Batman And ... 23. The circle closes.
Batman teams up with his first robin (now under the guise of Nightwing), Dick Grayson, in this fifth and final part of Batman's grieving period. They are joined by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, and Mark Irwin for this final outing.
The Good
Only now do I take a look back at these last five issues (19-23) and the titles are connected for each point of the five stages of grieving. Usually when reading a comic book you could care less for what the title of a particular issue is called, but how Peter J. Tomasi worked that in with the story was quite clever of him and it made me care a little bit more for titles in comic books. For once, the titles actually felt (at least to me) that they had meaning and connected with the story. Instead it always being just some words on page. So well played!
This fifth and last story in the Grieving story arc has Batman teaming up with Dick Grayson (Nightwing). With this story, the two heroes venture into a V.R. headset to relive the last fight between the Dynamic Duo and the Leviathan. Trying to prove that Batman could've saved his son from a painful death.
These last five issues we've seen Batman at a low with the death of his son. He's been angry, desperate, and pretty much insane; but all of that is justified solely because of his love for his son. A love that was taken from him all to soon (by of all people), Talia Al Ghul. Add that and the pressure of being Batman and you can say that it's amazing how much one man can stand. However, I think that's the point of what Peter J. Tomasi has been trying to convey to readers this story arc.
Batman is a man. He has problems just like anyone else and expresses them in his own way. This final issue makes Batman realize that he has to accept what has happened; and shows a nice take on the character and how he can't control everything. Even though he tries his best. Having gone into the virtual reality with Dick helped ease his pain and suffering as to show that he did his best as a father and Batman, and that no matter what his son loved him. Tomasi really hit that hard in this issue with even letting Alfred venture into this V.R. world, which was really something to be in awe of. In the end, it all made sense and shows that it's time to accept and move on past this.
The artwork is fantastic! The art team did an outstanding job on the facial expressions, layout, and just about everything else this issue had to offer. It aided to the experience of reading what Tomasi had put out here for us readers and it made this issue one of the BEST that's been released.
The Bad
No complaints.
The Verdict
5 out of 5.
Reviews from the "Grieving" story arc:
Next review from this series: #24
Next review: Batman/Superman #9
Comic catch up reviews:
3.Tomasi & Gleason's BATMAN AND ROBIN! -- Comic catch up! (issues 22-29+)
4.Posehn & Duggan's DEADPOOL! -- Comic catch up! (issues 12-26+)
6.DeConnick's CAPTAIN MARVEL! -- Comic catch up! (issues 13-17+)
7.Slott's SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN! -- Comic catch up! (issues 13-30+)
8.Wood's STAR WARS! -- Comic catch up! (issues 3-15+)
