Speaking of brutal DC Comics, I wonder if Peter Tomasi is trying to top Scott Snyder’s ‘Swamp Thing # 7’. Cause like that issue, Batman and Robin #7 is one hell of a bloody issue. Probably one of the most violent Batman comics I’ve read in a while. (Snyder’s Batman has been bloody, but this issue tops it quite easily in the gore factor) This issue is a testament to Patrick Gleason’s art and I think it is also a testament to how great these two guys work together.

Let’s get right to the obvious: Patrick Gleason is an amazing artist. I never thought that this guy could do a monthly schedule AND produce gorgeous issues every time but he has for seven straight months now. There are so many fantastic pages in this issue I don’t know where to start. I tell you what, one of my favorite pages of the year is in here and I’ll tell you why. It’s the sixth page where Gleason shows us a full page of Batman, hidden in his cape, admist debris and fire, delivering an ultimatium to Nobody. Not only does it again remind me of the work of one of my favorite Batman artist (Kelley Jones) but it’s a fucking great image for Batman. The individual wrinkles in his cape, the falling debris, the gorgeous colors by John Kalisz; it’s the perfect image to show how amazing of an art team this book has. It’s also the best example of everything else about the issue: Incredible detail, gorgeous colors, and some of the best art you’ll see in a comic. (Greg Capullo is clearly THE best Batman artist right now but Gleason is definitely making this a close two horse race) Again it is also very bloody to the point where it almost becomes over the top but in the end I do like just how brutal this series can be. Although getting your face dipped in acid, whether you have a mask on or not, should be a death sentence…

Like in Fantastic Four, this entire run by Tomasi so far has been about the father/son relationship between Bruce and Damian. Did this story need to be seven issues long? Probably not. But I think if anything, Tomasi has done a great job with the overall themes of the series. There are so many ‘daddy’ issues with all of the characters here is can seem a bit melodramatic. But it’s a nice way to connect everyone and I still think Tomasi is doing better with building a relationship with Damian and Bruce then Grant Morrison ever did. In general this series also feels like a cartoon because of how action oriented it can be. Maybe not Saturday Morning like cause I doubt Paul Dini could ever air any of these violent images. I think it’s a nice balance between the family drama and the action and Tomasi does it well.

I am very happy on this issue because I was a bit worried on Peter Tomasi’s writing. His return on Green Lantern Corps was pretty mediocre and while I have enjoyed this series; the quality has jumped back and forth for several months. I’m happy to say this could be the best issue of the series to date with incredible action, drama, and GORGEOUS artwork. It’s a brutal issue to be sure but it left me smiling….and also hoping if I ever get a son we never grow up together like this.