Note: We have an interview with Scott Snyder HERE for some more insight.

The Good

It’s safe to say the Joker is not joking around anymore. From the end of the last issue, we’ve seen Batman is becoming a little desperate. Going to the Court of Owls to talk shows how seriously he’s taking the situation in Gotham Joker has created. The Court represents a pretty big loss for Batman but he knows he can’t just grasp onto his pride in the hopes of solving this huge problem.

There is a slight sense of despair throughout the issue. Batman fully realizes what’s at stake. While we know him as always being prepared, he’s aware he might not survive this fight in order to save his city. Getting some insight into how Bruce feels about death is a little frightening. We know he’s not the most cheerful person around but it’s almost difficult to see him go around like this.

When Joker does appear, it’s like a punch in the gut. Greg Capullo’s art combined with Danny Miki's inks and FCO Plascencia's colors makes you pause. We’ve seen some creepy depictions of Joker but this is the sort of thing you hope you never dream about. When Joker is confronted, let’s just say one character won’t be the same again. Joker has become more ruthless than ever. He’s crossing some serious lines and has no concern about earning Batman’s wrath. He’s either unconcerned or unafraid. That makes Joker even scarier. We’re seeing a new kind of savagery with Joker and it’s something readers won’t soon forget.

Just when you think you know how the story's going to go, Snyder throws another curve ball at us. Visiting the Court of Owls was one thing. There are even more questionable people he goes to.

The Bad

The story jumps back and forth within a few hours from time to time. It does amp up the story but there was a couple times you weren't really sure if the events were happening "now" or before until the next scene told you it was "now."

When we do first see Joker, I was a little confused what happened to him before. (We will get some clarification in the upcoming interview).

The Verdict

All too often comics have an underlying feeling of being safe. The bad guys are always defeated and the good guys always win. Scott Snyder is known for beating down the beloved Batman. He puts him in situations that knock him apart so we can watch him crawl is way back to the top. We've seen many incarnations of Joker over the years but what we're seeing now is borderline disturbing. Snyder, Capullo, and the others are going all out in this arc. There's a feeling things are going to get even worse before they get better. Hopefully Batman will survive this. He has to, right? He's Batman. Don't miss this story.

This backup and the Endgame annual make me want to read some Batman stuff written by Tynion.

Crazy Issue!

man this issue....that one part in the cave...My heart fell lol

Snyder is knocking it outta the park! Can't remember the last time this title got lower than 5 stars!

@the_stegman: It did. It's happened a couple times. And that's not counting the Villains Month issues. But that's off topic.

This was part of his appeal for me too. That despite being just some crazy human, he managed to become one of DC's worst monsters. It mirrored how Batman, despite just being some (arguably crazy) man, managed to become one of the greatest heroes and a huge asset.

Another great issue. I was stunned by what happened to Alfred.

I'm confused about something: why is The Joker's face degrading? I know he gets shot in the face and his ear is wounded because of that, but before he gets shot, his face is degrading away by his smile and his hair is falling out. Did I miss something?

I was confused about that as well, and hopefully Snyder is going to clear it up in the interview that's coming later today.

#Salty

@omnicrono: yeah I just wanted to make sure I wasn't the only one who was confused. It's a little unsettling, I know Snyder will clarify in the next issue or in an interview, but it set me back on the issue a little bit. I love the issue tho! Things are really gettin crazy for Gotham

@lmothander: Joker hasn't yet been retconned at all though...Snyder said in an interview after the last issue (I think, or at least during Endgame) that Joker is claiming he is this eternal monster under the bed and Batman doesn't believe him but is terrified it might be true...and considering what we've seen Joker go through, he either is immortal or this is going to be a fear-toxin nightmare from the first issue of Endgame.

TLDR: Snyder said it's up to people to believe Joker (immortal) or Batman (mortal), but a lot of sites have been running around as if it's definitive.

So from the sound of things, Joker is moving more and more out of 'Batman' and into 'Gotham by Midnight'.

Snyder confirmed that the events happening in Endgame are 100% real and not a dream in any way. It's not a dream or hallucination. If it ends up being one of those, then Snyder fibbed. http://www.comicvine.com/articles/interview-scott-snyder-talks-batman-endgame-and-hi/1100-151129/

Easily the best book going today imo

Wow. Yet another 5 star issue.

Yeah continue spoiling this Scott Snyder guy...i never saw a writer who is this much overrated, though he is ruining the soul of Batman comics...

So what was the outcome of the appearance of Court of Owls? Nothing..just a flashy toy to end #38 'exciting'...

I hope Endgame will be the end of Snyder era...i know he has fans and people think Batman sells good cause of him, but they should face the fact that Batman was, and will be, always the best selling with or without Snyder. Batman being popular has nothing to do with his writing

I was shocked af when Joker did what he did to you know.

@-daydream-: Cool story.

