BATMAN AND ROBIN #13 Author: Chris Clow
July 10, 2010
(EDITOR'S NOTE:BOF's own Chris Clow steps in this month to "guest review" B&R #13 while I'm am in Minnesota on vacation. Thanks Chris! - "Jett)
OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: Writer Grant Morrison is joined by artist Frazer Irving for the first chapter of a 3-part epic! Thomas Wayne – a man believed murdered over 20 years ago – has returned with an incredible tale to tell, and he's claiming the entire Wayne fortune! He's slyly demanding that Bruce Wayne must return if Bruce wishes to oppose the claim! Plus, the long-awaited return of the ultimate Batman villain!
Full circle.
For all the criticism he's received while writing in the Batman world, after the Omega Sanctions and Professor Pygs and the Damian Waynes, love him or hate him, Grant Morrison is great at completing the circle of his stories. Over a year ago, when we got the first issue of BATMAN AND ROBIN, Morrison tied up the loose ends after R.I.P. by harking back to a phrase that started on page one of BATMAN #676...
"Batman and Robin will NEVER DIE!"
And now, from the ashes of R.I.P. and the reappearance of The Joker, Morrison begins an arc that says "Batman and Robin Must Die." In the first few pages of this story, it's very easy for established Batman fans to be taken aback by the prospects presented. It may even feel somewhat sacrilegious. But taking into account that this is no doubt the intended effect makes the opening pages to this story even stronger. Doctor Hurt himself has returned from his long disappearance, and taunts Dick Grayson, saying among other things, "Bruce Wayne failed to stop me, Mr. Grayson. You dare imagine yourself superior to a Wayne?" From here, the issue follows on the heels of the last cliffhanger, and features the first face-to-face meeting between Damian Wayne and the Joker. As revealed last issue, The Joker has been the elusive "Domino Killer" that's had his presence felt since the first issue of this series, and when he's given the chance to explain his bizarre actions over the course of this series, his answer is very intriguing and possibly, very deceptive.
Morrison continues to give voice to the crowd of fans that disapprove of anyone else besides Bruce Wayne being in the cape and cowl. Ironically the mouthpiece he uses for these fans' concerns is Dick Grayson himself. Several times during a meeting with Commissioner Gordon, Grayson says that he feels all he's doing is, "keeping the costume warm." There's even a point in which they're speaking that Gordon flat out says to Dick that "the last Batman" used to call him Jim. Appropriately, Dick responds by saying, "I'll call you Commissioner Gordon, sir, if that's okay." Wouldn't have it any other way, and it makes perfect sense given Dick's past as Robin.
Frazer Irving's artwork is appropriately dark, moody, and rather gothic. It's tone is very similar to his stint on THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE, but he approaches a modern world quite differently, with more light sources apparent in the urban expanse of Gotham City than in the quiet, candle-lit grounds of Gotham village. His work is appropriate given the apocalyptic tone of this issue, and Irving's Joker is unsurprisingly pretty unsettling.
One of the best things about B&R #13? Even the characters know they're not going to be without Bruce Wayne for much longer.
Favorite quote of this issue by far, just for what it implies…
"You don't get it, do you? You're FINISHED."
GRADE: A
Longtime Batman/DCU fan and BOF'er Chris Clow is a student at Western Washington University
He reviews comics, covers conventions, and is a BOF podcast "Roundtabler."
He's also an employee at Bellingham, Washington's oldest and best comic book store, The Comics Place.
