Monday, November 23, 2015

Booknote: Batman, Volume 7: Endgame

Scott Snyder, Batman, Volume 7: Endgame. Burbank, CA: DC Comics, 2015. ISBN: 9781401256890.

Genre: graphic novels and comics
Subgenre: superheroes
Format: e-book galley
Source: NetGalley


From the book's description:

"For years, the Joker has regarded Batman with a sick, twisted love, thinking that one could never exist without the other. But that's all changed. Now the Clown Prince of Crime is done playing.

He's going to kill Batman. And he's going to do it using those who Batman loves the most: the Justice League

The Joker returns to Gotham City with a deadlier agenda than ever before, using every tool at his disposal to finally kill the Dark Knight. That includes turning Batman's allies against him in the bloodiest brawl that he's ever had to survive."

This is a series that I can say little without spoiling it for other readers because that ending is just. . . wow, but it is also an ending that leaves you with a bit of emptiness. If you have been following Scott Snyder's run on this title, recently collected in Joker: Death of the Family, then you are reaching the end here in Endgame.

The story starts a bit convoluted as the Justice League is attacking Batman. We gradually find out there is a toxin involved, so we may think initially this is the work of The Scarecrow, but soon we realize it is not. In addition to dealing with Justice League, there are other serious challenges Batman faces as the clues lead back to the old Arkham Asylum, where he will discover Joker is back, and he means business now to kill Batman. This is a complex comic with a lot of twists and turns that gets more tense as you get deeper into it. Then it explodes in that ending, and it leaves you there.

In the end, I really liked it, but given the ending, I have mixed feelings about it as I wonder now what the author and publisher will do next. We'll just have to wait and see I suppose. If you have been collecting this series for your library, you will want to have this title.

The volume collects single issues 35-40 of the Batman title. It is part of DC's The New 52. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Book qualifies for the following 2015 Reading Challenges:




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