Comics! Batman & Robin #12

Batman & Robin #12

Peter J. Tomasi: writer
Patrick Gleason: penciller
Mick Gray: inker

Solicitation
• The finale of the fight with TERMINUS!

Preview

Why I Bought It
I've enjoyed this book, which should be titled Robin & Batman.

What I Liked
This book was filled with a couple of good moments. there were little references here and there and little setups that, despite the story being rather weak around them, had some nice charm to them in the end.

Leave it to Nightwing to take the best approach to the whole "Damian vs. The Robins" story. In reference to the previous issues with Damian attacking the other Robins, his approach with Nightwing couldn't have been handled better. If you take into account that Nightwing was once Batman, you would think that Damian would be hesitant about fighting him. That, or it could have been the ultimate end goal, leaving his father as the only one standing in the way of him becoming Batman. Nightwing was completely calm and mature about the situation that totally deflated the ego-driven Damian. My one issue was the sound effect of "fap." there seriously couldn't have been anything else?

And Gleason can shine without the heavy inks of night. Make no bones about it that the art really felt like it carried the story more so than the written word.

What I Didn't Like
This book felt like it had to rush this story line. It was just the same feeling as other DC books that took its time with its first arc and then had a rush second arc to beat the issue #0 deadline. So every story beat felt rushed and made it seem like the plot wanted to get to a certain point without the story actually earning any of its moments.

That being said, the Robin story was the true main story, not this Terminus BS. Yes, I know he died, but at the end of the story, it really felt like a generic, D-list type of villain that was only ever going to be temporary. him and the rest of the "team." Compare that to the previous villain, Nobody, who could have easily become a B-list villain popping up every now and then had Damian not killed him.

This issue just felt like it was full of moments of stuff we have seen before. Bruce in the pseudo-Iron Man suit was last seen in Night of the Owls. The little tribute to Dark Knight Returns when Terminus' battery runs out. The ending where Batman saves the city from a bomb (granted, that one was probably coincidental depending on how much knowledge Tomasi had of the Dark Knight Rises movie, but it is eerily familiar.

And as awesome as the four Robins panel is, it doesn't work as an interior panel. Seriously, think about how close those guys have to be standing next to each other. After everything that just happened in the story. it would work great as a cover, but not so much as in the middle of the story. It really didn't feel like it had earned its moment in the story itself.

But seriously, is that not the shortest solicitation ever? And nothing about a guest appearance by another Robin?

Panel to Remember
The four Robins standing next to each other is the panel to remember. By itself, really nice. In the context of the story, not so much for me.

Quotable
"If you hadn't noticed, kid, you're already wearing the "R" on your chest." - Nightwing to Robin at the end of the issue. Its true, but I don't think it is a lesson that Damian will ever learn, even when someone outside of his family that he probably trusts says it to him.

Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 7/10
Buy Next Issue: I'm looking forward to the next arc that can takes the time to develop the story beats. Something in-between the arc done so far in this book.