The Batman Who Laughs #1

9.0

Critic Rating

35 Reviews
8.4

User Rating

79 Reviews
Writer Scott Snyder
Artist Jock
Cover Price $4.99

Left rattled by the events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL, Bruce Wayne must come face to face with the nightmares spawned from the Dark Multiverse. But even though evil devoured evil in the collapse of Challengers Mountain, the Dark Knight still has his doubts. He discovers that the Batman Who Laughs not only survived the fight with The Joker at the end of METAL, but now he is enacting a sinister plan across the Multiverse-something both terrifying and oddly familiar. But when Bruce Wayne realizes the only way to stop this madman is to kill him, he must consider violating the very rule Batman won't break...the same rule that created this insatiable vi more

Reviews (36) User Reviews (79) Rate / Write A Review

CRITIC REVIEWS Back to Top

  • 10

    Black Nerd Problems - Morgan Hampton

    Dec 11, 2018

    Snyder and Jock convey a quiet intensity that leaves you unsettled well after you've finished reading. Few times do I have audible reactions while reading a comic book, but while reading this first issue, I gasped or winced more than once. That's how you know you've got something special on your hands. Something you know they're gonna be talking about for years to come. Who knows, when it's all said and done, it might be up there as one of the best Batman stories of all time" but we've still got five issues until we get to the punchline. Read Full Review

  • 10

    Lyles Movie Files - Jeffrey Lyles

    Dec 12, 2018

    The Batman Who Laughs #1 hardly plays out like you'd expect as Snyder throws a massive detour in the next confrontation. This is looking like it will be a can't miss mini-series and yet another home run for the Batman team. Read Full Review

  • 10

    Infinite Earths - J.D. Jr.

    Dec 12, 2018

    Strikingly beautiful, and frightfully gripping, this is Scott Snyder at his very best! Read Full Review

  • 10

    AIPT - JJ Travers

    Dec 12, 2018

    Scott Snyder's nightmarish creation is one of the best characters to come to the DC Universe is a long time. From the moment I met The Batman Who Laughs I knew I wanted more of him and man was the wait worth it. If the first issue is any indication of where this series is headed, fans are in for one of the best mini-series out of DC in years. Read Full Review

  • 10

    The Super Powered Fancast - Deron Generally

    Dec 12, 2018

    Jock's art in this issue is amazing. It is both dark and deliberate with moments of kinetic energy mixed in with quiet, horrifying menace. Read Full Review

  • 10

    Big Comic Page - Indiana "Indy" Marlow

    Dec 12, 2018

    This was a real gem of an issue. The dynamic duo of Snyder and Jock is a match made in comic book heaven, a fact which has been proven since their work together on the pre-New 52 epic Black Mirror. Read Full Review

  • 10

    Big Comic Page - Indiana “Indy” Marlow

    Dec 12, 2018

    This was a real gem of an issue. The dynamic duo of Snyder and Jock is a match made in comic book heaven, a fact which has been proven since their work together on the pre-New 52 epic Black Mirror. Jock has a jagged edge to his art, blending shapes and shadows together to deliver realistic looking characters with a somewhat nightmarish edge that practically jump out of the page. As weve seen before his style works perfectly with the character of Batman and even more so with the horrifying Batman Who Laughs. Snyder has once again returned to the formula of Batman doing what he does best, being a detective. And when you add to that a terrifying foe who knows everything he does and has absolutely no boundaries and were in for an absolute treat with this story. Im so hyped for the next issue, especially after the huge bombshell dropped on the last page! Read Full Review

  • 10

    CourtOfNerds - Drew S. McCarthy

    Dec 12, 2018

    Snyder and Jock at work together is a thing of beauty. I love that this is a mini because they can make maximum impact in 6 books (and man my pull list is getting big). This is a gorgeous book with one of the best in the business masterminding it. Whats not to love? Read Full Review

