Batman #99

The Joker War wraps up next issue and Tynion ends this issue with a killer cliffhanger that was legitimately shocking as to the depths Joker will go to gain the psychological advantage over Batman. Read Full Review

Batman #99 is the best issue of Tynion's run yet. With a set up like this, I'm really looking forward to reading issue #100. Kudos to Tynion and Jimenez on an amazing penultimate chapter of “The Joker War”. Read Full Review

Issue #100 is surely going to be a huge one, especially with how this issue ends. So check back next month for that review.  Read Full Review

Taking full advantage of stunning artwork, Batman #99 builds on powerful characterizations with emotionally charged developments in the Joker War to set the stage for an exciting finale next issue. Read Full Review

Jorge Jimenez delivers some beautiful visuals throughout this issue. The destruction everywhere as well as the smaller details create some gorgeous panels. Everything visually builds to the disturbing final panels and a final page that left me reeling. Read Full Review

This is a slow burn of an issue as we get a speech from the Joker as the Bat family regroups so they can divide and conquer. The best stuff comes at the end, which really makes the wait for the conclusion next issue that much more difficult. Read Full Review

The upcoming Batman #100 is an oversized conclusion, and it'll need it"there is a lot built up here for an explosive conclusion to one of the best Joker stories in years. Read Full Review

Will this be the end of the Joker story, as Harley plans for it to be? Will Joker be apprehended and put away yet again, only to take his war against Batman one notch higher the next time they meet? Or is there a third option Tynion has planned for the 100th issue that wraps up "The Joker War?" We don't have long to wait to find out. Read Full Review

We then get an amazing version of the Joker mashed up as the Batman. It has been tried before but not with the amazing artistic styling of Jorge Jimenez. This sets up an epic setup for what should be a wild ride in next months big finale. This is an issue bursting with solid characterization and quality art. It is not entirely original, but it is a well done, classictale. Read Full Review

This issue was really rather good, but to say I'm not tired of filler anymore would be a level of deceit I am not capable of. Read Full Review

In terms of bringing all of the sub-plots in this series and tie-in comics together Batman #99 gets the job done. James Tynion and Jorge Jimenez bring everything together to provide a strong set-up for the final chapter of "Joker War." Unfortunately by bringing together so many different sub-plots together does show that "Joker War" may have had way to many things going on for its own good. Hopefully Batman #100's increased page count will help in fixing these story problems and wrap up "Joker War" in a satisfying way. Read Full Review

Batman #99 is in all ways a setup issue. While its moments are delivered well, not a lot really happens. With the exception of the above mentioned moral debate, pieces are put into place and the board is set for what comes next. The only other spot that really feels like it is supposed to hit home is when Batman is giving his get hype speech to his recently returned comrades. Unfortunately, this moment rings hollow for me. And while this is of no fault of Tynion, as his writing is well-executed, it is instead due to the overwhelming sense of dj vu I was distracted by. Read Full Review

Like the previous “Joker War” instalments, Batman #99 is a middle-of-the-road superhero adventure. It rarely exploits its premise or gets into character head-space enough for me to feel an emotional connection, but it's just interesting enough to keep readers coming back. While this issue adds some much-needed character moments, they may not be enough to keep my interest in this arc afloat. Read Full Review

Batman #99 may look pretty, but it's mostly padding in preparation for issue 100. Read Full Review

Joker War's penultimate issue is all setup for the climatic finale in Batman #100. Read Full Review

"Batman" #99 is a solid issue of Batman with the promise of something greater on the horizon. Read Full Review

There's always the chance that the end of this arc pulls the rest of the arc into focus - Tynion is a good enough writer to do it. But maybe the problem is really the audience and the times we're living in. Superhero universes are never going to accurately reflect our world. But they can teach us lessons - many that stick with us our entire lives. But when we learn that good prevails over evil and fail to even a scrap of that in our everyday lives, what's the point of one more story about good versus evil? Read Full Review

Oh, well. This is the penultimate, semi-bland chapter of a semi-bland storyline. It is okay at best. I wish it had more heart in it. Read Full Review

