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Batman and Robin, Vol. 1: Born to Kill (Batman and Robin Vol. II #1)

by Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason (Illustrator), Mick Gray (Illustrator)

3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 · rating details · 1,018 ratings · 96 reviews

As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics--The New 52 event of September 2011, Batman begins battling evil with his son, Damian, at his side, Batman now realizes that the hardest part of the job may be trying to work together As Batman and Robin try to adjust to their new partnership, a figure emerges from Bruce Wayne's past: His name is NoBody, and he's not happy that Batman I...more

Hardcover, The New 52, 192 pages

Published July 10th 2012 by DC Comics (first published May 1st 2012)

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Apr 27, 2013 David Leslie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had never read any of Peter J Tomasi's work before but this is 1 of the greatest Batman stories I've ever read & definatley the best Batman & Robin story I've ever read.The artwork by Patrick Gleason at 1st seemed a bit simplistic to me but it just took a bit of getting used to,it's crisp ,clear & consistant throughout the entire trade.The main focus of this story is the father & son relationship between Bruce & Damian,& find it a more satisfying B&R pairing than an...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Kurt rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kurt by: Matt

I can start by stating that there is no way this story was created for a rebooted DC Universe. The characters are Batman, Robin (Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne's 10-year-old son who has been raised as a trained assassin and is now in his father's custody), and a new villain from Bruce Wayne's distant past (who makes his first appearance murdering a.. version of Batman in Moscow? Because it dilutes the brand? I have a vague idea of what Batman Incorporated is all about, and I still don't get it, espec...more I can start by stating that there is no way this story was created for a rebooted DC Universe. The characters are Batman, Robin (Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne's 10-year-old son who has been raised as a trained assassin and is now in his father's custody), and a new villain from Bruce Wayne's distant past (who makes his first appearance murdering a.. version of Batman in Moscow? Because it dilutes the brand? I have a vague idea of what Batman Incorporated is all about, and I still don't get it, especially in the context of a "new-reader friendly" DC Universe). None of it makes any sense against the backdrop of what DC Comics was doing at the time.

So we can look at this story on its own. It's a father and son story, where the father sees some of his dark side in his son and doesn't know how to handle it, so he makes some mistakes, and they both pay the price and learn some life lessons. That can be a fine basis for a story if it's done well, but the result in this collection is just mediocre. It's spaced out for eight issues when it really would have been fine in six, and Batman takes an exasperatingly long time to get to his story about his villain's motivations. Tomasi also can't seem to make up his mind whether or not Damian Wayne has killed anyone before, so the moral dilemma is hard to track. Speaking of the moral dilemma, the philosophical argument (which is potentially going to determine Robin's destiny) is whether or not it's OK to kill bad guys, but in the book that gets expressed in the following way:

NoBody (the bad guy): I think killing bad guys is just fine. Some people are beyond rehabilitation, and ending their threat with some finality is the only way to protect people.
Batman: ...
Batman: ...
Batman: ... Grrrrarrr! Shut up! *punches and stabs, in brutal but non-lethal ways*

This is not how a writer should structure an actual philosophical discourse if he wants us to take it seriously. Instead of choosing a moral side here, Robin is presented with the choice of (1) Killing as a way to maintain safety for his loved ones and as an expression of his true self, or (2) Not killing, as a way to be a good son and make Daddy love him. Which can actually be a more compelling decision, if it's done correctly, with family loyalty requiring someone to make a clearly intellectually/emotionally dishonest choice, but each issue here sees Tomasi struggling with whether or not Robin will choose non-lethal tactics because they are clearly morally superior, and he hasn't earned that perspective (personally, as a public defender who believes in rehabilitation and second chances for my clients, I agree that it's the right one, but I'm trying to describe the story I've been given in this book, not the arguments I bring in from my own life) (just wanted to make it clear that I don't actually think anyone should go around killing "the bad guys").

If you can't get enough Batman, then.. this is, indeed, a Batman book. With pretty standard superhero art and corny but acceptable dialogue. It has a lot of Damian Wayne (a character I actually like a lot, based on my very limited exposure to him), and there's plenty of action and violence. It's just not a story that's special in any way, and not worth your time if you're not already a hardcore Batman fan.(less)

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Feb 08, 2013 Jerod C. rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Batman fans

Caveat lector: I detest Damien Wayne. I have always detested Damien Wayne. I will probably always detest Damien Wayne. The die-hard Tim Drake fanboy in me cannot forgive him for supplanting my favored Robin (nor the current DC editors for wiping Drake's tenure as Robin from history with the poorly-planned "The New 52" relaunch). That said...