  • 10

    ComicBook.com - Russ Burlingame

    Dec 12, 2018

    The Batman Who Laughs #1 is thematically of a piece with a lot of what Scott Snyder has been doing with Batman in the last few years. The idea of exploring Batman's inner demons, his darkest corners and worst fears while still not giving up hope or the occasional moment for quiet character introspection or even -- gasp! -- a joke illustrates that Snyder, who seemingly came on board fully-formed with "The Black Mirror" all that time ago, is in fact still evolving as a writer of Batman comics. Read Full Review

  • 10

    DC Comics News - Carl Bryan

    Dec 13, 2018

    This character. The Batman Who Laughs, had me from the beginning. The artwork of Capullo and Jock and imagination of Scott Snyder is well worth the investment into this series. Plan now to visit all your local comic store to invest in this issue and the five more planned. Move over Joker….. you have just been demoted to second string in the Rogues Gallery! Read Full Review

  • 10

    Impulse Gamer - Mark McKechnie

    Dec 14, 2018

    This is a very interesting story with one hell of a twist at the end. The ending takes it over the top and will leave you hanging until next month! 5 out of 5 stars! Read Full Review

  • 10

    Comic Crusaders - Shawn Warner

    Dec 17, 2018

    There is a nuanced beauty to the violence that only Jock could capture. His version of the Joker is straight out of the nightmare realm where evil creatures populate a city of shadows and woe. What he and Snyder have created is an operatic work of epic sadness and fear. One man's journey to truly meet his inner demons and somehow defeat them. This issue leaves you wanting more, but afraid of what is to come. Read Full Review

  • 10

    Epicstream - Brian McCormick

    Dec 18, 2018

    Snyder writes an action-packed page-turning thriller with The Batman Who Laughs Read Full Review

  • 9.6

    Comic Watch - Robert Struble

    Dec 13, 2018

    Snyder takes us back to what he does best: a Batman book. Its a thoroughly amazing horror story that makes you root for the bad guy. Snyder, Jock, and Baron have crafted a masterpiece. Read Full Review

  • 9.6

    Forces Of Geek - Lenny Schwartz

    Dec 14, 2018

    So then, there are a few more twists and turns. By the end of the issue, there is so much happening that it's almost overwhelming. But it all makes sense and it's visceral and wonderful. This is a VERY different take on the Batman mythos. But it's a very well thought out one and is completely excellent from cover to cover. It's an early Christmas treat indeed. Read Full Review

  • 9.5

    Geek Dad - Ray Goldfield

    Dec 12, 2018

    No one in the recent years before or after Snyder's run has done a Joker story half as effective as Endgame, but in this miniseries, it seems clear that he still has one spectacular act to go for comics' most iconic arch-enemies. Read Full Review

  • 9.5

    GWW - Nick Friar

    Dec 12, 2018

    Lastly, Jock's artwork, combined with David Baron's coloring, is perfect for this story. Their dark, raw edge is perfect for this story. As much as The Grim Knight's spree was awesome, the best page was the return of The Batman Who Laughs. So dark, so vicious. His presence alone is enough to send a shiver down your spine. And it sendsone message: things are about to get real. Read Full Review

  • 9.4

    The Brazen Bull - Charlie Chipman

    Dec 12, 2018

    A Batman who laughs is a Batman that always wins; The Batman Who Laughs (2018-) #1is a stunning presentation of modern visual storytelling, creativity and reinvention. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    Comics: The Gathering - Hussein Wasiti

    Dec 12, 2018

    If you're picking anything up from DC this week, this should be at the top of your pile. It's dark, moody, and tense, and beautifully rendered by Jock and David Baron. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    Batman-News - Casper Rudolph

    Dec 12, 2018

    This is a great opening to a Batman story. It has heart, it has action, it has horror both psychological and physical. It sets up a few intriguing themes that will likely be further developed as the series goes on. I think this story works best when you try to imagine what it's like to experience what Bruce is experiencing. And while you're at it, be sure to check out that Capullo variant. Enthusiastically recommended! Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    The Batman Universe - Tony Hammack

