I think it’s safe to say that Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely have knocked yet another one out of the proverbial ballpark. That’s not too surprising, since the pair have built up an amazing body of work together; All-Star Superman alone cemented their position as the best writer and artist team in the biz. Hell, if I were to make a list of the top 5 writer/artist duos of all time, Morrison and Quitely would rank somewhere behind Stan Lee/Jack Kirby and Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons.
Isn’t it mind-blowingly awesome when you read a comic book you had high expectations for, and not only does it meet your expectations, but it blows right past them like the Roadrunner tearing ass down the highway, leaving a cloud of dust in Wile E. Coyote’s face? In fact, isn’t that one of the reasons you love to read comic books? I don’t want to oversell the quality of Batman and Robin #1, because it’s not like it’s as important as Fantastic Four #1 or as good as Morrison and Quitely’s own New X-Men #1. But after the crashing disappointment of the awful, unnecessary Battle For the Cowl and the anti-climactic Batman R.I.P., aren’t you excited to get a new, nigh-perfect example of what a Batman comic should be?
Thus, I present to you the top 5 things I loved about Batman and Robin #1. If I thought hard enough about it, I could probably come up with several more, but I have to get ready for work soon and I’m simultaneously watching the Today Show/crushing on Anne Curry as I write this.
1. That knockout opening panel, with Toad and his gang blasting off in their car as they escape from an epic explosion behind them, is a perfect example of the novelty of comic books. Quitely deftly uses the “boomboom” sound effect to shape the explosion in a visual trick that would make Will Eisner jealous. A couple of pages later, he pulls off the same trick with a “splsh” of water as Batman uses his wicked, new, flying Batmobile to drop Toad’s getaway car into the Gotham River. It’s a perfect example of why the language of comic books is an entirely unique concept that can’t be translated into any other medium.
2. Right off the bat, Pyg and Toad are two of the coolest new additions to Batman’s rogues gallery since the Ventriloquist debuted in 1988. At the very least, they’re much better than Hush and Jason Todd. (Of course, Bob the Goon from Tim Burton’s Batman is better than Hush and Jason Todd, but I digress.) They fit in perfectly with other bizarre villains like the Scarecrow and Killer Croc. Hopefully, this won’t be a case where other writers ignore Pyg and Toad in the future because they think they’re Morrison’s property.
3. I was actually a little surprised at how accessible Batman and Robin was. Even if you had no idea what happened in the first part of Morrison’s Batman run or Battle For the Cowl, the uninitiated could easily jump right in and understand the new status quo for the Dynamic Duo. Even though it’s been a long road to get to this point, the story isn’t bogged down by DC’s labyrinthine continuity. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but let’s face it, it does sometimes seem as if Marvel and DC have given up on attracting new readers, doesn’t it?
4. The previews for upcoming storylines at the end of the book were a much-appreciated treat, and it’s something I wish would become a regular practice in the industry. In this case, it’s a damn smart move, because when you’re looking to pick up new readers, every little trick you can pull out to get them hooked on the series matters.
5. Is Alfred Pennyworth awesome or what? I would seriously buy an Alfred comic, and so would you. I loved the way Alfred just brushed off Damian’s condescending attitude during the scene in the new Bat-lair. He’s had to deal with Bruce’s obsessive-compulsive disorder, Dick’s crappy “Holy whatchamacallit, Batman!” jokes, Jason’s douchebaggery, and Tim’s lack of a personality. So no matter how much of a brat Damian is, Alfred will remain reliably unflappable. Dude cannot be flapped. That’s just how he rolls.
June 4th, 2009 at 10:52 pm
my only complain:
after finishing reading
i felt the need of reading more
just 21 pages don`t make it
i cant wait for the next issue
and finally there is a Damian that is actually Damian
is just too obvious to me now that the Damian on BftC was just a clone who died in the end and then got replaced by this Damian
excellent decision Morrison
June 5th, 2009 at 1:03 am
But after the crashing disappointment of the awful, unnecessary Battle For the Cowl and the anti-climactic Batman R.I.P., aren’t you excited to get a new, nigh-perfect example of what a Batman comic should be?
No. A Batman comic should at least have Bruce Wayne in it.
Thus, I present to you the top 5 things I loved about Batman and Robin #1. If I thought hard enough about it, I could probably come up with several more, but I have to get ready for work soon and I’m simultaneously watching the Today Show/crushing on Anne Curry as I write this.
Watching TV and working goes hand in hand as far as I know.
Pyg and Toad are two of the coolest new additions to Batman’s rogues gallery since the Ventriloquist debuted in 1988. At the very least, they’re much better than Hush and Jason Todd. They fit in perfectly with other bizarre villains like the Scarecrow and Killer Croc.
Hush at least is visual interesting to me, because of his classic Invisible Man appearance and Paul Dini did a great job adding some personality to him. Those two new losers are nowhere near a Scarecrow level. They maybe more of a Mad Hatter employing Crazy Quilt team-up.