Reading this book actually made me care about Damien Wayne. I was actually rooting for him. A good writer gets me involved; a great writer makes me care abou...more Caveat lector: I detest Damien Wayne. I have always detested Damien Wayne. I will probably always detest Damien Wayne. The die-hard Tim Drake fanboy in me cannot forgive him for supplanting my favored Robin (nor the current DC editors for wiping Drake's tenure as Robin from history with the poorly-planned "The New 52" relaunch). That said...

Reading this book actually made me care about Damien Wayne. I was actually rooting for him. A good writer gets me involved; a great writer makes me care about a character I despise. Much kudos to Peter J. Tomasi!

-- SPOILERS --

However, my only problem with the story: the portrayal of Bruce Wayne as an inept father figure. Excuse me? He raised Dick Grayson and, to some extent, Tim Drake (which, if one panel from the beginning of the "Court of the Owls" saga from Batman is any indication, is still somehow "in canon" in The New 52's peculiar half-arsed continuity), and they turned out just fine. Sure, Grayson has always been kept at arm's length (and now Batman seems to be pushing everyone in his life away... again), but he and Batman always seemed to have a decent father/son relationship (minus the fact that Batman kept a young boy in tights in a dark cave). Moreover, Red Hood and the Outlaws shows Bruce having had a similarly positive relationship with Jason Todd before his "demise" in the Middle East.

Yet, I'm supposed to accept Tomasi's notion that Wayne is suddenly a bit inept at being a father figure? Sorry, not buying it. I'll buy him being distant, sure. That's Wayne to the core. Additionally, given Damien's status in the group as the "unwanted" son grown in a vat and trained as a murderer for several years, the distance seems more than warranted. What I *won't* buy is Wayne not knowing how to tell his own son "I'm proud of you" when he gave the well-adjusted Grayson, the troubled Todd and the ever-upbeat Drake as good an upbringing as can be expected when one's father figure spends his Saturday nights in a cape and cowl.

-- END SPOILERS --

Good story overall, though, with exceptional writing. I highly recommend it.(less)

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Beckiezra I'm glad you could overcome your dislike of Damian, I'm hoping I can have a similar conversion to Tim Drake. :) I had no real problem with him as Robi...more
Apr 23, 2013 09:53am

Jerod C. lol To be honest, the Tim Drake from the animated series never impressed me. He wasn't really Tim Drake to me. He was Jason Todd with Tim Drake's name...more lol To be honest, the Tim Drake from the animated series never impressed me. He wasn't really Tim Drake to me. He was Jason Todd with Tim Drake's name.

The Drake I remember from the comics - from "A Lonely Place of Dying" onward - was a rather well-rounded kid who had the intellect to figure out who Bruce Wayne really was all by himself (like "Robin" John Blake from the final Nolan film). He also figured that Batman needed a Robin to ground him emotionally, prevent him from going deeper into the maudlin psychological darkness that comes naturally with what Batman does. For him, the physicality of the role of Robin came later; he had the natural skill of a detective, and that's what made him prime Robin material. That's the Drake I know. The guy in the cartoons? Meh.

As for Damian...

I think the main problem I have with Damian - aside from the muddled background inspired by a much better writer (Mike Barr's "Son of the Demon"), Morrison's characterization of Damian's mother (which I never liked; he gets Batman, but he never really seemed to get Talia), his tendency to write epic stories during the middle of major crossover events and include massive changes that other writers will have to deal with without ever consulting the other writers in a given franchise (Damien's death in "Batman, Incorporated" - which really should have concluded with the New 52 relaunch - right at the end of "Death of the Family" in itself was pretty brazen), I could go on here, really - was ultimately that he was created by Grant Morrison.

Sure, Morrison is a big name in comics. Sure, Morrison understand's Batman's personality, much better than he understands many other characters. *cough*magneto*cough* (For a guy who's all about chaos magic and weaving the mythical and the fantastic into our everyday lives, he certainly has a very black-and-white outlook on life, and Magneto suffered for that outlook in "New X-Men" in ways that almost make me wonder if Morrison isn't anti-Semetic.) Sure, Morrison is great at writing epic tales worthy of opera. ("Batman R.I.P." springs to mind immediately. To me, that's the best story he has ever written.) This doesn't make him the comics writing deity many fans have made him out to be, though, and to this day I refuse to worship at the Grant Morrison altar.

