BATMAN AND ROBIN #29 (DC COMICS)
For Arnold Wesker, you can’t escape your past.
After thinking he was cured, Wesker has tried moving forward with his life. This hasn’t stopped the Quiet Man from looking for him for revenge. The mysterious figure has been tearing through Gotham on his path of vengeance. Penguin, Two-Face and the Dynamic Duo have all struggled to slow him down. In the process, Wesker’s fate takes another turn.
Scarface is back and there is some hell to pay!
BATMAN AND ROBIN #29 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson,Fico Ossio, Marcelo Maiolo & Steve Wands (DC COMICS) welcomes back one of Batman’s most volatile rogues.
Let’s take a closer look at this explosive return.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #29 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson,Fico Ossio, Marcelo Maiolo & Steve Wands (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Kennedy-Johnson doesn’t waste time in re-establishing Scarface as a violent force. The brutal murder of a police officer makes a bold proclamation of return. This starts a very vicious path to reclaiming lost status in the underworld. The story veers off this direction to see Batman and Robin address the captive Quiet Man. Their dialogue breaks down how the enigmatic figure’s dark secret is exposed. It leads to a strong debate of ethics amongst the heroes. This provides a small break of Scarface’s carnage, key word is “small”.
Readers watch as the violence ramps up for moving the story along. The writing sees Welker and his boss puppet enforce their will on Penguin’s lackeys. Scarface’s dialogue is unapologetic as he is unaliving all those in his way. As impactful as this moment is, the question of ethics stance between Batman and Robin steals its’ thunder. Neither crusader wants to back down from their stance on the Quiet Man. The mood is very tense as the spotlight swings back to the mystery man’s escape from Blackgate. Nothing is held back as he is close to his finish line. Everything leads to a showdown of all parties in the closing pages. Time will run out for someone. Who will it be?
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Ossio returns for art duties for this chapter. The opening attack of Scarface is brutal with blood flying everywhere. It sets the pace for how frantic events get from. Panels slow down for the Duo’s meeting with the Quiet Man in prison. The use of shadows adds another element to scenes. No one looks to waiver from their points of view. Even when the story steers into Scarface’s rampage, it never lets up on the intensity.
An absolutely brutal page depicts the demise of Penguin’s gang. Wands’ lettering makes these image pop off the panels. A near full shot of Wesker and Scarface in their brutal glory stands in the aftermath. It compliments the brutal feel of this chapter. Readers can sense the weight when Batman talks with the Quiet Man. The red coloring on the flashbacks adds to the tragic reality they represent. Ossio brings out great emotion with Robin’s take on the Quiet mission. It segways to the closing pages where all bets are off for what’s to come. A steady but brooding look at one man’ final stand.
FINAL GRADE: 9
The pen-ultimate issue of the Dynamic Duo steamrolls into a very combustible finale with this lead-in. Kennedy-Johnson puts all the key players in position with the writing. Ossio and Maiolo construct the impactful images that adds more fuel to this overwhelming fire. Expect nothing but fireworks for how this series wraps up.
Let me know your thoughts on Batman and Robin #29 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
