“School Daze”
Artist: Nikola Čižmešija
Color Artist: Rex Lokus
Letterer: Steve Wands
Review by James Attias
Batman & Robin #5 is different. We get a new art style, a different approach to the storytelling, and a new father/son dynamic.
Let’s swing in…
Bats and Balls
So, after the absolutely hilarious bombshell at the end of the last issue, which I can now finally talk about, I’ve been waiting… like seriously! Damian says “My new Principal is a former mentor of mine who is also Shush”. Wow! I imagine a lot of us were expecting a long drawn out is it/isn’t it, story. What could have been more of a shock than Damian flat-out saying it, like the many many Scooby-Doo stories of old, when there’s only one new character who has to be the culprit? I was worried this would be the same.
The original “Hush” story faced that challenge, but they dealt with it in the best way possible, with loads of red herrings that kept the story interesting (I’ll never say a bad thing about Hush, FYI).
So, this issue shows us what comes next. How do Batman and Robin prove that Principal Stone is Shush? Well, the only way that makes sense, is Damian and Bruce being more active in school activities. That’s right, not exactly what I was hoping for. I like a swift confrontation, but nope, they’re going to have to lure her out by doing PTA pancake breakfasts and joining school clubs.
Doomsday’s Aunt
The art in this issue was also different, which I initially found jarring, as the first 4 issues had such a unique identifiable style. This much like the story felt a little bit more… juvenile.
In terms of story, when the CW Show Supergirl was on the air, they had a recurring habit of taking Superman’s foes and adding a relative to that no one had ever heard of and that would be who Supergirl would face: a la Lex Luthor’s sister, Mon El’s Mother, Lex Luthor’s Mother and even a young female relative of Mister Mxyzptlk. To the fandom, there was a joke going around that the show would at some point have Supergirl fight Doomsday’s aunt.
The reason I have mentioned this to you, dear reader, is because this issue, and now this series, feels like it’s taken a step in that direction. I won’t spoil anything, but judge for yourselves. I was not a fan.
Conclusion
Batman & Robin #5 takes the book in a new direction. Judge for yourselves, is it better or worse?
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment