Comic Info
Comic Name: Batman and Robin (Volume 2)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Patrick Gleason
# of Issues: 8
Release Date: 2012
Batman and Robin (2) #5
Reprints Batman and Robin (2) #1-8 (November 2011-June 2012). Batman and Robin have had tough times. Robin has seen his father as his enemy, lost him in death, adjusted to a new Batman, and had his father return to take control. Now Batman and Robin are trying to learn what it means to be a team and facing one of Bruce’s oldest enemies. Morgan Ducard…the son of Batman’s trainer Henri Ducard…has come back as Nobody. Now Nobody is turning Robin against Batman, and Batman and Robin may never be the same.
Written by Peter J. Tomasi, Batman and Robin Volume 1: Born to Kill is part of the DC Comics New 52 relaunch following Flashpoint. Featuring art by Patrick Gleason, it takes over the previous series that was doing well and simply is more of a renumbering than a reboot. The series was well received by fans and critics.
For the most part the Batman and Robin title was left alone by the Flashpoint series though this does cause all sorts of continuity problems that have yet to be sorted out. With Batman’s return from the dead, Batman has decided to let the past be the past and try to live without vengeance. This of course isn’t what Batman is about so Batman’s past comes back to bite him in the form of Nobody.
Batman and Robin (2) #8
The relationship between Batman and Robin is a new and different direction for the comic. It is a bit of a rehash from the beginning of the first Batman and Robin series by Grant Morrison which had Damian and Dick trying to adjust to each other, but being as Bruce is Damian’s father, it is a bit different here and there is a lot of room for development.
The best part of the series has to be the Robin aspect. I do like Damian as Robin and they are starting to groom him as a kinder and gentler Robin…I don’t know if I want that. It kind of just feels like the whole Batgirl (Cassandra Cain version) trying to connect with humanity. Robin is already connected but he has a superiority complex. I hope that it isn’t beaten out of him because it is part of what makes him interesting.
Patrick Gleason’s art is also a high point in this volume. The comic has a great look and a nice balance between light and dark. Gleason’s Batman and Robin are good, but Nobody seemed rather a generic looking villain. In addition to the generic villain, there were a few page layouts that I did have difficulty following, something that can sometimes ruin a comic.
Batman and Robin didn’t make my first cut of the New 52, but I did enjoy this collection. It leads into the Night of the Owls crossover which mostly is followed in the Batman title. I prefer the Grant Morrison Batman and Robin, but if I have to pick a second version, this isn’t bad. Batman and Robin Volume 1: Born to Kill was followed by Batman and Robin Volume 2: Pearl.
Related Links:
Batman and Robin Volume 1: Batman Reborn
Batman and Robin Volume 2: Batman vs. Robin
Batman and Robin Volume 3: Batman & Robin Must Die!
Batman and Robin Volume 4: Dark Knight vs. White Knight
Batman and Robin Volume 2: Pearl