The sheer hype the man has garnered over the years through his undeniably awesome early work (though I thought his dreadful Vertigo series "The Filth" was far too aptly named) makes it tough for me to approach *anything* he has written to date with a fresh mindset and appreciate the work without thinking, "Oh, joy, Grant Morrison crapped out another shiny turd." I have to put the writer aside to enjoy anything he has written since "New X-Men", and I shouldn't need to do that... but every time I read a well-crafted story by him (whether I ultimately like the story or not), I keep flashing back to the scene he wrote showing an obvious PTSD-suffering Jewish Holocaust survivor herding people into crematoriums. Had he not included that scene alone, his run on "New X-Men" MIGHT have been a decent story. I still cry "foul" over that scene; it's not only grossly offensive, it shows that Morrison didn't really understand the characters he was working with and shouldn't have been allowed near that franchise.

Unfortunately for Damian Wayne, my enjoyment of the character was stifled before I ever really got to know Damian purely because I have a major bias against his creator, Grant Morrison. (Well, that, and the name "Damian", because I think all the "demon" and "Devil" references throughout Morrison's run on the Bat-books are handled with far too heavy a hand, but I suppose a bombast like Morrison really can't be expected to be subtle.) That was part of the reason I started warming up to him with the post-Flashpoint "Batman and Robin" series: he wasn't being written by Grant Morrison, but by a writer who made the character truly accessible to me.(less)
Apr 24, 2013 04:32am

Nov 29, 2012 Pete rated it 1 of 5 stars

Eh...

Okay, first problem with a "DC reboot" is that they don't really reboot some things.

If we're talking reboot, I think we'd be talking about a Batman with a Robin. Perhaps, PERHAPS a Batman, a Robin, and a Dick Grayson Nightwing. That's about as far as I'm willing to go.

I'm not really willing to go so far as to entertain the idea of Batman having a son with the daughter of one of his worst enemies FOR SOME REASON, a son who was raised to be a killer FOR SOME REASON, and FOR SOME REASON Batman...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Fizzgig76 rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels-and-trade-paperbacks

Reprints Batman and Robin (Volume 2) #1-8 (November 2011-June 2012). Batman and Robin have had tough times. Robin has seen his father as his enemy, lost him in death, adjusted to a new Batman, and had his father return to take control. Now Batman and Robin are trying to learn what it means to be a team and facing one of Bruce’s oldest enemies. Morgan Ducard…the son of Batman’s trainer Henri Ducard…has come back as Nobody. Now Nobody is turning Robin against Batman, and Batman and Robin may never...more Reprints Batman and Robin (Volume 2) #1-8 (November 2011-June 2012). Batman and Robin have had tough times. Robin has seen his father as his enemy, lost him in death, adjusted to a new Batman, and had his father return to take control. Now Batman and Robin are trying to learn what it means to be a team and facing one of Bruce’s oldest enemies. Morgan Ducard…the son of Batman’s trainer Henri Ducard…has come back as Nobody. Now Nobody is turning Robin against Batman, and Batman and Robin may never be the same.

Written by Peter J. Tomasi, Batman and Robin 1: Born to Kill is part of DC Comics' New 52 relaunch. It takes over the previous series that was doing well and simply is more of a renumbering than a reboot. The series was well received by fans and critics.

For the most part the Batman and Robin title was left alone by the Flashpoint series though this does cause all sorts of continuity problems that have yet to be sorted out. With Batman’s return from the dead, Batman has decided to let the past be the past and try to live without vengeance. This of course isn’t what Batman is about so Batman’s past comes back to bite him in the form of Nobody.

The relationship between Batman and Robin is a new and different direction for the comic. It is a bit of a rehash from the beginning of the first Batman and Robin series by Grant Morrison which had Damian and Dick trying to adjust to each other, but being as Bruce is Damian’s father, it is a bit different here and there is a lot of room for development.

The best part of the series has to be the Robin aspect. I do like Damian as Robin and they are starting to groom him as a kinder and gentler Robin…I don’t know if I want that. It kind of just feels like the whole Batgirl (Cassandra Cain version) trying to connect with humanity. Robin is already connected but he has a superiority complex. I hope that it isn’t beaten out of him because it is part of what makes him interesting.

