Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn (Batman & Robin) [Special Edition] [Hardcover]

As Darkseid once said, after being told that one of his lieutenants had died - "What? Again?"

I gave up buying Batman comics after the end of the `Knightfall' and `Azrael' storylines, however many years ago that was, as basically, after all the shouting had died down, nothing had changed. I occasionally read a Batman-related graphic novel from my local library if something catches my eye, as with this volume here.

It is an exiting read, with exceptionally good artwork, this time around with Dick Grayson as Batman and Damian "Son of the Bat" Wayne as Robin, Bruce Wayne having died again in the `Final Crisis' storyline - though he may be back by now. Damian thinks he should be the Batman, and makes his views clear to Dick. Damian: "So we're agreed. It's Robin and Batman from now on."
Dick: "That'll catch on."

This volume reprints the first six issues of the `new' Batman & Robin comic - featuring two storylines, `Batman Reborn' and `Revenge of the Red Hood'. Grant Morrison manages to bring in a slew of weird new characters - though in his endnotes, he points out their origins in earlier stories of his, particularly in `Batman 666'.

If you are a Batman fan, then you'll want to read this. If you are just casually browsing, it is still an entertaining comic, and you don't kneed to know the back-story to enjoy it. I read a library copy, but I still buy the Golden Age Archive Editions.

This is a good, solid start to the new Batman and Robin series and continues on from the events in Batman: The Black Glove, Batman and Son (Batman (DC Comics Paperback)), Batman: Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul, Batman: R.I.P. (Deluxe Edition) , Final Crisis,Battle for the Cowl (Batman). This book continues the story arc from the books just mentioned and deals with the fall of Batman and ultimately, his death at the hands of Darkseid.
This book picks up in the aftermath of all the titles previously mentioned and starts with Dick Grayson (aka Nightwing) taking up the role of Batman and Damian(Batman and Talia Al Ghul's son) becoming Robin, as the previous Robin, Tim Drake has left to hunt down Bruce Wayne (who he believes to still be alive somewhere in the world) and takes on the role of Red Robin, previously used by the secon Robin, Jason Todd.
This book moves on with Dick and Damian coming to terms with the fact that Bruce Wayne is dead, but must maintain the presence of Batman in Gotham to keep the city in some state of order. Throuhg the book, they have to deal with the criminals Toad and Professor Pyg, who is obsessed with mutilation. Batman and Robin must put a stop to these two criminals, but also run into Jason Todd along the way, in his guise of the Red Hood.
That is a basic outline of the plot. So what to make of this book? Well, i liked it a lot. I like Dick Grayson a lot, and although he has taken on the mantle of the Bat before in Batman: Prodigal this is quite an interesting take on that idea. He is not Bruce Wayne, and realises he can't be like him when dealing with Robin, but with the ever insightful Alfred, he manages to come to terms with this and takes on the role more fully in his own right.
So is this book any good? I enjoyed it a lot and there is some good writing here that kept me hooked so that i found i had read this in one sitting, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of the best Batman books out there. Maybe it is because the 'real' Batman, Bruce Wayne isn't in here and that the other characters just don't have the strength to hold up the plot as he does - after all, he has a huge backstory that has given real depth to his character. The other thing that doesn't give this a real edge is the villains. I was hoping for a real challenge for the new due to come to terms with - maybe the Joker, or the Riddler or Bane - and see how they would deal with it differently to Bruce Wayne. But, as this is the first volume of the series there is time to get that in, and maybe i expected too much from this book.
The artwork is from Frank Quitely who drew All Star Superman: v. 1 and All Star Superman: v. 2 so if you liked his artwork in those books, then you are in for a treat here.
All in all, i thoroughly enjoyed it and this is a good, solid entry into the Batman universe. I hope the next book picks up and runs with some good ideas and really challenges the characters a bit more. This is well worth your money and one i would recommend adding to your collection sooner rather than later - but only if you have kept up with the whole Death of Batman story arc, or this will not make much sense!
Enjoy!

I'll be honest, I don't like grant morrison as a writer. my first expirence with him was batman rip and batman and son, which for me where just...awful. I just couldn't understand the plotline or the dialouge. I mean it's like someone turned off a switch in my brain to understand simple sentences! and let's not forget that the books- ahem, sorry.
so why did I pick up batman and robin, if I don't like the writer. the premises, simple as that.

after bruce wayne is killed in battle as the legendary batman, dick grayson (the first robin, who then decided to take the identidy of nightwing) must take up the mantle of the bat, and wear the legendary cape and cowl. he also has to train bruce wayne's son, Daimian Wayne, a former child assasin who has an immense dislike of grayson and belives he should be batman instead of robin the boy wonder.

the first thing you'll notice is the characters. grant morrison is able to change the nature of the dynamic duo without it feeling out of place. batman is now a lighthearted, smiling, yet still serious character, while robin is the dark, brooding, violent warrior. the dialouge between the two is quite simply, fantastic, with the tension in the partnership brilliantly brought up. their's also some fantastic scene's with alfred giving advice to the new dark knight on how he should deal with the role and some great villians (proffesser pyg, a disturbing indivdual, is to me almost as memorable as other members of batmans rouge gallery)

frank quitley art is also striking. the emotions of the characters, the fantastic action on screen, he's able to perfectly capture these moments!
another item of note is quitely's reprsentation of dick graysons batman. he's visibly shorter, thinner and less chisled. but it works! he doesn't look as heroic as the previous batman, but he does look more...normal? relatble? I can't really explain it. finally the colours are brilliant. the range of bright yellows and reds feel out of place at first, but alongside frank's art it feels right.

if I do have a problem, it's the plot. something about a virus? it's not very intresting and I honestly can't remeber what happened in the novel, even though I've had this book for 2 years and have read it constantly. It does feel exciting while your reading the book, but I don't feel that it has ever left a lasting impression on me. and I guess that's okay as in my opinion it's simply there to introduce the setting. although the plot for me is virtually non exsitent, the character reprsentation and the art and the dialouge are all fantastic. I honestly enjoyed this reprsentation of batman and robin and if I'm honest, I think I might like grayson in the cowl more than bruce!

so yes, definetly get this book, if you want the tale of two son's trying to live up to the legacy of their father along with some fantastic action and beatiful art.

"never let me forget the golden rule alfred...the show must go on"
dick grayson