What do you think?
Rate this book
Batman: Kings of Fear #1-6
Batman: Kings of Fear
What is Batman's greatest fears?
When the Scarecrow orchestrates a riot at Arkham Asylum to conceal an escape, the chase will take the Dark Knight on a journey into the depths of his own mind.
Batman has faced Jonathan Crane’s fear gas before, but a dose of the Scarecrow’s new formula opens the hero to a world of self-doubt. Prodded by his enemy, Bruce Wayne’s deepest fears come to the surface, with one question inching its way to the top of the Would Gotham City be better off if there never was a Batman? And even as he wrestles with this question that strikes at the very heart of his life’s mission, Batman has to find the Scarecrow’s hostage, who may be more than he appears!
KINGS OF FEAR collects the full six-issue miniseries written by former Batman editor Scott Peterson (BATGIRL) with stylish art by the legendary Kelley Jones (THE SANDMAN, DEADMAN).
When the Scarecrow orchestrates a riot at Arkham Asylum to conceal an escape, the chase will take the Dark Knight on a journey into the depths of his own mind.
Batman has faced Jonathan Crane’s fear gas before, but a dose of the Scarecrow’s new formula opens the hero to a world of self-doubt. Prodded by his enemy, Bruce Wayne’s deepest fears come to the surface, with one question inching its way to the top of the Would Gotham City be better off if there never was a Batman? And even as he wrestles with this question that strikes at the very heart of his life’s mission, Batman has to find the Scarecrow’s hostage, who may be more than he appears!
KINGS OF FEAR collects the full six-issue miniseries written by former Batman editor Scott Peterson (BATGIRL) with stylish art by the legendary Kelley Jones (THE SANDMAN, DEADMAN).
160 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2019
7 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Scott E. Peterson
338 books44 followersScott Peterson got his start in comics as an editor on the Batman line of comics, working with the legendary Dennis O’Neil. He edited DC’s flagship title, Detective Comics, and launched the first of the the Adventures sub-genre of comics, The Batman Adventures. He later went on to edit for WildStorm, where he oversaw such titles as WildCats, Midnighter, A God Somewhere and North 40, as well as Scooby-Doo and Looney Tunes. As a writer, he has been published by Disney, Scholastic, Golden Books, HarperCollins, and DC Comics, including a four-year run as the regular writer of The Gotham Adventures. He is the author of Batman: Kings of Fear with art legendary artist Kelley Jones, and the original graphic novel Truckus Maximus.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
November 28, 2019
Scarecrow tries to mentally break Batman, once again, in Kings of Yawn…
As someone who’s read a batload of Batpants books, there’s wayyyy to much familiar material rehashed here. Scarecrow telling Batman that: he’d do more good as a billionaire philanthropist than a masked vigilante; that constantly putting away his rogues gallery in Arkham only for them to break out again is a pointless cycle; and that Batman is the cause of the many performance artist supervillains anyway.
It’s nothing I haven’t heard before in other, better Batman books and Scott Peterson’s regurgitating these stale points without a new spin isn’t revelatory or interesting whether you’re a new Batman reader or a seasoned one. Nowt much happens and what little that does is bo-ring!
Some of Kelley Jones’ horror-esque art is strikingly dramatic at times though it’s by turns equally silly-looking. His Scarecrow is beefier than usual - not a bad choice as it was different for a change – but that’s not really the point of the character; he’s more cerebral than physical. Some of the covers are cool and Scarecrow as a building was a trippy visual. It’s not a whole helluva lot of positive to give the book though – you’ve gotta be a big Kelley Jones fan to make Kings of Fear worth checking out!
Trite, uninspired and unengaging throughout, Kings of Fear is an easily missable addition to the Batman library.
As someone who’s read a batload of Batpants books, there’s wayyyy to much familiar material rehashed here. Scarecrow telling Batman that: he’d do more good as a billionaire philanthropist than a masked vigilante; that constantly putting away his rogues gallery in Arkham only for them to break out again is a pointless cycle; and that Batman is the cause of the many performance artist supervillains anyway.
It’s nothing I haven’t heard before in other, better Batman books and Scott Peterson’s regurgitating these stale points without a new spin isn’t revelatory or interesting whether you’re a new Batman reader or a seasoned one. Nowt much happens and what little that does is bo-ring!
Some of Kelley Jones’ horror-esque art is strikingly dramatic at times though it’s by turns equally silly-looking. His Scarecrow is beefier than usual - not a bad choice as it was different for a change – but that’s not really the point of the character; he’s more cerebral than physical. Some of the covers are cool and Scarecrow as a building was a trippy visual. It’s not a whole helluva lot of positive to give the book though – you’ve gotta be a big Kelley Jones fan to make Kings of Fear worth checking out!
Trite, uninspired and unengaging throughout, Kings of Fear is an easily missable addition to the Batman library.
September 14, 2019
This was a more than pleasant surprise. I often find Kelley Jones art too over the top and cartoonish, even with the gothic influences. Jones has toned down the Kelley Jones-ishness of his art. It still plainly looks like his art, but he has removed the caricatures of his human characters and pared back the over the top impossible human anatomy elements of his art. Now it's just the gothic influences without the goofiness. It looks quite good.
Peterson surprised me as a writer as well. He's written some decent Batman adjacent stuff before like his Cassandra Cain, Batgirl series. Here the Scarecrow blackmails Batman into letting Scarecrow psychoanalyse him by holding an innocent man hostage. He goes beyond just the typical Scarecrow fear scenes to see what impact Batman has really had on Gotham and if the city would have been better off without an obsessed Batman watching over it. I found it very interesting and a good use of Kelley Jones talents at dream / nightmare type sequences.
Peterson surprised me as a writer as well. He's written some decent Batman adjacent stuff before like his Cassandra Cain, Batgirl series. Here the Scarecrow blackmails Batman into letting Scarecrow psychoanalyse him by holding an innocent man hostage. He goes beyond just the typical Scarecrow fear scenes to see what impact Batman has really had on Gotham and if the city would have been better off without an obsessed Batman watching over it. I found it very interesting and a good use of Kelley Jones talents at dream / nightmare type sequences.