Patrick Gleason’s art is also a high point in this volume. The comic has a great look and a nice balance between light and dark. Gleason’s Batman and Robin are good, but Nobody seemed rather a generic looking villain. In addition to the generic villain, there were a few page layouts that I did have difficulty following, something that can sometimes ruin a comic.

Batman and Robin didn’t make my first cut of the New 52, but I did enjoy this collection. It leads into the Night of the Owls crossover which mostly is followed in the Batman title. I prefer the Grant Morrison Batman and Robin, but if I have to pick a second version, this isn’t bad.(less)

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Sep 06, 2012 Travis McClain rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. When DC Comics relaunched with their New 52 line and I was lured back into reading new monthlies for the first time in a decade, I paid close attention to Batman because he's always been my favorite. I couldn't afford to keep up with more than a couple comics a month, though, and I had no strong inclination between the four primary Batman titles (Batman, Batman and Robin, Batman: The Dark Knight and Detective Comics) so I initially passed on all of them. I didn't want to find myself caught up in...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Kirk Kiefer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Amazing art and a pretty darn good story. I would probably rate this 3.5 if half stars were possible, but since not, I decided to round up.

My main issue is that some of the dialogue is a bit hokey (especially when Batman and Nobody are beating each other to a pulp). Another issue I had, though one that new readers probably wouldn't, is a slightly inconsistent portrayal of Damian Wayne as compared to the pre-New 52 issues. Damian had been working with Dick Grayson and grown quite a bit from his...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Vanessa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: superhero, dc, modern-age

I think this volume will appeal a lot more to newer or more casual fans. I like the tone. As a pretty big Batman fan, this volume just doesn't work for me. The art is nice. I like most of the dialogue. Alfred is great here, and I'd probably recommend this to anyone that really likes Alfred. It isn't necessarily a bad volume.

This story just feels too similar to other stories with Damien. While the rest of Damien's time as Robin remains in continuity, he seems to have lost all of the character dev...more

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May 09, 2013 Joe Garcia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Finally, after I thought I've read every good Batman Graphic Novel out there I find one that steps up. Batman and Robin, Vol. 1 was one of the most entertaining and compelling Batman Graphic Novels I've read this whole year. Fast in action, good on dialogue, and with fascinating artwork this is a must read for Batman fans.

Seeing Batman in a new light when you've thought they were going to just do the same thing is great. The man who always shows to have no weakness finally has a vulnerable spot...more

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Jul 13, 2012 David Keith rated it 4 of 5 stars

I like this title best of the current Batman New 52 books.

Great to see Bruce as a father to Damien, who's a terrific character. He's a bit too dark like the Asian Batgirl from a few years ago, but I'm interested in seeing where his story goes. I hope he's around for a long time and that his character develops more. This is the only Batbook of the New 52 that actually finds some new ground.

Scott Snyder's Batman is full of Bat-cliches. Tony Daniel's art has declined, nor is he a great writer on...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Danny rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

