Batman and Robin #7

• Comic Series: Batman and Robin


• Issue Number: 07


• Title: Cult of Man-Bat: Part One


• Writer(s): Joshua Williamson


• Artist(s): Simone Di Meo


• Colorist(s): Giovanna Niro


• Letterer(s): Steve Wands

I’m an endless optimist which is why I’m still reading this series even though nothing ever happens. What exactly is Shush supposed to be doing again? There’s some kind of evil plot, I think? Can’t remember, don’t care.

I’m happy to see Flatline back! I think she’s fun, and a little teen romance is adorable, plus I’m hoping it will inject some much-needed energy into this comic. Unfortunately, the pages of catch-up between Damian and Nika were slow and meandering and, dare I say, boring. It could have been heavily abbreviated.

A gripe I had that was specific to this issue was where Damian and Nika were discussing Damian's relationship with Bruce, and Damian says that "We have had some... rough moments, but it has been good since I moved back in with him." I just wish that we would have seen some actual rough moments, but as I've said before, Williamson has pretty much skipped over anything that could be interesting in favor of making Damian and Bruce get along pretty much from the get-go with very minimal conflict. Their only real argument was over Damian going to school, and Damian ended up wanting to go to school anyway because of Principal Stone, aka Mistress Harsh, aka Shush. I'm back to my old "it's too nice" complaint.

It’s a little funny re-reading my review of the first issue of this series where I gushed about the art, because my opinion has really changed. I still like the jewel tones, but the more I’ve read it, the harder I’ve found it to read. The panel layouts are sometimes confusing, and most of the time there’s just too much going on for your eyes to easily follow the action. The panels on top of a full image page have gotten a little old.

Wow, this was a really pessimistic review. I do like the comic, it's just that the longer I read it, the more glaring the things I dislike get. The addition of Flatline is one I'm excited for, I think she's fun, and the little glimpse at the real reason why she was in Gotham intrigues me.

Why You Should Read This:

If you really like Damian, and you want to see a teen romance.

Series: Batman and Robin
Issue Number: 2024 Annual
Title: The Most Dangerous Road Trip
Writer(s): Joshua Williamson
Artist(s): Howard Porter
Colorist(s): Rain Beredo
Letterer(s): Steve Wands

Bruce and Damian go on a road trip for some camping and bonding time, and of course end up having to fight off a group of hunters set on killing them to win a pot set by the villainess Roulette.

I thought the story was fun. Maybe not the deepest of content or message, but there were moments I enjoyed, specifically a few that really showed how alike Bruce and Damian are.



Porter’s lineart has a very scribble-y quality to it, like he was working with a ball-point pen, which I thought worked well with Beredo’s moody, earth toned colors. The characters had very subtle expressions, if they had expressions at all, and most of the tone of a scene was imparted instead by the panel layouts and the spoken dialogue.

Why You Should Read This: If you like father-son bonding time and a simple story, check it out!