July 23, 2021
In Batman: Kings of Fear, Joker somehow unlocks the cells of all of Batman's enemies at Arkham Asylum. Batman is able to subdue most of them, but Scarecrow manages to escape. Outside the Asylum, Scarecrow ends up gassing Batman with his fear gas, which begins a night of terror for the Dark Knight, as Scarecrow has taken a hostage, and will only release him if Batman succumbs to Scarecrow's "therapy", which amounts to a full-fledged mental assault on the drugged Batman, with the goal of getting him to give up the cowl forever.
Can Batman resist Scarecrow's fear gas and his arguments that, should the Batman never have existed, Gotham would be a better place? And that none of Batman's enemies would even exist, including Scarecrow himself? Or is this the end of the Dark Knight? And what of Scarecrow's mysterious hostage? Who is he? And what will become of him?
I really enjoyed Batman: Kings of Fear. The art is mostly very good, and though the topics covered here, including the philosophy of Batman himself, have already been explored many times in other Batman comics, I found they were no less enjoyable being rehashed here in a new story (at least in my opinion; some will certainly find revisiting these points through the familiar vehicle of a fear toxin-induced trip on the part of Batman for the umpteenth time yawn-inducing). I also liked the "Sketchbook" at the back of the book; many of the sketches were pretty pedestrian, but some of the Two-Face and Poison Ivy ones were very good.
Overall, I recommend this to any Batman fan who doesn't mind retreading familiar Batman philosophy, or to those new to Batman. For everyone else, it's not really a must-read.
Can Batman resist Scarecrow's fear gas and his arguments that, should the Batman never have existed, Gotham would be a better place? And that none of Batman's enemies would even exist, including Scarecrow himself? Or is this the end of the Dark Knight? And what of Scarecrow's mysterious hostage? Who is he? And what will become of him?
I really enjoyed Batman: Kings of Fear. The art is mostly very good, and though the topics covered here, including the philosophy of Batman himself, have already been explored many times in other Batman comics, I found they were no less enjoyable being rehashed here in a new story (at least in my opinion; some will certainly find revisiting these points through the familiar vehicle of a fear toxin-induced trip on the part of Batman for the umpteenth time yawn-inducing). I also liked the "Sketchbook" at the back of the book; many of the sketches were pretty pedestrian, but some of the Two-Face and Poison Ivy ones were very good.
Overall, I recommend this to any Batman fan who doesn't mind retreading familiar Batman philosophy, or to those new to Batman. For everyone else, it's not really a must-read.
January 26, 2022
80% | B+ | Great
"Do not dare tell me that all we've sacrificed has been nothing but a mistake. I have put up with much in our times together. But that I will not stand for"
This book is a psychological introspection into Bruce's true feelings about being the protector of Gotham and the impact he has on the welfare of the city, brought about by a character who rarely serves as the main antagonist. Peterson does an absolutely phenomenal job with the character of Scarecrow, showing why the villain can stand alongside the greats like Joker, Two-Face and Riddler. It's comparable to Scarecrow's absolutely iconic portrayal in the Arkham games, with the visual representation of the fear toxic even sharing some similarities. The best Scarecrow storyline I've read so far and one that will definitely be hard to top in the future.
"Do not dare tell me that all we've sacrificed has been nothing but a mistake. I have put up with much in our times together. But that I will not stand for"
The Scarecrow escapes Arkham, and in an effort to stop the fearmonger, Batman is forced to evaluate his life as The Dark Knight and the effect he has on Gotham City
This book is a psychological introspection into Bruce's true feelings about being the protector of Gotham and the impact he has on the welfare of the city, brought about by a character who rarely serves as the main antagonist. Peterson does an absolutely phenomenal job with the character of Scarecrow, showing why the villain can stand alongside the greats like Joker, Two-Face and Riddler. It's comparable to Scarecrow's absolutely iconic portrayal in the Arkham games, with the visual representation of the fear toxic even sharing some similarities. The best Scarecrow storyline I've read so far and one that will definitely be hard to top in the future.
September 11, 2021
When I first started reading this, I wasn't really getting into the story. But, it did get better.
Batman has been gassed by the Scarecrow. Scarecrow makes a deal that he will release his hostage if Batman, under the fear toxin, has a shrink session with Dr. Crane. It's a rather interesting look at Batman, but as he is being analyzed by Dr. Crane. It revolves around an interesting concept- what would Gotham be like without the Batman?
The artwork is pretty good and works well for this story and the concept behind the story was also pretty good. While nothing amazing, this was an interesting one-shot volume that looks into what drives Batman and Gotham.
Batman has been gassed by the Scarecrow. Scarecrow makes a deal that he will release his hostage if Batman, under the fear toxin, has a shrink session with Dr. Crane. It's a rather interesting look at Batman, but as he is being analyzed by Dr. Crane. It revolves around an interesting concept- what would Gotham be like without the Batman?
The artwork is pretty good and works well for this story and the concept behind the story was also pretty good. While nothing amazing, this was an interesting one-shot volume that looks into what drives Batman and Gotham.
April 29, 2024
The definitive Scarecrow (S) story! Of all the rogues' galleries out there I like Batman's (B) best! This is a really creepy story, S is really 'digging' deep into B psyche - breaking him down in a way that is focusing on (in my opinion) the PTSD B has never dealt with! That is what is incredible about B: think how you would feel after dealing with all those villains over all those years. Will review each issue in this limited series separately.
February 16, 2022
Between Kelley Jones’ iconic illustrative bombast and Scott Peterson’s deep dive into Scarecrow psychology, this comic is damn good fun.
January 21, 2019
A very 90s Batman nostalgic trip! So this book is very much a throwback to 90s Batman comics, with the exaggerated, gothic art style that always made the comics visually appealing! The story has the Scarecrow escape out of Arkham and when going to try and find him, he gasses Batman, sending him into a night of fear, questioning his sanity and crusade!
I will say that there really is a shortage of good Scarecrow stories, other than the Arkham video games and the Nolan films, Scarecrow barely ever gets used effectively. So it was refreshing to see Scott Peterson come along and write a decent Scarecrow story! The story was enjoyable for the most part, they do however use the pessimistic view that if Batman never appeared in Gotham, the villains never would have been created; which I hate! Thankfully this book also sheds light on the good Batman does as well, so it at least had a solid finish.
Overall I'd say this is worth a read if you're a fan of the Scarecrow!
I will say that there really is a shortage of good Scarecrow stories, other than the Arkham video games and the Nolan films, Scarecrow barely ever gets used effectively. So it was refreshing to see Scott Peterson come along and write a decent Scarecrow story! The story was enjoyable for the most part, they do however use the pessimistic view that if Batman never appeared in Gotham, the villains never would have been created; which I hate! Thankfully this book also sheds light on the good Batman does as well, so it at least had a solid finish.
Overall I'd say this is worth a read if you're a fan of the Scarecrow!
January 21, 2019
4.5 stars.
(Originally read as single-issues.)
Now THIS is the Batman I love! I'd rank it with the "Batman Vampire/ Red Rain" trilogy in terms of quality and readability.
Peterson and Jones are a formidable duo and offer a compelling tale, with a focus on an underused villian that deserves better than his recent potrayals.
(Originally read as single-issues.)
Now THIS is the Batman I love! I'd rank it with the "Batman Vampire/ Red Rain" trilogy in terms of quality and readability.
Peterson and Jones are a formidable duo and offer a compelling tale, with a focus on an underused villian that deserves better than his recent potrayals.
February 28, 2019
This was surprisingly good . It was in many ways a fantastic book , yet the art style really let this comic down .
Written as a 6 part mini-series , the book focuses on a battle between Batman and Scarecrow , which takes a psychological turn as Batman is made to question whether his decision to dress in Spandex and roam around Gotham punching criminals was a right decision or not .
It was a fascinating read filled with a lot of action as well , and not just featuring a war of ideas , the only drawback here was the art work , with both the pencil and the color work making the story very confusing and odd to look at and read . I think the artists were trying to capture the art style of 90s Batman and I think they did manage to get that , but many times 90s Batman artwork was very ugly to look at and that's exactly what happens here
In fact I really think that the artwork is so bad that it may make for a very terrible readers experience , however personally I thought the story had enough merit to ignore the bad art and enjoy this very intriguing read
Written as a 6 part mini-series , the book focuses on a battle between Batman and Scarecrow , which takes a psychological turn as Batman is made to question whether his decision to dress in Spandex and roam around Gotham punching criminals was a right decision or not .
It was a fascinating read filled with a lot of action as well , and not just featuring a war of ideas , the only drawback here was the art work , with both the pencil and the color work making the story very confusing and odd to look at and read . I think the artists were trying to capture the art style of 90s Batman and I think they did manage to get that , but many times 90s Batman artwork was very ugly to look at and that's exactly what happens here
In fact I really think that the artwork is so bad that it may make for a very terrible readers experience , however personally I thought the story had enough merit to ignore the bad art and enjoy this very intriguing read
June 16, 2020
"Los Reyes del Miedo" gira sobre una idea que ya fue abordada en otras historias del murciélago, y que tiene que ver con la supuesta mala influencia que Batman ejerce tanto sobre Gotham como sobre su galería de villanos.
¿Sin la presencia de Batman, Gotham sería una ciudad más luminosa?, ¿el Joker, Catwoman y el resto de la banda de Arkham, serían ciudadanos un poco más ilustres si no fuese porque la figura del murciélago los motiva a jugar siempre al extremo?. Estos son algunos de los cuestionamientos que Batman deberá enfrentar, gracias al amigo Scarecrow y sus burundangas alucinógenas.
Una historia directa, contada con mucho oficio por Scott Peterson, pero que también vale la pena por el solo hecho de ver a Kelley Jones dibujando a Batman una vez más, con esa anatomía imposible y monstruosa que es el sello de la casa (y que merece más estrellas de las 3 que acompañan la reseña).
¿Sin la presencia de Batman, Gotham sería una ciudad más luminosa?, ¿el Joker, Catwoman y el resto de la banda de Arkham, serían ciudadanos un poco más ilustres si no fuese porque la figura del murciélago los motiva a jugar siempre al extremo?. Estos son algunos de los cuestionamientos que Batman deberá enfrentar, gracias al amigo Scarecrow y sus burundangas alucinógenas.
Una historia directa, contada con mucho oficio por Scott Peterson, pero que también vale la pena por el solo hecho de ver a Kelley Jones dibujando a Batman una vez más, con esa anatomía imposible y monstruosa que es el sello de la casa (y que merece más estrellas de las 3 que acompañan la reseña).
August 8, 2021
This is the book for all you fuckers who think you're so clever when you say, "Batman would do better being a billionaire philanthropist than a vigilante beating up poor people." This is a much-discussed concept in Batman comics, also in the form of "Maybe if there were no Batman, Gotham wouldn't attract all these super-criminals."
Can I debunk this idea for a minute or two?
The Gap
Bruce Wayne does tons of philanthropic shit. Half of Batman stories used to start with him at some charity ball or some such shit. The concept that better economic equality will results in a more peaceful Gotham is probably sound, however, this wouldn't really be possible as an immediate. You can give kids iPads, pay teachers a lot, make after-school programs, do a lot of things that make the world a better place, but it's going to take 25 years to see the difference. If Batman's goal is to never let a kid's parents get gunned down in front of him, he's got a 25-year gap to mind.
Beating Up Poor People
I mean...are the chances good that a Joker henchman is super wealthy? No. But there aren't a lot of Batman stories that revolve around Batman kicking the shit out of a teenager who's robbing a pawn shop. AND, because Batman doesn't kill, is it "safer" for a criminal to have a broken collar bone or a showdown with cops?
Does Economic Equality Slow Super Crime?
I think economic equality would probably stop regular-ass crime, or at least slow it down significantly. But it doesn't seem that your Jokers, your Scarecrows, your Mr.'s Freeze, are all that motivated by cash or what have you. I think the Joker would just as soon spray acid all over a broke-ass-fool as he would a made-ass-fool.
Where's the Comic?
I don't want to read a community socioeconomic equity plan in fictional, comic book form. The real-est answer as to why Bruce doesn't do everything to fix Gotham is because if he did, there'd be no comic. I mean, it IS a comic book, and I think it's a stretch and a half to push this comic book idea by saying that Batman comics would motivate real-world billionaires to help out a little more. It's not like they're currently superhero-ing and would hang up their capes or some shit. Is it possible that some kid is reading Batman right now, and when he becomes a billionaire, he'll use the values he learned from Batman to be a better, more responsible kind of billionaire? No, it's not possible. But hey, feel free to prove me wrong, kid billionaires!
Can I debunk this idea for a minute or two?
The Gap
Bruce Wayne does tons of philanthropic shit. Half of Batman stories used to start with him at some charity ball or some such shit. The concept that better economic equality will results in a more peaceful Gotham is probably sound, however, this wouldn't really be possible as an immediate. You can give kids iPads, pay teachers a lot, make after-school programs, do a lot of things that make the world a better place, but it's going to take 25 years to see the difference. If Batman's goal is to never let a kid's parents get gunned down in front of him, he's got a 25-year gap to mind.
Beating Up Poor People
I mean...are the chances good that a Joker henchman is super wealthy? No. But there aren't a lot of Batman stories that revolve around Batman kicking the shit out of a teenager who's robbing a pawn shop. AND, because Batman doesn't kill, is it "safer" for a criminal to have a broken collar bone or a showdown with cops?
Does Economic Equality Slow Super Crime?
I think economic equality would probably stop regular-ass crime, or at least slow it down significantly. But it doesn't seem that your Jokers, your Scarecrows, your Mr.'s Freeze, are all that motivated by cash or what have you. I think the Joker would just as soon spray acid all over a broke-ass-fool as he would a made-ass-fool.
Where's the Comic?
I don't want to read a community socioeconomic equity plan in fictional, comic book form. The real-est answer as to why Bruce doesn't do everything to fix Gotham is because if he did, there'd be no comic. I mean, it IS a comic book, and I think it's a stretch and a half to push this comic book idea by saying that Batman comics would motivate real-world billionaires to help out a little more. It's not like they're currently superhero-ing and would hang up their capes or some shit. Is it possible that some kid is reading Batman right now, and when he becomes a billionaire, he'll use the values he learned from Batman to be a better, more responsible kind of billionaire? No, it's not possible. But hey, feel free to prove me wrong, kid billionaires!
October 28, 2019
An interesting Batman tale featuring the king of fear, The Scarecrow. There was not much to complain about here. I thought Kelley Jones artwork really increased the fun of this story. Peterson does a great job with the dialogue and getting us into Batman's head. Jones' artwork works well in giving the reader the disorienting feeling of being effected by Scarecrow's fear toxin. The Scarecrow's plan is a pretty solid plan though it is simple. Scare Batman out of well wanted to stay Batman. There some really tense moments in the book and the pacing was okay. Ultimately it is Jones artwork that is the real star. It really gives the book a haunting and foreboding feel. I also enjoyed Jones artwork in Swamp Thing: The Dead Don't Sleep. I enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it to Batman fans looking for something stand alone and not hinging on continuity.
May 27, 2024
(zero spoiler review) 3.5/5
A whole six issues of Kelley Jones artwork... Shut up and take my library card. OK, so the story doesn't (for the most part) live up to the art, but given the absolute dreck I've read recently with the Batman logo on it, this was more than a pleasant surprise. Yes, it's very obvious where the idea for the story came from. No, it's not executed all that well in places, with some cringeworthy attempts at humour and an ending that goes on far too long. But despite all this, I found myself turning the pages rather effortlessly all the same. Which is far more than I can saw for some much more lauded batman runs I've had the displeasure of reading recently. Scott Snyder, I'm looking squarely in your direction, sunshine.
As far as a Batman book released in the last five or so years goes, this is about as good as it gets. Given the look of the book, I wouldn't have picked it at all for 2019, which is yet another feather in Mr. Jones' cap. Come for the art, stay for the slightly above average story. 3.5/5
OmniBen.
A whole six issues of Kelley Jones artwork... Shut up and take my library card. OK, so the story doesn't (for the most part) live up to the art, but given the absolute dreck I've read recently with the Batman logo on it, this was more than a pleasant surprise. Yes, it's very obvious where the idea for the story came from. No, it's not executed all that well in places, with some cringeworthy attempts at humour and an ending that goes on far too long. But despite all this, I found myself turning the pages rather effortlessly all the same. Which is far more than I can saw for some much more lauded batman runs I've had the displeasure of reading recently. Scott Snyder, I'm looking squarely in your direction, sunshine.
As far as a Batman book released in the last five or so years goes, this is about as good as it gets. Given the look of the book, I wouldn't have picked it at all for 2019, which is yet another feather in Mr. Jones' cap. Come for the art, stay for the slightly above average story. 3.5/5
OmniBen.
October 14, 2019
The scarecrow is one of my favorite villains in the Batman rogues gallery and this was a nice deep dive into the character and what happens when Batman gets exposed to fear toxin throughout an evening. Amazing art by Kelly Jones as well.
September 17, 2019
Jones’s art is perfectly suited for this tale and he has some badass panels I’d rank up there with the best of his career. The writing is just ok, but I enjoyed it enough and I found it to be well-paced, even if some of the dialogue is of subpar quality.
January 10, 2019
Great book. Kelley Jones art takes me back to my early days of reading DC titles including Batman and The Sandman.
October 11, 2019
Kings of Fear is a miniseries published by DC Comics and has Bruce Wayne as Batman fighting his greatest fear and Jonathan Crane as Scarecrow. Batman: Kings of Fear collects all six issues of the 2018 miniseries.
Jonathan Crane as Scarecrow orchestrates a riot at Arkham Asylum to conceal his escape and the chase will take the Bruce Wayne as Batman on a journey into the depths of his own mind when Batman is hit by a dose of fear gas – a new formula that Batman has no cure for. Prodded by his enemy, Bruce Wayne's deepest fears come to the surface, with one question inching its way to the top of the list whether Gotham City be better off if Batman never existed.
Scott Peterson penned the entire mini-series. For the most part, it is written rather well – the narrative seemed interesting, about having Batman facing one of his worse fears – that he created the monsters and villains that haunt Gotham City.
Kelley Jones penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style – it gives a wonderful nostalgic.
All in all, Batman: Kings of Fear is written rather well, which explores one of the fears of the Dark Knight himself!
Jonathan Crane as Scarecrow orchestrates a riot at Arkham Asylum to conceal his escape and the chase will take the Bruce Wayne as Batman on a journey into the depths of his own mind when Batman is hit by a dose of fear gas – a new formula that Batman has no cure for. Prodded by his enemy, Bruce Wayne's deepest fears come to the surface, with one question inching its way to the top of the list whether Gotham City be better off if Batman never existed.
Scott Peterson penned the entire mini-series. For the most part, it is written rather well – the narrative seemed interesting, about having Batman facing one of his worse fears – that he created the monsters and villains that haunt Gotham City.
Kelley Jones penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style – it gives a wonderful nostalgic.
All in all, Batman: Kings of Fear is written rather well, which explores one of the fears of the Dark Knight himself!
January 9, 2023
So, one important question is, why did Crane do all that? He literally had no reason to, except to go all exposition for us readers, trying to explain why Batman doesn't work, why Batman works, why writers should stop writing him, or write him with better stories if they can. He even literally preaches so much about what The Batman should be, could be, that he had to backtrack and say "what do I care?"
Because, for real, yeah, what does he care? He shouldn't! And after some detached nonchalance (preceded by some heavy handed preaching) , next he's screaming at Bats, what's your big secret, I need to know!!!
Lol. Nah.
And how was he able to experience what Bats was experiencing? It wasn't like they were both connected to the matrix or something...
And the deal with Crane's hostage was never made clear. He was just suddenly very important. For no reason. And, he saved Bats?? How???
Then Gordon, Alfred and some lady spend panels and pages telling Bats why the Bats must Bats 🤦🏿♂️ What is this? Fanboy consolation? 😂
Joker, brief as he was, still funny though.
Coulda been better. When am I going to read something like Year One again, sigh.
Because, for real, yeah, what does he care? He shouldn't! And after some detached nonchalance (preceded by some heavy handed preaching) , next he's screaming at Bats, what's your big secret, I need to know!!!
Lol. Nah.
And how was he able to experience what Bats was experiencing? It wasn't like they were both connected to the matrix or something...
And the deal with Crane's hostage was never made clear. He was just suddenly very important. For no reason. And, he saved Bats?? How???
Then Gordon, Alfred and some lady spend panels and pages telling Bats why the Bats must Bats 🤦🏿♂️ What is this? Fanboy consolation? 😂
Joker, brief as he was, still funny though.
Coulda been better. When am I going to read something like Year One again, sigh.
September 22, 2019
Strange, for sure. The premise is good: a psychological evaluation of Batman via Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka the Scarecrow. The execution is not so good. It meanders for about 3-4 issues, trying to create this atmosphere of not really knowing what is real before delving in to what makes Bruce tick. Part of the issue I think is Kelley's storytelling. It comes and goes, sometimes there are a couple pages of pinups, then 3-4 panel pages which are sometimes difficult to follow what is happening. I was never that big a fan of his work back when he was drawing Batman regularly. Now his heads are too small for their bodies and the rest of the anatomy is a little cartoony.
A couple interesting questions are posed to Batman, but it was a long, boring, confusing path just to get that. In the end, it doesn't result in a change to how other writers will be crafting stories about Bruce anyway.
A couple interesting questions are posed to Batman, but it was a long, boring, confusing path just to get that. In the end, it doesn't result in a change to how other writers will be crafting stories about Bruce anyway.
December 10, 2021
Honestly was expecting more. The psychological thrill aspect was not as interesting as it could have been. I think I would have preferred if Batman was fighting multiple villains or if it went deeper into the alternate realities where Batman didn’t exist. And why was there all that stuff with Commissioner Gordon???
August 29, 2025
Nice Scarecrow Batman story exploring the concept of Gotham and Batman.
April 20, 2024
One of the better batman stories I've read for a while
February 6, 2022
Story started off being told a bit loosely, with some jumps in logic, etc. But it got better. The real draw here is the Kelley Jones art, which is pretty good for the most part (although it does sometimes descend into the indecipherable). The series isn't bad, but nothing too revelatory, either.
September 28, 2019
I've been a roll here with good graphic novels--each one I've read has been interesting, engaging... and has had me reaching for another book right away. This story marks one of the few times we actually see Batman afraid--he's trying to find a hostage taken by the Scarecrow while under the influence of fear toxin. All the while, Scarecrow is attempting to psychoanalyze him. You're never sure how much of it is happening in Batman's head, and how much is real--until the end, when you realize that everything, even Scarecrow's psychiatrist bit, has been happening in the Dark Knight's mind... but that doesn't mean that the "revelation" Batman has is any less real. The book ends with him feeling like he's hurt Gotham more than he's helped it. But a testimony from an Arkham doctor (who's husband is a reformed criminal who Batman "saved" from further crime) and good old Alfred's own insistence that, as much as he may hate Batman for the suffering it causes Bruce Wayne, even he has to admit that Gotham is safer, and more innocent lives have been saved, with Batman than without him. All in all, this was a nice look, not only into Batman's psyche, but also into a popular theme in comic books: How much do superheroes help? And how much do these "super" crime-fighters only raise the stakes and create worse villains? This one was an intriguing take on that question, as it was so "trippy" at times. Plus, we had a nice Alfred/Bruce "father/son" moment. All of that together, plus some really great full-page art, make for an engaging read that has you wondering what will happen next. The only downside is that there were parts that were a little confusing--some of the connections between Scarecrow and his accomplice, and how Batman actually found them, as well as the leads Gordon was following--weren't exactly has fluid as they could be. But that's a minor compliant, seeing as how the confusion, in a strange way, actually added to the "trippiness" of the fear toxin that Batman was experiencing. This was also a really quick read that was an undeniable page-turner, and probably one of the best Scarecrow stories I've read in a while. Definitely worth checking out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2024
5/5 ✩
As a die-hard Scarecrow fan, I feel I was bound to love this story. I feel like a lot of writers don’t utilize him to the best of his abilities, nor do they understand his potential, so instead the Scarecrow falls to the wayside. But the narrative of Kings of Fear couldn’t happen without him, so for that I must thank Scott Peterson for finally giving my boy his time to shine. The Scarecrow was not the silly, throwaway version that we’ve seen many times before - he was intelligent and analytical, a true menace and threat to Batman. It was refreshing to see my favorite DC villain so well depicted and so well developed.
