Batman and Nightwing 23
Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason
Spoiler alert! You have been warned!
Batman and Robin (titled Batman and Nightwing this issue) has finally arrived at the final stage of grieving. In the issue about acceptance, Bruce finally comes to terms with his son’s death, but only after getting some help from the prodigal son himself, the original Robin, Dick Grayson. The emotional toll that this series takes on me on a monthly basis is unfair and is actually making me want to drop the book. But that’s part of the reason why I love it so much. It’s great. It makes me feel like these fictional characters that I grew up with are actually real. Peter J. Tomasi’s script is so heartfelt and Patrick Gleason’s pictures are so believable that for a little bit each and every month, I forget that I’m actually reading about superheroes.
The issue, much like that of the last few months, is very simple in its actual plot. But the magic happens with the things unspoken and the facial expressions in between action sequences. You can really tell that Bruce is grieving, yes, because this is his title. And as important as it is to see Batman actually have human emotions, I have to say that I was not only pleasantly surprised, but genuinely amazed at the inclusion of the final pages of this issue, featuring Alfred. The entire issue features Bruce and Dick going over the events of Damian’s death and finally coming to terms with not being able to go back in time and save him from his brutal fate. But the fact that we see Alfred doing the same thing and being caught in the act by Bruce is touching. Not to mention the fact that Bruce actually says, “I was too selfish to realize we both lost a son,” before turning off the virtual reality machine and finally closing the book on Damian’s death.
The upcoming issues are most assuredly going to continue the stories that made Tomasi and Gleason the team on par with Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo. I can’t wait to see what role Carrie Kelly plays in issues to come. Not to mention my all-time favorite Batman villain, Two-Face. This series, much like the main Batman title, is a must-read for any and all Bat fans out there on a monthly basis. To get the story and the action, you have to read the Snyder/Capullo book. But if you want to feel what the characters are going through after they go through hell in each new adventure, the Batman team-up book is the place to go.
My Rating: 5/5
