Batman #32

Writer: Tom King Artist: Mikel Janin Publisher: DC Comics Release Date: October 4, 2017 Cover Price: $2.99 Critic Reviews: 25 User Reviews: 69
8.3Critic Rating
8.2User Rating

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"THE WAR OF JOKES AND RIDDLES" finale! This is the finale everyone will be talking about for years to come! In BATMAN #24, we gave you the question; in BATMAN #32, you get the answer. As the Riddler and The Joker desperately fight for supremacy in Gotham City, Batman reveals how far he had to go to end the war. Now, knowing Batman's greatest sin, Catwoman must make her decision: Will she marry Batman?
RATED T

  • 10
    Comic Book Bin - Herv St-Louis Jan 23, 2018

    Mikel Jann deserves the other half of the accolades mostly for his rendition of the Riddler who finally has a distinctive look. He looks Irish! I also like the Jokers sneer. The action in this issue was telegraphed in a good way. These were fine pages where Jann skewered the frames to show the flow of the movements and the fight. The obligatory pows and other sound effects were there to remind us that this is a Batman comic after all. It should not take itself so seriously! Read Full Review

  • 10
    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles Oct 4, 2017

    Metal might be getting a lot of attention, but this has been a modern classic Batman tale worthy of every accolade. Read Full Review

  • 10
    DC Comics News - Steven Brown Oct 5, 2017

    Overall I thought Batman #32 was a great read! The showdown between Batman, Joker and Riddler is epic and the emotions that Batman deal with are hard earned and felt. Tom King really puts us in Bruce Wayne's eyes in this issue as he ends it with Bruce making a landmark statement to Selina Kyle about his love for her and what it means to him. Hopefully this makes a huge change in Bruce's outlook of love as he and Selina share so much in common. King and Janin have continued to amaze me with this series, so I expect the next issue to be no different! Read Full Review

  • 10
    Monkeys Fighting Robots - Manny Gomez Oct 4, 2017

    'Batman' #32 is one of those issues that will be mentioned, written about and talked about when comic fans discuss moments that changed a character forever. It's really up there with 'The Killing Joke' and 'The Dark Knight Returns' in the pantheon of Batman comics. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Bounding Into Comics - Daniel Mills Oct 4, 2017

    The action was tense and visceral; the dialogue hilarious and witty. The beautiful ending will leave a smile on anyone that knows the story of Bruce Wayne. The tragedy that deserves a blissful end. Much like the War itself, the creative team played their parts perfect to the laughable end. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Newsarama - Jon Arvedon Oct 6, 2017

    King provides us with a take on the Dark Knight and his two most iconic rogues that transcends the self-imposed boundaries many writers daren't cross, and while you'll have to read Batman #32 for yourself to find the answers to the aforementioned questions, you'll come out with a whole new appreciation for not just Batman, but the man behind the mask. Read Full Review

  • 10
    Big Comic Page - Dave MacPhail Oct 12, 2017

    A well told and truly dark Batman tale that will have lasting consequence to his world in the long run. It is an uncomfortable setting for fans of the Bat but the ending of the story humanises him in ways that many other writers struggle with. Definitely a book worth your time and a place in your pull list this month. Read Full Review

  • 9.5
    Black Nerd Problems - Keith Reid-Cleveland Oct 5, 2017

    Are we about to see a Wayne-Kyle wedding in the future? Hope so. Knowing how comics work, they'll both probably come close to death before we see anyone walk down the aisle and there's sure to be plenty of drama outside of that. If any of King's previous 32 issues are a good example of what's to come, let's just sit down and enjoy the ride until we get there. Read Full Review

  • 9.1
    Comicsverse - Aaron Berke Oct 6, 2017

    Tom King wraps up his epic saga with an unforgettable subversion of Batman's and Joker's relationship. This choice takes Batman into questionable territory, but cements the Riddler as a diabolical icon of villainy. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    411Mania - Sankalp G. Oct 5, 2017

    Overall, a very different ending. Unexpected and may disappoint its readers. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    AIPT - David Brooke Oct 4, 2017

    A strong finale that'll leave Batman richer and his relationship with Joker even more interesting. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    GWW - Dillyn Chadwick Oct 3, 2017

    Batman #32 sticks the landing to an otherwise lackluster build up. This story turned out to be highly important to Batman's overall character arch and growth and while it took awhile to get here, past issues in the arc makes sense. While I think this arc could have easily been 4 parts instead of 6 (keeping Kite Man's interludes), I'm happy with the way it ended and it finally felt necessary. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    On Comics Ground - Luis Cruz Oct 4, 2017

