Comic Review: Batman #97 (DC Comics)

Joker War Part Three! Batman #97!! One of DC’s headline titles presents us with late summer mayhem.

James Tynion IV writes, Jorge Jimenez illustrates and Tomeu Morey colours the issue, with Clayton Cowles on letters.

The cover shows an almost obscenely uncomfortable image of Batman kneeling, vomiting green. With chains around his neck, Batman is definitely NOT feeling comfy. But what lurks inside the covers of this 13+rated book? Dastardly deeds done dirt cheap, you can bet.

Indeed, the clown posse is messing with the disabled Batmobile and raising their own hopes on a petard. It’s shenanigans galore, I tell ya. But wait, there’s more. There’s never been a better time to be comic-bound, gripping the pages of this issue with abandon.

Issue 97 blows open the gates on storytelling. It’s boffo, blastoff, and bonanza time, with Joker, Harley, Batman and Punchline all swirling and snarling around each other. Exploding canisters, a semi-psychotic Batman, brilliantly lit surroundings of chaos and conflict.

It all makes enormously entertaining reading, and thankfully, one can get the grasp of the situation(s) without any preamble. Beginners who are quick on the uptake will enjoy the plot, the fantastic art, the unceasing tension, the plotting and scheming, and the overall sense of heavy drama.

DC, Batman #97, $3.99 for 20 pages of content. Rated 13+