“Deathstroke vs. Batman” is an arc that I don’t really get the point of. Making Deathstroke into Damian’s father would undermine the whole character of Damian and otherwise the conflict just feels kind of lame and forced. Priest’s writing is always good but his characterization leaves much to be desired. Pagulayan’s art is incredibly nice to look at as usual, though.
So what’s it about?
The official summary reads:
“DEATHSTROKE VS. BATMAN” part two! The war between Deathstroke and Batman escalates when the Dark Knight foils one of Deathstroke’s assassination attempts! Meanwhile, a mysterious package brings Commissioner Gordon to Bruce Wayne’s doorstep, and Adeline Kane–Slade Wilson’s ex–sets her sights on Batman!
Tell me about it!
Christopher Priest’s characterization of Robin is remarkably unlike Dick Grayson, who it’s obviously made to be, and misses every point of what Bruce Wayne’s relationship to the boys he adopts should be. Robin in the issue claims that Batman’s “not really the nurturing type” and shouldn’t raise a kid which is just absurd, as everything Bruce has ever done is to help Dick get the feeling of family that he so readily needs after the murder of his parents and he is shown many times to absolutely be the nurturing type of father who will help his children any way he can. He also says you have to earn being the son of Batman by punching criminals which again is absolutely absurd and has never been a thing, as well as claiming that “you’re mostly just a weapon in his war” at which I’m honestly baffled. That seems to be more of an opinion of someone who doesn’t personally know Batman such as a citizen of Gotham instead of the adopted son of Batman himself.
Bruce Wayne in the issue comes across as a detached figure from what is said by Robin as well as how he comes across with a mob boss style of dealing with things when it comes to dealing with a robbery perpetrator. Also getting someone to shoot down Deathstroke’s aircraft while wearing a Batman costume is completely confusing and I honestly have no idea why any of these conflicts are happening the way they are. And I’m not even going to go into how Talia is now thrown into the mix.
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