The hype around Batman vs. Robin is real, starting with the creators. Two titans in their own right, Mark Waid and Mahmud Asrar, have earned the right to be buy-on-sight creators, but to have them kick off a new Batman and Robin series? Then to have those two characters fight? Then to have DC Comics reveal the big surprise return of a character before it even came out?! Okay, we’re starting to get into the very high expectations area, people!
As you can see in the extra-long Batman vs. Robin preview, this first issue gets past the surprise dead character returning right at the start. This allows the confusion around their return, and Batman distrusting they are even real, to permeate the rest of the issue. Call it an added layer of drama as Waid and Asrar dive into Damian attacking Batman fairly quickly. As if to keep readers on their toes, Damian’s attack doesn’t let up for quite some time and immediately bleeds into how Batman will respond after licking his wounds.
It’s good this issue is extra-sized as it allows Asrar and color artist Jordie Bellaire room to let the action speak for itself. It’s energized, explores the space of the Batcave well, and features a great color palette due to the magic-wielding characters in the scene. All that and the rest of the issue gives us enough pages of post-action to get the mystery started.
Who could it be?!
Credit: DC Comics
There are multiple bold moments in this issue, too, showing the creators aren’t messing around. Seeing Damian point a gun at Batman, for instance, or how we see Zatanna in another scene, is shocking. If the creators set out to shock the reader, they do so while offering fewer answers than one might like. That’s the selling point for this series: there’s nothing else like it across the Batman titles.
It’s only the first issue, but given how little we know about what is going on, it’s fair to say some might feel frustrated not knowing where this is going. The cliffhanger will give some folks enough to go off of, but if you haven’t read Josh Williamson’s Robin or Waid’s World’s Finest, you’ll likely feel in the dark. A little extra info could go a long way in making this issue extra special. That’s particularly true of Robin, who gets very little explanation why he’s trying to kill Batman. It’s extra strange, considering he was on now on good terms with Batman last we saw him in Robin.
If you’re looking for good action and triple-A artwork, look no further than Batman vs. Robin. The creators are throwing readers into the deep end with mega twists, surprising character choices, and the return of a Batman icon. If you can get past the lack of motivation for Robin, you’re going to have a great time unpacking the mystery wrapped in the action frenzy.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.