On top of that, Peterson’s script was also a wonderful exploration of Batman as both a character and as a series. It raises the question that has come up in many debates - is Batman doing more harm than good? I think it’s something that could easily be debated forever, as all sides can have strong arguments, which is exactly what Peterson portrayed - this book explored the ways that perhaps Batman does harm, but it also explores all the good that he does as well. The conclusion that both sides of the argument can be true at the same time is absolutely perfect.
And, of course, we have to discuss Kelley Jones’ art. Jones is a quintessential Batman artist for me - I’ve always gravitated towards his depiction of these characters, and in Kings of Fear, his artistic ability really shines. The art has an identifiable uniqueness, yet it still feels perfectly suited to the world of Batman. The use of panel layouts beautifully conveys the chaos happening in Bruce’s mind, without getting so crazy that it becomes difficult to follow.
So, perhaps my bias is showing - you combine my favorite character with one of my favorite artists, and I’m bound to love it. I think this is such a strong addition to the Batman narrative and canon, and it makes me crave more collaborations between Peterson and Kelley, as I think they do a fantastic job of creating the world of Batman.
As a die-hard Scarecrow fan, I feel I was bound to love this story. I feel like a lot of writers don’t utilize him to the best of his abilities, nor do they understand his potential, so instead the Scarecrow falls to the wayside. But the narrative of Kings of Fear couldn’t happen without him, so for that I must thank Scott Peterson for finally giving my boy his time to shine. The Scarecrow was not the silly, throwaway version that we’ve seen many times before - he was intelligent and analytical, a true menace and threat to Batman. It was refreshing to see my favorite DC villain so well depicted and so well developed.
On top of that, Peterson’s script was also a wonderful exploration of Batman as both a character and as a series. It raises the question that has come up in many debates - is Batman doing more harm than good? I think it’s something that could easily be debated forever, as all sides can have strong arguments, which is exactly what Peterson portrayed - this book explored the ways that perhaps Batman does harm, but it also explores all the good that he does as well. The conclusion that both sides of the argument can be true at the same time is absolutely perfect.
And, of course, we have to discuss Kelley Jones’ art. Jones is a quintessential Batman artist for me - I’ve always gravitated towards his depiction of these characters, and in Kings of Fear, his artistic ability really shines. The art has an identifiable uniqueness, yet it still feels perfectly suited to the world of Batman. The use of panel layouts beautifully conveys the chaos happening in Bruce’s mind, without getting so crazy that it becomes difficult to follow.
So, perhaps my bias is showing - you combine my favorite character with one of my favorite artists, and I’m bound to love it. I think this is such a strong addition to the Batman narrative and canon, and it makes me crave more collaborations between Peterson and Kelley, as I think they do a fantastic job of creating the world of Batman.
March 27, 2022
Not only an amazing and masterful Scarecrow interpretation, but one of the most philosophically important works for the Batman mythos.
Starting with Scarecrow, I am so happy he finally gets the mockingly-overanalytical personality Joker has been wrongly assigned ever since. It is truly the perfect fit for the character and matches Scarecrow's gimmick far better. Now Joker isn't a master-planner or a hive-mind like in every other fucking current interpretation, but just a desensitized clown that likes to mess with people. Genius.
On the philosophical spectrum, this miniseries actually addresses the long running internet gag that Batman could've done far better to help Gotham than play dressup and considers the possibility that the city could've made far better advancements than Batman (as a concept, a myth, not the person) could've helped Gotham achieve. The final verdict of the comic is that, while The Batman is nothing more than a black-and-white god of justice that can only beat the fear out of criminals into submission, it is also addressed that fear itself can help a person change (See Scalpel Sanchez's story at the end of the comic for better point of reference). We often forget that negative emotions can move us to progress, and while extreme, traumatic experiences urge a lot of analytic reactions as much as emotional ones, making the people in question better reflect on themselves and their situation. The perfect example, of course, is Batman, which, after copious amounts of fear toxin had to reflect on his bareboned morality system and go through unpleasant and disturbing experiences to better understand the shortcomings of his philosophy.
The comic makes fair arguments for both sides, which not only expands the topic of Batman's approach to crime in order for us to discuss it with better points of reference, but still lets us decide amongst ourselves for an answer.
Starting with Scarecrow, I am so happy he finally gets the mockingly-overanalytical personality Joker has been wrongly assigned ever since. It is truly the perfect fit for the character and matches Scarecrow's gimmick far better. Now Joker isn't a master-planner or a hive-mind like in every other fucking current interpretation, but just a desensitized clown that likes to mess with people. Genius.
On the philosophical spectrum, this miniseries actually addresses the long running internet gag that Batman could've done far better to help Gotham than play dressup and considers the possibility that the city could've made far better advancements than Batman (as a concept, a myth, not the person) could've helped Gotham achieve. The final verdict of the comic is that, while The Batman is nothing more than a black-and-white god of justice that can only beat the fear out of criminals into submission, it is also addressed that fear itself can help a person change (See Scalpel Sanchez's story at the end of the comic for better point of reference). We often forget that negative emotions can move us to progress, and while extreme, traumatic experiences urge a lot of analytic reactions as much as emotional ones, making the people in question better reflect on themselves and their situation. The perfect example, of course, is Batman, which, after copious amounts of fear toxin had to reflect on his bareboned morality system and go through unpleasant and disturbing experiences to better understand the shortcomings of his philosophy.
The comic makes fair arguments for both sides, which not only expands the topic of Batman's approach to crime in order for us to discuss it with better points of reference, but still lets us decide amongst ourselves for an answer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2025
Scarecrow: "Come on. Who do you need to save?"
Batman: "A child."
Scarecrow: "Yes. Yes. Excellent. What child? Your child?"
Batman: "No. Every child."
First of all the art is gorgeous. Kelley Jones is the artist with Michelle Madsen on colours. The book has a real early 90s vibe that reminds me of the Batman the Long Halloween and Batman Knightfall. Kelley Jones art looks particularly striking in the nightmare sequences throughout the story.
The gist of the story is simple. The Scarecrow has dosed Batman with Fear Toxin and taken a hostage, hidden somewhere in the city. To save the hostage Batman allows Scarecrow to follow him as he patrols Gotham, all the while Scarecrow is psycho-analysing Batman, trying to understand why he puts on the mask every night.
