Batman and Robin 4: Requiem for Damian

Comic Info

Batman and Robin (2) #18

Reprints Batman and Robin (2) #18-23 (May 2013-October 2013). Robin is dead, and Batman is trying to accept it. With hopes he can resurrect Damian, Bruce begins to research those who have returned from the dead as he rages and fights against the darkness growing inside of him. Those around Batman are also mourning, but Batman’s increasingly dangerous behavior means that Gotham could be in danger from Batman as well as the villains.

Written by Peter J. Tomasi, Batman and Robin Volume 4: Requiem for Damian is part of DC Comics New 52 relaunch. Following Batman and Robin Volume 3: Death of the Family, the series features art by Patrick Gleason and Cliff Richards.

I was really intrigued by this period of Batman and Robin. The title actually flips to Batman and _______ through the run of this collection because each issue features another member of the Batman family replacing the now deceased Robin. Some of the issues work and some feel a little pretentious and over-the-top…but it is a comic book.

The collection starts out with a silent issue which is always never one of my favorite things. From G.I. Joe #21 (March 1984), doing a dramatic silent issue has always seemed to be a way to deal with emotion through art (Marvel even did an entire ’Nuff Said” month). They do force you as a “reader” to examine the layout and style of a comic book…but I also find them a bit overly dramatic in their attempt to manipulate emotion through pictures.

Batman and Robin (2) #22

The collection is largely told from the perspective of other characters. You have Red Robin finding Batman nearly unhinged, Red Hood being used by Batman, Batgirl trying to reason with Batman, Catwoman trying to get Batman back into his game, and Nightwing showing Batman that Damian made his own choice to be in the battle.

I kind of liked the Alfred angle on the story which has Alfred’s decision to let Damian go override Batman’s inability to save him. In a way, I wish that it had been a more underlying thrust throughout this collection that someone was actually suffering as much as Batman without being able to talk about it. It could have been a more powerful look at depression and sadness than the Batman rage.

In general, this volume feels a little full of itself. The melodrama is laid on thick.  It is obvious that Robin will be back, and Damian’s popularity and unfinished personal storylines almost confirm it. If obnoxious Jason Todd came back (even if it took a while), Damian will surely come back…and the quick cycle of modern comics means it will be a lot sooner. Robin has died before and we’ve seen Batman angry and upset before…it doesn’t feel as new and fresh and it thinks it is. Batman and Robin 4: Requiem for Damian was followed by Batman and Robin 5: The Big Burn which continued the guest costars.

Related Links:

Batman and Robin 1:  Born to Kill

Batman and Robin 2:  Pearl

Batman and Robin 1:  Batman Reborn

Batman and Robin 2:  Batman vs. Robin

Batman and Robin 3:  Batman & Robin Must Die!

Batman and Robin 4:  Dark Knight vs. White Night