Batman and Red Robin (Batman and Robin) #19
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Pat Gleason
DC Comics, $2.99, color, 20 pages
I really enjoyed this issue ... but I think Batman crosses a line that can't be uncrossed.
As we all know, Batman's actual biological son Damian "Robin IV" Wayne was killed last issue. And Batman is in mourning.
We have actually seen this exact same thing before, when Jason "Robin II" Todd was killed in 1989. Batman went kinda nuts, and it was a really unpleasant and implausible stretch of Bat-history. Unpleasant, because our hero was acting in an irrational and ugly fashion. Implausible, because Bruce Wayne's friends and family -- which includes people like Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash -- should have stepped in to get him psychological help. But they didn't, so we Bat-fans just swallowed it all, and tried to move on.
Now here we are again, where Batman is faced with great loss. But this is The New 52 Batman, and he should behave better than the half-crazed Batmaniac of the bad old days, right? Well, no. He goes crazy again.
In this issue, he captures and DISSECTS Frankenstein, in hopes of learning the secrets of resurrection for Damian.
OK, let me repeat that: He captures and DISSECTS somebody, in hopes of learning the secrets of resurrection for his dead son.
Wow. How many things are wrong with this picture? Not the least of which is that Damian's Mom's side of the family has LAZARUS PITS that can resurrect people. Geez, Batman, what the hell is wrong with you?
Well, the answer is that he's obviously off his nut. And Red Robin intervenes. Thus: "Batman and Red Robin" in the title. And I will say no more.
Because the book is written well. It's drawn well. I'm getting to really like Pete Tomasi, although he still hits a clunker or two over in the Green Lantern titles. He's really blossoming. And Gleason on the art is pretty, flawless, and pretty flawless.
But, geez, how does Batman come back from this? How do his family and the Justice League allow him to come back from this? This is insane behavior, and it should be stopped. And Batman should be forcibly taken in for medical help, or put down like a mad dog.
He has crossed a line that can't be uncrossed. He isn't a hero. He's insane. Criminally insane.
Replies
What you describe sounds par for the course for The New 52. Capturing and dissecting an unliving monster (albeit a noble and heroic one) may not indicate moral or psychological well-being, but it is Awesome, is it not? And also Awesome's bedfellow - Badass?
I thought the whole Raison-d'Etre of the New 52 was to revisit the bad old days of the 90s?
You've got a point all right. But I just finished reviewing the latest Justice League, where Batman -- Batman -- is the voice of sweet reason. Then I turn around and read this, and I'm still a bit stunned.
It sounds stunning alright.
Many thanks, muchachos.