Batman and Robin

Art: This has easily been the best issue for art thus far. Some of the images are so striking and bold, I could look at them all day. The first and last pages in particular, which are close ups of Robin and Batman respectively are so effective at conveying the raw emotion of the characters. It means that little text is needed and the art speaks for itself. Pat Gleeson is really getting into the swing of things and is improving each issue.

Plot: It seems Robin has traded allegiances and has proven himself worthy to Nobody but Damian remains coy about the situation. Batman continues the hunt to find his son and along the way sheds more light on his past with the Ducards and his training. It's a wrenching read as this is the issue where Bruce and Damian's feelings for each other truly begin to wring out.

Verdict: Damian is slowly becoming one of my favourite Robins. The inner conflicts with his past and future mixed with his bad temper, killer instinct and incredible talent make for a compelling character. Peter Tomasi has got a really good hold on Damian and knows how to get the best from him. This was a great issue and the series has been getting progressively better. The last few pages in particular were fantastic as we see desperation and hopelessness begin to overtake Batman. This is new territory for the Bat and I can't wait to see how he deals with it all.

Story:

Damian is running with Morgan Ducard while Bruce is following them to save his son and he tells to himself what is he going to say to Damian when he sees him about why Morgan hates him so much.But when Bruce finally finds them he understands that this was all part of Damian's plan to capture Nobody but now Morgan is going to kill him.

Thoughts:

This issue I thought will be the conclusion of this story arc but it looks like there will be one more issue for this story.This story introduced us to a character from Bruce's past and him to be one of the greatest villains of Bruce Wayne and Batman.This issue continues with the build-up for Bruce and Morgan's story and he grows as even a bigger threat then he was in the beginning of this story.The characterization continues not only for Morgan but Damian as well.This issue shows us that even that he ain't much like his father he will never betray him and go to the bad side and he loves his father as every kid.Bruce also shows his love for his son and I can say that this series are making Bruce and Damian more like a father and son than the Dynamic Duo.

The artwork is great and I like how the flashback was made because it wasn't anything different but it worked really well.I like the design and the style of Patrick Gleason and he grows more and more like an amazing artist for me.

Rate:5/5

Last months issue of Batman And Robin ended on one of the better cliffhangers I've stumbled across in a comic lately. What made it so great was that you could picture the scenario going either way. Writer Peter Tomasi gave fans something to consider for a whole month. No time is wasted at all as we quickly find out whether Damian pulls the trigger or opts not to. Without ruining what happened, I will say I enjoyed the way the events unfolded. Tomasi handles everything in this issue superbly. The continued manipulation and mind games Damian is enduring courtesy of Nobody have been a lot of fun to watch unfold. Tomasi delivers engaging dialogue and characterization that never makes you cringe. 

Once again in this issue, Peter Tomasi intertwines flashback scenes continuing Bruce's story involving Henri and Morgan Ducard. We find out how their relationship turned sour and get a better understanding of why Nobody is after Batman. During the course of the flashback scenes, Bruce drops Morgan through the window-ceiling of a building that left a bat-shaped hole in it. I wonder if anyone else took notice of that and the placement of the moon directly behind it. I thought it was pretty cool. 

Patrick Gleason has done an outstanding job mirroring the tone of the story in his art. His style is unique and unlike any other artists, especially when it comes to the way he draws characters faces. I think he shines the most during the flashback scenes in this issue. I just loved the way the entire pages were designed and lucid dream-like feel they generated. 

This was another great issue of this series that continues to impress me every time I pick up an issue. Six issues in and I'm not one bit disappointed with where things are. If you haven't been reading this series I highly recommend doing so. Great pacing, plenty of action and excitement and another thrilling end to an issue. 

More so than any Robin ever, Damian is truly a little Batman in progress. Without spoiling too much, Damian demonstrates a masterful ability for tactical planning, and an ability to detach himself from those close to him for a better executed plan.

NoBody shows even truer colors, he's not just a Batman that could've been, he's a Robin scorned to his own father, convinced that Bruce attempted to upstage him. The rampant theme of fathers and only sons is extremely well executed here, and we see just how insane NoBody truly is. His speech about evil rarely announcing itself is deliciously hypocritical, and deeply metaphorical because its exactly why he can't even conceptualize the very notion that it could be hypocritical. It's not about good vs. evil, it's not even about the kill vs. not kill debate; it's a socipathic kid who feels upstaged by the rich kid who sees his father only as a teacher.

Unfortunately, this issue also falls a little short, as it spends another huge chunk of pages on fleshing out the backstory. The backstory is still effective, but its screwing with the pacing, and starting to get monotonous.

A lot of other things fall a little shorter this issue as well. The cover's not nearly as masterful as the last 2, and its a lie. Batman and Robin don't even MEET in this issue. I'm all for covers being not 100% representing of the issue, but this is one of those obnoxious ones that's downright misleading. I almost would rather have last issue entirely dedicated to the backstory and this one advance the story as much as this and the last issue together. Things just didn't work out quite right in terms of pacing. And it's not just the cover that doesn't work as well, Gleason's art doesn't weave the shadows as masterfully as before, there's a lot of really ineffective attempts.

In Conclusion: 3.5/5

I mean, there's still plenty of good things here, the story is progressing well and the storyline is pretty much as good as I was expecting to continue. And Damian really hit ever right note at ever moment, but there were more little flubs compared to usual.

Good: It's pretty cool how vicious Bruce was before he became Batman, and that mirrors Damian's current path. I was pretty pleased with Damian's decision at the end of the book which leads up to a great set up for the next issue.

Bad: Robin does something that goes against all the training he has had with Batman. The cover does seem very misleading since that doesn't happen in any of the panels.

Verdict: Bruce is searching for his son, but will Damian live long enough to see his father. Will Morgan kill Damian or Bruce?