BATMAN #98 Review

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SYNOPSIS: “The Joker War” part four of six! Batman is at his most vulnerable following a massive dose of an experimental new Joker toxin. With the Dark Knight haunted by demons and visions, it’s up to Harley Quinn to protect him while he recovers-because Punchline is on her way!

No Clownhunter.

No Joker zombies.

No Joker.  AND…

Really no sidebar “The Joker War” subplots in BATMAN #98.

As a result, this was the best installment of this story arc so far.

So, what’s in BATMAN #98/”The Joker War, Part Four?”  WELL…

Harley vs. Punchline, round 2, and Bruce Wayne vs. “Alfred.”

OK, maybe “vs.” is the wrong way to describe the interaction between Bruce — who is still trippin’ out on the “tea” Harley gave him in the previous issue — but “Alfred” ain’t pullin’ no punches, literally, during his stern, come-to-Jesus talk to Bruce.  And by the end of it, Harley’s “tea” eliminated Punchline’s poison from Batman’s system, and “Alfred” is gone for good…

Unless he isn’t.  ANYWAY…

In one of the coolest “I’m Batman!” moments I’ve seen in the pages of any Batman comic book — or on film for that matter — The Batman announces that he’s indeed back, has his sh*t together (as Harley has been demanding over the last few issues), and he’s going to save Gotham from The Joker’s war on his beloved city…

With help.

Help from Harley, help from Catwoman (and apparently, a few of Batman’s rogues), and the help of the Batman Family.

BATMAN #98 has great writing by James Tynion IV and wonderful artwork by Jorge Jimenez, so make sure you check it out! – Bill “Jett” Ramey

GRADE: A

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Bill "Jett" Ramey
Bill “Jett” Ramey isn’t just a Batman fan — he’s one of the founding fathers of the online Batman community. As the creator and Editor-in-Chief of Batman-On-Film.com, the original and longest-running Batman news and commentary site, Jett helped carve the very bedrock of modern fan internet press. A lifelong Dark Knight disciple, Jett has spent decades championing filmmaker‑driven Batman stories, cutting through fanboy noise with a Texas‑sized dose of honesty, and keeping the conversation smart, civil, and drama‑free. He’s the BOF Godfather — the guy who was here before the hashtags, before the clickbait, before the algorithms… and he’s still here, still talking Batman, still calling it straight. When he steps out of Gotham, Jett is pure Texas. He bleeds Dallas Cowboys blue, blasts Elvis and rock ’n’ roll, and has a deep appreciation for cold beer, dive bars, and Texas Longhorns football. He works out, he cooks, and he can grill like a man who’s earned the right to say “don’t assume” when he tells you he lives in the great state of Texas. He shares that home with his wife — “Announcer Rachel” — and their dogs: Gracelin the Labradoodle and Presley, a rescue pup named after the King himself.