Comics! Batman and Robin #3

Batman & Robin #3

Peter J. Tomasi: writer

Patrick Gleason: penciller

Mick Gray: inker

I'm liking the focus on Damian. Think of him as Jason Todd as Robin done right. Smug, arrogant. But can still be outwitted by Alfred. Which is good, because it means that he has room to grow as a character.

Damian is given the task of naming the dog that Bruce got him last issue. He doesn't want to. Him and Alfred play a chess match. Damian loses, and is a sore loser at that. And then Damian gets told he won't patrol with Bruce. That angers him more. After Bruce leaves the cave, Damian decides that he is going out anyway and leaves with Alfred getting another one over on him by planting a tracker on him.

Damian then stops a mugging and totally kicks the crap out of the two muggers. Then Morgan, the big bad enemy in this Batbook, drops in on Damian and tells Damian that the plows he just delivered to one mugger has made him brain dead and that Damian should finish him. Damian doesn't and Morgan does it for him. Morgan touches Damian on the forehead and gets put in some sort of paralysis. Then Batman comes in for the big fight.

I like the focus on Damian in this series for a couple of reasons. You see that he is holding back and is trying to put value to human life. Last issue with him killing the bat was a surprising and scary moment, but then he has this moment after beating the mugger where he realizes that he went a little too far. It was told perfectly in the words and in the art.

I'm glad that Damian isn't being overexposed as a character. You see all the development that he has done since he was introduced a few years ago. He isn't being used in other books the way how Batman appears everywhere. It allows for little character moments like the ones in this series. I wasn't too much of a fan of the character when he was introduced, but he has grown on me. I honestly didn't think that when Bruce would return as Batman that him and Damian would get along well. You can see the moments where Bruce is trying to be a good parent, but he is given a difficult task with this kid.

Now I have the urge to reread everything that I have with Damian in it. This will make for a relaxing afternoon.

The art is great, but the cover could use some work. I liked how it told you what was going on in the issue as opposed to just being a cover that could be used as a generic poster on some one's wall. The figures just seem really awkward about fighting each other.

Words: 10/10

Pictures: 9/10

Recommend: For new and old readers. You definitely discover more about Damian where you didn't need to read anything else that he has been in.

Buy Next Issue: Just give me a better cover next time and we are good.