    Dec 12, 2018

    They say the only way to fight fire is with fire. The Joker thinks the only way to stop the Batman Who Laughs is a Batman Who Laughs. Let's see if his theory is correct! Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    On Comics Ground - Travis Tucker

    Dec 14, 2018

    Pick this comic up, its certainly worth its sand and has all of the grimdark, broody Batman stuff we can all enjoy. Read Full Review

  • 9.0

    411Mania - John Pumpernickel

    Dec 20, 2018

    Another near perfect issue from DC and another issue that you need to add to your pull list asap. Read Full Review

  • 8.7

    Weird Science - Jim Werner

    Dec 12, 2018

    I went into this book hoping to like it and it exceeded my expectations big time.  This start is more of a Batman story so if you are not the biggest Batman Who Laughs fan, I can still recommend this to you.  It may not be a great introduction to the character (yet?), but the art is great and the ending will certainly have you pumped for more. Read Full Review

  • 8.6

    Monkeys Fighting Robots - Matthew Sardo

    Dec 12, 2018

    Overall, Synder wows with an over-the-top first issue that will leave you guessing till issue two hits the stands. Read Full Review

  • 8.2

    Geeked Out Nation - Jideobi Odunze

    Dec 12, 2018

    Was the Batman Who Laughs #1 worth the wait? Without a doubt. I don't normally recommend books centered around villains, but this one is definitely one of the exceptions for the way it embraces the brand of madness this monster has brought with him from the Dark Multiverse. Read Full Review

  • 8.0

    Geekery Magazine - Lucas Fashina

    Dec 12, 2018

    Jock was born to draw this series, and it allows him to deliver extravagant spectacle with an array of different panels that span the spectrum of Happy to Dark and heavy, while still tapping into the horror skills he honed on other books. Read Full Review

  • 8.0

    Dark Knight News - Steve J Ray

    Dec 12, 2018

    Five more issues? Oh, go on then… why not? Read Full Review

  • 8.0

    Multiversity Comics - Reed Hinckley-Barnes

    Dec 13, 2018

    "The Batman Who Laughs" #1 is great continuation of Scott Snyder's Batman, and an engaging, moody story in its own right. Read Full Review

  • 8.0

    Sequential Planet - Matt Herman

    Dec 15, 2018

    If you're looking for a Batman story that is a little more grounded, this could be right up your alley. I'm really looking forward to what Snyder and Jock have in store for this series. Read Full Review

  • 7.8

    Outright Geekery - Brian A. Madrid

    Jan 10, 2019

    A final conclusion about this review offers no hope in site for Gotham City. The Batman Who Laughs and Grim Knight both are here to stay. No one knows the reason why, but one thing is clear, a lot of people are going to die. For the Batman/Bruce Wayne DC Universe, seeing himself dead offers no comfort knowing there's a twisted Bruce Wayne, inflicted from the Joker's toxin, is stalking him relentlessly. For now, The Batman Who Laughs may find it hard to believe has someone to offer competition. Bruce Wayne always hopes to see the Joker be cured of his affliction, but it seems the affliction may be the key to defeat the Grim Knight and his own devil's advocate from the Joker's expense. Read Full Review

  • 7.0

    Newsarama - C.K. Stewart

    Dec 14, 2018

    The Batman Who Laughs #1 is a solid first issue, but the big shock factor moments aren't particularly surprising, and feel a little more like an unfinished "What If" one-shot. If you're a Snyder fan or itching to see Batman go head-to-head with the Batman Who Laughs once again, you'll have a good time, but this one may be worth waiting for in trade format. Read Full Review