I came away from this thinking Scott Peterson has a strong understanding of who Batman is. His Batman strikes terror into the hearts of criminals, but can also take the time to comfort a young child. Batman should have fears and regrets, otherwise he would come across as arrogant and careless, only by questioning the role of Batman, can it then be re-affirmed by the narrative.
Batman: "A child."
Scarecrow: "Yes. Yes. Excellent. What child? Your child?"
Batman: "No. Every child."
First of all the art is gorgeous. Kelley Jones is the artist with Michelle Madsen on colours. The book has a real early 90s vibe that reminds me of the Batman the Long Halloween and Batman Knightfall. Kelley Jones art looks particularly striking in the nightmare sequences throughout the story.
The gist of the story is simple. The Scarecrow has dosed Batman with Fear Toxin and taken a hostage, hidden somewhere in the city. To save the hostage Batman allows Scarecrow to follow him as he patrols Gotham, all the while Scarecrow is psycho-analysing Batman, trying to understand why he puts on the mask every night.
I came away from this thinking Scott Peterson has a strong understanding of who Batman is. His Batman strikes terror into the hearts of criminals, but can also take the time to comfort a young child. Batman should have fears and regrets, otherwise he would come across as arrogant and careless, only by questioning the role of Batman, can it then be re-affirmed by the narrative.
May 13, 2021
The first issue was very whatever, if it was not the collected edition I would have stopped there. Then it gets a litle more interesting. Overall the plot is very simple and far from the other recent storylines with dozens of characters and their side plots. It felt like a fill-in issue from the end of the 90s, except that it lasts 6 issues.
The thematic is not new and was explored many times: are there villains in Gotham because there is Batman in the first place and would everyone be better of without Batman? But in my view it remains a relevant thematic and I liked that it is brought by the Scarecrow and not by yet another self-appointed Gotham's savior.
The conclusion is not very original neither but well written. Last but not least, and that gets the 4th star instead of 3, Kelley Jones' art style in this is perfect for this story. Not bad, not super, and there are better runs or mini-series over the past years to overlook this one, but why not give it a try (it is a quick read too) if you have a chance?
The thematic is not new and was explored many times: are there villains in Gotham because there is Batman in the first place and would everyone be better of without Batman? But in my view it remains a relevant thematic and I liked that it is brought by the Scarecrow and not by yet another self-appointed Gotham's savior.
The conclusion is not very original neither but well written. Last but not least, and that gets the 4th star instead of 3, Kelley Jones' art style in this is perfect for this story. Not bad, not super, and there are better runs or mini-series over the past years to overlook this one, but why not give it a try (it is a quick read too) if you have a chance?
May 10, 2019
I picked up Issue #1 strictly on impulse, as I was attracted to the Kelley Jones art. At that point, it didn’t matter to me whether the story was original, worth reading, or just a recycled plot. Anytime Kelley Jones is drawing a Batman book, I am interested. He uses a dark noir style that perfectly suits the nature of the Batman books. And, I love the way he exaggerates the Batman headgear with the elongated bat-ears.
I grabbed this book off the shelves at The Maroon Hornet in Oxford, PA every month. While the story was interesting, I wasn’t paying much attention to it. I was simply entranced by the artwork. Scripter Peterson gave Jones plenty of freedom by including dialogue and text-free pages to allow him to depict Batman in furious action. There is a single page in Issue #1 where Batman takes on the Joker’s hired goons that is pure pandemonium - - twenty-three tiny panels that show Batman’s fists and feet connecting with various thug faces while the Joker grimaces and Batman grits his teeth. Marvelous! Before the six-issue series ends, there are plenty of fabulous scenes with Batman duking it out as Jones gets to depict almost every major villain in the Batman canon.
In preparation for this pre-order recommendation I re-read the issues and discovered a marvelous story. This is a tale that deserves to be read at a single sitting in order to grasp the full impact of what occurs. Batman reflects on the impact of his life-long mission and encounters some doubts, all triggered by a new strain of The Scarecrow’s fear gas.
After finishing this the second time, I’m ready to put Batman: Kings of Fear on my list of Top Batman Stories Of All Time. It’s that good. If you haven’t read this, pick it up in trade paperback. You won’t be sorry. From this point on, I”m going to share some of the highlights of the series. So, if you want to avoid spoilers don’t read beyond this point. . . . . . . . . . . .
*******************************************************************************
ISSUE #1 Peterson nails the maniacal unpredictable nature of the Joker, and Jone’s facial expressions of the Joker provide visual testimonial to that. There’s a bit of foreshadowing in an exchange between The Joker (who does most of the talking) and Batman during a ride to Arkham Asylum. The Joker is trying to bait Batman into introspective conversation.
Joker: “Most people have a dark corner of their mind that they probably shouldn’t peek into too much. Not you, though.
No, you’ve got entire wings in that mansion of a psyche you shouldn’t even get close to, much less go spelunking in.”
Soon after, Batman has a quick encounter at Arkham in the dark with Bane, Poison Ivy, Penguin, Joker, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze and Killer Croc before subduing them all and returning them to their cells - - a great choreographed battle sequence that’s over quickly in four incredible pages. The Scarecrow has escaped to the grounds of the Asylum where he doses a pursuing Batman with a new strain of the fear gas - - and we’re off to the races.
ISSUE 2 The Scarecrow’s on the run and he’s taken a hostage, as Batman learns from Commissioner Gordon while trying to shake off the effects of the fear gas which are still troubling him. There are too many great panels of Batman’s search through the shadows of Gotham to list here. You need to see them to enjoy them. But it’s the Scarecrow who’s shadowing Batman and continues to dose him with the gas, working up to the moment he can break him down.
The cover shows a great scene of the gas working on Batman’s mind as a massive stone building takes on demonic characteristics and threatens the Dark Knight.
ISSUE 3 The opening pages illustrating Batman fleeing across the rooftops and parapets of Gotham with the Scarecrow on his tail are worth the price of admission. The Scarecrow’s plan is to observe Batman in his natural element and then pepper him with questions, probing into his purpose and raising doubts about the benefits of his mission. The Scarecrow says his intention is to understand who and what the Batman is and stands for, and in exchange for conversation he’s willing to release his hostage.
