full Review

One of the continuing highlights of Endgame are the back ups featuring the origins of the Joker as told by escaped Asylum inmates. James Tynion IV and Graham Nolan give us a more alien approach this time as opposed to the demonic one last issue. They are quite enjoyable for the fact that in the end one of them is real, or at least will be the most real. Each story is starting to look like it fits into their type of illness. I excitedly await what comes from the next story. Read Full Review

‘Endgame' is off to an amazing start. Thanks to it starting in a post “Batman Eternal” world it's also a great place to jump into the series. This is shaping up to be a classic Batman vs. Joker showdown that cannot be missed. Read Full Review

Batman #36 ha a lot going for it.  A fanboys wet dream, the mystery of the Joker and some of the best art in any book out today.  Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are quickly outdoing themselves and while that seems like an impossible task, it's happening, folks.  ENDGAME is starting big and looks to get bigger real soon. Read Full Review

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and in regards to the Joker, they are 100% correct. After a lengthy absence, Scott Snyder and Team Batman have brought the Joker back once again and broken loose all manner of hell in Gotham City. Scary movies get less scary every time you watch them because you come to expect every jump and every gag. With Batman #36, Snyder and his team have given us the truly unexpected. We don’t know what jumps are coming next. We can’t even begin to know all the punchlines. The Joker is once again a character that we can expect anything and everything from. Scott Snyder has thrown him back into the darkness and maybe even he doesn’t know what exactly came out. That is most frightening thing of all. The Joker may have been a cuddly punchline before Endgame, but now, he’s back where he belongs - in our nightmares. Read Full Review

Batman finds himself in a very tough predicament as the book wraps up. Snyder manages to up the ante in this issue, which is a good thing. This makes waiting for the next issue all the harder. Isn't that all you can ask for from a comic book? I definitely recommend picking this issue up. Read Full Review

As I said before, Batman #36 is the ride up before the big drop on a roller coaster. I can't wait for the drop. Read Full Review

Greg Capullo has his work cut out for him this issue because there are three very separate and distinct set pieces that demand their own motifs. Batman's battle with Superman is an action-packed skirmish out in the open that requires a few subtle touches because of the chess play between the two heroes. Snyder's written sequentials have to make tonal sense in the visual space, and when Superman tears away at the Justice Buster, piece by piece, there's a good amount of tension increased by Capullo's lens zooming in and out and in again that has an ebb and flow to it. Danny Miki's inks are incredibly strong, and the negative spacing and emphasis on the cracks and debris work thematically with the story. Read Full Review

It's easy to approachBatman #36 as a three-act short, where Act One has Snyder and Capullo wrapping up the skirmish that began with last month's issue, the brief Act Two placingBatman in his posh Bat-Bunker to hash out a plan of attack with Alfred and Julia Pennyworth, and Act Three ending with a face-to-face between Wayne and his pasty-skinned arch nemesis. With this kind of thoughtful storytelling at play,Batman #36 givesEndgame another solid chapter for a story starting strong – stronger – thanZero Year, with much more at stake than anything Snyder and Capullo have thrown our way so far. And that's really saying something. Read Full Review

It's too early to pass judgment on this storyline, but it's off to a roaring start! Read Full Review

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo are crafting the great tragedy in their second entry with the Joker and what sets it apart are the tiny details. Whether it is a link of chain, a buzzing fly, or rictus grin, Snyder and Capullo are really gelling together as a team by this point in their Hall of Fame Batman run. Read Full Review

The lead story in this issue is exceptional, full of plot points that will go down in Bat-History. The return of the Joker is expertly pulled off, and the battle with Superman is full of twists and turns. The back-up story isn't as strong as in the first issue of this storyline, but the idea is sound and will likely have more luck in future instalments. Endgame remains essential reading, not just for fans of the Batman, but for fans of good comics in general. Read Full Review

As far as the backup goes, the art is much better than the story. Its not as stylish as Capullos work, but it has a classic tone thats almost reminiscent of Darwyn Cookes work. Thats high praise. Its also deserved. If it wasnt for the bumbling story to the backup, this issue would be borderline perfect. Snyder and Capullo are somehow getting better. Its almost scary how incredible they are. Read Full Review

