Most fans would agree that when it comes to team up books, there is an alarming amount of chaff, yet when one works as well as Batman and Frankenstein #31 does, its definitely something that makes readers stand up and take notice. Titles like this are often times built around name recognition; the hope that pairing two fan favorite characters together will move units and get people invested in their respective solo titles. Peter J. Tomasi isn’t interested in presenting the easy way to go with Batman And. He is betting on story potential instead of name recognition, and if Batman and Frankenstein #31 is any indication, he is about to hit a very large narrative jackpot. Read Full Review

Peter J. Tomasi's Frankenstein is kurt, deadly, funny, and quite charming. In other words, he's everything Frank is supposed to be. Batman and Frank are a great team, and it's quite funny how, while apart, both characters are similarly gruff and to the point, but while together, Frank takes on a more comedic role. Read Full Review

While story progression has stalled a bit, with these last two issues just being Batman getting incrementally closer to finding Ra's, what this issue lacks in overall progression, it makes up for in the interaction between Bruce and Frankenstein. Those two have some bad blood between them (or at least Frank has a lot towards Batman), but their reconciliation was handled very appropriately, and Frank offers a very unique voice in Batman's handling of death. Batman and Frankenstein is truly a weird team up, but given the circumstances, it worked out really well. On top of that odd-ball team-up turning out pretty well, you've also got guest art done right with Doug Mahnke, instead of some random artist who was available. Always a positive. Read Full Review

I enjoyed this issue, I like how the writers set up the next issue and that's the issue where we can expect the story to culminate. The other cool part is having Frankenstein being there with Batman while he goes throughwhat could be the final leg of his journey to get Damian back, becauseFrankenstein was the one Batman tried to get the secret of bringing the dead to life from. So it'll be very interesting to see where we go fromthis point to the point of Omega. Read Full Review

So, someone who was dead is now not"right? Only time will tell! Read Full Review

Too much exposition and feet-dragging brings down an otherwise enjoyable team-up between two unlikely sympathetic characters. Read Full Review

Just when this issue really gets rolling, the Tomasi and Mahnke leave readers with a cliffhanger -- albeit, a gorgeous looking page with great art from Mahnke, fine colors from Kalisz and subtly powerful lettering from Mangual -- but it is a cliffhanger nonetheless. Batman's quest to deliver Robin to his final resting place has been continuing on for quite some time. It looks like it has a few more steps to in its own journey. Apparently, Frankenstein will be joining him for at least part of one more issue. I just hope Tomasi remembers to invite Mahnke back for the adventure. Read Full Review

As a long-time fan of 'The Brave And The Bold', I'm glad that DC has a Batman team-up book in the New 52, even if it seems to be cycling through existing Batman supporting characters, and this issue tells a clever tale with some nice characterization. Unfortunately, aside from some closure for Batman and Frankenstein (and some admittedly wonderful dry wit from the monster himself), not a whole lot happens in the issue. I like seeing Batman trying to make peace rather than bulling through everyone else because he's the smartest man in the room, and I get that the creators are trying to ratchet up the tension for whatever is going to happen with the Al Ghul family, but all in all, it feels a bit slight. Batman And Frankenstein #31 makes for some nice dialogue and interaction, and has nice art, but doesn't feel like a high-stakes issue or even an important piece of the long-ongoing tale. Read Full Review

Batman and Frankenstein does nothing to change my mind about the need for this book.  It feels too convenient at it's best and straight up forced at it's worst.  However, Batman and Frankenstein's interaction is so good that I want more of the two together.  Luckily, it looks like it will continue next month.  I hope Doug Mahnke is back as well because he made this book look so great. Read Full Review

Tomasi has been doing a great job on this series, and normally I prefer to see Pat Gleason there right along with him, but Doug Mahnke is a perfect substitute. He is a great artist who helped design Grant Morrison's concept of Frankenstein. I hope that Mahnke and Tomasi do something soon again in the future; they seem to work well together. If you're interested in reading Robin: Rising, then you should probably read this issue. The Batman and Robin series is starting to read like a prelude to the resurrection of Damian or another Robin. Read Full Review

I respect Tomasi's goal to let Batman travel all the different stages of grief, but I felt Bruce went over to the dark side in this issue, and that is not the hero I want to see. Also, Carrie Kelly does not put her best foot forward (at least I hope this is not her best foot) for her debut, and she also does not really fit well with the rest of this story. Red Robin and Frankenstein were both okay additions, but it did not feel they were fully utilized. All in all, the story is spread a bit too thin, and it delivers a vision of Batman as a man near crazed with grief. I would caution you only to buy this if you are a big fan of Batman and Robin or if you are extremely curious about Carrie Kelly's DCNU debut. Read Full Review