NEW YORK (WP) - After giving Batman fans one of the Dark Knight's most romantic moments in a marriage proposal to Catwoman, writer Tom King is now taking him to a darker place before any wedding plans are made.

The War Of Jokes And Riddles, a new eight-part storyline taking place in Batman (part two/issue no. 26 is available now in print and digitally) is exactly what it sounds like - a turf war between two of Gotham City's biggest crime lords, the Joker and the Riddler.

The battle takes place in Batman's past, only a year into his life as a vigilante, and serves as a confessional of sorts between him and Catwoman.

"Batman has gone through a lot of emotional things. He's come to the point where he proposed to Catwoman, he's trying to find a piece of happiness in his life," King said.

"What (Batman) says is before you marry me, I have to confess my darkest moment, because you can't marry me until you know the worst of me."

Batman, it turns out, is the cause for the war.

King writes the Joker as a maniac who has lost his laugh because Batman's constant winning takes the humour out of everything.

Meanwhile, the Riddler, perhaps Gotham City's most dangerous mind, always 10 steps ahead of everyone, becomes obsessed with the one riddle even he cannot figure out: Who is Batman? And what makes him tick?

Both villains realise the only way to end their suffering is to kill the Batman, and the race begins to see who can do it first.