Batman: Kings of Fear #6

Peterson and Jones Kings of Fear was a wonderful roller coaster of learning more about what makes Batman the hero he is and wants to be for Gotham. This arc is now one of my favorite Scarecrow stories (who is such an underrated villain) and falls in line with classics like Darwyn Cookes Batman: Ego. Any book that is so self reflective of the title hero and gives an honest look, for better or for worse, at if his vigilantism is a necessity is a series I would recommend to any Bat fan. The trade paperback is out this August and I cannot wait to pick it up to have in my collection. Read Full Review

A fascinating deconstruction of The Dark Knight's damaged psyche! Read Full Review

So many Batman comics come out every year, so many Batman comics blend into each other, So many Batman comics go unnoticed, Batman: Kings of Fear is not one that falls into any of those categories, it has carved its path to be a quick be decorated books with many twists and turns. The ending was, in my opinion, the exact way a Batman comic should end, with another call coming in, another problem to solve, another reason to put on the cowl and bring justice to the city he serves so well. Read Full Review

The ending is especially wonderful because Peterson and Jones take Batman out of the toy box and they shake him around. Then, they put him back having been through the wringer and give us that one hero image to end with. Yet, the effects of the story are real and it's represented in that image very well. It's really some powerful stuff. This story needs to be in my collection as a hardcover. It's really that good and I commend the creative team for taking a chance and really just going for it. It paid off in an imaginative and creative way. Read Full Review

A fantastic conclusion to a great series. The visuals are the reason to pick this up, but my hat's off to writer Peterson for having such a perfectly executed conclusion for the characters and the reader. This was a fun series and I will repurchase it once it comes out in hardcover. This is a great series to give to non-comic readers to hook them. Read Full Review

It may seem like a minimalist story, but under the surface is one of the smartest Batman stories I've read in a while. Read Full Review

This series had been great. Still considering myself a noob when it comes to comics, I was skeptical about this book. But it's been a fantastic read. And I can't wait to see more from these creators in the future. Read Full Review

Aptly titled "The Once and Future King," the final chapter ofBatman: Kings of Fearprovides an appropriate ending to what has proven to be one of the more entertaining, and, perhaps, most visually impressive, Dark Knight deconstruction tales to date. Read Full Review

While there were some clunky elements, namely the dialogue and plotting, this was still a solid finish to this weird little series. I think it'll read even better collected, and the art by Jones is some of the best I've seen in a while. Read Full Review

On first reading this issue is a little slow, which is all the more evident after the thrill ride that made up issues 3-5. As a stand alone chapter I don't know if it's 100% successful. When reading the whole story together however, it's pure perfection. I wouldn't give this instalment a perfect 10 score, but anyone who reads the trade paperback/graphic novel collection most likely will. As a mini-series, when all is said and done I would definitely give Kings Of Fear full marks. As a single comic it earns a strong 80%. Read Full Review

The plot behind this story was good in small bursts with six issues falling right in the sweet spot between ending too quick and dragging on too long. Read Full Review

Batman: Kings of Fear #6 is a fitting end to the mini-series. Read Full Review

Batman: Kings of Fear closes with a poignant rebuttal of the Scarecrow's anti-Bat thesis. There are a few inconsistencies in Kelley Jones's artwork this time around, but the team nevertheless manages to deliver what is an incredibly satisfying conclusion to what has been an enjoyable Batman tale. Read Full Review

Peterson did very well with Scarecrow in this series. He forced Batman into this insane soul-searching experience that any reasonable person in his position could believe. (Maybe not the part about all the villains being great people, but certainly the part about Gotham thriving.) He's such a dangerous character and can easily be underwritten, but Peterson certainly didn't do that, which made this series a good a good read. Read Full Review

Batman Kings of Fear ends with a whimper that tries to show the reader why Batman is so great but does so in a way that has been done so many times already.  I loved Kelley Jones' art, but the story was stretched out, forgettable and didn't take advantage of the unique premise it started out with.  In other words, I didn't like it and can't recommend it. Read Full Review

Khamul

Mar 28, 2019

Simply the best miniseries of the past year.Finally a real Batman story and one thats an instant classic.The art and story meshed so well it restores your faith that comics can be made with wonder and amazement as chief ingredients, not cop out stunts and mediocre one size fits all art. Batman at his most awesome, and the single finest Scarecrow appearance ever.EVER! Get this book. Highest recommendation

Br'er Lapin AKA 20-Ish Ceiln

Jan 13, 2019

This was really good. Not a lot of what was said is new, but even as a Tom King Batman fan, I have to admit it is just good having a traditional Batman story like this.

Darkseid24

Jan 09, 2019

This issue wasn't as exciting& fun like issue 3,4&5, but that's mainly because it's the conclusion to this story. Batman finally snapped out of Scarecrow's fear gas& we learn, that everything, that happened since issue 4 was just an illusion in Batman's head. What makes this more boring for Scarecrow, but more interesting, when it comes to Batman, since nothing in this story could have happened, if there wasn't any doubt in Batman. The final issue tries to prove Scarecrow ( or rather the illusion of him) wrong. A couple of people ( of course two of Batmans biggest fans) are thanking him for all he did& encouraging him in his crusade. While it's true, that Batman also helped many people I don't think it's fully convincing.Despite the peop le Batman is helping he still beat brutally up his villains, denies them any help& he really is responsible for the creation of some villains like Joker. Not to mention, that he put children into great danger by turning them into his soldiers. What I also think is highly questionable, that he uses fear to "žchange" criminals, not compassion or love. Therefore I think it's really sad, that all the development Bruce went through is thrown away like that. It's not surprising, but its kind of sad too. As for Scarecrow it's sad, that most of it happened again in Batman's head, but compared to Knight Terrors in Nightwing he at least was allowed to do some harm to Bruce. Even so I would appreciate a story, that is more about him than just Batmanor another hero. So overall Kings of Fear is a great Scarecrow story& also addressed something new about both, but it still can't keep up with stories like Absolute Terror, Fear of Faith or Doug Moench's Scarecrow stories. I'm still sad to see this mini series end& wish it was longer. I also hope I don't have to wait another 3 years for another good Scarecrow story, that doesn't reduce him on standing in the background. more

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myconius - Jan 10, 2019

i actually laughed out loud when Batman barked at the Scarecrow to "SIT DOWN!"

Darkseid24 - Jan 10, 2019

I thought „How DARE you Batman!“& then I was surprised Scarecrow did what he said. And what I just realized, if Scarecrow really wanted to get rid of Batman here, he could have shot him, while he was lying around for an hour. Or demask him.

myconius - Jan 10, 2019

very true! it really falls apart when you think of it like that.

Darkseid24 - Jan 10, 2019

Lol Scarecrow could in other comics too, maybe it’s more fun for him this way. He also waited in AK.

myconius - Jan 10, 2019

very good point. ...even though i still enjoy a gritty/realistic comic once in a while, lately i enjoy more fun comics that don't try to take themselves TOO seriously. i've been reading a lot of reprints of Golden, Silver and Bronze Age stories. some are much better than others, but every once and a while i find a really good one. i've really been digging a lot of the old Batman stories by Len Wein and by Denny O'Neil.

myconius - Jan 10, 2019

'The House that Haunted Batman', 'Night of the Reaper' & 'The Joker's Five-Way Revenge' are a lot of fun. ...i know he's utilized a lot from the early Silver-Age era, but i actually see quite a bit of influence from the later Silver to Bronze Age in Grant Morrison's Batman run. especially the Globe traveling. there was a LOT of that in Denny O'Neil's Batman.

Darkseid24 - Jan 10, 2019

Yes I agree. Those comics had more humor. Like the New Gods from the 80ies for example, but also the 90ies. That’s what I liked about King’s of Fear, that it was more humorous like older stories. Overall I miss DCs dark humor like for example when Joker shot Sarah in NML, it was tragic, but also funny how Joker played it out.

myconius - Jan 10, 2019

yeah. this series definitely had a nice feel of some of the older comics of the 80's and 90's. i'll probably give it a nice read-through in the very near future.

Darkseid24 - Jan 10, 2019

I’ll do the same :)

myconius - Jan 11, 2019

my one wish is that on this cover for issue #6 that they would have not colored all the bat-symbols yellow. it would have looked better if they would have used more cooler and softer hues. variations of purple, violet, indigo, turquoise, emerald and jade. would have been more in line with the haunting look of the art inside.

ohhaimark - Jan 11, 2019

I’m picturing that now... Would be cool and improve the cover.

Darkseid24 - Jan 11, 2019

The cover from issue 6 is the only one I don’t like in the run. It’s kind of boring, just Batman doing nothing with bat symbols. I expected more here.

myconius - Jan 11, 2019

sometimes simple variations of the color spectrum can add some life to any piece of art.

Darkseid24 - Jan 11, 2019

I hoped more for a cool Scarecrow vs. Batman cover, since this was the finale.

myconius - Jan 11, 2019

that would have been cool!

daspidaboy

Jun 23, 2021

a pretty solid limited series.

myconius

Jan 09, 2019

out of all of the stories written for Kelley Jones to illustrate, i've enjoyed 'Batman Red Rain' (and the Vampire Trilogy) the most. 'Gotham After Midnight' is probably a close 2nd, and 'Batman Kings of Fear' follows somewhere behind that one. the series was thankfully short. it probably could have been even shorter? this issue was ok. but the never ending moments of catharsis (one after another) got to be a bit much. i enjoyed this series mainly for the art. besides that there's not much else i can recommend about this series.

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Darkseid24 - Jan 9, 2019

I wish it was longer& I loved the story.

myconius - Jan 10, 2019

it definitely has some good moments. overall i just felt the story could have used a bit more meat, is all.

