Hey, I wonder what people thought of it? Let's check in, shall we?
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The ultimate title match is finally won, in this concluding issue of Batman: Kings Of Fear. This mini-series has been a revelation and – to my mind – the best Scarecrow story ever. Scott Peterson has used his decades as an DC Comics editor to plumb the psyches of both Jonathan Crane and Bruce Wayne. What he’s achieved in this mini series has really impressed an old and sometimes cynical comics fan. Anyone who’s read my reviews of issues 1- 5 will know that I wasn’t sure what Peterson was up to at first, and that this series seemed like nothing more than a vehicle to show off the considerable talents of Kelley Jones. I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong. The writing on Kings of Fear is every bit as excellent as the art.
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The concluding issue of Batman: Kings of Fear is an extremely satisfying conclusion to one of the most unique miniseries it has been our privilege to enjoy! From the retro feel of the art, to the thrilling deconstruction of Bruce Wayne's psyche, this is one Batman book that should be in every DC fans library! Yes, we're saddened to see this story end, and we sincerely hope Peterson and Jones will be back within Gotham City soon enough!
Rating: 5/5 - "A fascinating deconstruction of The Dark Knight's damaged psyche!"
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Peterson and Jones’ Kings of Fear was a wonderful roller coaster of learning more about what makes Batman the hero he is and wants to be for Gotham. This arc is now one of my favorite Scarecrow stories (who is such an underrated villain) and falls in line with classics like Darwyn Cooke’s ‘Batman: Ego’. Any book that is so self reflective of the title hero and gives an honest look, for better or for worse, at if his vigilantism is a necessity is a series I would recommend to any Bat fan.
The Verdict: 10/10
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Kelley Jones has been one of the most iconic Batman artists dating back to the 1990s, but he’s rarely lent his art to a story quite as good as this Batman/Scarecrow character drama. Essentially an extended group therapy session between hero and villain as Scarecrow attempted to break Batman down and make him believe his entire career as a superhero has been counterproductive, Batman: Kings of Fear #6 brings it all full circle and lets Batman confront the true consequences of his actions.
This series started as a Batman vs. Scarecrow battle but evolved into a brilliant look at what Batman truly means to Gotham. It may seem like a minimalist story, but under the surface is one of the smartest Batman stories I’ve read in a while.
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Aptly titled “The Once and Future King,” the final chapter of Batman: Kings of Fear provides an appropriate ending to what has proven to be one of the more entertaining, and, perhaps, most visually impressive, Dark Knight deconstruction tales to date.
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Scott Peterson has given us a fine character study of Batman and Gotham City itself. Coming into this last issue, I wanted Peterson to do something different and bold, mostly just because it’s out of continuity and he can. But what he gave us was endearing to the character of Batman. It broke down a character that is known for being fundamentally broken and then built him back up – making you understand why he does what he does. This series had been great.
***
This series has been a delightful discovery issue after issue. Originally, I had thought this was going to be a quaint, if somewhat nostalgic series after reading that first issue. It had classic Batman artist Kelley Jones after all, and he’s done solid work throughout the years. This however, is beyond anything he’s ever done. The power of the artwork here is unimaginable. When you combine that with a different type of story, you’ve got something truly wonderful indeed.
Peterson does a great job scripting this book. It’s smart without ever talking down to the audience. The writing also kept me on my toes right until the end. He doesn’t always rely on normal types of plots to tell his story and that’s incredibly refreshing. He also is confident enough to let the story and the characters breathe.
It’s really some powerful stuff. This story needs to be in my collection as a hardcover. It’s really that good and I commend the creative team for taking a chance and really just going for it. It paid off in an imaginative and creative way. RATING: A
***
Batman: Kings of Fear #6 is easily the best entry in the entire mini-series.
In previous issues, the alternative positive realities for Batman’s Rogues Gallery were certainly entertaining. However, I found the narrative Scott Peterson has constructed to disprove this fear more interesting. It is so easy to get caught up in the grandiose schemes that we often forget Batman’s effect on the common criminal. It’s in these moments that not only Batman: Kings of Fear #6, but the entire miniseries as a whole, thrives.
This presents the reader with a fresh, interesting perspective. Ultimately, Batman: Kings of Fear #6 is a fitting end for the mini-series. The slow nature of the plot will benefit greatly when read in a collected form. Scott Peterson’s character work with the Dark Knight is exemplary as he delves into the character’s fears. Additionally, Kelley Jones’ artwork is enough of a reason to pick up the issue.
***
This spot on mini series comes to a close in all of the right ways. Peterson and Jones have deliver quite a ride with this story and this final chapter does so many things right in finishing it out.
What I loved about this story was that it was in many ways more about Bruce and Gotham than it was a traditional Batman story. In a simple way it was a day in the life of Batman’s nightmare and the one thing that it did very well was elevate Scarecrow as a villain to a very strong adversary that he had never quite attained before. Peterson really went deep into not only Batman but his long mythology but never let it overwhelm the story and kept it focused and well paced.
I have said it before and I will say it again, that if you haven’t been reading this mini series then you have missed one of the best and more off beat Batman stories in years. Peterson and Jones to both risks and different approach to this story and has paid off handsomely. With this final chapter wrapping the story up to a very satisfying conclusion that far exceeded my expectations and with Jones on the book you know that bar is set very high for me.
This is a truly must read book and gets my HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!
***
I feel like Peterson has done—and in this issue, continues to do—an excellent job with a high-mileage Batman trope. This story could easily have felt like a rehashed plot, revived only so that Kelley Jones could draw Batman again; but it didn’t. Instead of giving us lots of Bruce navel-gazing, Peterson lets three allies counter the Scarecrow’s thesis. I won’t spoil what was said, or who said it, on the off-chance you haven’t read this yet, but it is in these rebuttals that this issue’s greatest strength lies. Two of them are testimonies of actual events in which Batman had a far-reaching positive effect, but the final—and most stirring—is the “last word” of the book: one that is perhaps more emotional than logical, but is probably also the most convincing.
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So many Batman comics come out every year, so many Batman comics blend into each other, so many Batman comics go unnoticed. Batman: Kings of Fear is not one that falls into any of those categories, it has carved its path to be a quick be decorated books with many twists and turns. The ending was, in my opinion, the exact way a Batman comic should end, with another call coming in, another problem to solve, another reason to put on the cowl and bring justice to the city he serves so well.
***
I’ve been reading Batman books for over forty years and I can’t recall ever having an ending to a Bat-tale with such a smooth delivery of what the character means to others and himself. A fantastic conclusion to a great series. The visuals are the reason to pick this up, but my hat’s off to writer Peterson for having such a perfectly executed conclusion for the characters and the reader. This was a fun series and I will repurchase it once it comes out in hardcover. This is a great series to give to non-comic readers to hook them. Overall grade: A
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