Let’s just get out of the way right now:

Batman #6 in no way tops issue #5 which is still, as of February 15th 2012, the best single issue of the year. Not even close.

However, don’t let that statement deter you from this magnificent issue. Once again Scott Snyder writes himself one hell of a trippy and disturbing issue with Greg Capullo delivering his best work of his career. With high praise like that, why continue? But continue I shall!

While this issue doesn’t have any far out moments like last month, it still comes close. I have no idea if those bird creatures, who I assume are the Court of Owls family, exist but Snyder never really says the fact in the issue. Either way, the whole sequence involving those….things is easily one of the most disturbing things you’ll read in comics right now. I don’t know what it is with children licking other people but Snyder has that down! Seriously though, this issue does fuck with your head a bit but when the chips are down you should never count Batman out. (Which is the point of this issue) While we all know this is far from the end of this story, I did like how Snyder did subtly hint how Bruce was going to get out of this from last issue. The fountain and the camera did end up being important then just David Lynch inspired sequences.

However, as fantastic as Snyder’s writing is in this issue (and it is), Greg Capullo has quickly taken over as ‘THE’ reason you need to buy this series. Again no disrespect to Snyder but I can’t imagine ANYONE else that could make this book the hit that it is right now then with Capullo’s pencils. Every page of this is so perfect, filled with such incredible detail, that it really feels like Capullo isn’t human. His style actually reminded me of someone and I hope it isn’t too far off to say it’s a bit like Chris Bachelo. The world Capullo draws is dirty, like Bachelo’s, and every page is filled with dirt or debris. I mean look at the pages involving the Gotham City model and you’ll see what I mean. You can see the individual pieces of debris as walls or models go down and that is just so damn impressive. Plus you got the best interpretation of insanity ever with his model of ‘Crazy Batman’. Capullo continues to draw Bruce with part of his cowl torn apart and that crazy eye he draws is just so creepy but beautiful to look at. Is it wrong I want that to stay apart of his costume? (It certainly would freak me out if I was a criminal) Also, to continue the trend of my reviews this week, a lot of love should go to Jonathan Glapion and FCO for inking/coloring the hell out of this book. Seeing Capullo’s pencils only certainly show his chops but the book wouldn’t be half of what it is if Glapion and FCO didn’t do some of their best work of their careers as well.

I really think we need to remember this time right now. Cause these past two issues really show the pinnacle of both Scott Snyder’s and Greg Capullo’s career. Snyder is writing one of ‘THE’ best Batman stories right now and also one of the creepiest. Then you have Capullo (along with a slew of other talents helping him) draw some of the most beautiful pages ever to grace the Dark Knight. Call it hyperbole if you must but dammit: What else can top what we’re seeing right now?