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Batman and Robin (2011)
Batman and Robin, Volume 1: Born to Kill
As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics—The New 52 event of September 2011, Batman begins battling evil with his son, Damian, at his side, Batman now realizes that the hardest part of the job may be trying to work together! As Batman and Robin try to adjust to their new partnership, a figure emerges from Bruce Wayne's past: His name is NoBody, and he's not happy that Batman Incorporated is shining a light on his own shadowy war against evil...
This volume collects issues 1-6 of Batman and Robin, part of the DC Comics—The New 52 event.
Collecting: Batman and Robin #1-8.
This volume collects issues 1-6 of Batman and Robin, part of the DC Comics—The New 52 event.
Collecting: Batman and Robin #1-8.
192 pages, Paperback
First published July 4, 2012
139 people are currently reading
5282 people want to read
About the author
Peter J. Tomasi
1,380 books465 followersPeter J. Tomasi is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, such as Batman And Robin; Superman; Super Sons; Batman: Detective Comics; Green Lantern Corps; and Superman/Wonder Woman; as well as Batman: Arkham Knight; Brightest Day; Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors; Nightwing; Black Adam, and many more.
In the course of his staff career at DC Comics, Tomasi served as a group editor and ushered in new eras for Batman, Green Lantern, and the JSA, along with a host of special projects like Kingdom Come.
He is also the author of the creator-owned titles House Of Penance with artist Ian Bertram; Light Brigade with artist Peter Snejbjerg; The Mighty with Keith Champagne and Chris Samnee; and the critically acclaimed epic graphic novel The Bridge: How The Roeblings Connected Brooklyn To New York, illustrated by Sara DuVall and published by Abrams ComicArts.
In 2018 New York Times best-selling author Tomasi received the Inkpot Award for achievement in comics.
In the course of his staff career at DC Comics, Tomasi served as a group editor and ushered in new eras for Batman, Green Lantern, and the JSA, along with a host of special projects like Kingdom Come.
He is also the author of the creator-owned titles House Of Penance with artist Ian Bertram; Light Brigade with artist Peter Snejbjerg; The Mighty with Keith Champagne and Chris Samnee; and the critically acclaimed epic graphic novel The Bridge: How The Roeblings Connected Brooklyn To New York, illustrated by Sara DuVall and published by Abrams ComicArts.
In 2018 New York Times best-selling author Tomasi received the Inkpot Award for achievement in comics.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 434 reviews
August 20, 2022
(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: It retells Eden: where Robin defies the father, falls to temptation, wakes to mortality, and in sin knows good and evil.
Notes: It retells Eden: where Robin defies the father, falls to temptation, wakes to mortality, and in sin knows good and evil.
November 1, 2012
It's a good story, but Damien takes about 20 steps backward in the personal growth department. He had matured so much while working with Grayson, that it was a bit of a let down. Instead of having his trademark cool-under-pressure (read: scariest ten year old alive) persona, he's back to stomping his foot like a bratty little boy when he doesn't get his way. *sigh*
Oh well.
So right off the bat this Nobody character targets Batman through his Russian counterpart (or at least I assumed he was from Russia?).
It's time to rid the world of Batman Inc.! Mwahahahaha!
Turns out that Nobody and Bruce go waaaay back, and their story is something that Bruce doesn't want Damien to know about...at least not yet. Why he was ashamed of what happened back in the day is beyond me. Didn't seem like he really did anything wrong when the secret is finally revealed.
The main point of the plot line, however, is not about Batman vs. Nobody. It's about Bruce trying to learn how to be Damien's dad, and not just his father.
One of Bruce's attempts at normalcy brings Ace the Bat-Hound into the family. Damien (finally) names him Titus...but we all know he's really Ace!
If you're a fan of Alfred, you're gonna love him in Born to Kill. Alfred doesn't just sit back a Wayne Manor dusting the Batcave and handing out Band-aids. Tomasi has him acting as the third member of the team. Alfred even saves Batman and Robin's butts by (remotely) flying a Batplane and shooting at the bad guy! Relax, it's rubber bullets being fired.
Still...very cool.
So, while some of the story rubbed me the wrong wasy, it had more than enough good stuff to make up for it. And visually, the book looks awesome.
Recommended for fans of the Dynamic Duo!
Oh well.
So right off the bat this Nobody character targets Batman through his Russian counterpart (or at least I assumed he was from Russia?).
It's time to rid the world of Batman Inc.! Mwahahahaha!
Turns out that Nobody and Bruce go waaaay back, and their story is something that Bruce doesn't want Damien to know about...at least not yet. Why he was ashamed of what happened back in the day is beyond me. Didn't seem like he really did anything wrong when the secret is finally revealed.
The main point of the plot line, however, is not about Batman vs. Nobody. It's about Bruce trying to learn how to be Damien's dad, and not just his father.
One of Bruce's attempts at normalcy brings Ace the Bat-Hound into the family. Damien (finally) names him Titus...but we all know he's really Ace!
If you're a fan of Alfred, you're gonna love him in Born to Kill. Alfred doesn't just sit back a Wayne Manor dusting the Batcave and handing out Band-aids. Tomasi has him acting as the third member of the team. Alfred even saves Batman and Robin's butts by (remotely) flying a Batplane and shooting at the bad guy! Relax, it's rubber bullets being fired.
Still...very cool.
So, while some of the story rubbed me the wrong wasy, it had more than enough good stuff to make up for it. And visually, the book looks awesome.
Recommended for fans of the Dynamic Duo!
October 22, 2016
Well, it was okay, I guess. There is a consistency to the book that I appreciated: no fill-in artwork, no crossovers, no overambitious storytelling techniques. Patrick Gleason’s clean, heavily inked high-contrast artwork looked pretty solid to me—a bit like Mike Mignola’s, even. I also appreciated the attempt to tell a superhero story that does not just move from one action scene to the next, though I can’t say I found the story’s reflections on fatherhood and crime-fighting methods all that fascinating.
Like so many mainstream comics these days, Batman and Robin Vol.1: Born to Kill revolves around the question: Should superheroes step up their crime-fighting methods? Or more specifically in this case: Should superheroes kill? The Batman says no (as he has since the early 1940s), a new character from Batman’s past who calls himself Nobody says yes, and Batman’s son Damian aka Robin, who has been trained to kill by the so-called League of Assassins while still a child, finds himself on the fence. Unfortunately, it’s pretty clear from the start where the story is going, and the whole "Should we just kill the bad guys?" discussion does not exactly break new ground.
Bottom line: Batman and Robin Vol.1: Born to Kill delivers a perfectly serviceable story for DC fans who are interested in Damian’s inner struggles or get a kick out of discovering Alfred’s hidden talents, but readers looking for stories that have new things to say or advance the genre should probably look elsewhere.
Like so many mainstream comics these days, Batman and Robin Vol.1: Born to Kill revolves around the question: Should superheroes step up their crime-fighting methods? Or more specifically in this case: Should superheroes kill? The Batman says no (as he has since the early 1940s), a new character from Batman’s past who calls himself Nobody says yes, and Batman’s son Damian aka Robin, who has been trained to kill by the so-called League of Assassins while still a child, finds himself on the fence. Unfortunately, it’s pretty clear from the start where the story is going, and the whole "Should we just kill the bad guys?" discussion does not exactly break new ground.
Bottom line: Batman and Robin Vol.1: Born to Kill delivers a perfectly serviceable story for DC fans who are interested in Damian’s inner struggles or get a kick out of discovering Alfred’s hidden talents, but readers looking for stories that have new things to say or advance the genre should probably look elsewhere.
April 15, 2019
This is interesting as we get to see Batman as a real father. Damian is his DNA child and Damian get up under one of Batman's enemies. Damian is much like his father. He is angry and restless for a fight and he is only 10 years old. He doesn't have the impulse control that his dad does.
Damian does kill someone. The whole book is this debate about the use of killing someone to stop them verses not crossing that line. It works pretty well that way. This is the Damian who goes on to lead Teen Titans in Rebirth.
This was a Batman family story for sure and it certainly was dark enough. I like all the bat characters they are adding to the story. I hope the movies will follow suit and start adding them. It's fun. Spider-Verse did it and it worked really well.
