Comics / Comic Reviews / DC Comics

Batman and Robin #11

By Dan Horn
April 11, 2010 - 20:08

Andy Clarke's variant cover artwork

Round two of "Batman vs. Robin" finds Dick Grayson continuing his investigation of the cryptic depths of Wayne Manor. Meanwhile, the surreptitious Oberon Sexton aids Damian Wayne in fending off some of El Penitente's evil goons. But, Damian is quickly realizing that Sexton may be some one quite different than who he says he is. Damian's also finding that his actions are not his own as his mother Talia manipulates him by way of a surgically implanted receiver in his spine. As Batman stumbles upon more than he bargained for in the manor's catacombs, Damian and Sexton are confronted with seemingly insurmountable odds, and Talia introduces into the mix another deadly player who has a bone to pick with Dick Grayson.

Grant Morrison's weirdness is always a treat to peruse, especially when applied to such a mainstream character, but he's taken a rather Spartan approach to his storytelling on this series. You'll be lucky to get a good five minutes of reading out each issue, and since Frank Quitely's departure from the series' interiors, the campy and psychedelic appeal of the book has all but vanished. Combine that with the last arc's confusing and blatantly incorrect lettering errors, and one really has to wonder if the Batman and Robin creative and editorial teams are really all that invested in this title, or if it's just a showcase for up and coming artists. It seems as though they'll never recapture the lightning of the first few issues of Batman and Robin in this bottle again.

That being said, this latest arc has been entertaining to say the least. Grant builds upon the classic "Dark Knight, Dark City" story by Peter Milligan from years ago and infuses "Batman vs. Robin" with the same grim fantasy as his Legends of the Dark Knight offering "Gothic."

There's a lot going on in Batman and Robin, but it's not a complete cerebral overload like Tony Daniel's Batman travesty. The mysteries presented are interesting enough to keep you turning the pages and buying the book month after month. There's a real feeling of progression as issue 11 begins blending many of the series' as of yet loosely commingled components. Issue 12 should see all of the past year's events coming to a climactic head, leading up to Morrison's Return of Bruce Wayne miniseries beginning in May.

Rating: 8.5 /10

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12