I had trouble getting into this book. Maybe I have been reading too much Batman lately and I'm spoiled by the really amazing books. This book centralized on the interactions between Bruce and Damian Wayne. At first I had little patience for the sniveling angry brat that is Damian, and as much as I am wiling to suspend logic in graphic novels... 10 year olds just don't have the physical capacity to do what he does. There was also some problems in the book where it seemed disjointed as if pages we...more I had trouble getting into this book. Maybe I have been reading too much Batman lately and I'm spoiled by the really amazing books. This book centralized on the interactions between Bruce and Damian Wayne. At first I had little patience for the sniveling angry brat that is Damian, and as much as I am wiling to suspend logic in graphic novels... 10 year olds just don't have the physical capacity to do what he does. There was also some problems in the book where it seemed disjointed as if pages were missing and part of the story was gone, but they weren't. Of course in real life we rarely know all the details so I looked past it.
All that said, as the book moved on I was able to identify a bit with the fatherhood theme. Bruce Wayne may be an amazing person capable of saving the world, inventing fantastic inventions and be a poster child for self discipline but being a good dad is beyond his reach. My observation I that all great men have parenting issues. Not just the fictional superhero types. In the bible, Samuel and David are two examples of strong godly characters that can't hold their boys in check. For me I am held in check by the idea that it is not worth it to gain the whole world but lose my family. Which mimics the words of Jesus question in Mark 8:36 about exchanging your soul for anything. Is it worth it? His words are about the willingness to follow God even to the point of sacrifice. For me, my life mission has always been clear: to be a good husband and a good father. I love my work and it is meaningful, but I could not let it stand in the way of my family. Except when I do. I am a living oxymoron.
The difficulty is allowing ourselves as fathers the freedom to let our kids make mistakes while upholding the idea of protecting them. This is especially true because of how clear my own weaknesses are in watching them come to life in my kids. In this, batman is concerned about the rage that his son processes not because he can't identify with it but because he processes the same trait. However much he wants to cross the line, if he breaks his principles even once his life loses its purpose and his ideals worthless. He can't trade his soul for such things.
The biblical imagery comes even more into play with the climax of the book when Damian looks up with a distraught look on his face and says, "father, forgive me for I have sinned". That's really the case right. No matter what our ideals, there will be times when we break them, deliberately or not. Batman looks past this sin and uses it as a lesson for his son. In fact Bruce finally comes clean with his boy about his hesitations as a father. Although there are some ethical lose ends as a result, but life is messy.
It could be because my dad passed away a few months ago, or the fact that I am a father trying not to screw my kids up too much (or that the bratty, discontent Damian reminds me too much of my relationship with God) but the last half of this book helped appreciate it. I'm not sure others would share this appreciation but I'm glad a read it. God help me to be the dad my kids need me to be. (less)

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Apr 23, 2013 Beckiezra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics-manga

3 stars because nothing wowed me in this book. I love Damian but I feel kind of like he's regressed from where he was with Dick as Batman. I suppose it makes some sense, trying to impress his dad and all, but it makes me sad. So the A story (as described in the afterword) of the relationship between father and son is kind of a repeat of what Damian and Dick did, with a lot less communication from Batman and humorous disrespectful comments from Robin. :) The B story of the bad guy was fine, nice...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Chris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: new-52

Simply put, Born To Kill is an amazing read that had me hooked from start to finish. The story sees a lethal enemy from Bruce Wayne's past return to exact revenge on the Dark Knight, manipulating Bruce's difficult relationship with his son Damian to full effect. Writer Peter J. Tomasi writes a killer story around this dysfunctional father/son duo and superbly explores the reasoning of why Batman never kills. The story packs an emotional punch, emphasised with twists and turns throughout and culm...more

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Oct 06, 2012 Jeremy Stange rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-comics

As those of you who are familiar with the Batman franchise will probably already know, there are a number of people who have worn the Robin costume in the past. These have always been wayward youth who Batman took under his wing to train and help better themselves and this time is no different, even though the New 52 version of Robin happens to be Damian Wayne (Bruce Wayne’s son). And to say that Damian Wayne had a rather disturbing upbringing would be an understatement.

Peter J. Tomasi is curren...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Timothy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-reviewed-in-2013

I am not a parent, but I can imagine that raising children must be a challenge for anyone to some extent or another. Now imagine if you are a super-hero in a world that is a fantasy kitchen-sink, and your son has been indoctrinated with psychopathic tendencies from birth by a secret society of assassins. Yes, this is a ridiculous premise, but somehow – as with most such premises in comics – this works well for a plot.

In Batman and Robin, Vol. 1: Born to Kill, the actual crime-fighting plot is of...more I am not a parent, but I can imagine that raising children must be a challenge for anyone to some extent or another. Now imagine if you are a super-hero in a world that is a fantasy kitchen-sink, and your son has been indoctrinated with psychopathic tendencies from birth by a secret society of assassins. Yes, this is a ridiculous premise, but somehow – as with most such premises in comics – this works well for a plot.

In Batman and Robin, Vol. 1: Born to Kill, the actual crime-fighting plot is of a former adversary from Bruce's pre-Batman training days, who wants to destroy his son and him for revenge on Bruce. This is the secondary plot, however. The main one is of Bruce and his biological son, Damian Wayne, trying to get along and find their places in each others' lives.

This comic was the epitome of why I always have liked the Batman titles so much. Except for the rare moments when the writers attempt to make Bruce overly “dark and edgy” by having him be a jerk, he is, in general, one of the most caring and good characters in the DC Universe. He can be dark and brooding and so forth, yes. He is also kind-hearted, and genuinely cares about his fellow man and his family. He is, in fact, one of the few prominent DC heroes who has raised children, and is known to be good with children in general.

