Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen’s sequel to Robin and Batman came out swinging with an excellent first issue and a Jason Todd ready to boil over with rage. It gave us a unique look at what it was like to manage Jason when he was a young Robin, and how Alfred and Batman had their doubts about him pursuing vigilantism. That’s never more obvious than with Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #2, as a new vigilante enters the scene.
Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #2 opens with a nine-panel page featuring different key moments in this issue and in Jason Todd’s history. They’re like a fever dream, from Alfred looking dismayed holding a Robin costume, to a mysterious skull-masked villain, to Joker holding the deathblow crowbar. In one page, Nguyen and Lemire reveal the complexities in store for this story.
From there, the issue picks up where we left off. A white-cloaked vigilante stands above them after killing a henchman who was surely going to kill Jason. Previously, Batman assumed Jason killed him, but now he knows there’s a culprit. This doesn’t go unnoticed by Jason, who holds it against Batman that he thinks he is capable of murder.
While this hangs over the characters’ heads, the story shifts to a team-up between Jason and Dick Grayson, who is sporting his blue and gold Nightwing costume. Over a series of gorgeous double-page spreads, we see them fight crime, but there’s a fundamental point of view on crime fighting that Jason doesn’t have a taste for. It’s an interesting way of showing how Jason and Dick are different, and how Dick balanced Batman when he was Robin. Throw in the fact that Batman is getting older and changing, and there are complexities you’ll be thinking about that enrich the story.
Great opening page.
Credit: DC Comics
Nguyen’s art continues to be incredible, with the visible paper behind his watercolors adding an artistic flair, reminding us this is traditionally drawn. The use of color, from reds during a scene between Jason and the villain, to blues when Batman and Dick share their thoughts on Jason, there’s a lot of emotionality in the color choices.
Between more of Jason’s fever dreams and the closing few pages, you’ll be dying to read the third and final chapter in this series. We’re seeing how Jason was before he went full killer, as well as witnessing a different attempt at fighting crime that has been boiling over inside Jason from the very start.
Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #2 is a masterful character study wrapped in stunning visuals and quiet emotional depth. Lemire and Nguyen continue to show why they’re a powerhouse creative team, delivering a gripping look at identity, legacy, and the fractures within the Bat-family. It’s a must-read for fans of grounded, introspective superhero storytelling.
You must be logged in to post a comment.