Batman # 26 2017 NM-

Batman #26 (July 2017) is a crucial, early chapter in the highly acclaimed "The War of Jokes and Riddles" storyline. Written by Tom King as part of the DC Rebirth era, this issue serves as "Part Two" of the arc, documenting how a personal feud between two psychopaths spirals into a full-scale civil war that consumes Gotham's underworld.

Core Plot & Synopsis

The story is framed through a quiet, intimate moment in the present day: Batman is in bed, confiding in Selina Kyle (Catwoman) about a dark secret from his second year as a crimefighter. He recounts the escalating bloodshed between the Joker and the Riddler, revealing that his only role at the time was to track down and remember the names of the innocent citizens caught in the crossfire.

The flashback begins with the Riddler recovering from a gunshot wound inflicted by the Joker in the previous issue. He kills his black-market surgeon and carved a crude question-mark scar into his own stomach. Meanwhile, the Joker, frustrated by an inability to laugh or find anything funny, orders Gotham mob boss Carmine Falcone to assassinate the Riddler within an hour.

When Falcone's hitmen ambush the Riddler and his new ally, Poison Ivy, Ivy uses her lethal flora to effortlessly slaughter the mobsters. In retaliation, the Joker infiltrates Falcone's office, brutally massacres his security detail, and leaves a grotesque smiley face composed of the teeth of Falcone's own mother, completely subjugating the mob boss.

Realizing that neither can kill the other alone, both villains begin actively recruiting Gotham's most dangerous rogues to build opposing armies:

• The Riddler's Army: Recruits Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Clayface, Deathstroke, Two-Face, and Killer Croc.
• The Joker's Army: Counter-recruits Mr. Freeze, Mad Hatter, Solomon Grundy, Deadshot, and Man-Bat.

The issue ends with Gotham fractured in two, drawing battle lines for a catastrophic criminal war that Batman realizes he is powerless to stop single-handedly.

Key Comic Information

• Release Date: July 5, 2017
• Storyline Context: The War of Jokes & Riddles (Part 2 of 8), taking place across Batman Vol. 3 #25–32.
• Creative Team: Written by Tom King, featuring stunning, cinematic artwork by penciller/inker Mikel Janín and colors by June Chung.