Batman vs. Robin #5
Recap
CHAPTER FIVE: FINALE
WILL FATHER AND SON RECONCILE...OR RUMBLE? The Lazarus Volcano has left its impact on planet Earth, but the fallout from Bruce and Damian Wayne’s war is far from over. It’s been a long road from the initial tensions that drove a wedge between father and son in the pages of Teen Titans, but is the hatchet at last ready to be buried? A bold new chapter in the lives of Batman and Robin begins in this epic final issue!
Review
This is an interesting time for DC. A promising slate of films and streaming shows was recently announced, and for the first time, being directly influenced by their source material. On the publishing side, DC has some of the most talented writers, artists, letterers, and designers working today. Last summer’s Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths ushered readers into the Dawn of DC. The first phase, of course, was Lazarus Planet, which comes to a close with Batman vs. Robin #5. Looking at the whole picture, I would say that Lazarus Planet is successful. It is great to see the magical side of DC getting the spotlight. Starting with Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Mark Waid planted the seed that would spread into Batman vs. Robin, kicking off Lazarus Planet.
I appreciate that Batman vs. Robin #5 has a definitive ending. However, I wasn’t a massive fan of this issue; part of it is because I’m not a big fan of Damian, and this arc had him front and center. Part of the problem is that DC doesn’t know what to do with Damian. The Super Sons series from a few years ago found a great rhythm, but with Jonathan Kent aged up and finding his place in the greater DC Universe, it left Damian in the cold. Mark Waid would be a great choice if someone were to carve Damian’s place in this world. He is incredibly knowledgeable of the DC Universe, with an admirable appreciation for its characters.
By the end of the issue, Damian is forced to kill a possessed Batman with the help of the Bat-Family and various magical characters from the event. His ultimate plan is to surrender his life force to be transferred to Batman. This shows much growth in his character and is somewhat humbling because he is told his life is insufficient. We get all of Gotham symbolically holding hands and chanting “I am Batman” to transfer a piece of them to the lifeless Batman. My problem is that it seems like in every arc of every series, a main character has to die. Batman doesn’t always need to be dark and gritty, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be a Hallmark card. It felt like the end of Ghostbusters II, where all of NYC learns to love each other so the big bad guy can’t siphon power from them. I loved seeing Batman and Damian hugging, though. As I said, Batman doesn’t need to be dark and gritty, and this moment found a nice balance.
The creative team behind this book is truly fantastic. Mahmud Asrar, in particular, does a great job with action dealing with large groups of people. This is especially evident when Damian takes on his father with the help of several Damian clones provided by the Monkey Prince. Jordie Bellaire is one of my favorite colorists, and her contribution to this book is equally impressive, with a style that breathes more life into Asrar’s pencils. The attention to detail and ability to capture emotion through facial expressions is nothing short of impressive. I’m always blown away when artists can get real emotion across from people wearing masks. There are a lot of subtle moments where Damian’s face says so much without any words. Steve Wands’ lettering is strong throughout. His choices for the processed Batman’s speech balloons, Damian’s narration boxes, and various onomatopoeia complimented Bellaire’s color palette.
Final Thoughts
Overall, if this sheds some of the darkness from Damian then I am all for it. It’s been awhile since we’ve had a Batman and Robin book, especially with Damian’s Robin. I would be over the moon if this creative team continued on to a book that drops the “vs.” and adds an “and.”
Batman Vs. Robin #5: A Moment of Growth
- Writing - 7/107/10
- Storyline - 6/106/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10