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A review by captwinghead
Batman and Robin, Volume 4: Requiem for Damian by Patrick Gleason, Marlo Alquiza, Mick Gray, Peter J. Tomasi, Mark Irwin, Cliff Richards, John Kalisz
5.0
I don't even know what to say about this one.
I mean, perhaps reading the issue where Tim grieved along with this was a bad idea. As was the issue where Harper Row tried to help Bruce with his grief. They were wonderfully written issues, but it just made this even harder to read. It's rare that a comic book death really gets to me because 9/10, they always come back. This is no exception - even knowing that Damian comes back, even actively reading a series where he's is very much alive, this book still made me cry with nearly every issue.
The start, the silent issue where Alfred and Bruce move through the mansion like ghosts was beautifully done. Alfred's silent grief, Bruce learning more about Damian through the belongings he left behind, it was perfect. And the ending where Bruce cradles the Robin uniform was heart wrenching.
Bruce's descent into madness was hard to read - but necessary. This book was mainly about Bruce burning bridges with what was left of his family. He shut Tim, Alfred, Babs and later Jason out as he tried to bring Damian back.
What happened with Jason was the hardest to read in some ways - it was the beating Bruce had been looking for. He can chase after criminals and assassins and beat them up, take away their ability to ever use their hands again - he can do all of that and tell himself he’s doing it for public good but, at the heart of it, I think he was chasing a beating. He wanted someone to punish him physically to match the way he’s been punishing himself internally. But, it had to be someone that earned the right to punish him and I think he chased this fight with Jason because Jason was yet another child Bruce failed and arrived too late to save. It made sense, as awful as it was for Jason to experience.
Carrie Kelley was the only bright light in all of this and even that came with a lot of pain because we learn that Damian was paying her for acting lessons and he was a natural! Carrie came to get to know him and think of him as a little brother. She constantly asked after him because his "trip to Europe" wasn't mentioned before. I was left wondering why Damian took the lessons in the first place- did he think it would be fun? Was he doing it to bond with Alfred?
This volume as a whole served it's purpose. It's one of those rare books where the Batman-ing is hard to watch because this is Bruce completely uncontrolled.
Peter J. Tomasi’s handling of Bruce’s grief in combination with how Alfred handled everything (grieving, unshakeable guilt and trying to keep Bruce alive all at the same time) - all the guilt and the intense silence of the manor - it broke my heart. And for that, I have to commend them for a job well done because I can’t remember the last time a comic arc really made me cry this much.
I mean, perhaps reading the issue where Tim grieved along with this was a bad idea. As was the issue where Harper Row tried to help Bruce with his grief. They were wonderfully written issues, but it just made this even harder to read. It's rare that a comic book death really gets to me because 9/10, they always come back. This is no exception - even knowing that Damian comes back, even actively reading a series where he's is very much alive, this book still made me cry with nearly every issue.
The start, the silent issue where Alfred and Bruce move through the mansion like ghosts was beautifully done. Alfred's silent grief, Bruce learning more about Damian through the belongings he left behind, it was perfect. And the ending where Bruce cradles the Robin uniform was heart wrenching.
Bruce's descent into madness was hard to read - but necessary. This book was mainly about Bruce burning bridges with what was left of his family. He shut Tim, Alfred, Babs and later Jason out as he tried to bring Damian back.
What happened with Jason was the hardest to read in some ways - it was the beating Bruce had been looking for. He can chase after criminals and assassins and beat them up, take away their ability to ever use their hands again - he can do all of that and tell himself he’s doing it for public good but, at the heart of it, I think he was chasing a beating. He wanted someone to punish him physically to match the way he’s been punishing himself internally. But, it had to be someone that earned the right to punish him and I think he chased this fight with Jason because Jason was yet another child Bruce failed and arrived too late to save. It made sense, as awful as it was for Jason to experience.
Carrie Kelley was the only bright light in all of this and even that came with a lot of pain because we learn that Damian was paying her for acting lessons and he was a natural! Carrie came to get to know him and think of him as a little brother. She constantly asked after him because his "trip to Europe" wasn't mentioned before. I was left wondering why Damian took the lessons in the first place- did he think it would be fun? Was he doing it to bond with Alfred?
This volume as a whole served it's purpose. It's one of those rare books where the Batman-ing is hard to watch because this is Bruce completely uncontrolled.
Peter J. Tomasi’s handling of Bruce’s grief in combination with how Alfred handled everything (grieving, unshakeable guilt and trying to keep Bruce alive all at the same time) - all the guilt and the intense silence of the manor - it broke my heart. And for that, I have to commend them for a job well done because I can’t remember the last time a comic arc really made me cry this much.