ISSUE 4 This is a key issue in the series, as Scarecrow acts as psycho-analyst with Batman as his patient on the couch, reviewing his past, present and future. Scarecrow’s intent is to create enough doubt and insecurity that Batman will break down and give up his mission. Batman’s childhood images are familiar to us readers, but you’re going to love the way that Jones visualizes them.
Scarecrow: “Your entire life has been dedicated to one goal.
A goal you know. You’ve always known, is impossible to achieve.
Even for you.
At least the way you’ve gone about it.
Scarecrow gives it his maximum effort to convince Batman that “we always hurt most the one we love most” - - that this is what Batman fears, he fears that his efforts are hurting what he loves - - the city of Gotham.
ISSUE 5 A tour de force as Scarecrow continues his probe into Batman’s mind and all his fears and concerns are revealed as conceptualized by Peterson and visualized brilliantly by Jones. The alternate Gotham of the future, one where the Batman did not exert his influence on it, is a master stroke on the Scarecrow’s part and creates an enormous amount of doubt and guilt within Batman. Naturally, we readers realize that Batman’s not going to give up the quest and succumb to Scarecrow’s influence - - but we enjoy the telling even knowing that he’s going to turn it around before Issue #6 ends.
ISSUE 6 Events here come to an early conclusion, with the remainder of the issue serving as coda to the previous issues. There are several heart-warming testimonials and personal references to the benefits of Batman on the city and citizens of Gotham. It’s a sincere affirmation that makes us feel good for Batman and proud of him. My favorite issue of the series.
I grabbed this book off the shelves at The Maroon Hornet in Oxford, PA every month. While the story was interesting, I wasn’t paying much attention to it. I was simply entranced by the artwork. Scripter Peterson gave Jones plenty of freedom by including dialogue and text-free pages to allow him to depict Batman in furious action. There is a single page in Issue #1 where Batman takes on the Joker’s hired goons that is pure pandemonium - - twenty-three tiny panels that show Batman’s fists and feet connecting with various thug faces while the Joker grimaces and Batman grits his teeth. Marvelous! Before the six-issue series ends, there are plenty of fabulous scenes with Batman duking it out as Jones gets to depict almost every major villain in the Batman canon.
In preparation for this pre-order recommendation I re-read the issues and discovered a marvelous story. This is a tale that deserves to be read at a single sitting in order to grasp the full impact of what occurs. Batman reflects on the impact of his life-long mission and encounters some doubts, all triggered by a new strain of The Scarecrow’s fear gas.
After finishing this the second time, I’m ready to put Batman: Kings of Fear on my list of Top Batman Stories Of All Time. It’s that good. If you haven’t read this, pick it up in trade paperback. You won’t be sorry. From this point on, I”m going to share some of the highlights of the series. So, if you want to avoid spoilers don’t read beyond this point. . . . . . . . . . . .
*******************************************************************************
ISSUE #1 Peterson nails the maniacal unpredictable nature of the Joker, and Jone’s facial expressions of the Joker provide visual testimonial to that. There’s a bit of foreshadowing in an exchange between The Joker (who does most of the talking) and Batman during a ride to Arkham Asylum. The Joker is trying to bait Batman into introspective conversation.
Joker: “Most people have a dark corner of their mind that they probably shouldn’t peek into too much. Not you, though.
No, you’ve got entire wings in that mansion of a psyche you shouldn’t even get close to, much less go spelunking in.”
Soon after, Batman has a quick encounter at Arkham in the dark with Bane, Poison Ivy, Penguin, Joker, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze and Killer Croc before subduing them all and returning them to their cells - - a great choreographed battle sequence that’s over quickly in four incredible pages. The Scarecrow has escaped to the grounds of the Asylum where he doses a pursuing Batman with a new strain of the fear gas - - and we’re off to the races.
ISSUE 2 The Scarecrow’s on the run and he’s taken a hostage, as Batman learns from Commissioner Gordon while trying to shake off the effects of the fear gas which are still troubling him. There are too many great panels of Batman’s search through the shadows of Gotham to list here. You need to see them to enjoy them. But it’s the Scarecrow who’s shadowing Batman and continues to dose him with the gas, working up to the moment he can break him down.
The cover shows a great scene of the gas working on Batman’s mind as a massive stone building takes on demonic characteristics and threatens the Dark Knight.
ISSUE 3 The opening pages illustrating Batman fleeing across the rooftops and parapets of Gotham with the Scarecrow on his tail are worth the price of admission. The Scarecrow’s plan is to observe Batman in his natural element and then pepper him with questions, probing into his purpose and raising doubts about the benefits of his mission. The Scarecrow says his intention is to understand who and what the Batman is and stands for, and in exchange for conversation he’s willing to release his hostage.
ISSUE 4 This is a key issue in the series, as Scarecrow acts as psycho-analyst with Batman as his patient on the couch, reviewing his past, present and future. Scarecrow’s intent is to create enough doubt and insecurity that Batman will break down and give up his mission. Batman’s childhood images are familiar to us readers, but you’re going to love the way that Jones visualizes them.
Scarecrow: “Your entire life has been dedicated to one goal.
A goal you know. You’ve always known, is impossible to achieve.
Even for you.
At least the way you’ve gone about it.
Scarecrow gives it his maximum effort to convince Batman that “we always hurt most the one we love most” - - that this is what Batman fears, he fears that his efforts are hurting what he loves - - the city of Gotham.
ISSUE 5 A tour de force as Scarecrow continues his probe into Batman’s mind and all his fears and concerns are revealed as conceptualized by Peterson and visualized brilliantly by Jones. The alternate Gotham of the future, one where the Batman did not exert his influence on it, is a master stroke on the Scarecrow’s part and creates an enormous amount of doubt and guilt within Batman. Naturally, we readers realize that Batman’s not going to give up the quest and succumb to Scarecrow’s influence - - but we enjoy the telling even knowing that he’s going to turn it around before Issue #6 ends.
ISSUE 6 Events here come to an early conclusion, with the remainder of the issue serving as coda to the previous issues. There are several heart-warming testimonials and personal references to the benefits of Batman on the city and citizens of Gotham. It’s a sincere affirmation that makes us feel good for Batman and proud of him. My favorite issue of the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews