Batman and Robin and Howard: Summer Breakdown

by Jeffrey Brown

Summer is in session, and that means all the neighborhood patrols, soccer games, and snacks the boys can handle. But things take an unexpected turn when a new group of heroes, known as the Hero Club, approach Damian and Howard with an unusual offer—an invitation to help unmask the corporation planning to build a recycling factory in their favorite park. If that weren’t enough, Batman has been acting strangely and disappearing for stretches of time. And there are ninja everywhere…What could possibly be going on?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Batman, Comics

176 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Jeffrey Brown was born in 1975 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and grew up reading comic books with dreams of someday drawing them, only to abandon them and focus on becoming a 'fine artist.' While earning his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Brown abandoned painting and began drawing comics with his first autobiographical book 'Clumsy' in 2001. Since then he's drawn a dozen books for publishers including TopShelf, Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, McSweeney's and Chronicle Books. Simon & Schuster published his latest graphic memoir 'Funny Misshapen Body.' In addition to directing an animated video for the band Death Cab For Cutie, Brown has had his work featured on NPR's 'This American Life' His art has been shown at galleries in New York, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Paris. Jeffrey's work has also appeared in the Best American Comics series and received the Ignatz Award in 2003 for 'Outstanding Minicomic.'
He currently lives in Chicago with his wife Jennifer and their son Oscar.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damian, the current Robin, is Batman’s biological son, sent to live with him by his mother who is a supervillain, sort of, so that he could have a relatively normal life. That is if you think having Batman as your dad makes things normal.

This is not the first book in the series, but even if you have not read any of the others, the story brings you up to speed, and all you really need to know is that Howard is Damian’s best friend, and that he knows his secret identity.

In this story the kids have found a great place to play soccer, but it looks as though someon wants to rip up the plant and put in a recycling plant.

But, also, Damian’s mother is in town. And there are Ninjas everywhere.

So, there is a lot going on, but it is all about friendship as most middle grade books are.

Most enjoyable.

[røbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

wholesome as hell

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kids book where Damian Wayne's best friend, Howard, knows Batman and Robin's secret and helps out with monitor duty. They discover the park where they play soccer at is slated to be turned into a recycling facility and realize something fishy is going on. It's a bit of a slight mystery but it's a fun enough story even if Batman is a dope.

[Hollowspine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great novel for middle-grade readers who are fans of Batman and Robin, but also even those who aren't huge comic book readers would be able to get into this fun story about friendship, dealing with divorced/separated parents, and ninjas.

Robin and Howard are spending their summer playing soccer, hanging out, and of course, fighting crime! They are also working for Wayne enterprises tracking temperature fluctuations around Gotham City. Then they get involved with another 'superhero' group - a group of kids trying to stop a local park from being torn up to be turned into a recycling center. But wouldn't a recycling center be a good thing? Robin and Howard want to investigate, but of course, Robin's mom is in town with all her ninjas and his dad is acting really weird, so Howard finds himself investigating solo.

The two friends have to come together to figure out the mystery of the park, whether or not it's connected to Robin's mom - who is a villain after all, and what they can do about it.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Waaaaaay too much text. Would have made a decent chapter book.