A father’s revenge. How far would one man go to seek atonement for his son’s passing? That is the mystery surrounding “The Quiet Man”. Hitting Gotham City with a vengeance, he has made an immediate statement. The Iceberg Lounge was destroyed. Penguin and Two-Face are scrambling to solve this problem.
The Dynamic Duo is now on the case and walked into the wrong fight. There is also another player hiding in the shadows that is the key to this conflict.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #27 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Fico Ossio, Marcelo Maiolo, and Steve Wands (DC Comics) continues its’ explosive arc.
Let’s take a closer look at what is unfolding now.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #27 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Fico Ossio, Marcelo Maiolo, and Steve Wands (DC Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Johnson wastes no time in bringing action to the audience. The firefight in the junkyard ramps up to an uncontrollable level. Readers watch as The Quiet Man shows a few new sides to his personality. One of which is trying to save Damian Wayne. It is the fatherly instinct kicking in that make this surprising. Showing a weakness in his persona makes this mission all more complicated. Readers watch as this becomes more complex as the Quiet Man’s origin starts coming to light. It is a solid reveal that makes Batman reflect on fatherhood while dealing with the media.
Speaking of media, The Daily Planet is assisting in some PR work for Gotham’s famous family. Johnson pens a deep look at Wayne’s struggles in raising Damian, not Robin. Clark Kent’s rebuttal put pieces in proper focus. It is a rare insight into lives readers don’t see often enough. The same can be said for Jon Kent and Damian Wayne. The Super Sons have a fun reunion that injects a breather into the brooding aura. This is sure to be a crowd pleaser before events swing back to closing. Once here, the key player in Quiet Man’s mission gets a rude awakening. Desperation sinks in as a violent past is about to be unlocked for where things head now.
Ossio and Maiolo have set a high bar for the action on display in this series. The opening fight is pouring with high paced combat. If anyone can make the Riddler’s old typewriter into a key action moment, you know they’re doing something right. Everything in this sequence feels big and matching the high stakes involved. The art sneaks in some more subtle timeframes with Damian and the Quiet Man. Little expressions in these stages assist in connecting the character with the audience. A full page image of the Dup swinging away launches events into the more grounded area.
The full page shot of the Kents in Wayne Manor kickstarts a lighter portion of the issue. Damian and Jon’s reactions are priceless as the old friends reconnect. The same can be said for Bruce and Clark. Their talk about fatherhood shows the weight of pressure Bruce puts upon himself. Looking over Gotham’s skyline, the pair showcase their friendship with optimism moving forward. The full image of the dads in costumes signs off on the easier times. The art doesn’t delay in moving readers back into the drama before departing. Final pages lead into an exclamation point end panel. Another strong showing form the art team for this one.
FINAL GRADE: 8.8
The Quiet Man’s story gets louder with reveals as force Batman to examine an area of needed growth. Johnson weaves in fatherhood issues through an ever evolving tale. Ossio and Maiolo deliver on the energetic action with the art. Don’t miss on what is developing with this current arc.
Let me know your thoughts on Batman and Robin #27 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!