I did have some concern for the presentation of the story, mainly in that the writers could have told the story fine whilst toning down the incredible amounts of bloodshed. It was especially disturbing to see a ten-year-old boy thoroughly bloodied up. It is easy to see why it is that Bruce doesn't always take Damian with him on missions, and probably wouldn't as much for a few more years were it not for the fact that Damian's training and brain-washing since birth by his mother Talia has instituted some very horrific morals that Bruce wishes to counteract. To be honest, Damian himself wants to counteract these urges, and struggles with them constantly. The need the boy truly has for his father is manifest when Damian does something in fear for his father's safety that he quickly comes to realize he will always regret.

Another great Batman story. Not just in terms of the mystery, which was about average, to be honest, but in terms of the emotional story told. That personal story was simply brilliant.(less)

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Sep 06, 2012 Lloyd rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010s, batman, comic-book-graphic-novel

So Batman and Robin made it to The New 52. That's good news. The placement of Bruce Wayne's son Damian Wayne as Robin was one of my favorite things as I read through the wrap up of the old DCU Batman titles.

Only here, it's even better.

In the old DCU, it was Dick Grayson as Batman and Damian as Robin, now it's a father and son dynamic duo, as Bruce and Damian take to the streets to bring the hurt to the bad guys.

The father and son dynamic should be interesting enough to get you to pick this one u...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Justyn Rampa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: batman, mavericks

I almost gave this an entire star just for my longing to like this better, but sadly...I didn't. I've read this in single issues and I won't be buying the volume. This is disappointing in many ways.

First, Batman and Robin was a title started by Grant Morrison and it was a fantastic title at that! I own all four volumes (plus the one single issue not collected) of Batman and Robin. This New 52 Batman and Robin does not even hold a candle to the original title.

Secondly, Peter Tomasi has written...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

Review originally posted here.

Why I Read It: My quest to read at least the first volume of every New 52 title (whether I actually do that or not is a different story..) Also: I love me some Batman. Spoiler-free review ahead.

The tally for the New 52 Batman titles is now 2-1 for me. The Court of Owls was a solid horror/mystery story for me, even if it had a weird second half, but Detective Comics fell really short in comparison. Thankfully, Batman and Robin: Born to Kill was in the former camp and...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans who want a very dark Batman and Robin

Shelves: won, comics

This was an interesting read. It's very dark. Damian's homicidal tendencies are a nice touch, but the character is just too serious. I like that Bruce has so much trouble fulfilling his new role as father.

Unfortunately, the villain is pretty much a throw-away bad guy who accentuates the conflict between father and son more than adding any extra depth to the story. There's also not enough witty banter to break up the tension. Bruce Wayne is humorless; Damian Wayne is humorless; the villain is hum...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Trevor rated it 3 of 5 stars

I would like somebody at DC to explain to me how - in the New 52 universe - could Batman have only been Batman for five years, but have Damien, his son (who is at least 12 or 13 years old) as his Robin? That doesn't make any freaking sense. Then again, neither does the idea that in just five years he went through Dick, Jason, Tim and now Damien as Robin.

But oh well, whatever. I'm done trying to make sense of this New 52 nonsense. I'm just reading these on their own terms now, and this one is pr...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Steve rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, first-reads, graphic-novel, science-fiction, sci-fi-fantasy

I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads giveaways. Unlike the other New 52 titles from DC that I have read this one was not a reboot (other than the new Batman Costume) and was therefore a bit more confusing as a jumping on point. I hadn't read anything with Damian Wayne as Robin in it so it was a little hard to get into the character and his history with Bruce Wayne, which is half of the reason for the tension between Batman and Robin in this book. The art had a dark quality...more

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Jan 04, 2012 Nathan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Batman and Robin was a very intriguing comic book to read, the reverse contrast of the characters was a good decision and further served to redefine the relationship between Dick Grayson and Damien Wayne. Following the events of Flashpoint, Batman and Robin are now comprised of Bruce Wayne and Damien Wayne and although the contrast is gone between the two characters the new conflict of raising a son and training a fighter is excellent. Bruce Wayne never struggled when training Dick Grayson, Tim...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Dane Jackson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

They dynamic between Damian and Bruce just may be my favorite Batman/Robin relationship I've ever read.

