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★★★★★ 4
Batman and Robin Will Never Die!!!!!!
Format: Hardcover
If you read Batman R.I.P. you saw those words shouted from the Dark Knight himself. This is the third volume of the popular Grant Morrison series Batman and Robin. This is also the conclusion of Grant's run on the book as well. We see a number of story lines finally reach their end.
First thing first. I would recommend strongly that you purchase the first two volumes of this book. Just to give you a quick refresh this is not the Batman and Robin you are expecting. Richard Grayson is under the cowl, finally stepping in to the boots of his mentor. (Bruce was apparently murder by by Darkseid in Final Crisis.) The young lad who has taken the role of Robin is Damian Wayne. He is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul (daughter of Batman's nemesis Ra's al Ghul) . Let me say that this isn't your father's Batman and Robin. Well now that I think about it this isn't even my Batman and Robin. This is a Dynamic Duo for a new generation. Anyone who is familar with Dick Grayson either as Robin or Nightwing knows he is different from Batman. He is not the gloomy, dark and brooding character that Bruce is. Right away you will notice his Batman is different from his predecessor . (Heck, even Gordon and The Joker can tell). Dick's Batman may not be as dark as Bruce but he is not happy go lucky either. He has no problem opening a can of kick butt whenever it is needed. As for Damian this is a very different Robin as well. Robin was always light to Batman's darkness. The kid who says the one liners while Batman knock his foe unconscious. That is not the case here. Damian is dark, violent and a little of a brat most of time. Then again he was raised and trained by "The League of Assassins" since birth. I seriously doubt he has had the normal childhood others characters who wore the Robin mask did. Damian has no problem dishing out the pain either. Sometimes though he tends to dish out too much. In the past we seen him leave his opponents temporary cripple and with a concussion. This is the twist that I love about this book. The roles have been reversed. Batman is the lighter character and Robin is the dark one. What I also love about this book is we see the guy (Dick) who defined the sidekick role takes on a sidekick. Which is why we probably we see a lighter Batman. Dick is being the Batman he wanted. Bruce and Dick even though they were the original "Dynamic Duo" and define the hero sidekick role they still had their problems. It's great to see Dick become a father/big brother figure to Damian even if he is reluctant to it. This relationship is one of the best I have seen in comics for a long time.
Now on to the story. As I said before the story "Batman must Die" brings to a close to Grants run on the book. I will not spoil anything but I will say it does not disappoint. We see Batman and Robin face what seems like impossible odds. A city in chaos and worst of all the Joker is in the middle. I will say one thing I love Grant's interpretation of the Joker and again like in "Batman R.I.P." he steals the show. I won't spoil too much but the Robin and Joker confrontation is great. (What happens when the Robin has the crowbar?) We also see you know who makes his return to Gotham as well. The big climatic fight scene is awesome. You see how much of a team that the current versions Batman and Robin have become.
Speaking of which that is one of the biggest highlights in this book. We finally see these characters grow in to the new roles they have taken. When we first met Damian he was a brat who would not think twice about decapitating a criminal. I love watching him practicing restraint. This was the same character long ago who felt enemies should be dealt with no mercy. Now he is showing mercy. (Well some what) Despite what Damian has said he actually wants to change and be the hero that Dick and others believe he can be. I know some people might not like Damian because he is a brat and really obnoxious at times but I actually like him a lot. Damian is different from all the other Robins. Bruce trained Dick, Jason, Tim and even Stephanie the skills to be Robin and fight crime along side of him. Damian was thought to fight by assassins from birth. He has always had the skills. His path on being Robin is different than the others. He is being trained to be a hero. We finally see the hero he can be in this volume. In the first volume we saw Dick screaming to Damian about fighting as a team and working together. You almost had to wonder will this partnership even last? In this volume we actually see this Duo become Dynamic. We see Dick and Damian work as a team. We see Damian actually following orders. We actually see Dick and Damian become Batman and Robin.
I didn't want to spoil much in my review because I didn't want to ruin a great story for any first time readers. Those who have already read this story know how it ends and where Grant will be taking the Batman Franchise in the future. I know sometimes Grant can go overboard and may lose many readers in a way too complex story but that is not the case here. I really hope Grant writes these characters again. Honestly its been a long time since I enjoyed a Batman book like this.
I would recommend this book to any DC or Batman fan.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2011