Damian does kill someone. The whole book is this debate about the use of killing someone to stop them verses not crossing that line. It works pretty well that way. This is the Damian who goes on to lead Teen Titans in Rebirth.
This was a Batman family story for sure and it certainly was dark enough. I like all the bat characters they are adding to the story. I hope the movies will follow suit and start adding them. It's fun. Spider-Verse did it and it worked really well.
August 5, 2016
I spent the last two weeks reading and individually reviewing the eight issues that composed this magnificent first volume. It had been an amazing journey for me to examine and discuss the character arc progress between Bruce Wayne (Batman) and his son Damian (Robin) which is the most important thing that writer Peter J. Tomasi himself emphasized throughout the issues. As for the villain NoBody, he explained in an afterword (his very own story proposal that he submitted to the company) that it was just the 'B' story that adds a dimension to what he wanted to achieve in the story, and that the emotional spine and theme of the first volume relies heavily on nature versus nurture, particularly on how Batman and Robin must learn to build a relationship based on trust, love and respect even if external forces would get in the way every once in a while, especially with a vocation like crime-fighting.
Damian is born and raised a killer. His mother Talia al Ghul and the rest of the League of Assassins had tempered his steel into something sharp and deadly. Bruce knew that his absence in the most formative years of his son's life has already been detrimental, and in the span of these issues, he tries everything to ensure that Damian walks the right path and not give in to the darkness that his natural instincts are much more attuned with.
I really enjoyed reading Tomasi's proposal for the Batman and Robin line-up because it showed that he understands the direction he's heading and how to get there the best way possible. This collected edition also included an excerpt of the issue #7 script, and a gallery filled with artist Patrick Gleason's character sketches of Damian and some panel layouts.
Going back to the proposal, I would like to quote some of its insightful passages that I believe captured the very essence of the first arc Born to Kill:
I think it's worth mentioning that there is an old continuity reference in Tomasi's writing though it was only implied. There was a time before when Bruce Wayne died and so Dick Grayson (former first Robin and now Nightwing) had to take over so he became the new Batman while he assigned Damian as his Robin. I wanted to point that out since there was a scene in one of the issues here where Damian (first issue and some other one) talked about the fact that Dick trusted him but Bruce can't do the same thing. In case you feel like that was a baffling thing to say, then that's the short backstory that should sufficiently cover it.
I can honestly say that this is my most favorite volume from the New 52 Batman titles yet, even surpassing the more riveting plot and suspense created in Scott Snyder's The Court of Owls. I'm a sucker for character-driven stories and exploration of character dynamics more than anything else in fiction so Tomasi's work for the first volume of Batman and Robin truly spoke to me.
I'll be reading the next issues individually again very soon (as well as the collected second volume Pearl), but for now I'm picking up the Batman issues for Death of the Family and reviewing them separately. I've already read and reviewed the crossover/tie-ins edition of this story arc before, but I think Snyder's collected third volume edition is more compact and a better anthology than that one.
RECOMMENDED: 10/10
* Meaningful and emotionally resonant, the first volume humanizes Batman as a father and elevates Damian as a formidable Robin.
[DO READ MORE ABOUT MY BATMAN REVIEWS IN http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/]
Damian is born and raised a killer. His mother Talia al Ghul and the rest of the League of Assassins had tempered his steel into something sharp and deadly. Bruce knew that his absence in the most formative years of his son's life has already been detrimental, and in the span of these issues, he tries everything to ensure that Damian walks the right path and not give in to the darkness that his natural instincts are much more attuned with.
I really enjoyed reading Tomasi's proposal for the Batman and Robin line-up because it showed that he understands the direction he's heading and how to get there the best way possible. This collected edition also included an excerpt of the issue #7 script, and a gallery filled with artist Patrick Gleason's character sketches of Damian and some panel layouts.
Going back to the proposal, I would like to quote some of its insightful passages that I believe captured the very essence of the first arc Born to Kill:
"Bruce sees Damian as a broken boy and is on a mission to fix him. Damian, on the other hand, only wants to be accepted by his father for who and what he is; he doesn't want to be looked at as some science project that needs to be modified."
"As Bruce wrestles with what it means to be a father in uniform and out, Damian is wrestling with himself too, using all his willpower to keep his natural instincts and inclinations at bay, trying his best to be the son his father wants him to be, but finding himself failing and not knowing who to turn to, especially when he starts to see Bruce as less of a fantasy father figure and more of a fallible human being. For Damian, it was easy to look up to Bruce when he was gone, but now that his father's back, Damian's finding it was simpler to love and respect the legend more than the man himself."
I think it's worth mentioning that there is an old continuity reference in Tomasi's writing though it was only implied. There was a time before when Bruce Wayne died and so Dick Grayson (former first Robin and now Nightwing) had to take over so he became the new Batman while he assigned Damian as his Robin. I wanted to point that out since there was a scene in one of the issues here where Damian (first issue and some other one) talked about the fact that Dick trusted him but Bruce can't do the same thing. In case you feel like that was a baffling thing to say, then that's the short backstory that should sufficiently cover it.
I can honestly say that this is my most favorite volume from the New 52 Batman titles yet, even surpassing the more riveting plot and suspense created in Scott Snyder's The Court of Owls. I'm a sucker for character-driven stories and exploration of character dynamics more than anything else in fiction so Tomasi's work for the first volume of Batman and Robin truly spoke to me.
I'll be reading the next issues individually again very soon (as well as the collected second volume Pearl), but for now I'm picking up the Batman issues for Death of the Family and reviewing them separately. I've already read and reviewed the crossover/tie-ins edition of this story arc before, but I think Snyder's collected third volume edition is more compact and a better anthology than that one.
RECOMMENDED: 10/10
* Meaningful and emotionally resonant, the first volume humanizes Batman as a father and elevates Damian as a formidable Robin.
[DO READ MORE ABOUT MY BATMAN REVIEWS IN http://batman-comics-geek.blogspot.com/]
February 14, 2013
In this book Bruce Wayne is the Batman of Gotham with his son Damien as Robin; Dick Grayson has gone back to being Nightwing, and there’s no mention of Batman Inc. The book explores Bruce and Damien’s complex relationship as Bruce struggles to be a father to a son who’s had a very unusual upbringing, and Damien fights conflicting ideologies: the conditioning of the Al’Ghul’s bloodiness or the Dark Knight’s code of honour.
Though there is the obligatory villain to defeat (a guy with a robot spider mask called NoBody), the book’s focus on Bruce and Damien’s relationship is what makes this book the success it is. Bruce is learning (with the patient hand of Alfred) to be supportive and encouraging to his son while doing what he can to protect him from a hostile world of villains who would exploit Damien’s closeness to Bruce to destroy Batman.
Peter Tomasi writes some excellent scenes that subtly show the dark depths to which Damien’s mind has been taken that really underlines the horror of his reality. I’m thinking especially of what Damien’s been up to in his room when Bruce hasn’t been paying attention.
The scenes between Bruce, Alfred and Damien (and a new addition to the Wayne family) out of costume were the best though. Ever since Grant Morrison included Damien into continuity there’s been a distinct lack of ordinary family moments between Bruce and Damien which is addressed here and we see a father and son doing something mundane – but necessary – like playing in a back yard. If Bruce is ever going to undo the damage of Talia’s training he needs to ground Damien, strengthen their relationship, and show him why they fight for Gotham and its citizens. Plus throwing in some everyday scenes heightens the drama when the cowl comes on.
“Born to Kill” is an excellent start to this new series that has enormous potential to bring heart and soul to Batman that’s been lacking amidst all the upheavals of the last couple of years. It’s well written, well drawn, and an all-round brilliant book. Batman fans won’t be disappointed.
Though there is the obligatory villain to defeat (a guy with a robot spider mask called NoBody), the book’s focus on Bruce and Damien’s relationship is what makes this book the success it is. Bruce is learning (with the patient hand of Alfred) to be supportive and encouraging to his son while doing what he can to protect him from a hostile world of villains who would exploit Damien’s closeness to Bruce to destroy Batman.
Peter Tomasi writes some excellent scenes that subtly show the dark depths to which Damien’s mind has been taken that really underlines the horror of his reality. I’m thinking especially of what Damien’s been up to in his room when Bruce hasn’t been paying attention.
