Batman & Robin: Year One #1 is written by Mark Waid and published by DC. Artwork is by Chris Samnee, colours by Matheus Lopes and letters by Clayton Cowles and Chris Samnee. Main cover art (left) is by Chris Samnee and Matheus Lopes.
Batman & Robin: Year One #1 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon ComiXology UK right here.
Synopsis
While Bruce Wayne adjusts to the realities of adopting orphan Dick Grayson, a mysterious new crime boss called the General has come to Gotham to claim the city by disrupting and destroying its other mobs. But what is his connection to Two-Face? Batman and his new sidekick, Robin, are out for answers, but it’ll take everything they have to navigate both sides of their relationship as father and son and dynamic duo, with Dick Grayson’s present and future hanging in the balance!
Review
It’s a Mark Waid week over at DC, with this being one of three books that has come out this week alone. We’ve already received a Batman: Year One book, which is arguably one of the best written Batman books to exist and a great one to recommend to people. There also exists a Robin: Year One book that focusses on Dick Grayson, so why choose him as the Robin for a Batman & Robin: Year One story? Well, there’s still a lot of story to tell with him compared to the other Robins.
This is a story that takes place during Batman’s third year but Robin’s first year. Batman is used to working solo on the job and has never had someone beside him up until this moment of his life. Dick Grayson has freshly come from his parents being killed in the accident, and although they’ve caught his parent’s killers, it’s described as “an ending and a beginning.” While Mark Waid is the writer for this comic, he has co-wrote the story with Chris Samnee, who is the one who initially wanted to write a Batman story. We now have this creative duo back, returning from Daredevil to slightly offer something similar with this dynamic.
It’s handled greatly between the two, and one question that seems to be the basis for this comic is: if Batman is ready to have a partner, is he ready to take care of this kid? The opening of the issue is perfect, with the conversation between Bruce and Alfred taking place. Alfred believes that taking Dick out with him isn’t what the kid needs, while Bruce is conflicted and believes that making Dick put on the mask stops him from doing something dangerous and regrettable on his own. Bruce doesn’t have the skills to be a parent, nor does he understand what it feels like to be a child, but he knows what it feels like to have your parents ripped away from you by the city that has served you injustice. It’s the rage within Dick that he resides with, and it’s what makes them such a great pairing.
With this being one of their first outings, Waid showcases that through some of the mistakes that are made throughout the night. Dick was a performer before he became Robin, and he uses that skill when he has the mask on, acting very hyperactive and not understanding the danger of the job ahead. Batman also performs, but only when the mask is off, when he’s Bruce Wayne. It’s this slight difference that helps with the balance between Bruce and Dick, and who better to understand that than Mark Waid, who has already been writing the Dynamic Duo in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest?
What’s so great about this issue is that although Robin is the one that’s new on the job, Batman has a lot to learn. He’s not used to going on patrol with a partner, and due to this, he makes some slip-ups in this issue, which he takes full responsibility for, and that’s something that might make this comic a pure gold mine. Getting to witness not only Robin grow and change but to see Batman also adapt himself.
Chris Samnee’s does an outstanding job of bringing this golden era Batman & Robin story to life, providing a look that matches the early days of their careers while honouring David Mazzucchelli art. Matheus Lopes also adds to this with his hues of orange, which can be found in almost every panel, used to light up the dark city but also as a possible way to signify Robin’s personality compared to that of Batman’s with the darkness. The lettering by Clayton Cowles and Chris Samnee is also phenomenal work; it’s very reminiscent of the lettering from Batman: Year One. Allowing for it to have that handwriting look makes Batman’s inner monologue more personal regarding his thoughts surrounding Dick Grayson, and it’s the perfect way to get those messages across as it ends up feeling more affective.
Verdict
Batman & Robin: Year One feels like the perfect standalone sequel to Frank Miller’s Year One story. Not only does Mark Waid honour it with his writing, but Chris Samnee’s does so with his art, which takes inspiration from David Mazzucchelli’s previous work. It’s a story that understands that Batman has just as much learning to do as Robin does, building them up to be the dynamic duo we know and love today.
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