  • 7.0

    Horror DNA - James Ferguson

    Dec 29, 2018

    The Batman Who Laughs shakes the Dark Knight to his core in a way that only Scott Snyder can. Yes, the path through this story is a little convoluted, but there's more than enough to capture your attention. Now that we got to this point, I expect smooth sailings since we're getting into the meat of the story. I love how Batman has been dealing with some solid horror elements in recent years and this comic is right in that wheelhouse. Read Full Review

  • 6.0

    Comicosity - Michael Hale

    Dec 12, 2018

    However harsh I may sound, let me say this at least: Jock's version of The Batman Who Laughs is gross and chilling enough to be worth the issue, should you be a Jock fan in particular. He brings a tangible sharpness to the character that oozes dread and agony, so it is a pity the character really isn't in this issue at all. Read Full Review

  • 6.0

    Newsarama - Pierce Lydon

    Dec 13, 2018

    If you were a huge fan of Dark Nights: Metal and are really intrigued by the Batman Who Laughs, there's no question that this is a book for you. But solely from an execution standpoint, there's a real lack of synergy here. Read Full Review

  • N/A

    Graphic Policy - Joe Ryan

    Dec 23, 2018

    I review and show The Batman Who Laughs #1, the new crazy comic by Scott Snyder and Jock from DC Comics. Check it out! Read Full Review

USER REVIEWS Back to Top

  • 10

    #DontGiveDivasAChance

    Dec 12, 2018

    Interesting start

    + Like Comment
  • 10

    Samuel Almeida

    Dec 12, 2018

    I really enjoyed that first issue. Very promissing. Very interesting start.

    + Like Comment
  • 9.5

    bcgocubs

    Dec 13, 2018

    Perfect intro to a title that hopefully follows suit. The Joker part at the end was a bit forced though. We are also introduced to yet another batman, this one is called "The Grim Knight". He's basically just Batman with guns. Maybe they'll make another one called "The Happy Knight" or "The Good Knight" (see what I did there :/) for a change. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this immensely.

    + Like Comment
  • 9.0

    Double Down

    Dec 14, 2018

    Buckle up! Story: 9/10 Art: 8/10 Overall: 9/10 Story: The story for me started... oddly. I wasn't feeling Snyder's direction, the jargon between Alfred and Bruce... the heist. But when Mr. Freeze got torched, I began to laugh (no pun intended). This is a wide ride. The gloves are off and this will be a trip to remember. I just didn't really see this stuff coming. I am on board! Art: Jock has some seriously stunning moments here. There are also some moments that fall seriously flat. It might be the coloring? I didn't like some of the angles he drew either. Whatever, being nitpicky. Overall: Get this. Open your mind and enjoy this trip. I was cautious at the beginning but this really came in full force for me a more

  • 9.0

    Psycamorean

    Dec 15, 2018

    I really enjoyed this issue. I don't think Joker actually killed himself and I hope Batman's transformation isn't just a retread of the one-shot from Metal. It probably won't be, but who knows?

    + Like Comment
  • 9.0

    I have no idea how this is going to fit into canon, but I love it. The art in the scene where "The Grim Knight" enters Arkham is really good.

  • 9.0

    Micky H

    Apr 18, 2019

    Sucked me right in

  • 9.0

    rayonymous

    Aug 24, 2019

    The writing is clever. The art is appropriate and gritty. I just love how it ended here, I'm a little cautious while looking forward to more.

  • 8.5

    bucswin611

    Dec 12, 2018

    Highs and lows. Snyder's prose on the first page is reminiscent of his ongoing Batman series, soaked with nostalgia and heart. A few crowd-pleasing moments are fun to read but land a little hollow. Jock is a delight.