To be honest, as much as I like Batman, Robin has always been a throwaway character for me. I do like who the former Robins morph into though - Nightwing, Red Robin, Red Hood - but I've always had problems with the hero/young boy sidekick dynamic.

I was hesitant to read this run because I wasn't a fan of what Tomasi did on the Blackest Night crossovers, but I'm glad I did.

The story arc is a b...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Laurel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: batman

After a number of disappointing Batman and Robin collections, finally here is a Batman and Robin book I enjoyed! Some really great moments in this book. The father/son dynamic was well written as was the tension within Robin between his killer nature and his desire to please Batman by following his "no-killing" rule. Artwork was fairly good, especially in the final two chapters where Robin begins to look like the little boy he actually is. It's nice to see Batman beginning to move on from his pa...more

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Dec 07, 2012 Sesana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: comics, superhumans

Possibly what stood out to me most about this collection is what a huge step backwards the character of Damian has taken. He'd made a lot of progress when Dick was Batman, and now he's back right where he started. I can, however, buy this, sort of. He thought his father was dead, and now he's not, and he's taken over his training. And Dick was, naturally, a lot less authoritarian than Bruce tends to be. If you explain it that way, I can get it. The writer didn't, but there you have it.

The storyl...more

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Sep 08, 2012 TJ Shelby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dc

Much of the strife between Batman and previous Robin characters has been due to Bruce's overbearing and protective nature to ensure that they do not die, a la Jason Todd. However, with Damien, much of the emotional connection between them has to do with Bruce fumbling through his newfound role as father and with his protective nature kicking in to protect Damien from himself. To weed out the inherent training and programming he grew up with under Talia's care. Damien was "born to kill."

This arc...more

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Oct 01, 2012 Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the first volume of the second series of "Batman & Robin", and the first to feature father & son in the title roles. Peter Tomasi seems to have an understanding of the dynamics of the Bruce Wayne/Damian Wayne relationship and is building a strong foundation for this series. It's nice to see the interaction "out of the costume" between the two main protagonists (three, if one is to count Alfred). We already got a glimpse of this in the previous B&R collection in Tomasi's story...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Jessie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comic-compilations

This was a fantastic compilation. It makes me regret not collecting this series from the first issue. My current Batman knowledge was seriously lacking, so I went in without any knowledge of who Damian was. Watching his relationship with his father develop is awesome. And I love Alfred's involvement in the process--fitting since he was a father to Bruce. The only complaint I have is that the art is a little too cartoonish compared to some of the other series. It wasn't bad, just not quite my sty...more

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Apr 19, 2013 Mike rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: found-via-goodreads

As the book opens we get a full-throated dose of a Batman who's engaging fully with his son, and who doesn't much care for the character dropped on his doorstep. The Damian is entirely consistent with Morrison's original vision of him, but somehow Batman trying to tutor his son by rejecting Bruce Wayne's past seems... out of place. The repartee between the two of them is believable, but just feels a little off from the way they existed before Flashpoint.

Through the middle of the book I started t...more

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Oct 25, 2012 Mike rated it 5 of 5 stars

One thing the New 52 definitely got right were the Batman titles. I’ve already professed my love for Scott Snyder’s Batman and the same definitely goes for Peter J. Tomasi’s’ Batman and Robin. I’ve always been a fan of Tim Drake as Robin but the more I read of Damien as Robin the more I come to enjoy Bruce Wayne’s biological son. Brash, arrogant, and yet strangely naive the League of Assassins trained Damien Wayne is one of most interesting additions to the Bat universe in years. As the title su...more

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About Peter J. Tomasi

Peter J. Tomasi is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics.

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Books by Peter J. Tomasi

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Blackest Night: Black Lantern Corps, Vol. 1

Green Lantern Corps, Vol. 5: Emerald Eclipse

Green Lantern Corps, Vol. 4: Sins of the Star Sapphire

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Quotes from Batman and Robin, Vol....

“Show some respect. They were your grandparents. -Batman
Just names and dusty frames on the wall to me. -Damien
I take exception to that. There is not a speck of dust collecting on those portraits. -Alfred” — 1 person liked it

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Batman and Robin, Vol. 1: Born to Kill (Batman and Robin Vol. II #1)

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