Batman and Robin 22-26

Batman and Robin #22
Written by Peter Tomasi
Art by Patrick Gleason

This was a great issue. I can’t get enough of Gleason’s art. Jane Doe makes an appearance from Paul Dini’s run on Streets of Gotham! I always liked her. Batman defeats the White Knight whose origin is revealed as a boy who witnessed his father’s murder at Arkham.

 

 

Batman and Robin #23
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Guillim March and Andre Bressan

Judd Winick returns to the character he essentially created when he brought Jason Todd back to life as the Red Hood. I have to say Morrison wrote the character the best. I was afraid Winick would ignore Morrison’s work but he includes it in this issue even having Jason have light hair again. He isn’t in costume yet but the cover seems like he will be using the new Red Hood costume still so all is good. Honestly I have never thought it was a great idea to bring Jason back butit always seemed like Winick never got to finish the story he started when it got wrapped up in Infinite Crisis so I am interested in seeing where this goes.

Batman and Robin #24
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Greg Tocchini

The art change in this issue was jarring to say the least. It wasn’t bad art but it is nothing like the previous issue. Anyways I am sad to say Jason does get a new costume in this issue that is more like the boring one he had before Morrison’s run. Scarlet also makes her return in this issue and Batman, Robin, and the Red Hood will have to team up next issue to save her so it isn’t all bad.

Batman and Robin #25
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Greg Tocchini

This was an okay issue. Very mediocre really. But at least Scarlet and the Red Hood are team mates again. I wonder if she ever shows up in the New 52 because she is an interesting character. I liked the comparison between Dick and Jason but it has been done to death.

 

 

Batman and Robin #26
Written by David Hine
Art by Greg Tocchini and Andrei Bressan

Okay this was a very disturbing but well done-in-one comic starring the Batman of France, Nightrunner, and Dick and Damian as the fight the Man Who Laughs who is almost as scary as the Joker! This was grotesque but very well done as only David Hine can do it.

 

 

 

Bad Art Ruins Good Story

Batman and Robin #6
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Phillip Tan

 

Wow Phillip Tan does not show any strengths here. Why did this guy get picked to follow Quitely? I mean this was bad art. Everything was muddled and dark and it hurt the storytelling. Moments that should have been great were ruined by this artist. I am really sad to say it. This issue was filled to the brim with story but it was lost in all of the horrible art. Story-wise, I have a lot to say. What the hell happened the end? Was that Bruce? It can’t be can it? If so, his return was ruined by art that made it completely unclear as to what was going on. Ugh I wanted to like this so much because it was a good story but all of the great moments were absolutely ruined. It was like going to see a good movie but being blinded.

Batman and Robin 4 – 5

Batman and Robin #4
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Phillip Tan

First I have to comment on the elephant in the room – the new artist. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Quitely but his work was breathtaking – and I really miss it. Tan’s not a horrible artist but a lot of his storytelling is a bit off and too dark. It is hard to figure out what is going on sometime. That being said – I am intrigued by both the Red Hood (Is it Jason?) and the Flamingo. Morrison is great at creating characters and the Red Hood’s new look is so comic booky it’s perfect.

Batman and Robin #5
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Phillip Tan

This was a fun ride! This was definitely the best issue of this book since the first issue. I love Morrison’s characterization of Jason Todd – it took four years but we actually get to see the reason why he was brought back to life – so he could be in stories like this. The Red Hood as the next gen Batman is a great idea and I like how Jason is even aware that that he is trying to do. Like he said it is when the ipod took out the walkman.  Morrison even remembers that Jason’s hair is not naturally black! Which is something that has annoyed me. Forget Under the Hood and COuntdown – this is the best Jason has been since returning to life. I have a feeling he is actually dying again because of the zits and the grey streak – perhaps he was only temporarily returned to life. I hope that I am right because it would be great for one last story to feature him before his death and he can go back to being Batman’s biggest regret. The art is still not great – but not as confusing as last issue. Flamingo is freaking scary as hell!  This was an exciting issue of Batman and Robin.

The Defeat Of Professor Pyg

Batman and Robin #3
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Frank Quitely

This issue concluded the first arc of this series. It was good. It wasn’t as good as the first issue but it was still good and creepy. Professor Pyg is a villain I hope lasts a long time. People tend to not use Morrison’s great characters after him, which is annoying, but I hope they do with this character because he is just creepy as all hell. I think I am going to have to go back and re-read this arc because some things really confused me here. Where did all this stuff about spreading germs and addictive viruses come from? I don’t remember that being part of it at all. And what is going on with the girl the Pyg tortured? Why is she killing those police officers? Quitely’s  art is fantastic to look at, but there were some parts where the storytelling was just off and I was confused. This will probably read better in trade.

Mr. Toad R.I.P?

Batman and Robin #2
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Frank Quitely

It took me a while to get to review this because during my initial read I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I should and wanted to re-read it. I am happy to say that I must have been in a bad mood when I first read it because this issue was damn good. Sure it’s not as exciting as the first issue was, but it is still good. Quitely’s art while I always think it is overrated, it was definitely not as good as last issue. I just wasn’t in to the fight at the police station nor thought the facial expressions were as good as they could be. Story-wise I loved Dick’s conversation with Alfred and the Circus of Strange are really cool. I really hope Mr. Toad isn’t really dead cause I definitely enjoyed him. So ya this was a good issue but I think I just expected more, especially since next issue is the last issue of this arc.

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride

Batman and Robin #1
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Frank Quitely

Wow! I can not believe how amazing this was. Morrison’s prior run on Batman left me less then enthused; but this was just fantastic! This is Morrison at his best. He brings in crazy silver age sound effects and a flying batmobile but at the same time keeping it in sync with modern DCU sensibilities and creating a rather scary group of villains all in one issue! I love Mr. Toad and Professor Pyg. The best thing about this issue has to be the fact that Morrison writes the new Batman as Dick. He could have easily had Dick in the costume but take on Bruce’s persona but instead he talks like Dick Grayson talks. That is some good writing. Sadly, I doubt Winick will be doing that over in the main Batman book but we will see. I actually like Damian instead of downright loathing him as usual. I can’t believe I am saying this but if these stories stay this good, I don’t even care if Bruce comes back as Batman!