Batman #39 is dark, sadistic, and crazy. In other words, Batman #39 is a great Joker story. Snyder's story is great, but it is Capullo's fantastic art that has me coming back to this issue for more. It is simply brilliant. This is a must read book. Read Full Review

I find myself struggling each month to come up with a different way to describe this perfect title/team/story. This is what Batman is all about and I am already counting down the days until we get our conclusion on March 25th. Until then, this will have to do: Read Full Review

At this point, we're forced to sit back and wait an entire month before seeing what's to come, but it's a good time to go back to that first issue for another read through the 38 issues previous to this one. You might find other clues Snyder's placed in those back issues that will point forward to whatever the creative team's got in store for us as Endgame continues. Read Full Review

“Endgame” has proven to be a chilling thrill ride. Will Batman and Co save the day? Will Joker be triumphant? And what will we see on the other side of Convergence. One thing is for sure, Joker is playing for keeps. Read Full Review

The stakes have never been higher, and while that's been said before, I honestly believe it this time. Batman has always been two steps ahead, but with his back against the wall there might not be any more steps left to take. Read Full Review

“Endgame” and Batman continue to be the best thing DC Comics is putting out, bar none. Read Full Review

Pick up Batman #39 and make sure to prepare for the narrative crescendo coming next month, when Gotham, Batman, and Joker will most certainly never be the same again. Read Full Review

This issue is another great part in the “Endgame” story arc. The Joker has been given a truly amazing story that shows both how crazy he is, but smart enough to completely take over a city single handily. Snyder and Capullo both contribute to an amazing issue that would leave readers excited for the conclusion of this story. Read Full Review

It's great to see Bluebird officially being part of the Bat Family. She fits really well next to the other family members, and I'm very happy to be part of the history. The issue ends with the Bat Family teaming up with the typical rogues gallery, and a final showdown with Joker is about to begin. How this is going to end is everyone's guess. I just hope we get some answer on what Joker really is. Read Full Review

"Endgame" is about to rapidly expand and spill out into the other Bat-titles before it concludes, and this is a shame in many ways. Snyder's arc has been tense and tight so far, stringing us along just as the Joker has pulled Batman's chain. This is where Snyder's storytelling excels, in these focused pitched battles between the Dark Knight and enemies that can truly challenge his supremacy as Gotham's defender. Yet with only one issue of the main arc left, we're left on the precipice of a story that has not simply returned the Joker to comic book pages, but one of the best versions of Batman, as well. Read Full Review

This particular chapter of EndGame feels less impactful and intense than the previous installments. Those of you who have already read it are probably flabbergasted as to why I would make such a statement considering some of the shocking events that unfold, but when compared with the other issues, it feels a lot more like setup than progression. Am I saying it isn't any good? Well of course not! It's the best setup I have read this month! But it is definitely the calm before the storm, or at least as calm as an issue of EndGame can conceivably be. It is also worth noting that the backup story is by far the best of the five presented and is the perfect endcap to that story. Read Full Review

Often times Snyder's desire to tighten his stories have cramped Capullo's art during the duos New 52 run. While this and a certain panel that pays homage to Burton's 89 Batman film a bit too much hinder the flow of the book, as well as the believability of Snyder's Gotham. The set up for Batman Issue #40's Endgame conclusion leaves the reader foaming at the mouth for what looks like the Bat battle to end all Bat battles. Read Full Review

There are big moments that will change the characters in this issue, perhaps permanently. This team is creating one of the most legendary runs on "Batman" ever assembled. Their gothic horror adventures have made one of the biggest selling books in the company's publishing line feel like destination reading. It feels like this could have been the climax of their work though they are staying on the book for a while longer. It's going to be exciting to see how they top this arc. Read Full Review

Issue #39 is the penultimate chapter of Endgame, and Scott Snyder sets up things up perfectly with some very unexpected surprises along the way. Snyder uses his skills as both a superhero and horror writer to deliver some more chillingly wonderful moments from the Joker. He also uses these same talents to deliver a Batman in extremely dire straights who still manages to get the job done in style. Greg Capullo and FCO Plascencia continue to deliver on the artistic side of things with their trademark talents, giving this story the perfect visual appeal it needs. Read Full Review

While Court of the Owl fans may be disappointed, I don't think many readers will walk away from this issue with anything but glee.  Scott Snyder has thrown a change up that turned a setup heavy issue into a blast.  While I'm still up in the air over the Joker being immortal, I'm suddenly having too much fun to care.  Bring on next issue. Read Full Review

Regardless of how it winds up concluding, I must applaud the book's sheer audacity: in this issue, Alfred loses a hand, Batman makes a deal with the devil(s), and the Joker seems somehow even more driven and terrifying than he has in the past. How's that for a penultimate chapter of an arc? Read Full Review

Overall this has been an excellent story and I am eagerly awaiting its conclusion next month. Read Full Review

Batman is the best book DC publishes and there is no question about it. Snyder and Capullo have built something special together that won't be around forever. Whether you like the take on the character or the general direction that DC is taking Batman in, these stories are classics and you would be hard-pressed to find a better Batman book over the last decade. This is worth picking up. Read Full Review

In the backup story, by James Tynion IV and Dustin Nguyen, we finish the story of the five Arkham escapees when they learn the truth about the Joker. This just shows how manipulative the Joker is, as his origin is revealed to a broken group. This is a grim story, but really shows the Joker at his worst. Read Full Review

All of this helps ‘Endgame' really transcend its weaker aspects. It becomes something far more interesting and strangely touching in its own bizarre way. More than just being a Batman story, it serves of a reflection of how we relate to Batman, his characters, and his world as fans. Snyder's narratives have always been personally driven, but this is the first one that seems to draw on his relationship to the Batman character and how it changed and evolved over the years and how really that relationship is everyone's relationship in a broad way. We've all been that dumb 13-year old bragging about how Batman could beat the entire JLA with enough time to plan or the adult yearning for dark mature content in every corner. All just as much as we've been the little kid having the greatest Batman adventure ever with just a bucket of toys and imagination. Read Full Review

It all reads like fan fiction, not the kind of story that advances the mythology. Instead, it's a story that will have to be "fixed" later. Read Full Review

Batman #39 does its duty to get us ready for the final chapter of “Endgame” next month. Scott Snyder flexes his horror storytelling muscles produces a Joker at his creepiest level. The hype for next month's issue is not be understated. Read Full Review

Greg Capullo's art is as strong as it's ever been, and he really gets to dig into a bunch more characters than usual. (His Clayface is a personal favorite of mine.) But a wholly dull script has me wondering if the insular nature of this Batman book is starting to hurt it. Read Full Review

Despite the lackluster story elements, the overall plot remains strong. The idea of the Joker calling all of the unsaid rules off and giving his all to destroy Batman has been an incredibly fun event to watch. It just hasn't been the most engaging. If nothing else, we can thank the story for giving Capullo, Miki, and Plascencia the opportunity to go all out in what they're talented at and give us some of the best Batman visuals seen in quite some time. Batman #39 may not have been the best issue of this current arc, but it certainly makes us feel there's hope yet. Read Full Review

The end game is Hands down the best joker story ever and in this issue it even exceeded my highest expectations and In the end the only disappointment I had was that it will end soon.This is a must-Have for any comic reader.

Very impressed bu what happened on this issue, Snyder and Capullo are making Batman history on their run.

This arc just keeps getting better and better, setting up one hell of a conclusion!

One of the most unsettling issues in the series yet, "Batman" #39 does a great job in depicting the almost-final moves from the prince of crime and Batman. That great ending from last issue was ended in a rush, though, and Alfred's extremely shocking scene didn't leave the right amount of horror in such a crowded issue. Backup story ended very, very well.

Once again, best comic book of the week.

At this point it is a given how awesome this book is, but this issue doesn't quite measure up to the others. It jumps around too much for my taste. The conclusion to the backup story is pretty satisfying though, so that brings the rating up a touch.

Endgame has been good, but reviewers are really overrating this to hell. Most of this issue is just building up for the climax, and it doesn't really stand on its own. It's still nowhere as good as Snyder's other works, like The Black Mirror, American Vampire, or The Wake.