Batman vs. Robin #1
Kevin Rossi
Recap
Deep in the heart of Lazarus Island, the demonic legacy of the al Ghul family line has at last been freed, and the Devil Nezha is out for blood. To reclaim his total domination over planet Earth, Nezha has supercharged magic—anyone who dares use it is overcome by a demonic evil that supercharges their abilities to dangerous, unpredictable, and in some cases, deadly levels! With Damian in Nezha’s clutches and Bruce haunted by the return of an old friend, the Dark Knight and the Boy Wonder are pitted against one another in the battle of the century!
Review
Batman vs. Robin #1 almost immediately delivers the promise of the title. Only a few pages in and Batman is dodging attacks from Damien, who has Tim Hunter and Jakeem Hunter doing the dirty work for him. I love an issue that jumps right into the fun, but this series starts with something unexpected: the return of Alfred. By the end of the issue we know we are dealing with magic, but will this be the official return of [SPOILER]? If a writer was to bring him back, Mark Waid would be knowledgeable and talented enough to make it work. That being said, Waid has consistently written some great Batman stories recently. I’m referring to his work on Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, which sort of acts as a prequel to Batman vs. Robin. Waid, along with Dan Mora, introduced Nezha to readers in the pages of World’s Finest. Due to the series being more lighthearted and taking place years ago, Nezha seemed like just another villain. But here, we get a glimpse at the damage he is capable of.
The damage is pretty spectacular looking thanks to Mahmud Asra and Jordie Bellaire. This issue moves pretty fast and covers a lot of ground, and Asra’s art ensures that things move as smoothly but action-packed as possible. I am a big fan of Bellaire’s coloring and know that they will elevate the art of whatever book they are on. Whether it’s the vibrant colors of magic clashing in the Batcave or quieter moments like Batman hugging Alfred, the coloring is brilliantly executed and makes those great moments that much better. The issue takes a shift in tone when Batman and Alfred visit Zatanna. The angles that Asrar uses give such an unsettling vibe to match the already creepy house, and by the time Batman and Alfred find Zatanna, the book has already gone full-on body horror. Despite the tough spot they are all in, I was happy to see Justice League Dark. Recently, you’d have to catch them in the back of Justice League books, so I am always happy when they get the spotlight. With the first issue like this, I’m really excited to see what lies ahead for readers.
Final Thoughts
BATMAN VS. ROBIN #1 is captivating from start to finish and will have readers eager for more. Is this the return of an old friend or is Batman in this fight against his son alone?
Batman Vs. Robin #1: Family Feud (Spoiler-Free)
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10
