COMIC REVIEW: FTN reviews Batman & Two-Face #27

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi

Artist: Patrick Gleason

Published by DC Comics

The graveyard confrontation continues with poor ol’ Batman stuck in a grave under a stone angel. So, you know, a normal night for Gotham’s vigilante.

Tomasi’s stories are so ridiculously character-based, and that’s probably what makes him my favorite comic book writer. His use of flashback is unparalleled, really, and stories are always perfectly paced. The chaotic nature of the cemetery fight and ensuing escape by Batman, Two-Face and Erin McKillen were brilliant. At this point, this is Harvey’s story, not Bruce’s, and I’m really enjoying how it’s shaping up.

Gleason continues to rock this book like no other, and it’s wonderful. His splash pages are the best, and the one of Erin getting hit with the acid? Gorgeous. His Harvey Dent is also one-hundred-percent perfect, and don’t get me started on his Bruce and Batman. That page of Bruce talking to Dent, then at the bottom its Gordon and Dent talking to Batman is probably one of my subtle favorites of this issue. Coupled with the next page of Bats popping up into the bar, it’s all fantastic.

Now, I only have one thing about this issue. I won’t call it a complaint, because I just want a bit of clarification. I don’t understand the positively beautiful double spread of Bats, Dent and Erin hiding in the mausoleum, surrounded by panels of Damian’s death and the ensuing aftermath with the rest of Batman’s allies and family. In my opinion, it didn’t really have much of anything to do with the story. The only link I can see is Bruce’s very short line of, “I never considered myself a hero, Harvey, especially lately…” While poignant, with all the other dialogue on the page, it didn’t strike me as enough to warrant the visual. That doesn’t take away from Gleason’s amazing skill, though, and I think it got the emotion it wanted across, since it still made me sad. It also acted as a huge reminder that Damian’s death still sucked for everyone, characters and fans alike.

This was a bit of a chase issue, and those aren’t always great, but always necessary. Tomasi and Gleason succeed in making it interesting and worth every reader’s time.

3.5 out of 5 nerds