It’s a Whole New DC Universe – And I Don’t Know if I Care

Batman and Robin #1: This issue begins with a man dressed like Batman – who claims to be “an ally of the Bat” – chasing some bad guy. Suddenly, an invisible being guns down the bad guy, beats Bat-friend to a pulp, materializes and announces himself as “Nobody.”

Next, we see Bruce Wayne and son Damian venture as Batman and Robin to Crime Alley. Batman tells Robin that this night will not only be Robin’s first visit to the scene of Ma and Pa Wayne’s demise, but it will be his last, and the last that Batman will spend mourning his parents’ death. Instead, Batman will celebrate their lives. Robin is a little bastard, basically telling Batman to get over himself. Bats is appropriately gruff towards Robin.

They head out to stop a trio of bumbling brothers from making off with irradiated fuel. Robin impulsively chases said bumblers, who commandeer Batman’s underground traveling mobile.

Robin then accidentally kills the bad guys, which also causes a hole to explode in the swimming pool on the floor above. There is a strange red glowing apparition poolside that the swimmers don’t seem to notice. Batman chastises Robin, who argues that he is better than the previous three Robins.

I was really digging this story until Damian mentioned Dick Grayson, Jason Todd and Tim Drake. This took me completely out of the moment. If DC is going to restart a relatively new title (one that was barely two years old) why not do something bold like have Damian be the only Robin there was? Was their boldness quota filled by having Bruce be Batman in this version of Batman and Robin and not Dick as in the previous run? Is a do-over of this title even worthwhile? Regardless, I think I’ll check back in for at least a few issues.

Batman #1: This one’s a slow burner. Just when you think the action’s gonna start, the issue is over. It starts off with Batman facing most of his campy supervillain foes. Perhaps this title will stick to Batman more as a superhero than a detective?

Coming to Batman’s aid is…the Joker? All of a sudden, Joker is in the Batcave, hanging with a very young-looking, unmasked Bruce. Aha, it’s Dick Grayson wearing a super technologically advanced mask while Batman plays with a new toy (super

contact lenses) that will allow him to have all his Bat-tech at hand, even at an innocent dinner party.

Bats cracks wise and even shows some hubris. There’s an amazingly drawn perspective of the Batcave and the various souvenirs Batman’s collected over the years.

Dick Grayson, Tim Drake and Damian Wayne are all present, making me skeptical again of the need to start from Issue #1. But I’m in a good mood as I’m reading so I’m looking past this and forward to the next issue.

Batman: The Dark Knight #1: Is this issue a different telling of last week’s Batman? Bruce Wayne (looking like he’s got collagen-injected lips) speaking at a fundraiser about his Gotham revitalization plans? All of Arkham Asylum’s inmates (drawn too comic-booky) rioting? Do I see the Reaper (“Batman: Year Two”) in this mélange?

And then there’s the T&A – sure to send any 12-year-old into an apoplectic masturbatory fit.

Before you know it, the issue is over, with a giant, possibly Venom-enhanced Two-Face staring Bats down. Initially, I’m not liking this and don’t know if I want to continue buying this title.

Why was a title that only ran five issues restarted? Conversely, why did DC – knowing they were starting from scratch in a few months – even bother running those five issues? Thumbs down!