“Batman & Robin #4”
Artists: Mikel Janín and Simone Di Meo
Color Artist: Jeromy Cox and Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer: Steve Wands
Review by James Attias
Batman & Robin #4 is full of surprises. From start to finish. Some twists were so big that I can’t even mention that huge [SPOILER].
Bats in the Cradle
So, we now know who was pulling Shush’s strings, it was the Monstrous [SPOILER], back from the grave. When we last saw him, he was dying for a noble cause in the pages of Detective Comics, which is why I was a little disappointed about his return to a life of crime. The resurrection also really didn’t feel right to me, the way he was brought back or the reasoning behind it… it all just felt a little lazy. This has been, so far, the first misstep of this run in my opinion.
When we first saw [SPOILER] at the end of last issue, I was hoping it was a new character picking up their mantle, but alas, let’s hope the development brings about a bit more sense and clarity. Again, I didn’t hate it, it just didn’t feel 100% right.
Heir to the Scowl
Robin in this run has really come into his own. We’re treated to a flashback in this issue, of Robin in training, back when he was being raised by Talia and the League of Assassins. It showed us how much he has grown as a character under the guidance of his mentors in Gotham; Alfred, Bruce, and Dick to name but a few. This series shows us Bruce trying to be a single father to Damian, but with no help from Alfred, and no one else to fall back on. That in itself is wonderful to read.
The art in this issue was a wonderful treat. To see Mikel Janín drawing Batman again after so many fantastic issues during the Tom King run, was lovely. Now you’re not going to believe this, but this issue also had the best final page stinger I’ve read in years. The way [SPOILER] is just so sure about [SPOILER] delivers a wonderful fresh take that made me smile and gasp.
Conclusion
Batman & Robin #4 gives and takes. We get a villain but lose the mystery. It also gives us something to look forward to next issue… but I can’t tell you what!
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment