Batman #29

• Title: Batman #29
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Tom King
• Artist: Mikel Janin

Batman #29 is a bizarre issue. I never thought I would see Batman offer criminals a huge payday to continue their mayhem in Gotham City. The entire comic takes place at the Wayne Manor dinner table where Bruce Wayne has gathered both the Riddler and the Joker (and some of their top lieutenants). With the War of Jokes and Riddles raging, and Batman impotent to stop it, Batman decides to… throw a dinner party?

The inconsistent use of narration continues, disappearing in an issue that seems to take place more in real time than the narrated series of events Batman is relating to Catwoman years later. The setting is bizarre in the extreme, but I have even more trouble with Batman contemplating throwing in the towel and further facilitating the nefarious deeds of dozens of criminals (offer one side $1 billion). Wouldn’t calling in the Justice League (or literally anything else) make more sense?

The comic does have a couple of fun moments, such as the Joker offering his opinion about the Riddler and the pair agreeing about Batman’s problematic nature. However, the story itself simply doesn’t work for me. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]