Written by: Mark Waid
Art by: Chris Samnee
Colors by: Matheus Lopes
Letters by: Clayton Cowles
Cover art by: Chris Samnee, Matheus Lopes (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: October 16, 2024
Batman & Robin: Year One #1, by DC Comics on 10/16/24, reimagines Dick Grayson's first outing as Robin alongside Batman. Their first challenge? Recover a top-secret file stolen by Two-Face.
Is Batman & Robin: Year One #1 Good?
Let's not mince words. Batman & Robin: Year One #1 is perfectly good. Writer Mark Waid infuses young Dick Grayson with all the zeal and charm of a kid having the time of his life while Bruce Wayne grapples with keeping Dick's zealous energy in check. But here's the thing. Haven't we seen this all before, more than once? Well, okay.
Batman & Robin: Year One #1 begins with Bruce Wayne quietly talking with his butler Alfred about Bruce's new ward, Dick Grayson. At this moment, Dick is aware Bruce is Batman, and he's accepted the offer to become Robin, but Dick has yet to make his public debut in Gotham City. Tonight is the night.
Mark Waid sets the tone of the story that says this isn't some edgy, grimdark, updated for modern audiences version of the original Dynamic Duo. Bruce's serious uncertainty contrasts Dick's giddy excitement to foil crime in the big wide world. The tone of their dialog is straight and entirely wholesome while mature enough not to sound outdated or corny.
Commissioner Gordon activates the Bat Signal to bring the Dynamic Duo. Batman makes his presence known on the roof of the GCPD, but before Gordon can launch into his request, Batman stops him to introduce his sidekick - Robin. Gordon is unsettled by the idea of a child participating in a war on crime, but Batman reminds Gordon that no war excuses children. Gordon explains a top-secret file was stolen from his office, a file no one should see, including Batman, and the perpetrator of this crime is none other than Two-Face. Gordon witnesses an example of Robin's readiness when the Boy Wonder launches off the roof to the streets below.
Waid smartly uses the opening scenes to demonstrate Dick's capabilities and to pre-answer the objections of the adults Batman regularly interacts with. Under any other circumstance, Gordon would think Batman is crazier than he already is, but Robin shows Gordon he's ready for the job with a wink and a smile.
Batman begins the hunt for Two-Face by tracking down an unsavory informant. However, the Dynamic Duo doesn't realize until it's too late that their arrival is expected when one of Two-Face's henchmen unleashes a grenade attack on the speeding Batmobile. Armor keeps the vehicle safe, so Batman spins the car around to chase the henchman down. Eager to help, Robin leaps out of the Batmobile to chase the henchman up a ladder to the rooftops above. Batman exits the vehicle soon after and warns Robin not to get ahead of himself, making blind jumps and running around dark corners.
The chase scene is standard stuff but still very well done. During the chase, Batman struggles to stay ahead of Robin and hold him back from taking a fatal step. Robin is too eager and excited to listen. Their push/pull of the chase, coupled with Batman's frustration, clarifies and reinforces how Robin has the training but not the experience or maturity, which creates a layer of tension on an already dangerous mission.
The henchman leads the Dynamic Duo to Two-Face's current hideout. Here, a lack of experience lands Robin in hot water when he charges into the room and steps on a pressure mine. Two-Face expected their arrival, but despite Batman's efforts to play into Harvey's duality, Two-Face says he only stole one file because a dangerous threat is coming for Gotham, a threat so big that both his personas are in agreement about what to do to survive. Two-Face refuses to tell Batman what's in the file, but he does leave Batman with the knowledge that a new crime boss has planted the seeds to take over Gotham for over a year, and there's nothing the Dynamic Duo can do to stop him.
What's great about Batman & Robin: Year One #1?
Mark Waid gives readers a super-solid version of the Dynamic Duo's first outing with action, adventure, pitch-perfect dialog, and foreshadowing of an intriguing threat on the horizon. Readers who've hungered for a classic Batman will love this issue. Further, there isn't a technical flaw that I can find anywhere in this comic.
What's not great about Batman & Robin: Year One #1?
At the risk of sounding anti-fun, why does this comic exist? Mark Waid's central premise is solid but basic. There are dozens of comics detailing the first outing of the Dynamic Duo, albeit with a Silver Age sensibility. This is a very good comic, but there's nothing special about it so far, and there's no compelling reason for it to exist when the market is already saturated with too much Batman.
How's the Art?
Chris Samnee's style is a practically perfect match that blends the browns, grays, and blacks of David Mazzucchelli's Batman: Year One with a lighter spirit of adventure. In short, the art looks like an old-school comic with a modern feel, and it completely suits the script.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Batman & Robin: Year One #1 is an excellent start for a series detailing the first outings of the Dynamic Duo. Mark Waid's pacing, dialog, action, and central mystery have a classic Batman detective feel that we haven't seen in a long time, and Chris Samnee's art suits the story and timeframe perfectly. That said, the story feels like stories we've already seen multiple times, so it's unclear why DC decided to create yet another Batman title.
8.8/10
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