Batman and Robin #12
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Andy Clarke
Batman vs Robin part 3
Wow.
That’s my first impression of this issue.
Wow.
And I mean, after watching Lost last night, I was already giving out a lot of those, but I mean, holy crap this issue was awesome.
Batman vs. Robin, while Robin a proxy for Deathstroke. Awesome use of Deathstroke, and I’m going to say it now, I love this arc that much more for using him. Dick doesn’t have a lot of arch villains, but Slade has always been on the top of the list. Superman has Lex Luthor, Bruce Wayne has the Joker, Dick Grayson has Deathstroke
Though one thing this issue just further makes me wonder about, that’s been on my mind since he first debuted; just how much of a test tube baby is Damian? I mean, last arc he was in a wheel chair because he had his spine replaced? Who the hell has their spine replaced when there isn’t anything wrong with it? And he’s being controlled puppet master style through it? It’s not that I have any issue with that, it’s more that I just wonder how ridiculously fucked in the head Morrison’s rendition of Talia is, because I never saw her as….well, insane before.
Dick’s way of ending that encounter, without spoilers, was by far one of the most inventive knockout blows I’ve ever seen him do. It was definitely a real ‘Batman’ way to do things, and he took full advantage of the history he has with Slade to fully know and understand how to beat him. Despite that he was fighting Robin.
The Return of Bruce Wayne is definitely in full swing after the events of this issue, as all of the clues do come together to create irefutible evidence that Bruce is alive and somewhere in the past. We also had Damian finally forced to make a final choice between being Robin or being with his mother, and it was a nice moment, and it truly showed the character depth that Damian has attained if not just in the last year of Batman and Robin.
The big spoiler, however, is the last page where we do find out the identity of Oberon Sexton, and let me tell you people one thing……..read the issue to find out who it is!
Andy Clarke hits a home run in the art department, as per the norm. He’s an amazing artist, and he might actually be my favorite artist on the book so far. I love his style, and would love to see him handle more Batman related things in the future.
Overall?
9/10