My man, maybe the whole point of going to the Court of Owls was to show how desperate the situation had become and to show what lengths Batman is willing to go to in order to save his city, while simultaneously showing the readers that the Court is indeed still alive and kicking. Why does it have to be anything deeper than that?

And yeah, Snyder's popularity has everything to do with his writing. People like him because they like his stories.

@omnicrono: one way or another u come to my point saying 'he is ruining the soul of Batman'...so Batman decides to get in bed with the devil cause he is desperate? work with Bane, Penguin and etc...whats next? sell his soul to devil in exchange to save a life like Spider-Man did in OMD? thats so out of character of him...

Maybe you didnt get me, people can like Snyder or his writing, i meant Batman doesnt need Snyder to be liked, it was already be best selling without Snyder and it will again be without him.

The madness of this series continues to be great.

Absolutist amazing!

I actually shouted out 'HOLY $h!T' with that scene in the Batcave

@-daydream-: But that just it... it's not the first time Batman has gone to extreme lengths for the greater good. But he never crosses the line of taking a life. So no, it's not really out of character for him actually.

Capullo makes Joker look so scary...

And why are people always constantly complaining about Batman getting good reviews?

Wow, just wow

Give this man a hand

off topic but....where is Owl-Man? thanks for answers in advance

@takashi_cloud said:

I'm betting he's behind the events of Batman Eternal.

I really take my time reading this book. I want to absorb the words and the amazing art. Their's nothing else like it. Great, just great!

I agree with you guys to some extent, but I have to say that something about Joker that's even more classic to his character is the fact that he's so surrounded in mystery. You don't know who he his or how he became what he is. Even Alan Moore, in the Killing Joke, didn't give Joker a definitive origin story, inserting that "multiple choice" line into the story in order to keep it open to interpretation. In that respect, Snyder has done an amazing job of handling this "change." He's not coming out and saying that Joker is immortal. Truth is, we don't if there is any change at all.

In fact, Joker may not be immortal. He may have simply injected enough dionesium into his nervous system that he's experiencing temporary healing factor abilities.

In that way, Snyder isn't giving us a new origin for Joker. He's simply raising a new question as to his existence, further adding to the mystery that he is.

This was completely and totally awesome! From the story to the art, just awesome! That scene in the cave!! Alfred has been put through hell lately!

You're missing out.

don't like the idea that Jokes is immortal and has been here for ages (defeats a purpose of the character to me and seems like a Pennywise rip-off).

Despite that, I am enjoying this arc. It isn't the greatest thing ever, but it's good.

@nightfang: you just made me really want to get into Eternal. Lol

I really enjoyed this issue, thrilling stuff...Poor Alfred :(

Loved the nod to the parade scene from the movie Batman. Though the way bruce solves joker's clue on that page reminded me of phoebe from friends deciphering clues to go see her father :P

I found this issue boring and poorly written.

Batman gives up and asks the Owls for help (great writing here, the owls sure are powerful since they are the first people Batman goes to for help), and then somehow the villains just agree to cooperate. And of course Harper is able to keep up with the rest of the bat family despite having no training or experience.

Meh.

You been keeping up with Batman Eternal?

In the Newsarama interview he did, Snyder chalks up the Joker's facial injuries to Batman's cave defense systems. The idea is that he used a submarine or something to bust into the cave, but was injured by the defenses Bruce set up on his way in.

This is happening after Batman Eternal right?

By "cave defense systems", he was implying Alfred. That shot takes place after Joker enters the cave.

The villains agree to cooperate because the Joker intends for the virus to take over everyone. That includes them. Also, Harper gains her first experience in Batman Eternal. This takes place after that, so she's already got a feel for her role in the Bat family.

@bigcimmerian: Yep

Holy crap! What a great issue. Everyone was on their A game including Tynion with the backup story coming to an end. Endgame is probably Snyder's best since Court of Owls.

Poor Gotham, the most messed up city in comics.

Solid solid issue.

The only problem I had was that the Owls thing didn't really go anywhere, and then he sort of just does the same tactic of team up with the bad guys right away again.

I wish we got the Talon's response to Batman's question.

Really great issue. It sucks that we're getting an over month long hiatus until #40.

I have two theories on Joker's face degrading:

1. Didn't Joker say at the beginning of this arc that his face was surgically reconstructed in an artificial manner? I'm letting my friend borrow the books so I can't re-read it at the moment.
2. If the Joker can heal thanks to this dionsium stuff in his system (allegedly for many centuries now), why didn't his face heal naturally? I mean the guy took Alfred's shot gun blast like nothing. I don't know if this has been inquired yet, but it seems like the biggest red flag. The entire "faceless Joker" doesn't seem to add up with what we're supposed to believe the Joker is now. I'm actually kind of surprise Batman has not brought that up himself.

I've also heard people theorizes this may not even be the Joker at all. He seems uncharacteristically off the rails (more than usual) *shrugs*