BATMAN AND ROBIN #14 Author: Robert Reineke
September 10, 2010
OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS: In "Batman Must Die!" part 2 of 3, one of our heroes lies near death! Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne enter the ultimate, blood-soaked battle against two foes who almost destroyed the original Batman. Are the new Dynamic Duo up to this final confrontation with absolute evil? If they can't truly bond as a team, they're dead!
Grant Morrison’s run on BATMAN AND ROBIN is building to its big climax. And things couldn’t look much grimmer for Dick Grayson, Damian Wayne, and Gotham City. Which makes for a great story as seeds that Grant Morrison has planted throughout his run bear fruit in a particularly apocalyptic scenario.
BATMAN AND ROBIN started on a note of a new era complete with flying Batmobile. That Batmobile has been shot down at the beginning of this issue which symbolizes how dire the situation is. And things get worse for the Dynamic Duo from there.
Grant Morrison included The Joker on the very first page of his run and The Joker’s presence has been felt on a regular basis without him taking center stage. That changes in big way in this issue as The Joker finds a way to take advantage of Damian Wayne and his lack of back up. And we find out who The Joker is really playing against. Morrison holds back nothing here as we see the “differently sane” master planner Joker at work and how he sets up his “Best. Gag. Ever.” And it just may live up to that billing.
Meanwhile, Doctor Hurt and Professor Pyg proceed with their plans to unleash a drug whose addiction spreads like a virus throughout Gotham. And Pyg unleashes drugs, legal and otherwise, on himself which only fuels his ego and madness. Allies fall. There are betrayals and Batman and Robin find themselves at the (lack of) mercy of two masterminds.
Even Bruce Wayne would find this scenario a challenge. Can Dick Grayson find the means to emulate his mentor in planning? Bruce Wayne’s example is needed more than ever here. And, Morrison hints that there’s still hope. The opening panel features an oversized chess piece, a white knight, which harks back to the black and red game board that’s been a feature throughout Morrison’s run. And can Damian justify Dick’s efforts in his redemption? Perhaps the ultimate master planner isn’t Doctor Hurt or The Joker. Perhaps it’s Grant Morrison.
Frazier Irving really steps up his game to sit comfortably alongside Frank Quitely and Cameron Stewart on this title. Irving’s people perhaps look a little rubbery and surreal, which in this case is a plus, but his coloring really sets him apart. If we can remember back to BATMAN AND ROBIN #1, Frank Quitely created a four color, pop art influenced color scheme complete with sound effects. The coloring here is about as far from four color comics as possible. Pages are shaded in sepia, greens, and pinks. The coloring isn’t the coloring of heroes, but of sickness, decay, and madness. All of those color are perfectly fitting for the story Morrison is telling and where it fits in the overall storyline.
It’s certainly understandable how people may not be on board with the overall storyline. But BATMAN AND ROBIN #14 is a great example of modern comic book craftsmanship. It’s cohesive in writing, art, theme, and fits in perfectly as an arc chapter and in an overall opus. The pieces are all in place for something truly memorable.
GRADE: A+
Robert Reineke is a Civil and Environmental Engineer residing in Wisconsin.
He’s earned a BS and MS degrees from the University of Wisconsin and has been reading Batman comics since the 1970s.
He’s of the firm belief that there are plenty of Batman comics written before Frank Miller that are worthy of discussion.
