Batman and Robin #10 – Joshua Williamson, Writer; Nikola Cismesija, Simone Di Meo, Artists; Rex Lokus, Giovanni Nero, Colorists
Ray – 9/10
Ray: The conclusion of this first mega-sized arc, pitting Batman and Robin against a much more sinister and homicidal Man-Bat as well as several faces from their past, delivers as father and son battle to save Gotham from mutation. Man-Bat has unleashed an army of mutated bats, seeking to transform all of Gotham and beyond into hybrids like him. We’ve seen this plot before (most memetically at the competition) but the stakes are high here. This issue also neatly redeems one of the big issues I’ve had with this arc—this just doesn’t feel like Man-Bat, either form. The reveal at the end that this is yet another personality that’s emerged from Langstrom’s psyche without overwriting either of the previous ones nicely escalates the threat while not losing what makes this character great. The main plot might be wrapped up a little too briefly, but it works with how much else there is to explore here.
Of course, there were two other villains here—Shush and Mistress Harsh, who turned out to be two separate people despite Damian’s initial suspicions. Neither gets too much time this issue, but both are set up as potential future issues for the Bats—one as an ally, the other as an enemy. Nika, aka Flatline, is one of the best supporting characters Williamson has created recently, and her interactions with Damian here are a lot of fun. It’s great to see both Bruce and Damian make an effort with each other, and slowly get closer to being father and son out of costume as well. But that makes the ending all the more perfectly tied—bringing in one of Damian’s oldest supporting cast members, as well as ripping loose the open wound between Bruce and Damian and sending them both on a mission of revenge. Now that the Bat is caged, can’t wait to see where this goes next.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