The scenes between Bruce, Alfred and Damien (and a new addition to the Wayne family) out of costume were the best though. Ever since Grant Morrison included Damien into continuity there’s been a distinct lack of ordinary family moments between Bruce and Damien which is addressed here and we see a father and son doing something mundane – but necessary – like playing in a back yard. If Bruce is ever going to undo the damage of Talia’s training he needs to ground Damien, strengthen their relationship, and show him why they fight for Gotham and its citizens. Plus throwing in some everyday scenes heightens the drama when the cowl comes on.
“Born to Kill” is an excellent start to this new series that has enormous potential to bring heart and soul to Batman that’s been lacking amidst all the upheavals of the last couple of years. It’s well written, well drawn, and an all-round brilliant book. Batman fans won’t be disappointed.
August 30, 2016
On my second read, I think what people overlook about this book and this series is the fact that Bruce and Damian's relationship is the main plot, as Peter J. Tomasi himself tells us in the afterword. Nobody, a brilliant new villain from Bruce's training days, is the subplot which serves as a background upon which the two Waynes (and Alfred) play out their complex emotions. And their emotions, their fears and dreams, are as dark as the night in which they fight and bloody themselves.
Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray make this a gorgeous book to look at. And this Batman and Robin series, if my understanding is correct, takes place parallel to Morrison's Batman run while Damian is obviously still alive, after Bruce's temporal travels, and before the culmination of Batman Incorporated. Or at least that's how I think of it to make sense of continuity.
While lacking the comedy, wackiness, and ethereality of Morrison's superb Batman run, Tomasi dedicates this to the Dark Knight side of Batman: fear, death, murder and revenge. This book stars Damian, a Robin who has grown on me over the course of Morrison's books, and who, although different in this book, is beyond an angsty pre-teen like some readers unfairly criticize.
Damian was literally bathed in blood from the beginning, taught to break, maim, and kill, instructed to be a perfect machine and unity of body and mind, and told he would conquer the world at a young age. After being shipped off and introduced to his father, Bruce basically tries to "fix" Damian (a theme) and temper his murderous tendencies, molding him from killer to vigilante. And Damian has mixed feelings. He's stubborn and prideful, rooted in his belief of extreme measures and permanent solutions. This has been his entire life. But as Bruce has always maintained, killing is the line that separates men from monsters. And Damian sees that he's right and wishes to please his father, to earn his respect, admiration, and love. But he won't bow down, he can't. So he's conflicted. And he is loaded with hormones and disrespect, it can't be helped, it's biology. But he is so much more than that. He's ripe with complexity, dark yet willing to see the light.
November 5, 2017
Duuuuude. One of the best gn’s I’ve read in a while. Tomasi is quickly becoming one of my favorite creators.
May 22, 2018
I feel like I'll never like a Batman comic again. After the shitshow that was Batman v Superman, I could never look at the character the same way. Now, instead of a cool hero, I only see an ugly, Ben Affleck-shaped grown up idiot in a stupid suit whose whole personality is based around the fact that his parents are dead. After that damn movie I slowly started to lose interest in DC in general, and Batman in particular. I sold all of my Batman comics and never really had the urge to pick up another one since. This, coupled with how terrible Peter Tomasi's Rebirthed Superman was, really put me against Batman and Robin even before I started reading it. Surprisingly, I didn’t hate it as much as I expected, but it still wasn’t a good book.
Hands down, the best part about this comic is Batman’s son, Damian Wayne, and his relationship with his father. Grant Morrison did a really good job introducing the character in his Batman run, and I'm glad to see that Damian stays true to himself in Born to Kill. He's still an annoying little shit who is somehow charming and likeable, and kicks some serious ass when he gets the chance.
Unfortunately, other parts of the story aren't that good. Batman is still annoying as ever, crying about his parents, remembering his mother's goddamn pearls in the sewer (admittedly, he really wants to stop moping about that. Yeah, right). The story about a villain from Batman's past was also a trite, cliched snoozefest.
Tomasi's writing style is full of nasty traits. His dialogue is filled with cringey, unnatural exposition-pushing phrases. He's overly wordy, to the point where text bubbles sometimes take up most of the space on the page, concealing the artwork behind them. He also likes to tell instead of show, constantly plays the pronoun game and overuses flashbacks, which are usually set to some extremely dull narration from Batman. His talents would be better suited writing for Arrow, or some other crappy superhero TV show.
Saying all that, I still admit that I had some fun reading this comic. I like Damian, and he's really good in this one. Surprisingly, I also liked Patrick Gleason's artwork much more here than in Superman Rebirth, where his characters often look ugly and misshapen. Alas, I still can't get over how much I hate Batman, he ruins everything for me! That, and Tomasi's writing style is a big turn-off. I probably won't continue with this series, although maybe someday, when the Batfleck catastrophe will be mostly forgotten... who knows.
Hands down, the best part about this comic is Batman’s son, Damian Wayne, and his relationship with his father. Grant Morrison did a really good job introducing the character in his Batman run, and I'm glad to see that Damian stays true to himself in Born to Kill. He's still an annoying little shit who is somehow charming and likeable, and kicks some serious ass when he gets the chance.
Unfortunately, other parts of the story aren't that good. Batman is still annoying as ever, crying about his parents, remembering his mother's goddamn pearls in the sewer (admittedly, he really wants to stop moping about that. Yeah, right). The story about a villain from Batman's past was also a trite, cliched snoozefest.
Tomasi's writing style is full of nasty traits. His dialogue is filled with cringey, unnatural exposition-pushing phrases. He's overly wordy, to the point where text bubbles sometimes take up most of the space on the page, concealing the artwork behind them. He also likes to tell instead of show, constantly plays the pronoun game and overuses flashbacks, which are usually set to some extremely dull narration from Batman. His talents would be better suited writing for Arrow, or some other crappy superhero TV show.
Saying all that, I still admit that I had some fun reading this comic. I like Damian, and he's really good in this one. Surprisingly, I also liked Patrick Gleason's artwork much more here than in Superman Rebirth, where his characters often look ugly and misshapen. Alas, I still can't get over how much I hate Batman, he ruins everything for me! That, and Tomasi's writing style is a big turn-off. I probably won't continue with this series, although maybe someday, when the Batfleck catastrophe will be mostly forgotten... who knows.
February 6, 2017
I hovered between a 3 and a 4. There's nothing wrong with this book, exactly. I've just read better books about Bruce and Damian's relationship.
I really like the chemistry Damian has with the Batfam. He's a little brother to Tim, Cass and Dick. (And probably Jay as well but I haven't really read them interacting). He's a son/grandson to Alfred who seems to have the least expectations for Damian and just accepts him as he is. I think their relationship is really great because it highlights the problems with Bruce and Damian's relationship.
Bruce wants Damian to be more like him. He wants him to adopt the Batman's principles the way Dick and Tim did (for the most part) and turn away from his training (similar to Cass). Instead, similar to Jason, Damian is having a hard time with that. Partly, in my opinion, because Bruce keeps him in the dark a lot.
I don't make excuses for Damian's behavior but I think it's important that he's trying. His story is a redemption arc as he tries to make up for 9 years of upbringing with Talia, Ra's and the League of Assassins. It took a while but Dick saw that and Alfred saw that. This book is Bruce coming around to seeing that.
Anyway, NoBody wasn't a bad villain. He had a pretty interesting backstory and understood why he wanted to kill Bruce. The fact that he was willing to torture and kill a 10 year old was horrifying. That was painful to read and I really felt for Bruce.
That moment where Damian makes a choice (won't spoil it) reminded me of the scene where Cass fights David Cain and has to make a similar choice. The dichotomy between her and Damian is really fascinating to me.
Anyway, I think if you like Damian and are interested in his relationship with Bruce, this might be somewhat interesting. However, as I said above, there are better books I can recommend.
I really like the chemistry Damian has with the Batfam. He's a little brother to Tim, Cass and Dick. (And probably Jay as well but I haven't really read them interacting). He's a son/grandson to Alfred who seems to have the least expectations for Damian and just accepts him as he is. I think their relationship is really great because it highlights the problems with Bruce and Damian's relationship.
