Batman: The War of Jokes and Riddles by Tom King and Mikel Janin pits the Joker and Riddler against one another in one of the bloodiest conflicts in Gotham's history. Each of these master criminals could cause immeasurable suffering on their own, but when they recruit numerous other villains to join them, their feud escalated into a true all-out war.

Part of the irony -- and the tragedy -- of this iconic story is that it all begins when Riddler tries to help the Joker, saying that if they team up, they could kill Batman once and for all. Instead, hundreds of others die needlessly.

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At the start of the story, both villains are suffering existential crises. Joker finds himself unable to laugh, while Riddler (who claims to be able to "solve anything") admits he is incapable of "solving" Batman. Riddler explains his predicament to the Clown Prince. He also observes that jokes need to be unpredictable, and so concludes that the predictable pattern of conflicts with Batman has ruined any punchline the Joker might enjoy. Both need to kill the Dark Knight to recover, but neither one will allow the other to do it. Riddler proposes that teaming up is the only solution. Joker agrees, then shoots Riddler in the gut and leaves him for dead.

Joker shoots Riddler. The War of Jokes and Riddles

Riddler miraculously survives. A second attempt on his life is carried out by mafia hitmen serving Carmine Falcone's soldiers, who has been threatened into cooperating. But by that point, Poison Ivy and Riddler are discussing how to prevent Joker from destroying Gotham's plants with his usual scorched earth practices. She kills the mafiosos and becomes Riddler's first recruit. Villains like Deathstroke, Clayface, Scarecrow and Killer Croc rally around Riddler. Meanwhile, in addition to Falcone's soldiers, Joker recruits the Penguin, Deadshot, Mister Freeze, and the henchmen Tweedledee and Tweedledum. The two groups tear Gotham apart with bullets and bombs, trying to murder one another, and (more importantly) to kill Batman. Hundreds die in the crossfire.

There are several attempts to bring about peace. Commissioner Gordon negotiates with each gang leader separately. Each one agrees to surrender in exchange for Batman's severed head, which Gordon obviously can't deliver. Special forces units attack the two groups, but are killed within minutes. Bruce Wayne even hosts a dinner to broker an end to the war with both Riddler and Joker sitting across a table from one another. This turns out to be a ruse for him to gather intelligence. Having seen both sides up close, he decides to lend his help to the Riddler, albeit doing so in his costumed persona. Together, Batman and Riddler take down Joker's army.

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A key player in all of this is one of Gotham's most pathetic villains: Kite Man. After Riddler murders his son, Kite Man joins the Joker. He is repeatedly beaten by both Riddler and Batman until he psychologically breaks down. He becomes Joker's last remaining soldier, but by this point he is so damaged he agrees to help Riddler -- the man who killed his only child. Kite Man builds special kites for Riddler's crew, and they all fly through a window into the upper story skyscraper offices Joker is using as a hideout. However, even as Joker is surrounded and defeated, Kite Man gets his revenge, sending all of Riddler's soldiers flying out the window.

The War of Jokes and Riddles. Kite Man gets his revenge

This is actually Riddler's plan. After all the devastation unleashed on the city, the countless dead and the destruction of Joker's army, Riddler seizes victory -- only for Kite Man's betrayal to ruin it. That should be exactly the sort of twisted joke needed to get Joker laughing again. But he doesn't laugh.

In that moment, Batman realizes just how dangerous -- and how devious -- Riddler is. He picks up a knife and tries to murder Riddler, only for Joker to intervene, saving the enemy he's been trying so hard to kill. This final ironic twist is so funny that Joker erupts in laughter. In that moment, both men simultaneously win the war. Riddler has outmaneuvered Joker in every way, but in the end, the Clown Prince learns to laugh again, and so gets the last laugh, bringing the war to an end.

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