Batman and Robin #29 (DC)

writer: Peter J. Tomasi
artist: Patrick Gleason

via comiXology

For the past year, Batman and Robin has been missing Robin, since Damian's death in Batman Incorporated #8, and so this has become a team-up book.  Unlike other team-up books you could think of, however, Peter Tomasi's version has remained committed to advancing a storyline.  As such, "The Hunt for Robin," which next week hits a new peak with the Robin Rises one-shot and subsequent arc in the ongoing saga.

It's the first time real attention has been called to the series.  I've been saying all along that this is arguably the best Batman book in the New 52 and I hope other readers are taking the opportunity to find out for themselves.

Long story short, Ra's al Ghul has stolen the bodies of Damian and Talia, son and mother, part of a screwed up family shared with Batman himself, and Batman is none too pleased.  He wants Damian to sleep in peace.  Al Ghul wants what he always wants: eternal life.  In years past he would've easily had it with all the plentiful Lazarus Pits that've kept him alive and/or resurrected over the years, but their numbers have dwindled, forcing him on a worldwide search, with Batman hot on his tail.

The guest star this issue is Aquaman.  Since Brightest Day there's been a concerted effort to rehabilitate his image.  You may have heard that he's a joke.  In the comics, these days, he's become completely legitimate.  (And in the movies, he's become Jason Momoa!)  In previous attempts to accomplish this, Aquaman was relegated to his own world, which is fine, but that always has the effect of isolating him and therefore preventing anyone from seeing him interact, outside of Grant Morrison's JLA, with the rest of the DC universe.

Typically, it's an excellent appearance, not just because the character has been on a hot streak, but because Tomasi is clearly in his element.  The issue that follows (because I read them out of order and therefore have written about them out of order) features Wonder Woman, and I guess Tomasi wasn't as comfortable.  This is not because Wonder Woman is, well, a woman.  Tomasi does monsters well, and his ideal collaborator, Patrick Gleason, does them well, too.

Batman and the grotesque.  Kelley Jones knew that twenty years ago!

"The grotesque" in this context means, of course, al Ghul's latest attempt to resurrect Damian.  He had clones incubated in whales, and...just very messy business, really.  So, grotesque.  But beautifully grotesque, thanks to Gleason!

And at one point, Batman shouts at Ra's, "Give me back my son!"  Now, I apologize in advance for those who don't like Mel Gibson anymore, but I can't help but think of his movie Ransom when I hear that.  Good stuff.

And I now want an Aquaman series from Tomasi and Gleason, should they unfortunately be forced to leave Batman and Robin at some point.  One hundred issues and a movie!