Bruce wants Damian to be more like him. He wants him to adopt the Batman's principles the way Dick and Tim did (for the most part) and turn away from his training (similar to Cass). Instead, similar to Jason, Damian is having a hard time with that. Partly, in my opinion, because Bruce keeps him in the dark a lot.
I don't make excuses for Damian's behavior but I think it's important that he's trying. His story is a redemption arc as he tries to make up for 9 years of upbringing with Talia, Ra's and the League of Assassins. It took a while but Dick saw that and Alfred saw that. This book is Bruce coming around to seeing that.
Anyway, NoBody wasn't a bad villain. He had a pretty interesting backstory and understood why he wanted to kill Bruce. The fact that he was willing to torture and kill a 10 year old was horrifying. That was painful to read and I really felt for Bruce.
That moment where Damian makes a choice (won't spoil it) reminded me of the scene where Cass fights David Cain and has to make a similar choice. The dichotomy between her and Damian is really fascinating to me.
Anyway, I think if you like Damian and are interested in his relationship with Bruce, this might be somewhat interesting. However, as I said above, there are better books I can recommend.
November 10, 2021
THIS WAS SO GOOD!
Damian and Bruce team up like always and you can see the discord growing between them as one doesn't trust the other but when Morgan Ducard aka Nobody comes in and starts attacking them and his life unravels and Damian seems to give in to his dark nature, will Bruce be able to save his son? What is his history with Nobody? And also whose side will Damian turn? Can nurture overtake nature? Its an intriguing book and shows Bruce as a dad and that for sure was a great status quo change and I like the way it happens and its awesome plus the focus on Damian overcoming his urges is such a great character evolution and I love the way Tomasi writes the dynamic duo and shows a new side of Bruce which I love and the new villain was awesome! A must recommend!
Damian and Bruce team up like always and you can see the discord growing between them as one doesn't trust the other but when Morgan Ducard aka Nobody comes in and starts attacking them and his life unravels and Damian seems to give in to his dark nature, will Bruce be able to save his son? What is his history with Nobody? And also whose side will Damian turn? Can nurture overtake nature? Its an intriguing book and shows Bruce as a dad and that for sure was a great status quo change and I like the way it happens and its awesome plus the focus on Damian overcoming his urges is such a great character evolution and I love the way Tomasi writes the dynamic duo and shows a new side of Bruce which I love and the new villain was awesome! A must recommend!
July 30, 2013
Issue #1 --
Batman and Robin begins, and we get our first New 52 taste of the latest (fifth) Robin -- Damian Wayne (this time the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul) -- in action with his father. It's the first issue of the title in the New 52 relaunch, so there is some vague subplot leading to something big for the title's future, but this is mostly a character piece wherein Bruce tries to exorcise the demons of his parents' murder in a moment of potential bonding with his cold, calculating, socio/psychopathic son, who was trained into his potent fighting skills by his mother's League of Assassins. Damian is acerbic, has little patience, and is actually a welcome foil to Batman's grim obsessions. While he's a bit of a dick, he's no Dick, but then who is?Issue #2 --
The father-son story dominates the stage, and Bruce is found wanting, at the moment Damian is found in need. The former is cold, distant and imposing while the latter is arrogant, embittered, and rebellious. All of these facets, in both the Waynes, contribute to a sequence I have much difficulty with, which occurs after Batman & Robin do battle with some arms dealers: Damian being praised for checking his brutality. Is there really a level of violence that we should be okay with? Are we really supposed to be okay with Batman being a guide for what is appropriate violence? I am genuinely unsure of Tomasi's intentions, but the blitheness with which this moment is handled unsettles me. I can't help thinking that violence should be avoided entirely, then instantly jumping to the thought that if it is to be used as a primary tool then anything non-lethal -- even when brutal -- goes. I don't know, but I wish the book would tackle this issue rather than simply taking Batman's position tacitly.Issue #3--
The most compelling character in this arc is Damian Wayne. His precociousness, his intensity, his belief in his own righteousness make him instantly complicated -- though not yet complex -- and there is hope for growth in his short, brutal life. Damian's primary purpose -- as with all Robins -- is to tell us about Bruce Wayne, and Damian is doing that, but, like Dick Grayson, there is a life worth caring about in Damian even beyond his father. While Bruce tries to "correct" and "fix" Damian's League of Assassins' training, Bruce is actually imposing more problems, and as we can see on the sixth panel on the page where Damian leaves the Batcave, Alfred is aware of the damage that is being done. Lucky for our young Robin, one of his mentors sees what is going on. Batman is failing with his son; I hope Alfred can succeed.Issue #4 --
Damian: "You want me to be honest with you all the time, but you get to pick and choose when you want to be."Issue #5 --
Bruce: "I don't expect you to understand this, but as a father there are some things I ..."
Damian: "Have to lie about?"
Bruce: "Can't discuss with you. There's a difference."
Bullshit, Bruce. You're a hypocrite and a liar, and Damian is absolutely correct. Just ask Alfred.
Batman draws his ethical line here: he won't kill people, at least not directly.Issue #6 --
He will surveille anyone and everyone, illegally tapping into every security camera in Gotham.
He will unlawfully restrain adversaries, suspending them many feet over concrete or asphalt or water or rock, and this is often done as a tactic in interrogation.
He will unlawfully enter private property and beat the deinizens therein, knocking out multiple victims (which requires concussive force), then coerce and even torture others into divulging information.
He will assault anyone, moreover, who has even a smidgen of information he needs regardless of their whereabouts.
He will smash parked cars with his Batmobile, which have nothing to do with any crime, without any care about property damage or civilians who could be hurt in other ways.
But he won't kill. So there is that.
Blood is thicker and all that. So Damian is willing to go the distance for Bruce, as I knew he would be, yet I can't help feeling disappointed. I dig this arc, but I think that we needed a longer build to Damian's loyalty. I don't by the blood tie being strong enough. Not this soon. Still, this issue gave us the best taste of NoBody, which made for some exciting reading/viewing.Issue #7 --
It's the biggest battle in the title so far, and Batman comes oh so close to crossing his self-imposed line. He doesn'tIssue #8 --
The fighting is over and the healing, of a sort, can begin. It is a healing that contains an ethical dilemma that goes totally unaddressed by Peter J. Tomasi, and I get the impression that Tomasi doesn't see it as an ethical dilemma at all. He seems to see ethics in the blackest of blacks and whitest of whites with the shades of grey acting as momentary lapses outside of the dominant shade rather than a position all its own. Grey is fleeting in this book. Black and white are permanent. Bruce is white. NoBody is black. And right now Damian is grey, but not for long. Which shade will our Robin turn out to be? I'd be happier if I thought there was any hope that Tomasi would leave him grey, but that's never going to happen.This is a good book, and Damian is great, but it could have been even better with a little more thought put into consequences. Still, this is definitely worth a read. One of the best relaunches in the New 52.
March 11, 2015
This week with the Shallow Comic Readers Buddy read: Batman!
It's been a couple years since I read this first volume of the New 52 Batman & Robin series. I remember really liking this book, especially as I didn't have a lot of exposure to Damian Wayne outside of a few issues of Batman, Inc. Years ago I had the OGN where Batman and Talia meet and have their child, but for many years it wasn't considered canon, and I had forgotten about it.
My initial take on this still stands. It's rather refreshing to see Batman/Bruce Wayne as a human being for once, trying to juggle being a father to a boy he hardly knows, and who has different values than him, and being the leader of a team that fights crime. Batman plays the over-protective father all too often, setting up a conflict with Damian that has disastrous results.
The bad guy in this book is called Nobody, and there's a lot of play on what that word means. Writer Peter Tomasi pries into the raison d'etre of Batman, and explores a part of Batman's past that we were not very familiar with. Along the way, the father/son relationship between Bruce and Damian is scrutinized and probed and Tomasi does so with affection. He gives Damian the humanity he often lacked in Batman, Inc., and I think many readers came to love and care about the character of Damian because of it.
Patrick Gleason's art is very well done. A few fight scenes are difficult to follow, but that may be more of my problem than the artist's, as I often have that trouble. His faces, especially for Damian, are very expressive and look the same from panel to panel, something that many artists seem to have difficulty with. Damian looks like a 10 year old boy, and Gleason's Batcave and various bat-apparta are very nicely portrayed.
