By: Peter J. Tomasi (writer), Patrick Gleason (artist), Mick Gray (inker), Alex Sinclair (colorist)
The Story: Tree of Blood – Dark Knight vs. White Knight, Part 1: A body with pasted-on wings drops eighty floors and nearly kills Dick Grayson and some celebrities at an opera opening. We’ve got a mystery!
What’s Good: Wow. I really loved this issue. Tomasi and Gleason are awesome on Batman and Robin. I was stuck for a long time just enjoying the first three pages because the soul of series book was right there: Batman and Robin is about two of three brothers and how they grow up as part of this special family. That is what is unique in this book. Any number of titles can give you quality Gotham-like setting and crimes, and others can give you fisticuffs and capes. I pick up Batman and Robin for the same reason that I read Claremont’s X-Men: it is a soap-operatic series about family. Tomasi, in the first three pages, demonstrates that he completely gets that. The writing and characterizations were superb. The next couple of pages showed us Dick and Damian out being heroes, Gotham-style, and revealed their personalities in a pitch-perfect way with fragmentary dialogue and talking over one another. And, the quick line about Dick moving over to the paparazzi for some close-ups showed that Tomasi gets what the Batman mythos is about too: rich playboy, secret identity, insane city.
Gleason is the perfect artist for Tomasi. I’ve enjoyed his work in other series, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen him better than when inked by Mick Gray. The realism of the art, without losing any of its dynamism (check out Batman looking for cavities at the midpoint of the book), was everything I want in comic art. But, let’s be honest; you can get fine draftsmanship and dynamic art in a lot of books. Where Gleason won me over was in the subtle characterizations. Tim’s backhanded throw of the ice cream scoop. Damian’s persistent slouch and the hoodie. Alfred handing Dick his shoes. Seeing the whole family sitting together, each with their own food in front of them. Awesome example of characterization through art.
What’s Not So Good: About the only tin note in this issue was Commissioner Gordon’s run-in with Damian in the morgue. I didn’t feel that either of them, in dialogue or actions, felt true. But, that was a small moment in an otherwise stellar offering.
Conclusion: In just the first few pages of their first issue on this series, Tomasi, Gleason and Gray have sold me. I am delighted with the new creative team. DC has locked me in for more.
Grade: A
Grade
Conclusion