Batman and Robin #13: Closure and Growth

Batman and Robin #13 marks the end of a few things. For one, it’s the end of the arc that finally pits Damian against Bane, gaining some much-needed closure for Damian and fans alike. The other is that this issue also marks the end of the series for Joshua Williamson, who has been working on Damian for much longer than this series. In the end, it seems that Williamson achieved what he set out to do. A straightforward Batman and Robin book was missing from shelves for some time, and this series certainly filled that hole. Williamson also used the series to show readers that Damian has grown a lot as a character.

Juan Ferreyra did an incredible job with Williamson’s script and put a lot of care into this arc. This and the previous issue in particular deal with some heavy themes, but Ferreyra balances things brilliantly and skillfully guides the reader through an important time in Damian’s life. Half of this issue is a venomed-out Damian fighting Kobra Cult with Batman and Bane, but the other is stripped back and leans into Damian’s feelings and emotions. Ferreyra can illustrate some really cool-looking fight scenes and dinosaurs, which is always awesome, but he can also get some incredible emotion out of characters whether they have a mask on or not.

The series found its footing with this creative team and arc, so it is a shame it ends here for Joshua Williamson and Juan Ferreyra. However, through thirteen issues Williamson was able to do a lot and set a strong foundation for the next team. Philip Kennedy Johnson, who takes over writing duties starting with Batman and Robin #14, has certainly demonstrated that he is more than capable of handling a book like this. His work on Action Comics proved that he could deliver interesting stories around iconic characters while still exploring legacy with younger characters thrown in the mix. Adding Javier Fernández as the series’ artist certainly doesn’t hurt.