Batman and Robin is a series that has allowed more development in the father/son dynamic between Damian and Bruce. It has also allowed writer Joshua Williamson to continue the threads he started in Robin, as seen in Batman and Robin #7 with Flatline returning. While it’s great to see Damian and Robin on good terms, how long will it last with Damian’s fling back and Man-Bat growing an army underneath their noses in Gotham?
Fans of the first issue in this series will be happy to see Simone Di Meo back with his vibrant and slightly manga feel to the visuals. Back are the epic double-page layouts, a strong sense of drama, and great use of lighting via colors by Giovanna Niro. Our heroes do a lot of talking with very little fighting, but you’d barely notice, given how awesome every panel portrays these caped crusaders.
Great page!
Credit: DC
As far as the story, this issue is more of a table-setting issue. A solid jumping-on point for new readers, the issue recaps how Damian and Bruce have bonded in a great full-page splash of Polaroid photographs. This issue does some heavy lifting to remind us who Flatline is as well as what she’s been up to. That includes an interesting wrinkle involving a longtime Batman villain who is connected to Flatline.
The closing pages of the issue begin to move the plot forward as Batman does some investigating. We see Man-Bat is up to no good, even for his followers, and Shush returns to the main story. I’ve said this in previous reviews, but the Man-Bat/Shush plot is moving incredibly slowly. We’re seven issues in, and they’re still plotting their plans in secret. Get on with it y’all!
A setup issue for sure, Batman and Robin #7 will please fans of Flatline and the return of Simone Di Meo. If that’s not enough to sell you, know that the Man-Bat story is compelling, albeit incredibly slow. Once it finally reaches its climax I’m more than certain it’ll be good. But now, we wait.
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