We haven’t reviewed comics here for our weekend leisure reading review in a while so here’s one. Why a weekend review? Because Pastors also need a break from heavy theological reading.
Tom King. Batman Volume 4: The War of Jokes and Riddles. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, December 19th 2017. 200 pp.
3 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
This is the fourth trade paperback volume in DC Comics’ Rebirth’s series on Batman. The book collects issues #25-32. This particular volume tells the story of the war between Batman’s two super-villains: The Joker and the Riddler.
The premise of the story already sound interesting for me as both these villains are similar in that they both have a certain “humor” if you will; one wonders why previous writers haven’t had the Joker and the Riddler pit against each other in an all-out sustained war. Yet the story was also narrated in such a way that you see there are differences between these two men. In fact as the story progresses where all the villains in Batman’s Gotham city starts taking sides you see Batman having to choose which side he has to put down first. Without giving things away you also see Bruce Wayne having to come out in person to kind of explore the situation, almost as if Batman is undercover as Bruce Wayne if you will which was pretty cool to see in this comic.
The tale is overall enjoyable although there were a few things that made me raised my eyebrow. For one there were times it got quite dark. The pages that lists the civilian causalities who got caught up in the war between Riddler and Joker was rather heavy; I know it is fictional but it is rather uneasy to see names and short description. To that end the writer and illustrator hope to convey the heaviness of Batman’s responsibility it was accomplished but the play on emotion was a little too much for me personally (maybe not for others). Also Joker is a twisted fellow and any story with Joker is bound to shock and awe. It was done not so much with gory scenes but in a Hitchcock sort of way. Also I didn’t really thought it was necessary to see Batman tell this story to Catwoman in the setting of a bed room though nothing happened.
The Domain for Truth 
Reblogged this on BibleProphecyWatch.
Interesting question can we as Born Again Christians read comic books like Superman or Batman I think I have heard they are demonic and what about the occult stuff in comic books just wondering.
Good question. I don’t think all comic books are demonic. I typically finish the books I read but I make exceptions with comics because sometimes some of them can be unedifying and its not worth going through it when it gets quite ungodly. Comics is a small percentage of what I read with the priority given to spiritual readings. What do you think about my view, I’m ears to hearing what you think.
“…For me, superheroes are nothing but occasional entertainment with a dose of nostalgia mixed in. If you can say the same, if you can watch superhero movies and/or read comic books without it distracting you from the truly important things in life, I say go for it. But, ultimately, it is between you and God. As with all things, ask God for wisdom in regards to what He wants you to do (James 1:5).
Important note: In no sense is this an endorsement of Rated-R superhero movies or comic books that are in any sense truly graphic. This post is not an endorsement of anything. It is simply an expression of why I am comfortable seeing superhero movies of the PG and PG-13 variety.”
See here for the full write-up on the issue:
Thanks for the review and it brought back memories. The Joker and the Riddler were so well done by Cesar Romero and Frank Gorshin on the old Batman television show. Interesting question that BG317 brings up. As you know, I came from a fundamentalist background where the pastor painted everything either black or white according to his preferences. But, as you mention, we can practice discernment, and even sometimes turn lemons into lemonade as my old fundamentalist pastor used to say. I found the real danger is not reading a fictional work with a demonic character (the Bible includes many such) although we always have to use discernment. The real danger is developing a mind frame common within fundamentalism that’s constantly tending toward legalism and condemnation in regards to the minor minors.
Good point about the cultural fundamentalist mentality. I think cultural fundamentalism is too knee jerk trigger happy to say “do not touch, do not handle, do not taste” in an arbitrary way. It is important we practice discernment. At the same time you have those of the other extreme where everything goes…that’s not right either. I for one enjoy your comic book reviews brother Tom!
Thanks, Jimmy, and I enjoy your comic book reviews as well!
[…] It is in a three part story. One has to know a little bit of the background of what happen in BatmanVolume 4: The War of Jokes and Riddles specifically Poison Ivy under the Riddler. This isn’t the normal “punch-a-villain” kind of […]
I am thinking of picking this up!