SYNOPSIS: The gangs of Gotham enact their plan to take back their city from the General! Meanwhile, something’s distracting Robin in the field—but is there anything Batman can do about it?
Are you ready for some twists and turns? Waid and Samnee are back in action this issue, delivering the requisite action and some emotional breakthroughs as well.
The crime families of Gotham have called a truce for 24 hours, pooled their resources, and have hired the finest black-ops assassins they could find, all aimed at taking out The General. The problem is that he is ready for them, setting a trap with his version of Monster Men to take out his would-be dispatchers.
Of course, Batman and Robin aren’t going to let this go in their city and join the fray…but something is slightly off with Robin. As the various forces regroup after the conflict, we get treated to some of the best parts of the issue.
The highlight of the book for me is when Alfred goes to check on Dick in his room. Scenes like this are why Mark Waid was born to write comics! Storytelling was different back in the 1940s when Robin was taking flight, and Waid sagaciously uses the characterization of the era (or lack thereof) to propel his narrative forward. Why did a 10-year-old boy not seem upset in the issue after his parents were killed? Simple. Because performers don’t cry.
With a simple line of dialogue, the dam bursts, and Dick collapses into Alfred’s arms. Waid has given Alfred his raison d’être, and I found myself sorely missing the character once again in the current books. My mind immediately flashed to Morrison’s Batman & Robin with Alfred once again consoling Dick, this time over the “loss” of Bruce. That’s the reward for reading comics for years on end-little emotional payoffs that make the investment worth it and the storytelling enriched.
But Waid isn’t done there. He twists the knife differently later in the issue, and I won’t spoil it here. It made for a thrilling cliffhanger!
Samnee continues to impress with every turn of the page! His use of shadow is excellent, and most importantly, the characters’ expressions help you empathize and invest in the narrative. If you’ve stuck with the book till now, you’re probably like me, eagerly awaiting a Deluxe or Absolute edition so you can drool over the art once again!
I can’t recommend this book highly enough. It’s chock-full of action, shocks, and heart. Waid and Samnee make for the perfect team. Don’t miss it! – Javier E. Trujillo
GRADE: A+
