Following a great first issue of a new story arc and the launch of a new creative team, Batman & Robin returns with issue #15 this week. The last issue ended with Batman and Robin split up and in dire straits, but will they be able to survive without their gadgets and suits? Supernatural threats continue to plague Gotham I think you can understand that.
Batman and Robin #15 is about an escape from the danger set up in the previous issue and the aftermath of that escape. The problem picks up where you left off. Bruce is trapped in a small basement, surrounded by fire and no way out. Meanwhile, Robin is several floors up, trapped in a room with a number of civilians. A tense opening shows how each responds quickly to a crisis, but not without losses.
This causes Robin to question his abilities when people die and he is unable to fully cope with it. Author Philip Kennedy Johnson has Robin ask the right questions, which leads to further exploration of Thomas Wayne. Damien doesn’t know his grandfather, so he naturally leans towards him. A boy who grows up to be a weapon must learn the other side of what made Bruce a builder and healer, not just a fighter. This aspect of the story is one of the most interesting.
Will the blues die? !
Credit: DC Comics
Meanwhile, the paranormal mystery accelerates with a cliffhanger. Interestingly, Bruce is so analytical that he continues to deny that it is supernatural at all. Of course, it’s a bit ridiculous for someone who has seen everything from gods to ghosts come out, but this is our perspective. That said, this leads to flashbacks and some new information about Bruce’s training, which should give us some interesting clues.
Javier Fernandez continues to destroy art, but there are no action scenes in this issue. There are some intense moments early on as Damian and Bruce save lives or escape death, and the fire effects are great. Many of the scenes are moody and atmospheric, and when combined with Marcelo Maiolo’s colors, lean toward an eerie atmosphere.
Joining Fernandez will be Carmine Di Giandonico, who will be portraying flashback scenes. That’s fitting, considering he co-stars with Chip Zdarsky, who explores Batman’s backstory in Batman: The Knight. As a fan of that series, I think it would be great to see new threads that build upon that fascinating story.
The plot of this issue feels clunky and forced at times. From Damian in peril to Bruce not believing in supernatural threats, these characters play a role throughout the story. More could be done to clear their suspicions, and Bruce is bound by his past and will eventually be borne out, but Damian has experienced his fair share of loss in the field, so one casualty is not enough. When someone loses him, it’s a hard pill to swallow.
Flashbacks also pop up uncomfortably, with the main villain receiving little development and acting as cliffhangers. Overall, this issue feels a little sloppy compared to the first excellent issue.
Batman and Robin #15 is the second issue of the story arc, but it’s not great. The opening sequence is intense and powerful, and Thomas Wayne’s quest is interesting, but I can’t help but see flaws in the way this issue plays out.
Batman & Robin #15 opens with a great escape.
batman and robin #15
Batman and Robin #15 is the second issue of the story arc, but it’s not great. The opening sequence is intense and powerful, and Thomas Wayne’s quest is interesting, but I can’t help but see flaws in the way this issue plays out.
The escape scene at the beginning is well drawn and powerful.
Makes me want to revisit the blues past
Damian’s crisis feels a bit forced to know his history, even if it leads to an interesting exploration about his grandfather
conspiracies throw us around too much
