Batman & Robin: Year One #5: Hold the Line

Batman & Robin: Year One is nearly halfway through but shows no signs of slowing down. Co-plotters Mark Waid and Chris Samnee have put together something special that already feels like a classic. Every issue has been knocked out of the park and issue #5 might be the best yet. Batman & Robin: Year One #5 is written by Mark Waid, drawn by Chris Samnee, colored by Mat Lopes, and lettered by Clayton Cowels. It is worth noting that Samnee contributes to the lettering which adds to the distinct tone throughout. Earlier reviews mentioned that Batman & Robin: Year One is light on classic Batman villains, which is a common thread throughout the series based on the early years of the Caped Crusader. Except for Two-Face, the bad guys of this series consisted of mobsters led by The General. However, issue #5 introduces Matt Hagen’s Clayface. Clayface’s slow reveal is a masterful display of visual storytelling and easily one of the best Clayface-related books in recent years.

Chris Samnee achieves a certain sense of tone and style that feels timeless. The attention to detail and perspective are outright brilliant and are nearly perfected by Lopes’ colors, which appear simple at first but are far from it. A quick flip-through will give off warm and cool tones but upon a closer read reveals intricate color choices that keep up with Samnee’s pencils. Whether it is the tense and heart-pounding showdown between Batman and Clayface or Robin taking on goons alone, the sense of movement feels distinct and well throughout. This issue front-loads some humor and light-heartedness but by the end of the issue, there is a sense of urgency that feels genuine. Waid’s writing is top-notch as always and Cowles gets the most out of the script with his lettering. Between the lettering, writing, and art this issue does such a good job of balancing the tension with excitement.