    + Like Comment
  • 8.5

    ohhaimark

    Dec 12, 2018

    THE GOOD: -I love Jock's art, especially with Scott Snyder's writing. I'm glad to see them working together on a miniseries again. -I really liked that first page. It was well-written, but most of all, it felt really foreboding in a strange kind of reverse psychology way. You know in a horror movie, when something really happy, almost too happy, happens, and you think, oh no, something's gonna go wrong. Yeah, this part had that same kind of feeling. -I have to admit, the opening chase scene was pretty awesome. -Not to mention that reveal it led to. At first I was confused, as I was supposed to be, then I realized it was an alternate universe Batman left by the Batman Who Laughs, which is a really cool idea. It's especially coo more

    + Like Comments (1)
  • 8.5

    I Review Comics

    Dec 13, 2018

    The Batman Who Laughs is the highly anticipated series from Scott Snyder & Jock which focuses on the Batman turned Joker from Dark Knights Metal. The comic is entertaining but I couldn't help but feel that this one doesn't quite live up to the hype.  The comic opens with Batman in the middle of breaking up a heist. In the aftermath of the scene, Batman finds a corpse of himself. Upon investigation, Bruce comes to the conclusion that the Batman Who Laughs has returned.  While the investigation is happening there an attempt on the Jokers life in Arkham. Fortunately for Joker, he escaped a couple days prior and the stand in within the cell was murdered. Upon returning to the Batcave Batman finds the Joker stowed away. There's a twist more

    + Like Comment
  • 8.5

    Gizmo

    Dec 17, 2018

    This is what I wanted Dark Nights: Metal to be. Maybe Snyder will redeem himself as the legendary Batman writer that we once knew him as.

    + Like Comments (2)
  • 8.5

    Bigbooty

    Dec 28, 2018

    Good start. Hope they can keep it up.

  • 8.5

    Spacey Medicine

    Jun 03, 2019

    I think this was interesting, there were some things that annoyed me, but on the whole I am interested.

    + Like Comment
  • 8.0

    thecomiccookebook

    Dec 12, 2018

    Pretty good return to form for Snyder. The mystery is engaging and reflective of earlier Snyder Batman stories. The DKR line was embarrassing dad joke that I wish I didn't read. Pretty much every Snyder-ism shows up in this book so if you enjoy that, you'll enjoy this. Personally, I'll trade wait this.

  • 8.0

    waltgator93

    Dec 12, 2018

    Great dialogue and great artwork. A must read but I have a few issues with Continuity. Wasn't a fan of the Batman Who Laughs, now we have two of them... curious to see where the story goes though.

  • 7.0

    egonnn244

    Sep 22, 2019

    "Dark Knight Returns" A promising start.

  • 6.5

    Nihilist

    Dec 12, 2018

    It's a decent start for the new series, but I wouldn't call it outstanding. It's decent - no more, no less, and it definitely falls under the "read once" category to me, being somewhere in between this week's phenomenal Detective Comics and utter garbage in form of Batman Damned #2. So "okay" it is.

    + Like Comments (3)
  • 6.5

    Darkseid24

    Dec 12, 2018

    This story starts good, but I think DC is exaggerating a little with all the alternative Batmans, Jokers& even Bruce Waynes. I hope this mini series won't be like the Batman one shots from Metal, which were quite repetitive& wasted the other villains. That this will happen here too was already teased with Mr Freeze getting set on fire by the armored Batman. It's sad, that Snyder only seems to think, that only Joker is a great& dangerous villain& that's why he always reduces the others to canon fodder or to mere puppets of Joker. If Snyder just wants a Joker story, he should just leave them out, if he can't give them a role, that does them justice. I think the idea of the armored Batman is quite boring, but the Batman who Laughs still looks more

  • 6.5

    Talon1load

    Dec 12, 2018

    Not a bad issue but not great. It was confusing about what Earth this was taking part on which lead to confusion about what was happening and to who. I would like to know more about the character and what makes him such a huge threat but so far, we haven't seen much to explain that in any of his appearances. I'm hoping this series will flesh the character out more but this issue was lacking.

    + Like Comments (5)
  • 6.0

    Full Spread

    Dec 13, 2018

    It's got some gnarly Joker stuff to be sure. But if you're tired of Snyder's Batman tropes like I am, you could do better reading "Endgame" than these re-heated leftovers.