As a bonus, the original pitch for the book is included in the back, along with one of the scripts. The next volume contains stories after I quit reading the title monthly, so I will be looking forward to reading it.
It's been a couple years since I read this first volume of the New 52 Batman & Robin series. I remember really liking this book, especially as I didn't have a lot of exposure to Damian Wayne outside of a few issues of Batman, Inc. Years ago I had the OGN where Batman and Talia meet and have their child, but for many years it wasn't considered canon, and I had forgotten about it.
My initial take on this still stands. It's rather refreshing to see Batman/Bruce Wayne as a human being for once, trying to juggle being a father to a boy he hardly knows, and who has different values than him, and being the leader of a team that fights crime. Batman plays the over-protective father all too often, setting up a conflict with Damian that has disastrous results.
The bad guy in this book is called Nobody, and there's a lot of play on what that word means. Writer Peter Tomasi pries into the raison d'etre of Batman, and explores a part of Batman's past that we were not very familiar with. Along the way, the father/son relationship between Bruce and Damian is scrutinized and probed and Tomasi does so with affection. He gives Damian the humanity he often lacked in Batman, Inc., and I think many readers came to love and care about the character of Damian because of it.
Patrick Gleason's art is very well done. A few fight scenes are difficult to follow, but that may be more of my problem than the artist's, as I often have that trouble. His faces, especially for Damian, are very expressive and look the same from panel to panel, something that many artists seem to have difficulty with. Damian looks like a 10 year old boy, and Gleason's Batcave and various bat-apparta are very nicely portrayed.
As a bonus, the original pitch for the book is included in the back, along with one of the scripts. The next volume contains stories after I quit reading the title monthly, so I will be looking forward to reading it.
February 19, 2017
Once I picked this up, I realized that I had read it already. Not sure when, not sure where. And no clue whether I had finished it or not.
But just in case, I read it through again. This is still a really good story.
I'm not certain of the entire chronology and back story, but it goes something like: at least twelve years ago, Batman discovers a new supervillain - Ras al Ghul, the "Demon's Head". Ras respects the Batman's strength, intelligence and prowess. Ras has a daughter and (in the chronology I know) coerces the Batman into marrying her. Fast forward, because I think that chronology got retroactively taken from continuity, and we discover that Talia al Ghul has managed to clone or otherwise birth the child Damian, raise him within the League of Assassins, and send him to live with his father, Bruce Wayne.
In this first volume of the New 52 Batman and Robin, Batman has begun to accept that he owes Damian a chance to be his son, and a chance to prove himself as Robin. Unfortunately, another blast from Batman's past is upset by the New 52 changes in continuity, and arrives to destroy Batman , using Damian to achieve that goal.
So, I said this is really good, but that doesn't mean I really liked it. It was good for me, but Damian is wa-a-a-a-ay too violent and grim for a 10-year old, even with his storied backstory. It's a 3-star for me, but I bet you'll get a little more mileage out of this great-art, great-writing, great-dialog, great-color story.
But just in case, I read it through again. This is still a really good story.
I'm not certain of the entire chronology and back story, but it goes something like: at least twelve years ago, Batman discovers a new supervillain - Ras al Ghul, the "Demon's Head". Ras respects the Batman's strength, intelligence and prowess. Ras has a daughter and (in the chronology I know) coerces the Batman into marrying her. Fast forward, because I think that chronology got retroactively taken from continuity, and we discover that Talia al Ghul has managed to clone or otherwise birth the child Damian, raise him within the League of Assassins, and send him to live with his father, Bruce Wayne.
In this first volume of the New 52 Batman and Robin, Batman has begun to accept that he owes Damian a chance to be his son, and a chance to prove himself as Robin. Unfortunately, another blast from Batman's past is upset by the New 52 changes in continuity, and arrives to destroy Batman , using Damian to achieve that goal.
So, I said this is really good, but that doesn't mean I really liked it. It was good for me, but Damian is wa-a-a-a-ay too violent and grim for a 10-year old, even with his storied backstory. It's a 3-star for me, but I bet you'll get a little more mileage out of this great-art, great-writing, great-dialog, great-color story.
January 8, 2017
Whoa, I REALLY enjoyed this.
So Damien is a interesting character (he's tied for my number 2 Robin with Tim.) but but thing I really liked here was just the breakdown of his relationship with Bruce. I enjoyed Damien's time with Dick but he was different with dick. He viewed him as a brother, or partner, not a father or leader. So seeing Damien readjust to it all, to follow his father's lead, is both interesting and actually really funny at times cause Damien the king of burns.
I love watching them work together, fight, and the having a strong backstory of a villain name Nobody coming into the picture really helped further the character development of both Bruce and Damien.
Some pacing issues at the start, feeling a bit like backtracking some earlier development with Damien. However as it went on it wasn't doing so much that but focusing on Damien learning to work with his father instead of Dick. So I forgave it as it went on.
A 4 to a 4.5/5 for this one.
So Damien is a interesting character (he's tied for my number 2 Robin with Tim.) but but thing I really liked here was just the breakdown of his relationship with Bruce. I enjoyed Damien's time with Dick but he was different with dick. He viewed him as a brother, or partner, not a father or leader. So seeing Damien readjust to it all, to follow his father's lead, is both interesting and actually really funny at times cause Damien the king of burns.
I love watching them work together, fight, and the having a strong backstory of a villain name Nobody coming into the picture really helped further the character development of both Bruce and Damien.
Some pacing issues at the start, feeling a bit like backtracking some earlier development with Damien. However as it went on it wasn't doing so much that but focusing on Damien learning to work with his father instead of Dick. So I forgave it as it went on.
A 4 to a 4.5/5 for this one.
July 19, 2017
A book about fathers and sons, specifically Bruce Wayne and his son Damian, who has just entered his life at age 10, and the disreputable Henri and Morgan Ducard, who have their own issues Morgan killed his own Mom as a kid. Not the kind of guy I'd take advice from, Damian..
Damian Wayne, the titular Robin, is not a very likeable character, so I felt myself rooting for Bruce to find a way to deal with this unmanageable little psycho as opposed to getting behind Damian and his own journey.
Morgan Ducard, AKA "NoBody", is a good-enough baddie, kind of a dark mirror image of Bruce and everything he stands for to give Damian an alternative father-figure to gravitate toward.
I would've liked to have seen more of Bruce's interactions with the legendary Henri, but the flashbacks had to be kept sparse enough to not detract from the main story line set in the present day.
I found the artwork to be bold, well-defined and executed, definitely a cut or two above some of the crowded murkiness of other street-level DC titles of late.
Damian Wayne, the titular Robin, is not a very likeable character, so I felt myself rooting for Bruce to find a way to deal with this unmanageable little psycho as opposed to getting behind Damian and his own journey.
Morgan Ducard, AKA "NoBody", is a good-enough baddie, kind of a dark mirror image of Bruce and everything he stands for to give Damian an alternative father-figure to gravitate toward.
I would've liked to have seen more of Bruce's interactions with the legendary Henri, but the flashbacks had to be kept sparse enough to not detract from the main story line set in the present day.
I found the artwork to be bold, well-defined and executed, definitely a cut or two above some of the crowded murkiness of other street-level DC titles of late.
April 1, 2018
3.5 stars
Damian Wayne, our new Robin, is in the middle of a high-stakes tug-of-war contest between his Batdad and a vengeful (is there any other kind?) former colleague from Bruce Wayne's salad days known as 'NoBody.' Taut and efficient suspense story, with loyal Alfred - dependable as always - being the only other major character. A bone-cracking, muscle-aching , explosion-filled little saga.
Damian Wayne, our new Robin, is in the middle of a high-stakes tug-of-war contest between his Batdad and a vengeful (is there any other kind?) former colleague from Bruce Wayne's salad days known as 'NoBody.' Taut and efficient suspense story, with loyal Alfred - dependable as always - being the only other major character. A bone-cracking, muscle-aching , explosion-filled little saga.
May 5, 2018
Uh oh, Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason went and wrote my second-favorite New 52 series so far! Between this and Scott Snyder's Batman, there's a lot of killer Bat stories in this "new universe" or whatever they're calling it.
