After the stellar first issue in a new story arc and new creative team launch, Batman and Robin returns this week with issue #15. The last issue left off with Batman and Robin splitting up and in dire straights, but can they survive without gadgets or their suits? I guess we find out as a supernatural threat continues to haunt Gotham!
Batman and Robin #15 is about the escape from the danger set up in the last issue and then the fallout of what happened from that escape. The issue opens where we left off. Bruce is trapped in a small basement room with fire all around him and no way out. Meanwhile, Robin is a few floors above, locked in a room with many civilians. It’s a tense opening that works to show how each deals with crisis swiftly but not without losses.
This leads Robin to question his abilities when a person dies and he can’t quite deal with it. Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson has Robin ask the right questions, which leads to further exploration of Thomas Wayne. Damian doesn’t know his grandfather and naturally tends to steer towards that side. A boy who grows up to become a weapon must learn the other side of what made Bruce a builder and a healer, not just a fighter. This aspect of the story is one of the most interesting.
Will Bruce die?!
Credit: DC Comics
Meanwhile, the supernatural mystery ramps up with the cliffhanger. Interestingly, Bruce continues to deny it’s supernatural at all because he’s too analytical. Of course, it’s a touch silly for a guy who has seen everything from gods to ghosts pop up, but this is the angle we’re taking. That said, this leads to a flashback and some new information regarding Bruce’s training that should play out some interesting clues.
Javier Fernández continues to crush art, although there aren’t any action scenes in this issue. There are some intense moments early on as Damian and Bruce save lives or escape death, and the fire effects are great. Many scenes are moody and atmospheric, leaning towards the macabre when paired with colors by Marcelo Maiolo.
Joining Fernandez is Carmine Di Giandomenico, who gets to draw the flashback. That’s fitting given his run with Chip Zdarsky exploring the backstory of Batman in Batman: The Knight. As a fan of that series, I find it cool to see new threads building up that compelling tale.
The plotting of this issue feels clunky and forced at times. From Damian having a crisis to Bruce not believing in a supernatural threat, these characters fall in line to serve the plot. More could be done to set up their doubt, and while Bruce’s is tied to the past and will likely be backed up eventually, Damian has seen his fair share of loss in the field, so it’s a hard pill to swallow when one casualty makes him lose it.
The flashback also jarringly pops up, and the main villain gets very little development, acting as a cliffhanger. All told, the issue feels a bit slapdash compared to the first excellent issue.
Batman and Robin #15 is a good, not great, second issue in the story arc. The opening sequence is intense and strong, and while I’m curious about Thomas Wayne’s exploration, I can’t help but see the flaws in how this issue plays out.
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