From the
DCU Review:
Wow! Like seriously… wow!! Two exclamation points. I loved every page, every line of dialogue. Major kudos the creative team for this gem.
The opening sequence between Damian and Alfred is an outstanding piece of writing with deep characterization, strong dialogue, and fantastic pacing that really demonstrates just what a panel-by-panel comic book can accomplish. Damian is the impulsive violent brat as usual. Alfred is patient, proper, and wise, and totally a slick badass the way he beats Damian at chess and slips two tracking devices on the cocky little punk.
Batman is seriously intimidated by Morgan who popped up last issue. I don’t blame him. He barely had any pages last issue and you could still feel the enormity of his presence and this issue delivered on that promising potential. Morgan is certainly driven. In some ways he reminds me of Bane when he was first introduced, but much more intelligent. Morgan is obviously a physical equal if not superior to Batman, but its his psychological tactics that give him the advantage. It’s the intimidation. It’s his intelligence, the uncompromising nature of his mission, his willingness to come into the open (as seen last issue). Morgan is a man who doesn’t fear Batman, and fear has always been in some ways Batman’s greatest weapon. Criminals fear him. Batman intimidates. Now the role is reversed. How will Batman overcome this?
Bruce continues to try to be a father to Damian. And well, he still sucks at it. Purchasing a pet for Damian doesn’t seem to have any of the desired effect. And if it was simply a distraction as Damian says, did Bruce really think a dog was going to do the job? Sorry, Damian, you can’t jump from rooftops and kick the crap out of criminal scum tonight. How about playing fetch with the dog instead? Yeah, right, Bruce. Get a clue!
Going back to this book’s pacing showcasing the potential of the panel-by-panel medium of comics, the fight sequence between Damian and the muggers, then Batman and Morgan were a joy to look at. It was incredibly cinematic. I love the way it opened with the Robin “R” on the mugger’s camera phone. You can really see the power of picking just the right images.
What a great way to end the book, too. It’s a cliffhanger with obvious danger and a bit of mystery that leaves me wondering what this film is going to be about. It’s not about shock factor. No one was disintegrated or lost any limbs. No impalement. No slaughter of the supporting cast. Batman & Robin doesn’t need any of that when it has an entire story that makes you want to come back for more.