Book Review: Batman: One Bad Day: The Riddler by T. King et al.

Batman: One Bad Day: The Riddler by written by Tom King and illustrated by Mitch Gerads

The Riddler is a member of Batman's rogues gallery that usually does not get much respect. His M.O. is giving clues to the crime he is about to commit. That turns out to be counterproductive, though it makes for entertaining stories. Who doesn't like a good riddle? In this book, The Riddler has moved on from his usual shtick. He kills a man in broad daylight without any prelude and waits around for the cops to cart him off to Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane. He makes repeated efforts to get Batman to visit him, increasing his brutality towards fellow inmates and guards. The contemporary story is intercut with scenes from The Riddler's adolescence at a prep school where he is forced to excel by his father, who happens to be headmaster. His unhappy childhood led to his unhappy livelihood. 

This book is inspired by Alan Moore's The Killing Joke, where The Joker creatively and brutally tortures Jim Gordon in an attempt to make him insane. The theory is that "one bad day" can turn any good man to madness or evil. This story seems more like The Riddler had the "one bad day" and has changed from a less-than-serious opponent to a full-blown psychopath who scares everyone on the police force...and maybe even Batman himself. The plot is very grim and has a lot of violence without the levity or cleverness of a typical Riddler story. I can see what the creators were going for but I found it hard to read and hard to enjoy. 

Not recommended.

Book Review: Black Widow Vol. 2 by N. Edmondson et al.

Black Widow Volume 2: The Tightly Tangled Web written by Nathan Edmondson and illustrated by Phil Noto and Mitch Gerads

For my review of the first volume, go here.

Natasha Romanov (aka Black Widow) runs through a bunch of international assignments, trying to earn money to pay back to people she has hurt. In this issue, she teams up with various other heroes (including Daredevil, the Winter Soldier, the Punisher, Hawkeye, and X-23). "Team up" is too strong a word for some of the situations. The issue with Punisher is paired with the same story told from the Punisher's point of view in his book, making a fun contrast. Her ongoing story is her relationship with her lawyer (not Daredevil) who is kidnapped by an enemy who wants chaos to rule.

The book has a subdued art style that fits with the (mostly) serious storytelling. The action is fun and Black Widow, even though she has turned to good, still struggles with her harsher inclinations. The book is entertaining and I will definitely read the next volume.

Recommended.