We're at the penultimate issue of Joker War and still this event doesn't have much meat on its bones. Familiar tropes and rehashed arguments try to give the story meaning. Read Full Review

More than half of what should be rising action leading into Joker Wars finale is devoted to Joker and Batman delivering speeches. The art is beautiful, but theres no tension to compel us forward. Read Full Review

This book is not good, and it's shameful to pretend that it is. Read Full Review

Batman continues to rob audiences of what they actually want. I can only assume that they decided that the ending should happen on issue 100 and thus, they are stalling for time. This is a disappointing title and I really want this Joker War to come to an end and hopefully, it won't haunt the book for too long. Great art, but this story is crap. Read Full Review

It's well past time for this story to come to an end that, if the lead up is any indication, is going to be nothing more than smoke, mirrors, and marketing hype. Just like the whole arc has been. Read Full Review

cincyfan

Sep 24, 2020

I loved this! I can not wait for issue 100!!!!! I absolutely love Tynion’s writing he has to be one of my favorites if not my favorite writer. I also loved seeing orphan get involved as Cassandra Cain is one of my favorites. This was fantastic

EDiakota

Sep 21, 2020

" It's good to have you back." - BATMAN

BlueAndEvil

Sep 21, 2020

Duckboy?!

Spacey Medicine

Sep 27, 2020

Once again a good issue! Stop it Batman, you’re spoiling me!

Psycamorean

Sep 15, 2020

I liked this issue a lot more than the last one, and I think it comes down to pacing. This issue makes giant leaps forward in the story. There's a semblance of payoff with all the Harley stuff. The Batfam, even if the majority of their tie-ins suck, are finally playing a role, however minor-- despite what the cover would have you believe. I feel like there's a direction here. In the build up to get to this issue, we had two or three moments of Batman getting his shit together only for it to be another false start. But now he's actually done it and the story has become better for it.

DarePool53

Aug 16, 2021

I'm enjoying this in spite of it all being something of a retread. Jimenez's art is astonishingly good.

Comics Code Authorities

Oct 15, 2020

Not bad, but not great either. It's good to see Nightwing back, but the problem is this is just turning into another "Why doesnt he Just kill the Joker?" story. It seems since "No man's Land" that almost every story the Joker appears in asks that tired old question, and I'm sick of it. I now realize that James Tynion's stand-alone Joker story in Detective #1008 was so good because it didn't raise that tiring old issue most of his stories over the last 2 decades have. "The Joker War" started out good enough, but it's second half is a little stale. And another thing: Batman beat Punchline in the last issue, so why is she still out there and not locked up?

Watchtower022

Sep 19, 2020

I expected more from the penultimate issue. Nothing really happened here. Jimenez is fantastic. Seriously one of my favorites.

DDJamesB

Sep 22, 2020

It was interesting. It had some good parts and the next issue should be a good read. On a side note it does seem outlandish. Like the whole taking iver Gotham every big event for Batman. Its just to the point where I always question why anyone would ever live there. Also the joker suit is just plain ridiculous and why does the joker put ha ha ha on everything.

Halodystroyer44

Sep 15, 2020

It's fine

Afre

Sep 15, 2020

I liked it. The art especially was great and it felt like the story was finally actually moving forward. However, it just feels that it is being marketed as a bigger event than it actually is. It doesn't feel that big in scope, just another mediocre Joker storyline. I said it this in my last review, but especially after "Three Jokers", this feels empty and kinda mediocre. It is hard to recommend this storyline, I just want this to end. While I like it, I just cannot recommend it due to it feeling so inconsequential.

