Batman and Robin #16 – Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Writer; Miguel Mendonca, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Artists; Marcelo Maiolo, Colorist
Ray – 9/10
Ray: This series has taken a little while to get going, but as Johnson ramps up his core mystery, it feels like it’s turning into something special. The mysterious Memento, a serial killer with a very strong sense of time and place, who kills his victims in theatrical ways, has returned, decades after Batman helped investigate him as a young man. There’s just one problem – the very human man behind Memento died in prison years ago – so who’s killing again? The issue begins with a terrifying segment as a group of true-crime enthusiasts investigate the site of one of the killings – only to find themselves as the next target. Memento’s current killings seem to be supernatural in nature, and the ensuing carnage attracts Batman and Robin – along with Jim Gordon, moonlighting as a detective. But it also brings in a familiar face – Katherine LeClerc, a detective straight from Scotland Yard with ties to Batman’s past.
I’m usually skeptical of this type of plot, because we know that most new supporting characters don’t stick around and new potential love interests for Batman even less so. But LeClerc is interesting, being one of the only people who saw Bruce Wayne as he was training to be Batman. The tension between Batman and Robin has been a plot point I wasn’t sure about, but this issue has some very realistic fallout that shows that Damian might not only be growing up, but might be growing away from following his father’s path. Damian always had a more compassionate side to him – loving animals and wanting to help others – and Batman isn’t the most understanding when it comes to those wanting to do things a different way. There’s some good tension built up here, and the ties to Batman’s past add an interesting wrinkle here. I also think the new art team this issue is drawing Damian a little closer to how he looked in the last run, reflecting his current age.
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GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
