Welcome to an all new edition of Parlay points, the comic book review blog to the ODPH Podcast!
For this entry, we’re venturing into a new beginning for one of pop culture’s most iconic pairs. With war breaking out in Gotham City, The Bat family is being torn apart. With his family crumbling, Batman looked to be fighting this battle by himself. That outlook was quickly discarded when the bond between Father and Son took over in his darkest hour. Now with Damian Wayne fully by his side, Batman continues his mission against crime with a newfound focus.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 by Joshua Williamson , Simone Di Meo and Steve Wands by DC Comics gives readers a high octane adventure with the Wayne family maneuvering in an ever unstable Gotham City. Let’s take a deeper dive into this new series, shall we?
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 by Joshua Williamson , Simone Di Meo and Steve Wands (Credit: DC Comics)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
This latest chapter in the caped crusader’s life begins at the Gotham Zoo. It is a stormy night. A haunting narrator is describing their view of Gotham. They elude to extreme changes. Readers witness a figure working in a lab area and their subject makes a loud statement on the panel. A bat is being dissected.
The story shifts to the dynamic duo flying into a Zeppelin over the Gotham skyline to stop the White Rabbit. With hostages in tow, the situation is intense. Batman and Robin take down Rabbit and her hired help. The aircraft is stabilized and hostages are rescues. The moment is capped off with a perfectly placed Fist Bump between father and Son.
Post mission, Bruce and Damian head home into a brownstone inside Gotham City limits. With the situation with Catwoman escalading, the Manor isn’t the best base of operations currently. Considering the past few months, reconnecting as a family has been a challenge. Bruce appears to be trying but Damian is more guarded.
A day later, Damian breaks down the Rabbit’s motives. The center of her attack (and a few other robberies) has been Dr. Kafira, known for DNA work. Kafira was also a hostage on the airship. That night, the pair heads out to pay him a visit.
What they find appears to be another kidnapping attempt. However, readers soon find out more is going on than the pair realizes. The situation escalates until a shocking move happens leaving the pair trying to cypher what is going on.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 by Joshua Williamson , Simone Di Meo and Steve Wands (Credit: DC Comics - Cover: Kael Ngu)
Williamson pushes the family dynamic to the forefront as the new adventure hovers in the background. The current relationship of Bruce and Damian is one that is rebuilding itself. Post White Rabbit, the closing moments are capped off with a perfectly placed fist bump. It might seem like a throwaway moment but it nails what the book is all about.
The conversation the pair has in the brownstone drives that point home. Seeing Bruce trying to find the right words while Damian copes shifting the conversation back to the current mission leaves no question in readers minds.
The “drawing Pad” in Damian’s room backs that up with how Damian is dealing with his family dynamic. The story at hand is solid with much room to grow. It feels like a “back to basics” Batman and Robin which means nothing but win for the readers.
Di Meo wastes no time bringing the action to this issue. A fantastic 2 page spread with the duo crashing through the Zeppelin canopy establishes a high pace for the moment. Do Meo also hits the bullseye with the Bruce/Damian conversation at home. There is a creative use of shadows and light to reflect Damian’s past few months. This is capped off with a solid full page shot of his sketch pad.
Heading into the final act, the villains are featured with another great two page panel that readers will be excited to see. The attention to details here is fantastic. The issue is capped off with a superb cliffhanger panel that you can’t help but run to get the next issue after seeing.
BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 by Joshua Williamson , Simone Di Meo and Steve Wands (Credit: DC Comics - Cover: Clay Mann)
FINAL POINT: 9.5 OUT OF 10
The new adventures of Bruce and Damian Wayne wastes no time locking readers in for what will only be an incredible story. Making family first, Wlliamson plays off the father/son bond with an exceptional script. Di Meo compliments the script & constructs a distinct feel of energetic visuals making it a 1-2 combo that can’t be missed. Don’t miss this book on Bew Comic Book Day!
Hit me up on ODPH social media and let me know your thoughts on Batman and Robin #1. Thanks for reading!
