Batman: Reborn Titles

July 4, 4:29 AMPhoenix Comic Books ExaminerMatt Burke

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Phoenix Comic Books Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

 

Red Robin #1: During DC's Battle for the Cowl, Batman's mantle was up for grabs after he was allegedly killed by Darkseid. During this storyline, Tim Drake is attacked by an armored Batman impostor who turns out to be fellow ex-Robin Jason Todd. Once the identity of the Batman is already taken, Tim decides to become Red Robin, an identity that is already blemished. Issue 1 follows his search spanning through Spain and France, and even Czechoslovakia in search of what he thinks is the living Bruce Wayne, lost somewhere. Chris Yost tries his hand at this title without usual co-writer Craig Kyle. This issue starts out with rather weak inner-dialogue, but examines the "Batman Family" members relationships with each other, especially Damian Wayne's attitude toward Tim, which becomes increasingly antagonistic. Despite some of the weaker parts, Red Robin looks like it might start somewhat slow, but it has a lot of good leads to develop the character and the search for Bruce Wayne in a very interesting way.

 

Batman #687: Judd Winnick opens this issue up with a flashback of a simpler time during Alfred and Batman's life, and shows a young, easy going Dick Grayson in the Robin uniform. It quickly shows that the Robin we see in the former part of the issue has become much more heavy hearted and sullen. Even though Dick has technically "won" the cowl of Batman, he's reluctant to show himself in public or wear the bat uniform. He decides that he will carry on Batman's legacy, but in his own way, creating a new cave and teaching a new Robin (Damian Wayne.)The duo don't quite get along, as Damiam believes that the only legitimate candidate to be the new Batman is his only biological son.Yet, he is still willing to learn and obeys Dick's orders, but only after he breaks the initial rules. The one troubling thing about Damain's attitude about his father's death is that he is almost completely indifferent. This could be a foreshadowing into a darker Damian, but only time will tell. Winnick crafted an interesting prologue into the new Batman and Robin, but only as well as the story will allow. You can only write so many stories about how sad Bruce Wayne's passing was, especially since in comics, no one important stays dead. Fortunately, this was probably one of the best prologues to a death in recent 

 

    

Batman & Robin #1:

What better writer could you attach to a new Batman story than veteran Grant Morrison? This new team-up features the two previously mentioned characters: Dick Grayson as the noble and fatherly Batman to Damian Wayne's caustic and impetuous Robin. The two navigate through Gotham in the new Batmobile, imagined by Bruce, but built by Damian. They come across what seems to be a Disney character-turned petty thief, but may be in it big with some bizarre characters from a European circus, hunting people and turning them into slaves under the guise of dolls. This tone seems to fit well with a Batman story, yet the vintage-costumes and gadgets do not fit well into such a dark story. With Damian taunting Dick into giving up the Batman mantle to someone who deserves it, an evil surgeon named Pyg,  an unifying sadness between the one's who were close to Bruce, this story is crafted beautifully, but could probably loose the flying Batmobile.