This month, Batman and Robin are investigating Damian’s suspicions about his principal after their encounter with Man-Bat. The series hasn’t been enjoyable recently, but with a new artist, things might change. Let’s dive right into it! While this issue is my favorite since the first, it still has its flaws. The art, filled in by Nikola Čižmešija, is leagues better than usual. The storytelling is clear, the pages are visually pleasing, and the action is impactful. However, it’s not Čižmešija’s best work. Maybe it’s because he’s filling in, but it doesn’t match the standout work he did on Sword of Azrael. Perhaps it’s also a fault of the script. Čižmešija’s art is best suited for the fantastical, while this story mostly takes place in normal-looking Gotham locations. Nevertheless, the manga influence in the art complements the tone of the book, and the improved readability makes up for the lack of “wow moments.”
Moving on to the writing, separate from how well it serves the artist, it’s okay. Finally, we get to see Damian’s civilian life, including him joining the high school soccer team. Taking a break from constant action was the best choice in this issue, although the unnecessary fight with Orca felt obligatory. The issue doesn’t need action just for the sake of it. My favorite part is when Damian, feeling superior as usual, tries to score a goal during practice and is stopped by the goalie. It’s a fun scene that showcases Bruce’s pride in his son and humbles Damian. Unfortunately, a few pages later, the writer, Williamson, retroactively makes the scene less interesting. Damian’s suspicion of the goalie is proven right, instead of using it as a moment for Damian to learn acceptance. It turns out the goalie is Mr. Zsasz’s son, which feels like a tired and overused trope in superhero comics. It’s hard to believe that Victor Zsasz has a child, given his character. This retcon diminishes the mystery and intrigue surrounding Zsasz, who is actually one of my favorite Batman villains.
There are other smaller issues with the writing. Mistress Harsh is still uninteresting, and I would prefer if Damian’s school life was separate from his “work” life, so the possibility of her posing as the principal doesn’t interest me. The dialogue is also rough at times, especially when a high schooler shares their thoughts on the principal. It feels unrealistic and fails to follow the “show don’t tell” rule. Additionally, the whole concept of a “fifty percent crime rate” doesn’t make sense on multiple levels. How does anyone have this data, especially a high school student? Why would a principal’s introduction of “programs” change the crime rate, and what does it have to do with the school? The girl specifically mentions that they became criminals after graduating. Lastly, if 50% of the school becomes henchmen each year, how many henchmen are there in Gotham? These numbers just don’t add up.
Overall, this issue is serviceable. It takes steps in the right direction but also takes a few steps back. It’s hard to fully recommend it since it’s built on a weak foundation, but hopefully, it’s a sign of better things to come. Score: 5/10
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