Everything old is new again, but luckily, we get those fantastic tales of wonder with the upgrade of modern storytelling. Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are no strangers to comics; they’ve had some awesome team-ups with their runs on Daredevil, Captain America, and Black Widow for Marvel. Luckily, they are sharing their magic with DC Comics via Batman and Robin. Issue #1 did an excellent job of laying groundwork to establish what this “Year One” will be about, and now Waid and Samnee have hit the ground running in a fun, challenging issue for the dynamic duo.
DC Comics
One of the best characteristics of this issue was the introduction of Laura, a child protective services caseworker who cares about this potential adoption. It was enjoyable to see her character contrast the usual cynicism of Gotham City residents and her interaction with Bruce, Alfred, and Dick. The inspection was a great follow-up to the training session and helped establish the “growing pains” this new family is undertaking. The “pains” make for fun entertainment with possible disaster with these three generations of men.
DC Comics
Stepping back into the training session two-page splash, Waid and Samnee get to shine nicely here. Waid gives us some real butting of heads with Dick and Bruce as they blur between men, family, and heroes. Samnee’s art in this situation puts him in league with Darwyn Cooke and Will Eisner. The action sequence makes your eyes run wholly across the page, trying to absorb as much as possible. After you finish that rally, you end up basking in Waid’s character outbursts as the heroes challenge each other’s methods, which comes back into play later in the issue with one of the best moments of this series.
DC Comics
Luckily, the development doesn’t stop with Batman and Robin. We get a curious scene with the General and his men as Two-Face comes over to propose an alliance. The back-and-forth between these two is exciting. Two-Face is an established rogue in the gallery. Still, even Two-Face wants from, yet is cautious about, the General—a reasonable scene to elevate the General’s mystique and place in this story. Once the development is finished, we return to the action, which leaves us with quite a mystery about who is working for whom as another element of danger enters the situation.
This is a better trip down memory lane! Updating the formative years of the Dynamic Duo is a great time. It is such entertainment to see how these two are so different and how they come together. Waid and Samnee give great conflict to our heroes and also find great moments to showcase their growth and respect for each other, which also grows the danger they will eventually face; a fun, worthwhile installment in what is shaping up to be another classic Year One in DC’s history.
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