Written by: Joshua WilliamsonArt by: Simone Di MeoColors by: Giovanna NiroLetters by: Steve WandsCover art by: Simone Di MeoCover price: $4.99Release date: March 12, 2024
Batman And Robin #7 splits up the Dynamic Duo when Flatline comes to Gotham searching for her missing sister, and the Cult of Man-Bat levels up with deadly consequences. Is Batman And Robin #7 Good?
Let\’s get this out of the way right now. Shush is a dumb idea, and nobody cares. Alright. Can we be done with Shush now? No? Fine. Whatever.
When last we left Batman and Robin, their father/son investigation into shenanigans at Robin\’s High School led to a Victor Zsasz fan with a lot of misplaced emotional problems who almost set the notorious killer free. The issue ended with a surprise appearance by Flatline at the scene of a Cult of Man-Bat riot.
In Batman And Robin #7, Flatline explains she\’s come to Gotham to search for her missing sister, Mila, who apparently left home to find Flatline. The trail led to Gotham, so Flatline has come to pay her respects to the Dynamic Duo before making a mess on guest turf and asking for Robin\’s assistance in the hunt.
Meanwhile, we get an unhelpful peek into Man-Bat\’s headquarters when he sends his cult out to commit mayhem. When Batman picks up a cult member off the street for interrogation, the cult member swallows a pill that\’s supposed to do something but ultimately kills him. Suddenly, Shush shows up to propose a temporary partnership with Batman because she\’s not getting what she wants from Man-Bat.
What\’s great about Batman And Robin #7? Timeline\’s return, leading to her interactions with Batman and Damian adds a new step to the evolving father/son relationship. Batman knows what it\’s like to leap into the night with a bad girl, so there\’s a generational quality, a passing of the torch, that feels right, and you can see that same feeling on Batman\’s face.
What\’s not so great about Batman And Robin #7? Shush is the problem. Her identity is unclear when it shouldn\’t be. Her motivations are unclear when they shouldn\’t be. And her derivative identity appears to have no purpose except for the sake of being derivative. Williamson can\’t stay focused between either the High School slice-of-life shenanigans with a light tone or the Cult of Man-Bat plot with a very dark tone that has yet to fully form.
Between Shush and the structural disconnect, this title is turning into a mess. Unfortunately, the bright spot of this series (Bruce and Damian bonding) gets lost in the noise.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Bits and Pieces:
Batman And Robin #7 has potential in the growing bond between Damian and Bruce, but that potential is getting lost in a malformed subplot (Cult of Man-Bat) and a villain who is starting to become more annoying than intriguing (Shush).
6/10