"Batman" #36 is a fun comic, and those who enjoyed the first chapter of "Endgame" will find a lot to like in the second. It's easy to see why DC Comics was trying to keep a lid on the contents of this issue prior to release; it's an excellent comic, and Snyder and Capullo's reveals are best left unspoiled. That said, even if you know what's coming, it's still a strong and well-composed comic. This is more than just surprises lurking in the corner, and that's the sign of strong craft. Wherever "Batman" goes next month, I'll be ready and waiting. Read Full Review

The second part of Endgame does not disappoint. Once again, Snyder and Capullo deliver a well-rounded and eye-popping extravaganza… oh, how I wish this was the inspiration for what I will see on screen in 2 years! While I had to dock a few points for a couple leaps in logic, the sections that earned it that score are a must read! Don't pass this book up! You'll be sorry……..hehehehehehe. Read Full Review

The backup was good as well. Kind of made me want to see this as a regular title, seeing Arkham inmates, and how other criminals have played with their already sick minds to get them to do what they want. Read Full Review

It's plain to see Joker wants Batman to learn more about him and the only way to do that is to raise the stakes and deliver Batman one of the hardest confrontations of his career. Readers will agree with me when I say: bring it on! Read Full Review

When it comes to the Joker, Snyder just tries way too hard. The Joker becomes more myth than character, and while that's probably a perfectly legitimate take on the villain, you've got to be willing to believe the myth if the story is going to matter. And I don't. I don't care about the Joker. I enjoy a good, well-crafted Joker story as much as the next person, but when your story is just 'look how cool and scary the Joker' is, then I just don't care. Read Full Review

"Killing Joke" level greatness.

As I expected, the second part of Endgame has been a big improvement from last month's issue. First we assisted to a spectacular -yet forced- "Batman v Superman" sequence, then to a heart warming confrontation between Alfred and master Bruce, all of which leading to the grand finale with our favorite jester ready to be on the stage. One of Snyder's big strengths is the creativity to make every Bat-villain familiar and yet somewhat different from the routine books: in "Death of the Family", Joker is seen as a lover who wants to help his master improve, and now that we became accustomed to that, everything changes again! The new Joker is as scary as the "masked" one, thanks to the great Greg Capullo, who draws a very intense sequence between Batman and a supporter of his... The side story is still quite weak, although its point is now clear. more

Amazing art, great story, this issue is a winner.

I'm not sure if the Joker reveal is something that has been planned since the Annual, or if this is a misdirect, but it's freakin' brilliant. Even the quiet moments with Alfred are mesmerizing. It's a shame that the conflict between Batman and the rest of the Justice League couldn't have lasted a little longer, but it's probably just a small part of the overall story Scott has planned.

36 issues in, and no one should be surprised that Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo deliver a fantastic story, full of well-earned twists and surprises, not to mention great visuals. The battle between Superman and Batman is great, showing off the power and strength of Supes, while Bats gets to show off his forethought, planning, and intelligence. Everything is presented well, and Capullo's art shines. The scenes between Alfred, Julia, and Bruce are great as well, showing that Joker really didn't win the last time they fought. The backup story that James Tynion IV scripts is great, showing a creepy story about one of the patients in Arkham. He really taps into the insanity of the main character well, showing both her delusions, and how Joker is able to manipulate them. This should go without saying, but this issue comes highly recommended. more

Chilling splash page with Joker

It seems as though Snyder has hit another home run. I can't get enough Endgame.

The story is going so fast paced, as opposed to Zero Year, that two issues in, you feel like so much has happened, that six issues should be enough to tell a whole saga. But the best thing about this arc till now and specifically this issue is that you have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA where this might be going.

This might be the best story this team had ever made.

An enjoyable issue but the whole Jokerized Justice League wasn't very convincing. Besides the fight between Superman and Batman in a mechanized suit (pretty much gonna be overplayed by the time we see it in the Batman v Superman movie) there was barely any incorporation of the Justice League members in the story. I was anticipating the Joker going full Chess-master and use the Justice League like pieces in a chess-match against the world's greatest detective. Maybe have Batman bust out some of those cases he has locked up in the Bat-cave that exploits the weaknesses of the Justice League we saw in Forever Evil. It woulda lived up to the Endgame title too. But alas, the members are now recovering in hospital beds with anti-toxins and I'm left with the empty feeling of so much wasted potential. The actual reveal of the Joker was well-done although a bit sooner than I expected. Ends on a cliffhanger so I'm picking up #37 before I decide on how Endgame stack's up to Death of the Family but it' still a few rungs below Court of Owls and Zero Year as of now. more