Batman & Robin #1 is written by Joshua Williamson and published by DC Comics. Artwork and colours are by Simone Di Meo and letters by Steve Wands. Main cover art (left) is also by Di Meo.
Batman & Robin #1 is available now, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
Father and son. Bruce and Damian. Batman and Robin. From Batman vs. Robin to Knight Terrors, a lot has happened to the Dynamic Duo, but now they are back together and ready to fight crime in Gotham just in time for Batman’s most monstrous rogues to team up to turn the city into an urban jungle!
A new villain watches from the shadows, intent on revenge, with a plot to turn one of Batman’s greatest assets against him! Can Damian help his father solve the case before it’s too late?
Review
“An exciting new chapter begins” boldly states the cover of today’s brand new Batman & Robin #1. After a tumultuous period in the relationship between Bruce Wayne and his son Damian, the pair are finally reuniting for the first Batman & Robin title in over five years.
In the last 18 months alone the father-son duo has been through bitter battle, the Lazarus Planet, Dark Crisis and Knight Terrors events. Now they find themselves reunited as Selina Kyle’s Gotham War arc continues to unfold elsewhere in the pages of DC Comics. So, for now, harmony has returned and Joshua Williamson is heralding a new era of storytelling.
First and foremost, Williamson is injecting the idea of Batman & Robin as an action adventure book back in to his storytelling. Similarly to his work on the main Superman title, Williamson is lightening the mood and bringing the fun back to DC. That’s not to say other books aren’t fun. But with so much having happened in Gotham in the past year it’s great to see a book with a more youthful and positive energy.
The adventure starts in high gear and Batman and Robin take down White Rabbit. The sequence moves at a brisk pace and is perfectly driven home by Simone Di Meo’s incredibly artistic style. Whilst Di Meo brings the action and spectacle, Williamson uses sparse dialogue to set the new Batman & Robin tone. With The Gotham War pitting members of the Bat-Family against each other, Batman & Robin is instead tapping in to a more playful nature for both characters. Even Damian, typically more high-strung and acerbic, is able to have fun, verbally sparring with his father about who can take down the most henchmen.
It’s quickly (and simply) communicated to the audience that Batman & Robin is going to be something different. Something lighter. Something more Williamson. Of course, I’m here for it.
Before getting down to business with its ongoing storyline there’s plenty of time to further explore this new family dynamic. With Bruce still living in the brownstone house rather than Wayne Manor – see The Gotham War for more on that one – this is the first time we’re seeing him and Damian in a more conventional family setting. This is also the first time we’re really exploring their identity as a family without Alfred. That leads to some poignant reflection from both characters and a surprisingly fun moment at breakfast. Again, Williamson is quickly able to communicate with the audience that expectations will be defied with this book making it a pleasant surprise with the turn of every page.
Batman & Robin still has ties to Chip Zdarsky and Tina Howard’s The Gotham War. Not just in its separation from the rest of the Bat-Family but also in its first arc storyline. As a number of Gotham supervillains club together it’s a clear mark that Selina’s actions have caused an escalation in the other villains behaviour. We don’t get to explore it much here but Batman & Robin #1 leaves us at the perfect (literal) jumping off point for its ongoing story to begin.
As with his Superman title, Williamson does an incredible job of pairing a more classical approach to storytelling with incredible contemporary art. So whilst the action-adventure aspects feel more classically Batman & Robin, Simone Di Meo’s artwork really brings the book in to the 21st century. His style is razor sharp and teams well with his chosen colours. There are clear points of influence from anime and manga but mixed with other international sensibilities.
Di Meo is also clearly able to inject a similar youthful energy to the story in to his visuals. Action scenes feel fluid and dynamic. Whilst slower moments feel layered with enough detail to keep the reader engaged. Both Bruce and Damian look a little more youthful which fits the overall aesthetic well. Characters are also consistent and recognisable throughout. All in all, it’s a blockbuster start.
Verdict
The Dynamic Duo are back! The team of Joshua Williamson and Simone Di Meo has crafted an incredible opening to this new series bringing impressive visuals alongside a spectacular, high energy story.
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