The story of Batman: The Smile Killer has only drawn me in more. One of my favorite scenes was where Martha Wayne was trying to make Bruce remember what really happened to his Dad Thomas, the night he died. There are moments in this comic where you're even unsure of the Dark Knight himself, and you begin to sway, just like he does, on just what's real and what isn't. This is a testament to just how well the lead-up and the execution has been for this book. Read Full Review

I was already a fan of Joker: Killer Smile, but this one-shot epilogue amplified that by a thousand percent. This is not just a great take on Batman and the Clown Prince of Crime that presents a fascinating look at these two decades-old characters. It is also a chilling read that will absolutely haunt you. This is top-tier horror and it should not be missed. You don't need to have read Killer Smile to dig into this. Do yourself a favor and seek it out. Read Full Review

Batman: The Smile Killer follows suit, picking up the reins where that series ended in a fashion, but this issue is able to capitalize on the ideas of its predecessor in a more interesting fashion to greater effect. Read Full Review

It's a good epilogue but it is short. I would have liked a bit more breathing room. But overall, it is an excellent coda to an excellent series. I love this creative team and it is essential reading. Read Full Review

Batman: The Smile Killer is an intriguing epilogue to the Joker: Killer Smile miniseries. It embraces themes such as psychosis, existential horror, hallucinations and mystery, all of which can be found in Killer Smile as well, though in a slightly different context. It also embraces ambiguity, as it doesn't hold readers by the hand, nor does it provide any clear answers to what's going on. This is a book that makes you think, and I definitely recommend adding this to your collection, provided you've picked up the Joker: Killer Smile issues as well. Read Full Review

It's a perfect coda to one of the best miniseries in recent years, and more evidence that Jeff Lemire is one of the few writers in comics who can write almost any genre. Read Full Review

Batman: The Smile Killeris an excellent read that is a refreshing change from the slew of purely action-based comics. It's a story that grabs the readers attention in the first issue and is perfect for both well-versed Batman fans and beginning comics readers. Read Full Review

Batman side stories are fun because the canon universe is rooted in so much history and structure that it can be a treat to see things flipped upside down. The Smile Killer looks like it'll give us plenty of that throughout its run. Read Full Review

Limits of suspension of disbelief aside, Sorrentino's swinging for the fences in Batman: The Smile Killer, and the results are breathtaking. Even if Lemire is bringing us through some well-trod territory with the actual storyline, he delivers some strongly unsettling work here, and Sorrentino's take on the Dark Knight is just so striking that it's impossible to dismiss. If you pick up one Big Two book this week, make sure it's this one. Read Full Review

Batman: The Smile Killer #1 manages to breathe life into a Batman story that could easily come off as bland under a team with less experience and talent. Sorrentino and Bellaire are an art force to be reckoned with, and they bring so much subtlety to Lemire's concise script. In future issues it's many mysteries will need to pay off in a way that's satisfying, and as of yet I'm only assuming they will due to my confidence in the team. As an issue on its own, though, it's very well done. Read Full Review

In this book, we see just how different Bruce Wayne might have been if just a few things had happened differently in his formative years. Read Full Review

I'm in despite the parallel story lines of the movie and Snyder's recent work. The darkness of any Joker tale is too good to not read. But my guard is up as I am not a fan of reruns on already explored ideas. Read Full Review

Andrea Sorrentino and Jeff Lemire collaborate on a book that is fantastic to look at, but just okay to read. Read Full Review

Andrea Sorrentino delivers some beautiful, noir-style art throughout the issue. The use of shadow is brilliant and the composition of the panels is fantastic. Read Full Review

A tired concept is saved by gorgeous art in "Batman: The Smile Killer #1" Read Full Review

The conclusion is lackluster and there is no rhyme or reason as to why the story twists and turns the way it does. It feels like a shock for the sake of shock but a half-assed attempt at that considering this concept has been explored better in previously Batman stories. Overall, Batman: The Smile Killer #1 is a disappointing follow-up to what was a fantastic horror series. Read Full Review

This kind of Batman story has been told several times, and Jeff Lemire himself has written a similar story with Moon Knight. Even with that against it, it's still just a pretty solid comic book. It made his Joker series a lot more interesting by expanding it.

Not much explanation for anything that happens, and Lemire basically rehashes one of his Moon Knight stories for Batman, but the horror suspense and the art still make this a good read

It was a cool little story with some great art that shows the resolve of Batman. If this is a one shot which I believe it is, it really didnt do anything special except start a decent story with no ending.

I really liked this. For those who was disappointed by Snyder's version of Batman in Last Knight, than this is the version you were looking for.

To start, the art, panels and lettering are absolutely top notch. Sorrentino's art is so unique to fit this psychological thriller niche, faded but has texture that really gives the book an edge to it. The colors as well, switching from dark to faint colors depending on the mood the Lemire wants you to feel. It as good as the Original Killer Smile Series, and is done with such style to create this melancholy and dark atmosphere.

On to the story, the idea is the shining beacon. Not to spoil it, but Lemire plays around with the idea of Batman in both a realistic setting but dashed with a eeiry touch of insanity. Mr. Smiles returns to prowl on his next victim, and reshapes how the idea of Batman even came to be. Lemire is reshaping the origin of Batman, again using child's literature as not only a contrast, but a factor into Lemire's vision of Batman. Everything you knew about Batman in this book is flipped on its head, and we are left with a ending open to further expansion on Lemire's unusual yet brilliant jab at the Batman mythology. A surprise yet impressive epilogue to the original Killer Smile series, altering how this story was being told, and by who's perception we were really reading it from.

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Doesn't utilize the R-Rating whatsoever. It's a story we've seen a thousand times before. "Oh Batman is just his imagination, wooooahh". However it's a very competent story even tho the concept is a bit tired. I am however super excited to see what comes next. Jeff Lemire takes the tired concept and makes it his own. The art is great, overall it's a good read.

It feels like a cliche though the art is really good

I could swear that I’ve read this exact same story somewhere before. Maybe I’m the one going crazy. I liked the art a lot though, and the writing style is good despite everything.

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Liem Duong - Jun 30, 2020

Last Knight on Earth?

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I don't really know what to think of this, aside from liking the art. Great concept, but ultimately it fails to deliver more than surface level imagery and ideas.

This is lame. It sets up a mystery and does nothing with it. Guess I'll just go read Lemire's Moon Knight instead. I don't want more of this. I thought the Joker miniseries was very mediocre and this just makes it less appealing. But since it's Batman, we'll probably get 12 more sequels if we're lucky.

Such a disappointing story. Definitely not worth the hefty price tag.