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A review by rhganci
Batman and Robin, Volume 1: Born to Kill by Guy Major, Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, Peter J. Tomasi, John Kalisz
4.0
This volume seems entirely distinct from the other Batman books in the New 52, as it maintains its close connection to the Batman, Inc. spinoff storyline that accompanied the return of Bruce Wayne after FINAL CRISIS. It could conceivably take place in that old timeline, as nothing seems to have changed after the full-universe reboot--the Batman of this book seems much older, seasoned, and while the story involves chiefly his growth as a parent, it appears that that a more grizzled and world-weary Batman experiences that growth.
This story is mainly about fathers and sons, a parallel structure that works well as both a theme-heavy narrative and as a pretext for some pretty intense and visceral action sequences. NoBody is a good, but not great, addition to Gotham City's rogue's gallery, and as he squares off against both Batman and Robin we see some interesting background into what makes Batman both a principled hero and The World's Greatest Detective. I liked revisiting the comic book version of Henri Ducard in flashback, a familiar face from Nolan's movies whose influence on Batman's crimefighting Tomasi develops and expands over these eight issues. There are some good sequences that really delve into the morality of Batman's mission, and having a 10-year-old assassin not only as Robin, but also as his son, raises the stakes on that considerably. It's not just his own soul he's protecting with his action--it's his legacy's. The later chapters predictably attempt some hokey reveals and misdirection that just don't work, but they don't need to: this is a great book in connecting readers to Batman as a parent.
Patrick Gleason's artwork is awesome. There are a couple of really striking pages of super closeup art that made me stop reading and appreciate the carefulness of Gleason's styling of Batman. His cape hasn't looked so alive and distinct since Andy Kubert's art during BATMAN AND SON, and the neon-laced version of the Batpod (or whatever that thing is) was something I can't remember seeing in a Batman comic book before. Dark and colorful at the same time, BORN TO KILL had a lot to offer me as a reader, from an emotional storyline different from the other Batman storylines in the New 52 to some dynamic, striking artwork that conveyed that same emotional dynamic as well as a sense of Gotham City that will make reading BATMAN AND ROBIN a priority for me.
This story is mainly about fathers and sons, a parallel structure that works well as both a theme-heavy narrative and as a pretext for some pretty intense and visceral action sequences. NoBody is a good, but not great, addition to Gotham City's rogue's gallery, and as he squares off against both Batman and Robin we see some interesting background into what makes Batman both a principled hero and The World's Greatest Detective. I liked revisiting the comic book version of Henri Ducard in flashback, a familiar face from Nolan's movies whose influence on Batman's crimefighting Tomasi develops and expands over these eight issues. There are some good sequences that really delve into the morality of Batman's mission, and having a 10-year-old assassin not only as Robin, but also as his son, raises the stakes on that considerably. It's not just his own soul he's protecting with his action--it's his legacy's. The later chapters predictably attempt some hokey reveals and misdirection that just don't work, but they don't need to: this is a great book in connecting readers to Batman as a parent.
Patrick Gleason's artwork is awesome. There are a couple of really striking pages of super closeup art that made me stop reading and appreciate the carefulness of Gleason's styling of Batman. His cape hasn't looked so alive and distinct since Andy Kubert's art during BATMAN AND SON, and the neon-laced version of the Batpod (or whatever that thing is) was something I can't remember seeing in a Batman comic book before. Dark and colorful at the same time, BORN TO KILL had a lot to offer me as a reader, from an emotional storyline different from the other Batman storylines in the New 52 to some dynamic, striking artwork that conveyed that same emotional dynamic as well as a sense of Gotham City that will make reading BATMAN AND ROBIN a priority for me.