Cover art to Batman and Robin #2 by Frank Quitely
Despite making relatively short work of the Circus of the Strange, the new Batman and Robin don’t exactly live up to the standard set by their predecessors in the process. Robin’s capable of doing the job but having been raised by criminals and assassins, he isn’t always up to taking orders. Dick Grayson isn’t quite up to giving them either and he’s having a hard time filling the boots (and cape) of the man who trained him. Meanwhile, Commissioner Gordon and the GCPD know that something’s up with Batman and Robin and this new Pyg villain is scary as all get-out.
The dynamic between Dick, Damian and Alfred is fantastically handled. Damian is almost totally unlikable but not in the Jason Todd sort of way where you want him dead. Dick just can’t get his head around the concept of being Batman and Alfred, as usual, dispenses wisdom of the highest pedigree.
I love the little moments best: Dick mentioning that wearing a cape again after all these years is throwing him off balance, his recognition of circus slang and Alfred’s solution to Dick’s confidence problems add a lot of depth to the characters and enhance the story.
And Frank Quitely’s art is, quite frankly, amazing. A great writer paired with a great artist usually equals a really great story but there are those rare occasions where creators seem to absolutely click and the end result is nothing short of magical. This is one of those situations. Frank Quitely really seems to understand Morrison’s work and Grant seems to bring out the best in Frank.
Oh, and did you get a look at the price tag? Still only $2.99.
I have a really hard time finding fault with the finished product when Morrison and Quitely put their heads together. Can’t find any in this issue either.
Cover art to Batman and Robin #2 by Frank Quitely
Who isn’t reading this book? And why? It’s almost pointless for me to review this book because it should just go without saying that you’re buying it.
I know that a lot of people don’t always like Morrison’s writing (at times, I am one of them) but if you liked his work on All-Star Superman, you should pick this one up as well. It’s sort of the same idea: a post-modern look at the Silver Age Batman. It’s fun and wild and full of life and color and POW and WHAM but it’s also a lot more thoughtful and introspective than the books of that era. Imagine the 1960’s TV show all grown up and pumped up on steroids and LSD. There’s no camp and little humor but it’s the most fun I’ve had reading Batman in years.