Darkseid24 - Jan 10, 2019

It’s one long fear gas illusion trip, but I’m glad Scarecrow finally got a story.

myconius - Jan 10, 2019

did you ever read the first Batman/Judge Dredd crossover from the early 90's, BATMAN: JUDGEMENT ON GOTHAM. it's one of my favorite graphic novels. it's Batman & Judge Dredd versus Scarecrow and Judge Death as well as Mean Machine. very fun story by Alan Grant with art by Simon Bisley.

Darkseid24 - Jan 10, 2019

Yes I did& that story was funny& great indeed. Miss these crossovers. The one with Daredevil was also fun.

myconius - Jan 10, 2019

i'll have to look for that one. :)

Darkseid24 - Jan 10, 2019

You should, it was fun, or the one with The Darkness

myconius - Jan 10, 2019

the Batman/Darkness crossover i've owned for a good number of years now. that was a lot of fun. i think that was the first time David Finch ever drew Batman in a comic. long before he did joined DC and got his own Dark Knight series.

Darkseid24 - Jan 10, 2019

I don’t know, but I think that comic was funny& great.

myconius - Jan 12, 2019

last night i tried re-reading this entire series from the beginning. 1-3 were great! i was having a blast. then when i'd gotten to issue #4 it became a real slog. the story just stopped in it's tracks and it was a big painful look into Batman's psyche for the rest of the series. very painful to get through.

Darkseid24 - Jan 12, 2019

For me it was the opposite. I thought isdue 1-2 was ok, because not that much happened, but the story became great in 3-5, while 6 was back to status quo.

myconius - Jan 12, 2019

that's so funny how tastes can differ from person to person. :D

Darkseid24 - Jan 12, 2019

True lol

Khamul - Mar 28, 2019

Sorry but this put every Batman story, most DC stories and all Marvel stories to shame for at least the last three or four years.

Darkseid24 - Mar 28, 2019

@Khamul With that I agree.

Psycamorean

Jan 10, 2019

This wasn't as good as the previous issues and I think that's because the main attraction of this entire series was the art. I really want to buy the trade of this and put it on my shelf just to look at... And probably not read. The writing is fine, and some moments in this are really good, particularly the part with Alfred. But after such a fun string of quick issues filled with crazy art, slowing down and having the most dialogue intensive issue at the very end where the art can't really do much is kind of a let down, unfortunately.

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myconius - Jan 11, 2019

even though i have the single issues added to the pile, i'm contemplating the collected edition as well.

Darkseid24 - Jan 11, 2019

Im going to do the same.

Psycamorean - Jan 11, 2019

Yeah, I'm only working with digital so it'd be nice to see it physically.

myconius - Jan 11, 2019

i bought the physical single issues as well as subbed to the series on comixology. i'll more than likely get the collected, though i'm not sure if i should get the HC or wait for the TPB?

Psycamorean - Jan 11, 2019

I don't know how it's being collected, but I'd probably go for the TPB.

ohhaimark - Jan 11, 2019

I, as well, am going to check this one out in trade. I dismissed it as “just another Batman series” early on, but I have heard good things about it.

myconius - Jan 11, 2019

@YourGreenMuse - the Hardcover comes out in August later this year. if that sells well enough a paperback would probably come out next year. @ohhaimark - you're actually lucky to be getting this in collected rather than in single issues. the series best aspect was the art. always better to enjoy in a collected book.

ohhaimark - Jan 11, 2019

Sweet! Glad I waited in that case. I do love me some Kelley Jones art.

Psycamorean - Jan 11, 2019

I guess it'll be up for future me to decide, since I've got time.

Darkseid24 - Jan 11, 2019

I love the story too. I already have the physical issues, but I’m going to buy the hardcover as well.

myconius - Jan 11, 2019

i'll more than likely get the HC just so long as i get it for a good pre-order price. .. what to do with these singles though?

Darkseid24 - Jan 11, 2019

I collect the single issues. I board them& put them in a box to my other comics, while I read the HC edition then lol

myconius - Jan 11, 2019

there are some comics that i really love that i insist on having single issues of, even if i get the collected version. a lot of my old Mirage comics were never put out in a collected edition, so i have to keep the singles if i want to read them. plus certain series i just enjoy having them.

Darkseid24 - Jan 11, 2019

Yeah same. I buy the single issues& collected version of my favorites too. Have so many favorites though lol

myconius - Jan 12, 2019

yeah. me too. TOO damn many actually! ...gets to be a real clutter, don't it?

Darkseid24 - Jan 12, 2019

Yes lol

Khamul - Mar 28, 2019

I love Kelley Jones's art, the only guy anymore who 'gets' Batman,and this story was simply brilliant.Scarecrow in the trunk...Batmans effect on crime amongst regular criminals and Alfred...Whoa what a great book.