Batman & Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos #4 is written by Mark Waid & Chris Samnee and published by DC. Artwork is by Samnee, colours by Mat Lopes and letters by Clayton Cowles. Main cover art (left) is by Samnee & Lopes.
Batman & Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos #4 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
Dick’s infiltration of the Wolf Pack starts to bear fruit, giving the Dynamic Duo a lead on who’s really pulling the strings behind this gang of kids. But just when a clue brings Batman and Catwoman face-to-face, a shocking moment will leave Robin scrambling!
Review
We’re not even half-way through Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s second go at Batman & Robin: Year One and yet already things are heating up. This month’s issue takes a breath to hone in on the relationship between Bruce and Dick, momentarily sidelining Catwoman until it’s finally time to twist the knife. The classic tale of Gotham City’s fair heroes is about to get (even more) serious…
Issue #4 picks up with Batman and Robin returning to the Batcave following the events of last month’s issue. Mark Waid capitalises on the moment to really shine a spotlight on his character work. Both series of Batman & Robin: Year One have been awash with character. Even the series’ villains have been exquisitely well developed thus far. But bringing it back to Bruce and his young Ward really exemplifies the overall nostalgic aesthetic of what Waid and Chris Samnee have created here.
The dialogue between the two is so sharp and witty. Bruce is his typically dry, protective self and fully committed to the work, opting to sit Robin down to identify the Crime Master rather than allow time for him to be a kid. Whilst Dick exudes the youthful energy we know him for from his very early appearances and younger years. The back-and-forth between them flows perfectly throughout all of these scenes, making them an impeccable glimpse into life behind the cowl in these early days.
In identifying the Crime Master – no spoilers here – the book shifts into a stunning black and white portion with just a pop of red. It illuminates the backstory of this mysterious character, opening up the world of Dynamic Duos just enough to bring the reader along as the story continues. These pages really belong to Samnee and colourist Mat Lopes as their artwork shines in a way that full colour doesn’t allow. Think Sin City if it were a Golden Age DC book. These pages alone should earn this creative team an Eisner nomination.
Returning to the present day, Waid finds a way to work Catwoman back into the story alongside the King of Cats. Again, I don’t want to spoil too much here, but these moments fold Selina back into the story and are able to bring Samnee and Lopes’ brilliant cover into the book itself for just a moment. Even though these scenes are more traditional of Dynamic Duos storytelling, there’s still plenty of room to spotlight how Dick is still somewhat immature even when on the streets fighting crime.
All of this leads us into Waid’s shock finale, a moment which capitalises on a through-line which exists throughout Batman & Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos #4. You see something has been bubbling beneath the surface in Wayne Manor and it’s coming to a head here. It just so happens to be at the worst moment possible. It’s an interesting narrative twist which Waid is able to ensure feels organic by twisting on the classic setup of Alfred narrating Bruce’s story. This subplot is clearly building towards both a shift in the family dynamic but also towards making Batman and Robin the crime-fighting duo we know they will go on to become.
Verdict
Batman & Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos #4 exemplifies everything this book should be. It’s beautifully nostalgic aesthetic sits beside a dynamic – pardon the pun – and entertaining story which spotlights who these characters are as people without forgetting all of the crime-fighting antics which readers adore.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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