    Putting Bruce in a light where he is human and has love in his heart like any other normal person is why Tom King is so damn good. We're so used to seeing Batman as this gothic vigilante, we forget that he's still a man who cares and loves. Mikel Janin's art has been perfect throughout the series, and FINALLY I get to see The Joker laugh! Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills Oct 7, 2017

    The War of Jokes and Riddles pays off in all the best ways as Tom King delivers an expertly crafted conclusion to his latest storyline. Read Full Review

  • 8.8
    We The Nerdy - Aron Pohara Oct 5, 2017

    There are certainly moments of Batman brooding in this issue. He is Batman. He broods. But it is the context of all of this that put this current Batman run above many others before it. Subtleties in this run are numerous and they are handled well. It is always refreshing to read a book in Superhero lore, whichever it is; when you can see a real situation pertaining to those heroes. It brings them down to Earth a bit which certainly makes them more relatable. That is exactly what Tom King has managed to do with Batman villains during the war of Jokes and Riddles showing there is a little insanity in all of us. Read Full Review

  • 8.2
    IGN - Jesse Schedeen Oct 4, 2017

    While one of the big moments in this issue suffers from awkward build-up, otherwise Batman #32 serves as a satisfying conclusion to this lengthy story arc. It's dramatic and emotionally charged, yet also marked by moments of campy humor. And the twists in this issue promise to have a significant impact on the series moving forward. What more can readers ask for? Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Comicosity - Terrence Sage Oct 4, 2017

    While “The War of Jokes and Riddles” doesn't maintain the grand scale of earlier chapters, it zeroes in all of the people and story beats that made this unorthodox tale a surprising read for the Summer with a finale that's sure to be talked about in the upcoming months. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    The Batman Universe - Matthew Mahar Oct 4, 2017

    Theres really not much else to say about this book that hasnt already been covered in length. The future looks interesting and I am every optimistic that Tom King will achieve something great with this book. For now, Ill leave you with this: Was the War of Jokes and Riddles the best? No. Was it worthwhile? Hell yeah. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    Graphic Policy - Brett Oct 4, 2017

    After reading this issue, I find myself debating what King is saying and exploring which is a good thing. It's not the usual punching, there's a bit more to the comic and this is one that challenges to reader to think and come to their own conclusion. The cerebral aspect of it all is fitting for a comic featuring “the Detective” and King is absolutely creating his own mark for this classic character. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Comic Book Corps - Josh West Oct 4, 2017

    The War of Jokes and Riddles has officially ended, granted, not the way most expected. But one thing's for sure: the repercussions from this issue will be felt for a long time coming. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Comic Crusaders - Johnny Oct 4, 2017

    The work of Mikel Janin has been a saving grave on this book. Read Full Review

  • 6.5
    Batman-News - Brandon Mulholand Oct 5, 2017

    “The War of Jokes and Riddles” never really succeeded at delivering the “War” aspect of the title. And this finale installment is no objection to that rule. Instead, this arc has been much more about themes and ideas. While many of those ideas have been genuinely interesting, they are never truly explored to fruition. Consequently, many things are left to our imagination. Some acceptably so, and others to our annoyance. While I really like many of the seeds King has been planting of late, and look forward to where all this goes, his track record tells me that we'll never really get to fully explore all the wonderful notions he is constantly bringing up. Read Full Review

  • 5.0
    The Pop Break - Oct 4, 2017

    She barely speaks during this whole arc and it's difficult not to wonder if this time would have been better spent understanding why she would want to marry this damaged, angsty nightmare person. Regardless, she does say yes, but only after responding to Bruce's story in the most perfect way: with an exasperated “who cares?” It's a great moment and the only logical end to this worthless digression of an arc. But that doesn't mean King should be forgiven for wasting our time. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    Razorfine - Alan Rapp Oct 8, 2017

    In the end, the ambitious arc fails on at least as many levels as it succeeds and wastes most of Gotham under siege to short flashbacks with this the only payoff. Hit-and Miss. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    Weird Science - Eric Shea Oct 4, 2017

    While you do get an answer from Selena about whether or not she'll marry Bruce Wayne........ don't expect much else because what you get in this issue is half of the book doing nothing, while the second half just throws a forced ending at you that doesn't make much sense and even makes you wonder why you've been a Batman fan for so long if this is his past.  The art was as decent as always, but the War of Jokes and Riddles from a story point, did nothing but disappoint. Read Full Review

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