The thing that makes this one work, and that is lacking from pretty much every other New 52 series I've read so far, is its devotion to character relationships. Yes, there's a supervillain coming after Batman, but that feels very much like a subplot here. Instead, we're treated to Bruce and Damian Wayne's awkward, combative father-son dynamic, presented in a way that moves beyond the fact that they're both weirdos who dress up in costumes at night and punch crime. It's much more relatable than the typical "these guys are just as messed up as the villains they take down" theme.
Instead, we get two extremely stubborn individuals who seemingly want the respect of the other, but aren't willing to sacrifice their own pride to earn it. It's explored in numerous ways, with great, minimalist dialogue, bold action, and fantastic art from Patrick Gleason to hammer it all home. There's very little that's told instead of shown here. Tomasi definitely trusts Gleason to get the point across, rather than explain every little detail to us via narration.
The only real downside to this is the bad guy. "NoBody," as he calls himself, is a pretty weak villain, without a clear motivation for why he's doing anything. He seems to want revenge on Batman, but his reasons for that revenge, as well as the way he tries to carry it out, are pretty all over the place and generally vague. Which sucks, because the introduction of the character is badass and a little scary. It's unfortunate that he kind of nosedives after that point.
But, NoBody is really just a catalyst for all of Bruce and Damian's issues. I like Tomasi's approach there so much that I'm willing to overlook the weak villain plotting, which is often the cheesier part of Batman comics anyway.
Also, big kudos to Tomasi for making Alfred seem like a genuine companion to Bruce, who cares deeply for him and wants the best for him. Alfred is often little more than a plothole filler, but here he matters. His approach to being a father figure to Bruce is a subtle comparison to Bruce's hard-nosed approach to Damian, with Bruce seemingly actively ignoring how kind and yet firm Alfred can be with him. It highlights Bruce's own failings as a father and mentor in a way I haven't seen before in a Batman comic.
Weird how I keep saying "Bruce" and "Damian" instead of "Batman" and "Robin." I just feel like this story is so focused on who these people are, rather than who they dress up as, that it's more appropriate to call them by their real names. That's kind of a feat in and of itself.
The thing that makes this one work, and that is lacking from pretty much every other New 52 series I've read so far, is its devotion to character relationships. Yes, there's a supervillain coming after Batman, but that feels very much like a subplot here. Instead, we're treated to Bruce and Damian Wayne's awkward, combative father-son dynamic, presented in a way that moves beyond the fact that they're both weirdos who dress up in costumes at night and punch crime. It's much more relatable than the typical "these guys are just as messed up as the villains they take down" theme.
Instead, we get two extremely stubborn individuals who seemingly want the respect of the other, but aren't willing to sacrifice their own pride to earn it. It's explored in numerous ways, with great, minimalist dialogue, bold action, and fantastic art from Patrick Gleason to hammer it all home. There's very little that's told instead of shown here. Tomasi definitely trusts Gleason to get the point across, rather than explain every little detail to us via narration.
The only real downside to this is the bad guy. "NoBody," as he calls himself, is a pretty weak villain, without a clear motivation for why he's doing anything. He seems to want revenge on Batman, but his reasons for that revenge, as well as the way he tries to carry it out, are pretty all over the place and generally vague. Which sucks, because the introduction of the character is badass and a little scary. It's unfortunate that he kind of nosedives after that point.
But, NoBody is really just a catalyst for all of Bruce and Damian's issues. I like Tomasi's approach there so much that I'm willing to overlook the weak villain plotting, which is often the cheesier part of Batman comics anyway.
Also, big kudos to Tomasi for making Alfred seem like a genuine companion to Bruce, who cares deeply for him and wants the best for him. Alfred is often little more than a plothole filler, but here he matters. His approach to being a father figure to Bruce is a subtle comparison to Bruce's hard-nosed approach to Damian, with Bruce seemingly actively ignoring how kind and yet firm Alfred can be with him. It highlights Bruce's own failings as a father and mentor in a way I haven't seen before in a Batman comic.
Weird how I keep saying "Bruce" and "Damian" instead of "Batman" and "Robin." I just feel like this story is so focused on who these people are, rather than who they dress up as, that it's more appropriate to call them by their real names. That's kind of a feat in and of itself.
November 29, 2012
Eh...
Okay, first problem with a "DC reboot" is that they don't really reboot some things.
If we're talking reboot, I think we'd be talking about a Batman with a Robin. Perhaps, PERHAPS a Batman, a Robin, and a Dick Grayson Nightwing. That's about as far as I'm willing to go.
I'm not really willing to go so far as to entertain the idea of Batman having a son with the daughter of one of his worst enemies FOR SOME REASON, a son who was raised to be a killer FOR SOME REASON, and FOR SOME REASON Batman ends up with the son and FOR SOME REASON decides to make him Robin.
FOR SOME REASON, though this is cute and all, the father/son thing isn't all that great. And to call it a reboot is kind of unfair to readers.
Even if I could get past all that, I couldn't get past the dialogue. Every character sounds like an Englishman narrating a travelogue through the Wonder of the World.
Examples:
Robin: "You can't just build a boat and hope darkness magically sails away in it." Yeah, nothing I love more than a smartass punk. It's too bad that Fred Savage is too old to play this Robin in the movie version. Or maybe Kirk Cameron, who is also too old. And bizarre.
Batman: "We'll go topside when I say we go topside, not a second before." Roight! You'll get the porridge you get, not a mouthful more!
Thugs:
Thug 1: "Then tell our dimwitted brother to get it together!"
Thug 2: "Robbie, tell Reggie to stop yelling at me!"
Thug 3: "Remind me next time to simply shoot you both."
The good news is that these chaps should get along just fine in prison.
I know that comic books don't always traffic in reality. And that the dialogue isn't always well-represented by reading it out loud. But when you have Batman, his pre-adolescent son, and three punks all talking the same way, the reading gets tough.
Okay, first problem with a "DC reboot" is that they don't really reboot some things.
If we're talking reboot, I think we'd be talking about a Batman with a Robin. Perhaps, PERHAPS a Batman, a Robin, and a Dick Grayson Nightwing. That's about as far as I'm willing to go.
I'm not really willing to go so far as to entertain the idea of Batman having a son with the daughter of one of his worst enemies FOR SOME REASON, a son who was raised to be a killer FOR SOME REASON, and FOR SOME REASON Batman ends up with the son and FOR SOME REASON decides to make him Robin.
FOR SOME REASON, though this is cute and all, the father/son thing isn't all that great. And to call it a reboot is kind of unfair to readers.
Even if I could get past all that, I couldn't get past the dialogue. Every character sounds like an Englishman narrating a travelogue through the Wonder of the World.
Examples:
Robin: "You can't just build a boat and hope darkness magically sails away in it." Yeah, nothing I love more than a smartass punk. It's too bad that Fred Savage is too old to play this Robin in the movie version. Or maybe Kirk Cameron, who is also too old. And bizarre.
Batman: "We'll go topside when I say we go topside, not a second before." Roight! You'll get the porridge you get, not a mouthful more!
Thugs:
Thug 1: "Then tell our dimwitted brother to get it together!"
Thug 2: "Robbie, tell Reggie to stop yelling at me!"
Thug 3: "Remind me next time to simply shoot you both."
The good news is that these chaps should get along just fine in prison.
I know that comic books don't always traffic in reality. And that the dialogue isn't always well-represented by reading it out loud. But when you have Batman, his pre-adolescent son, and three punks all talking the same way, the reading gets tough.
March 12, 2016
I was very pleased with this. I knew ahead of time what was involved, based on other readers' reviews, and what drove me to it was the story had an emotional core to it.
This takes place during the time when Bruce is Batman again and his son Damian has taken over the Robin mantle. What sets this apart from most other stories during that time period is that it takes a hard look at their relationship. In real life, it's already a big adjustment to try and start raising a 10-year old soon you never knew you had. Add to that the fact that you are Batman, complete with your own psychological issues, but your son has been trained and raised to be an assassin, makes for some difficult moments between the two.
