A review by dozmuttz
Batman: The Caped Crusader, Vol. 2: The Origin of Robin by George Pérez, Marv Wolfman, Christopher J. Priest, Kevin Dooley, John Byrne

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

These Batman collections continue to hold great stories moving the overall world of Batman forward. This particular volume follows the events of ‘A Death In The Family’ (so maybe read that first for certain plot points to make sense).  We see the change in Batman after losing Jason in the horrific event and his reaction is not healthy. He’s angry and has taken down all reminders that Jason was his partner, Robin. He’s become more violent and reckless, forgetting his own lessons of keeping a clear head and thinking before doing. The main story in this volume is the storyline ‘Year 3’, which revolves around Gotham going through an intense gang war and Tony Zucco possibly being released from prison. It also shows a bit of Dick Grayson’s (Nightwing/the first Robin) origin and flashbacks displaying how he became Bruce Wayne’s ward and eventual crime fighting partner. Dick is worried about how Bruce is handling the war going on and his rejection to properly grieve the death of Jason. Along with that, Dick is unaware that the man who killed his parents is days away from being a free man and he has no intentions of being a better person. 

Main writer is Marv Wolfman and once again he can do no wrong with writing the caped crusader. His focus on Batman’s reaction to the death of Jason was sort of the main focal point which I found to be very interesting and done well. His ‘Year 3’ storyline was also super entertaining and he gives great character depth on Dick Grayson. I love how he shines on the relationship between Dick and Alfred, showing that they have their own unique bond/care for one another. Aside from that it’s some great detective stories and Batman working solo again. Another aspect I love about this era of Batman is how Wolfman writes the city of Gotham. It feels as important to the series as the characters and it overall just feels real. It’s similar to how Frank Miller wrote it in ‘Year one’ and it shows the great detail the team put into this comic back in the day. 

Jim Aparo continues to be the artist superstar with Mike DeCarlo providing some great ink work. A quick shout out to Pat Broderick though as he was the main artist for the ‘Year 3’ storyline.  Once again Aparo captures the perfect look for Batman, and it’s overall a classic/familiar look. Similar to how I said Wolfman writes a great Gotham City, Aparo obviously is the one displaying it with his art and he does it masterfully. It’s done in a way that feels like a place you might’ve been in before (New York, Chicago, etc.) but still has the out of world element that makes it such an iconic location in fiction. It’s dirty, gritty, and is just the place that would need a character like Batman. 

Overall this was another great volume of a great era in the history of Batman. Great writing, plotting, pacing, and artwork. What’s not to like?