allenquanobi

Sep 16, 2020

Bored. Love jorge jimenez art though

Liem Duong

Sep 15, 2020

Sigh, why keep stalling. It has been over 6 issues of just dragging this out. It has great art and colors. Top-notch panels. It has stellar writing. Momentous character moments and damn addicting cliff-hangers. From a technical aspect, the last two Batman issues have been some of the best I have read from Tynion. But still nothing has happened with Batman in fighting the Joker. I tried to be patient and wait this out because I love Batman, but this is getting ridiculous. 20 pages of crap not happening. Tynion takes WAY TOO LONG to piece together his story, and if that was the case, this arc needed to be 10 issues long like the last one. I am expecting the worst. 5 of the 6 issues have been fillers, quite entertaining and well done fille rs, but still fillers nonetheless. Now Tynion has just one issue to go to wrap up this arc. This feels just like Empyre. It has interesting ideas and concepts, but it takes way too long to develop them so there is barely any room to capitalize on. This is the damn Joker War, make me care about what is going to happen, make this important. more

Prodigalson16

Sep 16, 2020

Little more than a cheap version of Endgame.

Gizmo

Oct 22, 2020

I think this issue is meant to act as the bridge into several tie-in books but, since I have no intention to read any of those, I don't particularly care.

FinanceGuy15

Sep 15, 2020

This entire arc up until now could've been done in 2 issues. What's even more disappointing is the fact that the previous arc also led up to this. Will be dropping this book after #100

Hellblazer

Sep 16, 2020

A huge regression from the previous issue. The story has stalled and with no real character development(except Batman realising the importance of the Bat family once again [how original ...]). I really feel we are gonna have a stale and lame ending.

Canada_Comic_Guy

Sep 15, 2020

Wasted potential !! I don't know. Were my expectations too high?!

Darrow

Sep 15, 2020

Khak to Saret:) this was a real garbage and nothing happened in this issue. Last issue was better than this. we saw real batman in that issue but in this we just see everything we already knew it. Art is good at least.

SenpaifenixJäger

Sep 15, 2020

Sorry I'm not going to give a good grade to a filler number, please Batman just monologue, bored with so much me, me and he, he. Please marry the Joker. A number where nothing happens more than an insipid meeting with zero apologies, zero action. Another nefarious thing, Tim became a child again? Since the horrible Nightwing 74 apparently they insist on drawing like that, he is a young man of about 17 or 18 years? We don't even know what his alias is, Robin, Red Robin or Drake. Really?? please make up your mind. Batman as always hypocritical, when it suits him he is happy to see them, when it suits him then it is our city. Gentlemen the man sucks as a human being, but that's the charm of Batman. I'm not sorry, I'm not convinced. the only redeemable thing is art, because the story that Tynion presented I have already seen in many numbers, nothing original. more

Quinn

Sep 15, 2020

Another issue where nothing happens. Batman gathers the Bat Family together and says I will take down the Joker. Harley says she'll kill him and chaos still reigns. We see the Joker take a ride in his Joker limo and go to Ace chemicals and kill all his henchmen. What little happens is of the tell, not show variety. That's bad writing. We see the villains go to the hq of the Planner or the Designer or whatever his name is. There's no clever plan, no strategy. So let me get this straight? Catwoman's plan steals all of Bruce's money despite the fact that there are a thousand laws and regulations in place to stop that kind of thing. That money is used to buy an army of goons despite the fact that there would be a paper trail a mile wide t hat would give authorities leverage to stop said transfers. Joker is killing goons and they keep on being loyal? All law enforcement authorities just stand by? Money doesn't work that way. Joker is collecting bodies to reanimate and when Bruce gets to Ace Chemicals one of the bodies is Alfred. Bruce just clobbers the body and says this isn't real. It's real all right, but Alfred is just a reanimate corpse. I really am hating this part of the story. To quote Tony Stark. Not a good plan. Even the Clownkiller is just seen and not actually does nothing this issue. Batman once again says yeah, I should have brought you guys in sooner. So his family just stood on the sidelines waiting for the coach to get them off the bench? They have aboslutely no free will? They are essentially bat robots? No not buying it. This whole story arc is just a lot of waiting around until Batman 100, when once again it will end with Batman punching out the Joker and giving a declaration of principles that ends with "I'm Batman." Harley actually makes a very compelling argument that the Joker should die. I like Batman's no kill rule, but authors keep wanting to have the definitive Joker story, so they keep upping the body count, so four or five times a year, the Joker kills dozens and dozens of people. That makes the stories boring and repetitive with no sense of style or wit. And it makes Batman and the authorities look SO LAME. Put the Joker on the shelf and keep him there until someone actually does come up with a definitive Joker story (and it's not the Three Jokers). This is not good story telling folk. Stop deconstructing Batman to the point where he is shown to be counter productive and in the wrong all the time. Or I could be wrong. more