    + Like Comment
  • 1.0

    KFuqua

    Dec 13, 2018

    Everything about Metal was awful. Please stop putting out more garbage related to that mess.

    + Like Comment
  • 10

    Rocker97

    Dec 12, 2018

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  • 10

    Arachal18

    Dec 12, 2018

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  • 10

    Kevinrick

    Dec 12, 2018

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  • 10

    Greg Hound

    Dec 12, 2018

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  • 10

    mrbrans

    Dec 12, 2018

    + Like Comment
  • 10

    Batmanchuria

    Dec 12, 2018

  • 10

    TheImageIsStrong

    Dec 13, 2018

  • 10

    Watchtower022

    Dec 15, 2018

  • 10

    aleyuma

    Jan 16, 2019

  • 10

    DGalek12

    Jan 16, 2019

  • 10

    thecloser424

    Jan 19, 2019

  • 10

    Bruno Mael

    Feb 14, 2019

  • 10

    Alexander_Tsitokhtseff

    Aug 01, 2019

  • 10

    Bat-ears99

    Nov 25, 2020

  • 10

    AshleyOmegaNova

    Sep 04, 2022

  • 9.5

    Sunspots

    Dec 14, 2018

  • 9.5

    tomasmcarneiro

    Aug 01, 2019

  • 9.5

    tonpas1989

    May 20, 2020

  • 9.0

    hebele

    Dec 13, 2018

    + Like Comment
  • 9.0

    EDiakota

    Dec 13, 2018

    + Like Comment
  • 9.0

    BlueDream

    Dec 14, 2018

  • 9.0

    Omer

    Dec 16, 2018

  • 9.0

    pizzamain

    Jan 03, 2019

  • 9.0

    Linkush

    Jan 17, 2019

  • 9.0

    Tony

    May 27, 2020

  • 9.0

    Jason The Dude

    Nov 08, 2020

  • 9.0

    TheDoubleDarkness

    Nov 30, 2022

  • 9.0

  • 8.5

    MistMiracle

    Dec 12, 2018

    + Like Comment
  • 8.5

    WhistleBlower

    Dec 12, 2018

    + Like Comment
  • 8.5

    ActionCity

    Dec 12, 2018

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  • 8.5

    sovereignsfall18

    Dec 12, 2018

    + Like Comment
  • 8.5

  • 8.5

    arrogantdesperado

    Aug 31, 2020

  • 8.0

    TheFallenKing13

    Dec 12, 2018

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  • 8.0

    Sigmund Floppychest

    Dec 12, 2018

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  • 8.0

    NoShape

    Dec 13, 2018

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  • 8.0

    JustCrazy

    Dec 14, 2018

  • 8.0

    Grifter

    Dec 17, 2018

  • 8.0

    StanielK

    Dec 29, 2018

  • 8.0

    DarkProdigy

    Feb 27, 2019

  • 8.0

    mrDovydas

    Mar 30, 2019

  • 8.0

    DarioV

    Apr 08, 2019

  • 8.0

    Adrián Morgades

    Dec 19, 2019

  • 8.0

    batman_forever

    Jun 20, 2020

  • 8.0

  • 8.0

    ed1138

    Apr 18, 2022

  • 7.5

    Dorival

    Dec 14, 2018

  • 7.5

    ADAWAR

    Jul 27, 2019

  • 7.5

    Quirky Genin

    Jul 13, 2020

  • 7.0

    aquarius

    Jan 13, 2019

  • 6.5

    Bloodraven

    Dec 15, 2018

  • 6.5

    ryaleus

    Dec 24, 2018

  • 6.0

    Alexander

    Feb 18, 2019

  • 6.0

    Waterfly

    Jul 02, 2019

  • 1.0

    SuperCam081392

    Dec 12, 2018

  • Kidomaro

    Mar 01, 2025

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