SYNOPSIS: As Batman’s newest enemy continues to cut a bloody path through Gotham’s underground, the Dynamic Duo works to uncover his motives. What is his connection to some of the city’s fiercest villains? What brought him back to hunt them down? And who will be caught in the crossfire? Find out here!
While the title on the cover may say “Batman and Robin”, it could also very well be an issue of Super Sons as Clark and Jon pay a visit to Bruce and Damian!
Opening in media res, we find Batman and Robin in a heated battle with The Quiet Man at the Asher Estate. Penguin and Two-Face are there, too, but all The Quiet Man wants is the location of The Ventriloquist. The scene plays fast and furious under the dynamic art of Fico Ossio! There are some interesting props at play that the Caped Crusaders (and their villains) make good use of, leading to some spectacular visuals!
With the fight eventually ending in a stalemate and everyone retreating to their respective corners of Gotham, Batman fills Robin in on some backstory regarding The Ventriloquist and what he supposes happened. It was nice to see that Dr. Meridian got mentioned, as I was afraid she would be forgotten after her appearances in Tamaki’s run on Detective Comics.
Gears shift as Batman and Robin return to Pennyworth Manor and resume their civilian identities to do some press for an upcoming charity benefit for Sacred Heart Hospital. When asked what media outlet they should reach out to, Bruce sagaciously suggested The Daily Planet, which leads to the issue’s highlight-bonding for Damian and Jon, and just as important, Bruce and Clark.
Johnson shines here as the Super Sons get just to be, and Bruce turns to Clark for some parenting advice. Jon getting to hang out with Damian’s new friends, the Gotham Irregulars, is a lot of fun, and Damian is pitch-perfect in his confidence that he could take everyone down with his contingency plans. It harkens back to Waid’s “Tower of Babel” storyline in JLA, which is fitting, given Damien’s grandfather’s involvement in that arc.
My favorite part of it all is the Bruce and Clark side of things. Bruce may not feel the most confident when it comes to parenting, given his history, and the loss of Alfred is keenly felt, but Clark is the perfect friend in this situation, giving Bruce the reassurance he needs. As often as we see them at odds across all media, it’s very appreciated to see the World’s Finest truly be there for each other — and that their respective sons are carrying on the tradition.
While the issue ends with the requisite cliffhanger, it’s really the character work that sticks with you long after you close the book. Johnson’s heart is on his sleeve when the characters are discussing parenting, and Ossio’s artwork is bold and exciting, making this writer and artist pairing a dynamic duo in their own right. This book has been one of my favorites since Johnson took ove,r and this issue is the perfect example of why. – Javier E. Trujillo
GRADE: A+