Barring another Kite-Man interlude (yes please), next issue looks to wrap up whats been one of Kings best Batman arcs yet. This was a thrilling last warm-up for what should be a memorable finale. Read Full Review

A fast-moving issue that features a great action scene, some much needed welcomed humor, grand visuals and one truly disturbing and out of control Joker. Read Full Review

Mikel Jann continues to draw all characters distinctively and it makes the story much stronger. This is how the Joker and the Riddler should always look. They should always have those sneer and the personalities that come with them. Read Full Review

Overall, WOJAR has been a fantastic read but the climax is what makes or breaks the story. With Catwoman's reply to Batman's marriage proposal depending upon what Batman tells her next, King needs a solid issue to top this superb event. Read Full Review

I'm starting to sound like a broken record, but this is yet another excellent installment in "The War of Jokes & Riddles," one whose final page ends on such a gripping note that you'll be fiending for the same Bat-time, same Bat-maestro in very short order. And best of all? We get to see if Catwoman says "yes" to Batman's marriage proposal next time around in the wake of Batman's startling revelation. Read Full Review

It's been an enjoyable ride. The version of me that giggled when King first promoted the storyline would e happy to know well things turned out. Now, let's hurry up and see how things turn out in the end. Read Full Review

Things are really heating up now. The war is almost over and finally we see the four main characters duke it out. I cant wait to read the next issue to find out what Batman will finally tell Catwoman about what he truly did that makes him think twice if he did the right thing in the war. Mikel Janins art is always great, and seeing The Joker without a smile for so long is kind of creepy, but god I love it. The panel where everyone is in the sky, brought such a smile on my face. Tom King has planted a seed in my heart and that seed has a name. Hell Yeah it does. The seeds name is Kite Man. Finally seeing Kite Man soaring to the top and be the man everyone needs was such a great full circle. Will there be more Kite Man after this issue? Lord I hope so. Read Full Review

King and Janin have made perhaps the first all-out, fun issue of the "War of Jokes and Riddles". It has actual narrative flow, good character moments, and pay-offs. If every issue of "War of Jokes and Riddles" was like this, it would have made for a much more enjoyable story arc. Read Full Review

Batman #31 continues to set the high bar for DC. Read Full Review

Overall War of Jokes and Riddles part V is a good addition to the story and even characters like Kite-man are not relegated to just background characters. That is one particular thing King has been really good at in this run, everything that happened served a purpose. With one more chapter to go, it is going to be interesting to see how this story ends. This might not have been the best chapter of this particular arc but it is still a damn good Batman story. Recommended. Read Full Review

BATMAN #31 clears the debris from previous issues and zeroes-in on the final showdown between Joker and Riddler. Read Full Review

This arc has been a dark and grim toll on Batman but Chung's colors brighten the day to hit home even harder and Jann's characters are all depicted well. With the finale within sight, Batman has one more issue to reveal the skeletons in his closest to decide his potential future with the woman he wants to be with and it'll be a sight to see how it all pans out. Read Full Review

I have to recommend this issue as another solid chapter in the Batman Rebirth series. The War of Jokes and Riddles is a story we will be discussing years from now, and fun issues like this will make the re-read worth it. There are enough epic moments to make any Batman fan pump their fist in the air and yell Kite Man's catchphrase! Read Full Review

Issue 31 is a mixed bag for me. It's drifting from what I liked about this arc to begin with but it also does something exciting and new, which is always worthy of commendations in a character nearly a century old. Read Full Review

And so the war looks to end like it began, with three men, alone in a room, and no way the whole mess doesn't end in bloodshed. Though certainly a downgrade in weirdness and ambition, Batman #31 is still a rousing read. That may not be good enough for some, but I have faith this story's last chapter will still fly. Read Full Review

A lot of writer Tom King's work pays off in this issue in wonderfully enriching ways, making this whole Event worth it! But we're not done yet! I can't wait to see how this all ends. Read Full Review

Unfortunately, the issue is light on plot. To set up a more exciting finish, this penultimate issue serves more as a quiet moment before an explosive end. Unfortunately, it doesn't pack as much of a punch as the previous entries. Without the emotional depth of #30, or the wondrous violence of #28, this issue is a bridge to what should be a captivating showdown. Read Full Review

Batman #31 was a thoroughly enjoyable fifth chapter to "The War Of Jokes And Riddles." Tom King and Mikel Janin do an excellent job setting the stage for an epic finally with Batman, Joker and Riddler left alone in a room together. On the way King was able payoff the major character development of Kite Man in a satisfying way. These developments along with several other character choices made the final chapter of "The War Of Jokes And Riddles" something that is highly anticipated. Read Full Review

In terms of story, this is easily one of the more satisfying installments of "The War of Jokes and Riddles" yet. It captures the zaniness of Batman's temporary supervillain alliance, yet never loses sight of the true darkness fueling this conflict. Unfortunately, the bright, sunlit setting brings about some visual problems. Mikel Janin's work simply doesn't have the same impact when exploring the sunnier side of Gotham. Read Full Review

Batman #31 is a solid continuation to “The War of Jokes and Riddles.” Despite the overall development feeling rather sparse, the creative team still manage to build plenty of excitement leading into the finale. The way that these events play off the recent interlude also helps to bring a sense of relevance, with Kite-Man's involvement surprisingly appealing. Read Full Review

So, here we are, one more issue to go in this epic Bat story and what do we have? Batman, Riddler, and Joker in a Good, Bad, and the Ugly tango on the last page. I have not loved this arc, but this issue was pretty good, certainly more enjoyable than the dinner party issue a couple back. What does the showdown lead to and how is it so horrible that Bruce feels he has to tell Selina before she answers his marriage proposal? Well just have to come back in two weeks, same bat time, same bat channel. Read Full Review

I don't think this issue of The War of Jokes and Riddles is King or Janin's strongest showing. A lot of the plot points seem somewhat extraneous when compared with the bigger picture, and the art for this chapter simply isn't as inspired as some of Janin's previous work has been. Read Full Review

One positive thing that I can say about this issue is that unlike a lot of the others, it at least makes sense within the arc and doesn't go out of its way to go against what it's already told us.  That being said, there isn't much to like with this issue because there's really nothing to it besides for getting everyone out of the way so that Batman can finally come out and tell us and Catwoman what the hell his biggest regret is.  The art continues to be phenomenal in this, but the art has never been the problem with the War of Jokes and Riddles. Read Full Review

While this chapter does feel more like a few pages stretched into an entire issue, I cannot deny that Tom Kings charm is present. The dialogue is tight, and he accomplished exactly what he needed to and brought us right to the doorstep of the conclusion in preparation for the closing chapter. Im anxious to see how things close, as Tom King is really going to need to stick the landing for me to unequivocally call this story a success. Read Full Review

with one issue to end the arc I hope tom king delivers

The way the Joker is portrayed in this story arc still bugs me. He's more grumpy than chillingly sinister which seems out of character for him. It was nice to see a decent amount of Catwoman in the costume design of Brian Bolland's run though. Thankfully Janin scaled down the massive mammaries for Selina. This is after all a serious comic for serious readers...

Great, especially the whole segment with the Joker in the beginning and, of course, Kite-Man. Hell yeah.

My favorite art of the Janin arc. Batman/Catwoman in daylight is hard to pull off, and it definitely worked. Planning the break in and who served as its linchpin was a lot of fun, and the next issue is perfectly set up!

Why every issue isn't like this? :(

Very cool number. Not really smart, not really surprising, but very cool though. The art style keeps growing on me.
I must say that I never liked this "sad" Joker, but he fits here. The closure is near now, I hope King ends this arc with a bang...

A satisfying read, though I didn't feel it was on par with the previous chapters in the War of Jokes and Riddles arc in terms of storytelling. This issue is used more for build-up towards the massive showdown in the concluding issue. But, an okay issue in Tom King's Batman run is still a great comic.

Janin's excellent art would be much better off with a different colorist. Very poor choice of colours for a Bat-book this issue. Detracted, rather than added to it. Bring back Bellaire!

I actually like this issue quite a bit. The Kite-Man stuff in this was much more worthwhile than the previous issue. Janin knocks it out of the park again. I am interested in how this will wrap up; contrary to Snyder, King typically sticks the landing just the journey to get there is not always great.

Kite Man! Nah nah nah nah nah nah nah nah, Kite Man! It's a good issue, although I feel like King has lost the point of the Riddler, he's not a strong-arm thug who occasionally rattles off riddles, he's a schemer that incorporates his schemes into riddles, and that character defining aspect of him has been lost in this arc.

In the context of the GRATING flashback storyline with already established -albeit debatable- parameters this was a decent chapter with nice art.

At least something happends.

I am so glad that this story is over next issue. Although this was one of the better ones it still is just not meeting the expectation I had for this event. The art is fantastic but, that is about the only great thing going on here. The whole Selina's answer is hanging on the end of this story is corny and don't even get me started on this stupid Kite Man stuff. Please just end this arc and move on. I am done with this.

Terrible. Worst part of this saga. The kites scene is something out of a bad parody and the dialogues are horrendous.