These personalities conflict almost immediately and that's where you get the 'good stuff'. Damian has a strong personality and he isn't afraid to talk back to Bruce. Tomasi uses this to analyze Bruce's actions, the way he talks to people, always trying to control the situation by withholding information, etc. Damian doesn't take kindly to this and lets him know. This back and forth continues while somebody is targeting the two of them.
It all makes for some solid reading and I'm looking forward to the next volume.
This takes place during the time when Bruce is Batman again and his son Damian has taken over the Robin mantle. What sets this apart from most other stories during that time period is that it takes a hard look at their relationship. In real life, it's already a big adjustment to try and start raising a 10-year old soon you never knew you had. Add to that the fact that you are Batman, complete with your own psychological issues, but your son has been trained and raised to be an assassin, makes for some difficult moments between the two.
These personalities conflict almost immediately and that's where you get the 'good stuff'. Damian has a strong personality and he isn't afraid to talk back to Bruce. Tomasi uses this to analyze Bruce's actions, the way he talks to people, always trying to control the situation by withholding information, etc. Damian doesn't take kindly to this and lets him know. This back and forth continues while somebody is targeting the two of them.
It all makes for some solid reading and I'm looking forward to the next volume.
February 10, 2019
Ale jo, 4* s hodně odřenýma ušima. Příběh je docela klasika, velkej zvrat předvidatelnej, ale dynamika Bruce-Damien tu funguje líp jak u Morrisona a u Batmana jde konečně vidět nějaká slabost.
September 29, 2014
OH. MY. GOD.
What do I do with this?!
Best Batman & Robin/Father & Son story I've read in recent memory.
Maybe this is because I've had so much family crap, but towards the end, my heart was just BREAKING. I was this close to crying. Did I see it coming? Meehhhh, maybe a little- YEAH. However, it was still written to such perfection that I couldn't help myself. Personally, I'm with Damian as far as the final kill went. I mean as a general rule, I'm completely on the "don't kill unless 150% necessary" train, but sometimes, it is 150% necessary. There is a very real chance (taking the past as an example) that he'd find SOME way to come back and take another run at them. And he's already proven how deceitful he can be... I don't know. I totally get where Damian's coming from.
OH, and speaking of such, I actually like Damian now. I did NOT see that coming.
ANYWAYS, overall, INCREDIBLE. Cannot wait to pick up Volume 2 of this series.
OH, and P.S. I just love Titus already. I'm such an animal person. He must have only been in a MAX of 20 panels.
What do I do with this?!
Best Batman & Robin/Father & Son story I've read in recent memory.
Maybe this is because I've had so much family crap, but towards the end, my heart was just BREAKING. I was this close to crying. Did I see it coming? Meehhhh, maybe a little- YEAH. However, it was still written to such perfection that I couldn't help myself. Personally, I'm with Damian as far as the final kill went. I mean as a general rule, I'm completely on the "don't kill unless 150% necessary" train, but sometimes, it is 150% necessary. There is a very real chance (taking the past as an example) that he'd find SOME way to come back and take another run at them. And he's already proven how deceitful he can be... I don't know. I totally get where Damian's coming from.
OH, and speaking of such, I actually like Damian now. I did NOT see that coming.
ANYWAYS, overall, INCREDIBLE. Cannot wait to pick up Volume 2 of this series.
OH, and P.S. I just love Titus already. I'm such an animal person. He must have only been in a MAX of 20 panels.
February 16, 2017
"Forgive me father, for I have sinned"
Wooooow, what the hell just happened!!
It's been awhile, I think it was Knightfall, that I was this impressed and enjoying Batman in such a manner which left me in exctasy for quite a while....
Well, I'm definitely a fan of the new Batman & Robin series... so far... Let's hope they can keep this up, right? ;)
I'm off to found out... immediately.. Cheers!!
Peter J. Tomasi... You did quite alright here my good man!
Wooooow, what the hell just happened!!
It's been awhile, I think it was Knightfall, that I was this impressed and enjoying Batman in such a manner which left me in exctasy for quite a while....
Well, I'm definitely a fan of the new Batman & Robin series... so far... Let's hope they can keep this up, right? ;)
I'm off to found out... immediately.. Cheers!!
Peter J. Tomasi... You did quite alright here my good man!
October 4, 2018
I know, I'm late to this one. Definitely glad I have read this now though, and discovered the series which I will continue. Very, very well-told father-son relationship exploration while contributing to The Batman background and building the Damian story. The intense storytelling and action sequences overwhelm the at times underwhelming art. There are some grand cells and spectacular artwork in places, and I truly enjoyed being immersed in this, so I am ignoring my standard subtraction for lesser art and giving 5 stars with gusto!
February 22, 2016
For a New52 book this is one of the best.
Ok, let's just say that this Damien is not the same as Pre-Flashpoint which has already made some great strides to control his urges and I felt that Dick was the perfect mentor for him as he was way more emotionally available compared to Bruce.
That above opinion aside, I was very excited about this series when I saw the New52 list because I like Tomasi and Gleason and them working together I know for a Batman book would be very viceral visually but also well written, I was not disappointed.
World: Gleason's art is unique and not for everyone, his facial expressions are exagerated and his action scenes are fairly gruesome, oh his color schemes are also nuts, which makes him perfect for Batman. I really enjoyed his stuff in GL and he belongs in the Batman Universe. Gleason makes Batman into a monster, a beast a supernatural force and man is it a sight to behold. The world building by Tomasi is also very good, it's well paced and is built along with the story so you don't feel like there are huge chunks of info dumping (cause there is in the middle issues). Information is given to readers who are reader for it and also anticipating it. Readers are put into the shoes of Damien and therefore the world building works. This is a reboot so I knew some of the stuff would be retold again and I found it handled well.
Story: Very strong and very raw. Paced wonderfully and reads lightning fast. The story is gut wrenching and seat of your pants which I sometimes like in a Batman book (there are times for the detective and other times for the badass Batman). It was great that the first arc of this book focuses solidly on the relationship of father and son, this being a Batman and Robin book after all. Yes, some of the stuff from Pre-Flashpoint is rebooted but I am ok with that as I wanted to see how they would treat this relationship in the New52. The ending was satisfying and this was just a fun read.
Characters: The heart of this book and it delivers. Bruce is Bruce and Damien is Damien. Tomasi understands these characters and their core drive and also their hidden needs and emotions and displays them for the reader to experience. A father hoping to connect with his son, a son yearning for his father's approval. Both broken, both flawed and in need of each other. This is a great story because the emotional core of the story is strong. It was great that this was the focus.
A really strong emotional and raw read if this is the direction that this series is going in, I'm all on board. There are books that try to make Batman badass for the sake of badass and then there are books that really show the man and the drive behind it, this is that series. Awesome.
Onward to the next book!
Ok, let's just say that this Damien is not the same as Pre-Flashpoint which has already made some great strides to control his urges and I felt that Dick was the perfect mentor for him as he was way more emotionally available compared to Bruce.
That above opinion aside, I was very excited about this series when I saw the New52 list because I like Tomasi and Gleason and them working together I know for a Batman book would be very viceral visually but also well written, I was not disappointed.
World: Gleason's art is unique and not for everyone, his facial expressions are exagerated and his action scenes are fairly gruesome, oh his color schemes are also nuts, which makes him perfect for Batman. I really enjoyed his stuff in GL and he belongs in the Batman Universe. Gleason makes Batman into a monster, a beast a supernatural force and man is it a sight to behold. The world building by Tomasi is also very good, it's well paced and is built along with the story so you don't feel like there are huge chunks of info dumping (cause there is in the middle issues). Information is given to readers who are reader for it and also anticipating it. Readers are put into the shoes of Damien and therefore the world building works. This is a reboot so I knew some of the stuff would be retold again and I found it handled well.
Story: Very strong and very raw. Paced wonderfully and reads lightning fast. The story is gut wrenching and seat of your pants which I sometimes like in a Batman book (there are times for the detective and other times for the badass Batman). It was great that the first arc of this book focuses solidly on the relationship of father and son, this being a Batman and Robin book after all. Yes, some of the stuff from Pre-Flashpoint is rebooted but I am ok with that as I wanted to see how they would treat this relationship in the New52. The ending was satisfying and this was just a fun read.
