Batman and Wonder Woman #30 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Patrick Gleason
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

It's the Pits

I Loved Damian.  I'd do anything to get the little pumpkin headed brat back in the Robin outfit by his Father's side.  Peter J Tomasi was at his best with Batman and Robin.  Since then, the Batman and (insert character here), unfortunately, has ranged from good to simply unnecessary.  Last months  Batman and Aquaman was dangerously nearing the later.  This month, Batman and Wonder Woman gets there.

With the help of Wonder Woman, Batman follows Ra's to Paradise Island.  Of course, the Amazons do not welcome Bruce with open arms, but at the urging of Diana, at least they don't kill him.  They do threaten him with death, though.  Both Ra's and Batman are looking for the Lazarus Pit rumored to be on the Island and when they both find it, fighting ensues.  Ninjas, Man-Bats and mythological monsters, oh my.  The issue ends with Batman and Wonder Woman seeing that monsters are made, not born and some shadows are longer than others.  So, what does the reader learn?

I can't help feeling that Peter J. Tomasi is treading water with this story.  We are getting a who's who of the DCU helping Batman, but for what?  After reading this issue, we are no further along in the overall story. Worse yet, it felt like a missed opportunity.  We haven't seen much of Batman and Wonder Woman's relationship in the New 52, but after this issue the relationship is still a bit of a mystery.  Wonder Woman cares enough about Batman to risk everything to bring him to Paradise Island, but they don't seem close here.  Batman doesn't seem to know about Wonder Woman's family history.  Really?  Batman knows everything.

I have been down on Patrick Gleason's art recently.  It comes off as a bit static, especially in action scenes and don't get me started on the big chins he loves to draw.  That being said, I liked his art this month.  He seems to be channeling a bit of Cliff Chiang's Wonder Woman art and blending it with his own.  The action scene was great and the Amazon's are big and strong as they should be.  There still are strong chins everywhere, but some habits are hard to break.

Bits and Pieces:

Batman and Wonder Woman #30 is a forgettable issue that gets us no further in the Hunt for Robin story, but also seems like a missed opportunity.  I was hoping to learn more of Batman's relationship with Wonder Woman, but alas, we don't get much of that either.  Patrick Gleason provides strong art, but in the end, I can't recommend this issue.

6.8/10