BATMAN AND ROBIN #30 (DC COMICS)
All good things must come to an end.
Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s run with the Dynamic Duo has hit its’ final stop. Scarface is back. The Quiet Man is still looking for vengeance. Two-Face and the Penguin are looking to split the scraps of what’s left. All parties are en route to meet.
Batman and Robin are the only ones capable of handling this combustible situation.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #30 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson,Fico Ossio, Marcelo Maiolo & Steve Wands (DC COMICS) brings the house down with its’ final issue.
Let’s say goodbye with a final look.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #30 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson,Fico Ossio, Marcelo Maiolo & Steve Wands (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Kennedy-Johnson leaves nothing to chance for his final issue. The set-up with Penguin at the hospital works in Batman’s favor. The writing breaks down the strategy involved in orchestrating such an attack. It also allows readers to see how unhinged Scarface is. His interaction with a thug’s question speaks volumes to his unhinged character. It doesn’t take long for events to kick into high gear. The payoff is an incredible one.
Even with victory in grasp, the Quiet man shows the complexity of his character. This is very evident when an unlikely voice of reason emerges through the darkness. Robin’s monologue about revenge is a very strong piece of advice. Seeing how the Bat Family seems Bruce’s night life leading into makes for a great argument. It leads into an abrupt change of course. Kennedy-Johnson lets Damian Wayne take the wheel for the remainder of the chapter. The results show how he has evolved as not only a superhero but as a normal young man. It’s a refreshing change as it serves as a turning point in his rebuilding status with Bruce Wayne. The final page couldn’t be more perfect as it says goodbye.
READ LAST ISSUE’S REVIEW HERE!
Ossio and Maiolo have done great work in a short amount of time with Batman and Robin. Hoping we see their return sooner than later on a new series. This issue launches into a tense showdown between all parties. The full page shot of Batman watching overhead is classic Bats. It offsets the manic nature of Scarface. Readers see him blatantly kill his crewman for bringing up a counter point. This tone moves into the action with a lot of fireworks behind it.
Maiolo’s coloring adds a nice finish to the fast action. It serves as a great backdrop with the Quiet Man closing in. The emotion in Damian Wayne’s face tells a whole story in itself. This allows for a miscue to chance course on everything. There’s no let-up on the weight of these scenes. Panels bring out Batman’s rage and Robin’s desperate plea to help. Once the matters move away from the Quiet Man, a hunch leads to some impressive action sequences of the duo looking for clues. A full page gives the truth about the Quiet Man’s mission. It is followed up by a solid epilogue featuring Damian’s thoughts on his status with his dad. This leads into a perfect final page send-off. Hopefully this will be available for wall prints cause the full image is fantastic.
FINAL GRADE: 9.4
Phillip Kennedy-Johnson’s time in Gotham comes to a thunderous end with The Quiet Man making a lot of noise. The writing features a young man coming into his role as a hero. Ossio and Maiolo present the final conflict with incredible visuals. A bittersweet goodbye but one not to me forgotten anytime soon.
Let me know your thoughts on Batman and Robin #30 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