Bat-ears99

Sep 15, 2020

James Tynion doesn't understand the character of the Joker one bit. On the previous issue, when he recalled C.J. Henderson, I got my hopes up a little and I thought maybe it would make a decent Joker story in the end, but in this issue, Tynion disappointed me sharply (once again). His Joker is grim and no fun at all. He's using the army of the living dead against Batman, where's the humor in that? Tynion stripped the character of all its charm and quirkiness and made it into the embodiment of all evil (God, I miss the Joker from the 70/80s so much... Give us that cackling, mischievous fiend back, DC!). The Joker isn't even a good villain for this story at all, in the first place. They might as well have given this whole scheme to someone el se. Besides the Batfam-Gotham rogues team-up against the Joker? We've already seen it before in Endgame. more

雨人点雪

Sep 15, 2020

James Tynion IV，你是失忆了吗？上一期布鲁斯和阿尔弗雷德在幻觉中的对话不应该是这个冗长烂俗的幻觉故事的结束吗？为什么又出现了断脖子的阿尔弗雷德？你是不是短期记忆缺失？为什么同样的无聊的东西会在每一期漫画中一遍一遍又一遍地出现？！甚至在代表这一部分结束的一期之后又再一次出现？你真的是在进行某种实验吗？ James Tynion IV, have you lost your memory? ? Shouldn't the dialogue between Bruce and Alfred in the last issue be the end of this distracting illusion story? Why did Alfred with a broken neck appear again? Are you in the trouble of short-term memory loss? Why do the same boring thing appears over and over and over again in every comic? ! Even after a period that represents the end of this part? Are you really doing some kind of experiment? By the way, the story is still as boring as every issue before. more

Batfan

Sep 15, 2020

From the start of this run I’ve been waiting for a Wow moment to happen. still waiting. This whole arc for me has been a mix of existing stories done worse(city of bane, endgame, a little batman R.I.P with hallucinations)and attempts to make Wow moments but not delivering Why does joker suddenly care so much about Gotham? Why is their rivalry based on who owns the city? That’s not what comic Joker is about, that’s Heath. You can’t change a character to fit your story without saying why they’re different and showing how they changed. The prelude before this run didn’t say why either This arc has been a let down, funny moments didn’t land, Harley foreshadowing Joker’s death wasn’t deep. Joker wearing the batsuit was enough to stop me buying this after #100 which we all know will have some fight that’s supposed to make this run good. more

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Batfan - Sep 15, 2020

Just want to add I think James is a good writer, I liked his justice league tie ins so I don’t know why this run feels so bad and robotic, in my opinion.

SenpaifenixJäger - Sep 15, 2020

I like your critic, you are absolutely right. We expect drama, action and nothing to come. It's batman, where AT&T and Warner have their money, to whom they give the best writers, the best stories, the best art. I feel like there are no excuses for mediocrity.

Batfan - Sep 15, 2020

Definitely, especially in a final Batman vs Joker fight, at least until the next reboot.

SenpaifenixJäger - Sep 15, 2020

We hope you give us the conclusion that Tynion has promised so much. Personally, I think he did all this to get the Punchline series out, Tynion is not such a bad writer even though I hate how he handles Jason. However, he has given good stories, I do not know what is happening to him. Let's just hope for a good closing. Or maybe they want to do it in the special issue of the Joker war

Batfan - Sep 15, 2020

Yeah I can definitely see a big Punchline run happening before he leaves, which I won’t be buying. I don’t have high hopes for #100 but at least there’s Tomasi’s detective comics to turn to