Batman is one of the world’s most iconic characters. Many people consider him to be the face of DC, along with characters like Superman and Wonder Woman. As iconic as they are, Batman sells. Robin & Batman in particular is a story that came out in recent memory that was a perfect encapsulation of why this character’s mythos is so special. Batman is no stranger to team-ups. Ever since the 1950s, he has teamed up with superheroes like Superman in their own separate series.
It makes sense to cross over a lucrative character with another lucrative character. The stories these team-ups and crossovers birthed were initially nothing but some goofy, charming fun. They eventually evolved to the point where these various comics and stories were being taken seriously as art forms and storytelling vehicles. Robin & Batman, written by Jeff Lemire and drawn by Dustin Nguyen is a wonderful comic about the budding relationship between the caped crusader and his boy wonder sidekick who is the perfect love letter to the universe.
Robin & Batman Leaping into the Light
This story is set in an interesting place continuity-wise. It stars Dick Grayson, the first Robin. Dick is being trained by Batman, also known as Bruce Wayne, that is very early in his career, who is also very harsh and emotionally withdrawn. Dick is a complete newbie to being Robin. He is skilled in combat but has a bit of a way to go, and Bruce does not trust that he is fully ready yet to fight crime alongside him.
The story starts with Dick journaling in his room. This is the narrative throughline of the comic. Dick reflects constantly. On his current life that involves crime-fighting. In his past life as a circus performer with his family. Before his parents died. It’s wonderfully written. This story is very short, it’s only told over the span of three issues, and it is a quick read on top of that. The pace is pretty fast, but it spends just enough time on the intimacy of the characters and the nuance of how they feel.
The Boy Wonder
The highlight of the story for me takes place in the second issue. Dick gets into a fight with the kids at his school for bullying him. It just so happens to be his birthday as well. For his birthday, Bruce takes him to the Justice League’s Watchtower to meet everyone and hang out while the Justice League goes on a mission. This is a great moment for so many little seeds that are planted in this early part of all of these character’s continuity. Dick later forms great bonds and friendships with these characters, so seeing their first meeting is really charming and fun.
Robin & Batman arrive, and Dick meets the Justice League, and even a younger team of adolescent-aged superheroes who would eventually be known as the Teen Titans. Dick and the rest of the gang try to sneak out of the base, and in doing so, they stop a bunch of villains’ evil plans, right under the Justice League’s noses. When the day is done, Robin & Batman get back to the cave, and Alfred is happy that Dick had such a great time. Batman then asks Dick for a mission report. At first, it seems like Batman knew what the Titans got up to, and Dick would end up in trouble.
Robin & Batman’s Bond
Dick then goes down a laundry list of every new friend he made, and precisely how he would take them out if he had to fight them. Even the stronger characters, like Kid Flash and Wonder Girl, he had plans for. This makes Bruce proud of him, yet it horrifies Alfred, saying how Dick is just a kid and he deserves to enjoy his life instead of acting like he’s a soldier. That’s a common theme in this book, how Bruce should treat Dick as a kid, instead of a soldier. And I won’t give away any more plot details, because that’s the best part of it.
Conclusion
Robin & Batman’s relationship here shines through because it is developed so heavily. Robin & Batman start out almost antagonistic towards each other, but they grow closer in fighting crime and realizing that they are both cut from the same cloth. Robin & Batman both lost their parents in an awful accident and made it their life goal to make sure that could never happen again. And this comic is the perfect love letter to these long-lasting characters and their legacy.
About The Author
Nicolas Scagnelli is a young and ambitious writer. He graduated with a degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing at Binghamton University. As an undergrad, he published over 60 op-eds for the campus newspaper, Pipe Dream. Nicolas has his own personal blog, Lunch with Nick, where he posts daily about various topics ranging from entertainment to music to mental health. Other than writing, Nicolas loves to spend time in the gym, reading, listening to music, and hanging out with family and friends.
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