Batman Issue 13 is easily the best comic i have read this year. When i had first read and saw what happened to The Joker with his face being cut off i admit i got concerned for the clown prince of crime initially i was annoyed. However this issue takes those concerns away and easily gives you the best Joker story in so long this story is intense and very dark at one point i had to stop reading as it got uncomfortable but i had to keep reading it blew me away how good the issue was. From the moment you start reading it you can tell how dark this story will be the setting the mood just everything Jim Gordon's Reaction To Joker returning is written so well and then of course nods to Some of The Jokers best stories absolutely epic. I have to admit the New 52 i wassn't keen on but now its growing on me for this issue i give a 5/5. I recommend this issue

So what did you all think?

Really? How old are you?

I thought it was alright but coming so soon after Night of the Owls I think it's just a bit meh...

Haven't read it yet, but after OP's ringing endorsement I must admit I'm looking forward to it.

I have to admit I absolutely loved it! I am really looking forward to this new arc and I am looking forward to seeing how they all react to the joker. I thought issue 13 was really well written and it was a very strong prologue to the Death Of The Family arc

I may buy the copy.... but, since I first saw Batman Animated Series, I cannot imagine that the Joker could develop as a character without the appearance of Harley Quinn in any story..

It is quite nasty, not as nasty as the 1st couple issues of new 52 Detective Comics, but still. I wasn't disturbed by it, but I do think 15 years ago this sort thing would have had the "mature readers" tag on it. It clearly isn't aimed at children.

The latest DC animation, The Dark Knight Returns part 1, got a 15 rating from the bbfc last week, it's presumably that late teens upwards age range that the current bat books are aimed at. http://www.bbfc.co.uk/AVV295142/

Exactly... I read Detective Comics, also have the not so old Morrison run on Batman & Robin (first couple of arcs) and I read The Dark Night Returns when I was 10 so that might be some indication of why Batman #13 seemed just a bit "meh" to me... I mean, interesting read but it's all starting to get a bit samey...

really don't like Harley's new look. When i read this issue reading the Joker speak i could hear Mark Hamll's voice. Next issue is going be interesting.

I remember a similar thing with Batman Beyond Return of the Joker that got delayed for a couple of months as it had to be edited so glad the uncut version is out.

I'm 35 and have been reading DC Comics since I was about 3 or 4 and I completely agree with everything Avatom182 said in his OP.

It was way more chilling than anything in Court of the Owls/Night of the Owls, although Batman #5 is a pretty close second.

There is nothing else in the DC New 52 that even comes close to Snyder & Capullo's Batman.

Finally got around to reading this. Damn. What a start to a new story arc. The HQ story in back was pretty chilling.

You rotten gits have sucked me in. I'm on a budget so ration myself to about three titles a week, only one of which is a Bat-title in any form (Batwoman), which isn't even a part of this arc, but I bought #13 and it was excellent. I will have to find some money from somewhere to buy the other issues if they can keep the quality up.

Got to admit, I'm preferring this to "Night of the Owls".
The new "Leatherface" Joker is chilling (although I could do without the campy "love for Batman" he exhibits in some of the titles).
Like the way it has filtered through all the Bat-Family titles, with Red Robin (apparently) kidnapped in "Teen Titans", and Batgirl being proposed to (!?) in her title.

I seem to be in a minority in liking the new Harley. It's very close to "Arkham Asylum/City" game portrayal, and she has scope of her own in "Suicide Squad".

I just hope that with establishing the set-up of the Bat-Family (especially the current personas of Dick, Tim, Jason, and Damian), that "Death of a family" doesn't live up to it's name and reset it once again so soon ...