Characters: The heart of this book and it delivers. Bruce is Bruce and Damien is Damien. Tomasi understands these characters and their core drive and also their hidden needs and emotions and displays them for the reader to experience. A father hoping to connect with his son, a son yearning for his father's approval. Both broken, both flawed and in need of each other. This is a great story because the emotional core of the story is strong. It was great that this was the focus.
A really strong emotional and raw read if this is the direction that this series is going in, I'm all on board. There are books that try to make Batman badass for the sake of badass and then there are books that really show the man and the drive behind it, this is that series. Awesome.
Onward to the next book!
December 1, 2015
Of the Batman and Robin hardcover volumes by Tomasi only volume 1 is out of print. Having acquired a copy and read it, it's clear the story is one well written enough to deserve a place in a modern Batman collectors collection. While Morrison also touched on the struggle of Bruce and Damian to understand each other and build a relationship, Tomasi deepens the story here bringing in Alfred as the three of them try to find their footing with each other. Born to Kill is an apt title, Damian was taught to kill and Bruce is dedicated to not killing. While they try to resolve their trust issues a villain appears who senses an opportunity to use Damian to punish Bruce for something in their past. Pretty well done. If you liked Morrison's run this will be your cup of tea though a bit more grounded and personable with the characters.
An excerpt from Tomasi's proposal to DC to write this story:
"Bruce sees Damian as a broken boy and is on a mission to fix him. Damian, on the other hand, only wants to be accepted by his father for who and what he is; he doesn't want to be looked at as some science project that needs to be modified."
"As Bruce wrestles with what it means to be a father in uniform and out, Damian is wrestling with himself too, using all his willpower to keep his natural instincts and inclinations at bay, trying his best to be the son his father wants him to be, but finding himself failing and not knowing who to turn to, especially when he starts to see Bruce as less of a fantasy father figure and more of a fallible human being. For Damian, it was easy to look up to Bruce when he was gone, but now that his father's back, Damian's finding it was simpler to love and respect the legend more than the man himself."
An excerpt from Tomasi's proposal to DC to write this story:
"Bruce sees Damian as a broken boy and is on a mission to fix him. Damian, on the other hand, only wants to be accepted by his father for who and what he is; he doesn't want to be looked at as some science project that needs to be modified."
"As Bruce wrestles with what it means to be a father in uniform and out, Damian is wrestling with himself too, using all his willpower to keep his natural instincts and inclinations at bay, trying his best to be the son his father wants him to be, but finding himself failing and not knowing who to turn to, especially when he starts to see Bruce as less of a fantasy father figure and more of a fallible human being. For Damian, it was easy to look up to Bruce when he was gone, but now that his father's back, Damian's finding it was simpler to love and respect the legend more than the man himself."
April 19, 2013
As the book opens we get a full-throated dose of a Batman who's engaging fully with his son, and who doesn't much care for the character dropped on his doorstep. The Damian is entirely consistent with Morrison's original vision of him, but somehow Batman trying to tutor his son by rejecting Bruce Wayne's past seems... out of place. The repartee between the two of them is believable, but just feels a little off from the way they existed before Flashpoint.
Through the middle of the book I started to get an uneasy feeling that something was off about the story and the storytelling. Then Batman starts narrating a flashback, to explain why he was afraid to tell Damian a crucial set of facts to keep the boy from getting killed or lured in -- AND that's where I lose any respect for the writer. It's like the house of cards just imploded due to supreme gravity. Weak. Super-weak.
The narration keeps on coming - completely out of character - but the writing sinks even lower, when we start seeing the maudlin whining come out during the "climactic" fight. Wow does the house of cards tumble fast. Oh my god, the true confessions and "I always wanted to be like you" is just embarrassing - not just because it's wildly out of character for these two, but because it's terrible writing for *any* character not on a teen-soap-opera TV show.
I feel sorry for the art team - they put in a great job on an excrable script.
Through the middle of the book I started to get an uneasy feeling that something was off about the story and the storytelling. Then Batman starts narrating a flashback, to explain why he was afraid to tell Damian a crucial set of facts to keep the boy from getting killed or lured in -- AND that's where I lose any respect for the writer. It's like the house of cards just imploded due to supreme gravity. Weak. Super-weak.
The narration keeps on coming - completely out of character - but the writing sinks even lower, when we start seeing the maudlin whining come out during the "climactic" fight. Wow does the house of cards tumble fast. Oh my god, the true confessions and "I always wanted to be like you" is just embarrassing - not just because it's wildly out of character for these two, but because it's terrible writing for *any* character not on a teen-soap-opera TV show.
I feel sorry for the art team - they put in a great job on an excrable script.
July 13, 2012
I like this title best of the current Batman New 52 books.
Great to see Bruce as a father to Damien, who's a terrific character. He's a bit too dark like the Asian Batgirl from a few years ago, but I'm interested in seeing where his story goes. I hope he's around for a long time and that his character develops more. This is the only Batbook of the New 52 that actually finds some new ground.
Scott Snyder's Batman is full of Bat-cliches. Tony Daniel's art has declined, nor is he a great writer on Detective.
It's terrific Bruce is moving past his parents death. I love that he's going to celebrate their wedding anniversary instead of their killing. Plus, I'm very happy Bruce bought a new dog for Damien! He's been named Titus and he's a wonderful addition to the family. I'm looking forward to seeing Damien and Titus grow together.
Tomasi is a strong writer who's not appreciated enough. He's done some terrific work in the Green Lantern books over the past few years and I'm delighted he's doing Batman and Robin. I'd really like to see this title lighten the tone a bit.
Great to see Bruce as a father to Damien, who's a terrific character. He's a bit too dark like the Asian Batgirl from a few years ago, but I'm interested in seeing where his story goes. I hope he's around for a long time and that his character develops more. This is the only Batbook of the New 52 that actually finds some new ground.
Scott Snyder's Batman is full of Bat-cliches. Tony Daniel's art has declined, nor is he a great writer on Detective.
It's terrific Bruce is moving past his parents death. I love that he's going to celebrate their wedding anniversary instead of their killing. Plus, I'm very happy Bruce bought a new dog for Damien! He's been named Titus and he's a wonderful addition to the family. I'm looking forward to seeing Damien and Titus grow together.
Tomasi is a strong writer who's not appreciated enough. He's done some terrific work in the Green Lantern books over the past few years and I'm delighted he's doing Batman and Robin. I'd really like to see this title lighten the tone a bit.
October 29, 2022
1st read: This collection of the New 52 Batman and Robin comics was really good. Sometimes the art was a bit over the top. But the story was good, characters develop over a crisis. The bonus was the story line ended and does not require additional comic purchases to get to the end. I had not really been keeping up with the current Robin so it was actually nice to get caught up a bit.
2nd Read 10 years later: This was one of the better new52 books and I was just getting back into comics after the reboot when I read this comic. This serious but not totally over the top version of Batman was so much better than what had been published in the past. It is still good. But did not age well overall. Bruce and Damien are just two PTSD sufferers that need some therapy and time on a sunny tropical beach. They do not need more trauma fighting criminals in the dark. I'll leave the five stars for now. But after all the better stories that have been told since this I would think 2 stars is a better star description.
2nd Read 10 years later: This was one of the better new52 books and I was just getting back into comics after the reboot when I read this comic. This serious but not totally over the top version of Batman was so much better than what had been published in the past. It is still good. But did not age well overall. Bruce and Damien are just two PTSD sufferers that need some therapy and time on a sunny tropical beach. They do not need more trauma fighting criminals in the dark. I'll leave the five stars for now. But after all the better stories that have been told since this I would think 2 stars is a better star description.
January 2, 2016
This one didnt't grab me right away, since Damien really got on my nerves on the first pages and it was kind of...exhausting. Damien reminded me of the kid from the movie "The Babadook", where you really just wanted to give up on the annoying boy :D
BUT: It didn't take long for the story to get me invested and especially the last chapters were absolutely thrilling!
Well, looks like the character developement throughout the story really worked out in the end, so I'm looking forward to Vol. 2.
BUT: It didn't take long for the story to get me invested and especially the last chapters were absolutely thrilling!
Well, looks like the character developement throughout the story really worked out in the end, so I'm looking forward to Vol. 2.
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