With healthy doses of Super Criminal (face, two, clay) and the ongoing conflict of organized crime, Batman & Robin: Year 1 is filled with shadowy drama that you’d expect from a retronostalgic Batman story. But it is more of a paternity interest.
This should not be a surprise. It’s a book about the opening months of Bruce Wayne’s Dick Grayson adoption. It tells the story of a father and not ready to be a boy who is not looking for a new person, under some layers of costumes and crime fighting.
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Conversely, Anthony Grimaldi, the book’s leading villain, has an uneasy relationship between a father and son. If Bruce and Dick can’t fully understand what kind of relationship they have, Grimaldi has long established a relationship of hatred and abuse. Anthony denies his father, rolls his wheelchair to the edge of the building, causing the old man to sweat. In issue 8 of the series, he simply orders his father’s favorite meal and refuses to help him eat it.
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Throughout the book, only Jim Gordon’s relationship with his daughter Barbara is approaching something like a healthy parent’s role (fans may know that Jim’s workaholic nature historically distanced him from Barbara). At a fascinating moment, Batman suggests that he might need a bit of father’s advice from Jim. He sticks to the simplest of his advice to accept it.
The highlight of this issue is the scene between Clayface and Dick. Clayface pretends to be Bruce, acts like his joking adoptive father’s father acts as he acts, and this is a clue that things aren’t what they look like. “I could tell he wasn’t you,” Dick tells Batman. That’s the truth that will become clear. Batman is more interested in the fatal business of his role than the greatness of making him teenagers welcome.
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Due to all family concerns, Batman & Robin: Year 1 does not ignore moody noir narratively or visually. Chris Samney’s artwork is consistently perfect, and his characters are bold and iconic. Clayface is a horrifying reminder of the appearance of his beloved yellow teeth in Batman: the animated series.
The colors of Matt Lopez and Giovanna Niro set the book’s pessimistic, midnight tone. This is an eternal night in Gotham city. These spaces are illuminated with street lights, headlights and desk lamps. Everything is muted or spotlight.
Question #8 is the highlight of the series and is currently one of the best bat books on the stands. It’s touching and thrilling on equal measures.
“Batman & Robin: Year #8” is thrilling (and I’m obsessed with my dad)
Batman & Robin: Year 1 #8
With its stellar clay-like moments and authentic emotional weight, Batman & Robin continues to be one of the standout bat books on the shelf.
Beautiful and stylistic.
I invested emotionally in that relationship.
It shines a spotlight on the great villains.
Fit the plot and start.
