Two issues in, and two POTWs from me for this title! Why isn’t it getting the same high ratings as certain other Bat-Books?!

While Tomasi seems to be focusing a lot of his attention on the “soap opera” (for want of a better term) aspects that become a natural part of any long running superhero saga, he has such an assured and interesting way of writing these characters that a whole issue could go by without any action sequences and I really wouldn’t complain. Not content to merely present the cliched one-dimensional grim and gritty dark knight, Tomasi is taking time to develop the relationships between Bruce, Damian and Alfred in ways that seem interesting, fresh, and surprisingly relatable. In two issues he has had more to say about these characters than most other writers have said in years.

Fortunately, Batman and Robin doesn’t scrimp on the action sequences either, and it is here that Gleason is given room to shine. On Green Lantern Corps I thought his work was ok, certainly not unpleasant to look at, but here I’m pausing as I read to savour and admire every panel of every page. Perhaps it’s that he’s drawing fewer characters per page in this book, perhaps the darker, more realistic settings of Gotham City suit his style better, but whatever the reason, Gleason is kicking serious butt here! I hope that this team is in for the long haul- their work in these first two issues has given us a unique and refreshing look at Gotham’s heroes, and a Bat-Book with a different flavour from the others on the shelves.