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On this assessment of Batman and Robin #4, Batman & Robin defend White Rabbit and study who’s accountable for current occasions.
Batman and Robin #4Writer: Josh WilliamsonArtists: Mikel Janín & Simone Di MeoMain Cowl: Simone Di MeoVariant Covers: David Finch, Gleb Melnikov, Simone Di Meo, Kael Ngu, and Otto SchmidtRelease Date: December 12, 2023
Word: This assessment incorporates spoilers.
Synopsis:
In a flashback, younger(er) Damian is battling League of Murderer ninjas as he’s peppered with questions from the historical past of fight and martial arts. Damian disposes of the assailants however his interrogator, Mistress Harsh, is unimpressed. Damian goads her and she or he slaps him throughout the face. Talia instantly seems and is displeased. Mistress Harsh warns Talia that Damian stays comfortable and that he must be hardened.
She asks Damian what he needs to occur. He signifies that he’s completed with Mistress Harsh and smirks as she is dragged off.
Flash ahead and Robin is trussed, hanging the other way up within the firm of Shush, the Horrible Trio, and Man-Bat. They banter and Man-Bat reveals that he’s accountable for the pheromone pellet that turned the bats towards Batman. Shush warns Man-Bat however it it’s too late – White Rabbit and Batman crash via the glass ceiling of the observatory and the struggle is on.
Man-Bat sends his bats after Batman whereas White Rabbit assists Robin. Man-Bat and White Rabbit flee. Robin rushes exterior to seek out Dr. Kafira within the hopes of serving to Batman, however his efforts are pointless. Batman slowly regains management of his relationship with bats by reminding them that he doesn’t concern them and is actually the boss. Dr. Kafira later confirms the pheromones have worn off but in addition warns that Man-Bat’s experiments on the Horrible Trio are flooding them with rage and inflicting them everlasting hurt.
On a rooftop, White Rabbit affords to affix Batman and Robin because the “Dynamic Trio,” however as soon as Batman affords to escort her again to Blackgate Jail, she jumps off and glides away. Robin asks for bragging rights to whichever of the 2 convey her, and Batman smiles and replies, “Recreation On,” as they swoop via the skies in pursuit.
Again at Gotham Metropolis Excessive College, Bruce escorts Damian up the steps however is accosted by Principal Stone who has some pointed remarks for Bruce. After she strikes off, Damian tells Bruce that he’s certain that Principal Stone is each a former teacher of his and is Shush. Damian realizes that he does have a great cause to attend Gotham Metropolis.
Evaluation:
Author Josh Williamson continues a stable if unspectacular arc in Batman & Robin #4. I discover Damian’s background with the League of Assassins at the least as attention-grabbing as his work as Robin, so opening the guide with a flashback to that coaching is efficient. The selection is made extra so by the truth that we don’t even get the payoff till the penultimate panel, after we notice Shush, his principal, and Mistress Harsh are the identical individual.
I additionally recognize the Robin we’re getting right here. I like Damian Wayne as a personality however assume he’s very troublesome to write down as a result of he’s actually a petulant t(w)een and that usually doesn’t make for fulfilling studying for this reviewer. Williamson manages to stroll a fantastic line between capturing the professional angst Damian experiences with out rendering him infantile or hopelessly immature.
I did have a specific difficulty with how Batman’s relationship along with his bats is characterised. Particularly, Batman states that he doesn’t concern bats. I believe that is debatable at greatest (Scarecrow’s concern toxins usually set off for Batman visions of bats) and at worst misconstrues a essential characteristic in Batman’s character improvement: Batman does concern bats. He fears them very a lot. However he actually turns into what he fears most and in so doing transforms into one thing bigger than himself. I really like this concept deeply, however it actually activates the notion that Batman stays afraid of bats.
The above however, the concluding panel of this battle, the place Batman breaks freed from the fear and stretches his “wings” soars and is fantastically rendered.
Though I do like Simone Di Meo’s work, I used to be very excited to see Mikel Janín on this guide, as I really like the latter’s realism, horror aesthetic, sharp strains, and dedication to Gothic imagery and framing. That stated, the 2 artists don’t meld collectively in any respect, as their kinds are completely different sufficient to render it extraordinarily apparent which pages and/or panels have been drawn by every artist.
Closing Ideas:
All in all, this guide is sober however can also be enjoyable, well-written, well-sequenced, and well-paced. I’m intrigued and look ahead to see the place the inventive staff takes it.
![](https://thebatmanuniverse.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/large-2577110-150x150.jpg)
Batman and Robin #4
Closing Ideas
All in all, this guide is sober however can also be enjoyable, well-written, well-sequenced, and well-paced. I’m intrigued and look ahead to see the place the inventive staff takes it.
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