Scott's Take: Batman and Robin Vol 1: Father and Son by Joshua Williamson and illustrator Simone Meo

Batman and Robin Vol 1: Father and Son by Joshua Williamson and illustrator Simone Meo is a team up series between Batman (Bruce Wayne) and Robin (Damian Wayne). They have not had a team up series in a long time as they have been estranged for several years. This series does tie in a little bit to the Chip Zdarsky run on Batman, but not enough to make it required reading. I am a big fan of Chip Zdarsky’s prior work on Daredevil, but his Batman run has been mediocre. I can’t really recommend it. It has some good moments, but it is too cliched and used too many of same themes as previous writer to recommend.

 

So back to this book, Batman is now living in a brownstone in Gotham since he is rich broke. He still has a lot of money but not I can buy the whole block money. He has far less wealth than he had, but is doing okay. He invites Damian Wayne aka Robin who has been hanging out with fellow former assassins on an island to live with him. Batman wants him to have a normal life besides dressing up as Robin and fighting crime. So, he enrolls him in a public school and wants him to make normal friends. Obviously, the irony of Bruce wanting Damian to have normal friends when most of his friends are superheroes themselves is lost on Bruce.

 

While they attempt to deal with their family issues, a new villain called Shush attempts to take them both down. In the final issue, Batman and Robin go on a camping trip outside of Gotham. Several people have gone missing in the spot they have chosen over the last few months. So, things get violent quickly. The final issue is kind of separate from the previous ones.

 

Joshua Williamson continues to write a good Batman and Robin story even if Bruce has to learn the same lessons he has learned before. Joshua has a good understanding of the characters as he has written both plenty of times before. Simone has a pretty realistic art style that works really well for this tale. There is action, humor, and character relationship drama. Somehow no one notices that Robin is back at the same time as Damian returns to Gotham.

 

The second volume will come out in February of next year and does not have a title yet. It will pick up with Flatline coming to Gotham to see Robin. Flatline is a love interest of Damian’s from his previous solo series. She has not just come by because she misses him.

 

After that volume, I do not know what will happen regarding the series. The All In initiative is going to affect this book but I do not know how.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3yzrRRY

 

 

My reading copy came from by way of Hoopla and the Dallas Public Library System. 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024

Scott's Take: Shazam Vol 1: Meet The Captain! by Mark Waid, illustrator Dan Mora

Shazam Vol 1: Meet The Captain! by Mark Waid, illustrator Dan Mora, is a good one. These two are some of the best in the business, so you know it is going to be a good read. It certainly is in all aspects.

 

Billy and Mary have had several miniseries over the years, but this is an actual full series. Billy is now calling his superhero persona, The Captain. He has had a number of superhero names such as Shazam, Captain Marvel, Captain Thunder, and others, but now is going with The Captain.  Mary has a new set of goddesses powering her superhero persona. Billy has taken the Rock of Eternity (a magical place that looks like a rock) into his chest. Yes, there is a rock inside his chest now.

 

So, the gods who power Billy have decided to try to take over his mind. They sort of succeed, which is causing him to act in unpredictable ways. They want a bigger representation on Earth, so that they are not forgotten. They intend to use Billy’s body for themselves. Having a rock in his chest is one of the milder things in this weird DC universe where there are talking gorillas, dinosaurs from outer space, and more.

 

Billy is the main lead. The supporting cast for the most part is underutilized because there is just too many of them now. His family is also too big now for a real focus on them. Mary has some pretty great moments and there is some character work done with Freddie, but the rest play minor roles. Personally, I prefer Mary over Billy as the main character, but she is busy in other books so her role here is important but minor. There is also Tawny, the talking tiger, who is taking care of the kids while the adults are away.

 

The read ends with the first part of a Knight Terror tie in. Instead of reading the story here, one is expected to go find the Knight Terror issue separately. That does not really work as Billy is not important in the Knight Terror issues. Black Adam (who is only featured at the end of this read) and Mary are the main characters in those stories, so they really don’t tie in. Unless you like those characters, you can safely skip the Knight Terror deal here.

 

The art is great. Dan Mora remains one of the best artists in comics. There will be a second volume, but that currently has no title and no release date. Waid will be the writer for part of it while Josie Campell who previously wrote The New Champion of Shazam which I reviewed here will be significantly involved. She is a great writer, so I still have high expectations even if I will miss Waid.

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3W9srOd

 

My print reading copy came from the Fretz Park Branch of the Dallas Public Library System. 

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024