Batman One Bad Day Ra’s al Ghul page 41 by Ivan Reis

A nice page of Ra’s & the Detective having words with each other (yet again).

First, let me say that Ivan’s recent technique with washes is doing wonder as regards filling the pages and doing it with mood to spare.

His choice of horizontal layout is perfect to highlight the ping ponging of arguments between the two adversaries.

In the first panel, Ra’s is calmly trying to underline that while both men have different methods, they pursue the same goal.

In the second, where the argument is beginning, we focus on full front close ups as the Bat simply rejects Ra’s open hand and rationale that they are alike. This is nicely highlighted by the fact that his facial features are hidden by shadows.

In the third, as we revert to Ra’s, showing him full front, he reacts to the rejection by the Bat and his discourse is more aggressive as he ends his talk with a personal attack (what a great line of dialogue from Tom Taylor in the second balloon, again a master at the emotional beats within his stories).

Then reverse-mirroring the first panel, the fourth sees the Detective ends the discussion from his pov by very confidently arresting Ra’s (he is after all, held by two guards).

In the last panel, Ra’s is done talking and reasoning with his foe. Only the sword can now talk for him between them. Again, this panel is placed opposingly to the one before in terms of character positions and Ra’s overlapping the two nicely leads the reader’s eye to the final panel.

You’ll notice that if you draw a line between Ra’s and Bat in each panel, you’ll zig zag from left to right, nicely underlining visually the argument between the two to end with the final panel in which everything, from Ra’s body inclination to his sword, points you to turn to the next (chocking) page.

Great art and nice, fluid storytelling on this “talking heads” page.

Let me thank Ivan for this wonderful gift he gave me. I won’t go into the details publicly, but his gesture was not necessary and yet highly appreciated. You are a superb artist and storyteller and a class act as far as I’m concerned, sir.