DC Comics Rebirth Spoilers and Review follows for Batman #30 and the War of Jokes and Riddles.
Batman #30 is a big part pf the War of Jokes and Riddles, but is very much Kite-Man focused in the Ballad of Kite-Man Part 2.
The book opens, naturally, with Kite-Man – on the side of the Joker – getting ready to do a job for the Joker with Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, but…
…Batman strikes, beating up Kite-Man and subduing the Tweedles as…
…the Joker is displeased. Kite-Man is beaten up the Clown Prince of Crime.
Kite-Man sees that Batman has also taken out the Ventriloquist as he’s taken his puppet Scarface; the Ventriloquist is helpless.
Kite-Man then teams with Man-Bat… who is subdued by Batman.
Kite-Man then is confronted by Two-Face and is beaten-up by him.
Kite-Man then teams with Cluemaster… who is subdued by Scarecrow who…
…in turn beats up Kite-Man.
Kite-Man then teams with Mr. Freeze… who is subdued by Batman.
Kite-Man then teams with Mad Hatter… who is subdued by Batman.
Batman confronts Kite-Man again and beats him up…
…serving him up to…
…the Riddler.
So….
13 villains and at least 5 beatings of the Kite-Man in 1 issues as the Batman has sided with the Riddler against the Joker in the War of Jokes and Riddles. A really interesting story pace wise and getting in the psyche of Kite-Man. He is a never quit villain until the end. Loved the Two-Face page; we get the horror of the exchange, but only seeing him in silhouette. I would have liked to have seen more on-panel Batman in the book, but that is probably a nitpick as the issue was quite entertaining. A solid read by writer Tom King, panciller Clay Mann and the rest of the team. 8.5 out if 10.