Sorry for ranting but I suppose you’re a comic and not a Batman fan. All I need to know about Grant Morrison is he brings back concepts that aren’t canon sice YEAR ONE.
June 5th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Agreed. I also like the fact that Robin is a kid again.
June 5th, 2009 at 5:48 am
morrison/quitely’s new x-men #1 wasn’t #1, it was issue one hudred something (113, maybe?). they changed the name on some x book and kept the numbering.
June 5th, 2009 at 7:21 am
I have to agree with MidKnighter. Bruce Wayne IS “The Bat” and no one else. Sure, if this were the real world we were talking about Bruce would have to eventually pass the mantle on to someone else. That someone would be Dick Grayson. No question. But… With Bruce being whatever age he’s supposed to be (I’m going on the assumption he’s not dead) that time isn’t yet. Perhaps, eventually, it would be interesting to move things forward and have Bruce move into that “Batman Beyond” role. But only over time. A long time.
Anyhow, although my LCS has plenty of issues of B&R, I’m taking a pass. I should’ve at least given it a look when I stopped in yesterday, but I was in a rush (on my lunch hour). I no longer trust Morrison to deliver the goods after his dismal run on Batman proper, and the clusterfuck that was RIP/Final Crisis. I don’t really understand all the love for Quitely’s artwork either. I find it kinda ugly, myself.
All-Star Superman was a (mostly) great book, and *maybe* B&R will be a great book too. But I’m just not into this “no Bruce” book, and I’m not so willing to blindly trust Morrison. I’m just not sure I dig his take on Batman, or anything going on in the various Bat-books right now. From what I’ve read about B&R, it sounds like Morrison’s taking a more, dare I say, campy take on things? It’s not how I like my Batman.
I’m already reading one book where an iconic character died and was replaced by his former sidekick. That book is Captain America, and none of the Bat-books I’ve seen lately come close to being on the same level as Bru’s work on Cap. Plus, Cap readers haven’t had to wade through a variety of other pointless books to know what’s going in the main title.
June 5th, 2009 at 7:52 am
See, Anne Curry? Do you see what you’ve done to me? Your heartbreaking smile and devastating beauty made me forget that Morrison and Quitely’s New X-Men run did NOT start with a #1 issue, and you’ve made me look like an idiot in front of eaglesfillthesky and my legions of fans. Oh no, please don’t cry, Anne Curry! It’s okay, I’m not really mad at you. I could never be mad at you, Anne Curry.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:10 am
Sorry Shaun, I haven’t read a Batman comic since the Club of Heroes storyline ended and this issue was still perfectly understandable, so your entire “YOU HAVE TO BUY EVERY BATTLE FOR THE COWL TIE-IN TO UNDERSTAND THIS” shtick kind of falls apart there.
June 5th, 2009 at 9:57 am
You might have a better shot with Ms. Curry if you spelled her first name correctly (Ann, not Anne).
June 5th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Bitch, bitch, bitch. If you didn’t enjoy B&R #1, then you don’t understand comics. Pure and simple.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:38 am
And also to Shaun: Bruce Wayne has been Batman for 70 years (if you don’t count the 1994 and Knightfall/Knightquest). 70 years, man. How long is long enough for someone else to take the costume up?
June 5th, 2009 at 1:01 pm
To Brien: To some of us, Batman is more than a costume. It’s another aspect of Bruce Wayne, and for that reason only Bruce Wayne can ever be Batman.
I look forward to seeing Dick struggle with trying to be Batman, as good stories can certainly be told about it. But in the end I hope that both Grant and Judd are headed towards showing why Dick cannot (and should not) truly be Batman. As they say, we shall see.
(I did have a post linking to my blog entry on this topic, but it was erased. If you click on my name above, it should get you there.)
June 5th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
I’m going to start a “Keep Bruce Wayne Lost” petition.
Bruce was very much in this issue. His influence touches everything and there’s now way that will ever change. It IS possible to tell stories without having him as the focus.
And this is coming from a guy who is a big Batman fan.
But God forbid comics ever move forward in stories. Un-marry Spider-man, bring back Barry Allen, just don’t try anything new.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
@ Dave: I’m sorry… Go back and show me where, in my comments here, I said you had to read RIP or Final Crisis to understand B&R? Since I haven’t read the damned book yet (again, go back and read my comments)I can’t judge the book. I haven’t. I just said I don’t trust Morrison anymore, I find Quitely’s work kinda ugly, and I’m just not interested in what DC’s doing right now. That includes taking Bruce Wayne off the table YET AGAIN.
Never did I say “YOU HAVE TO BUY EVERY BATTLE FOR THE COWL TIE-IN TO UNDERSTAND THIS,” so your “Let’s attack someone who has a different opinion than I do” shtick kinda falls apart there.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
@ Brien: So, would you like to see Clark Kent replaced as Supes? Peter replaced as Spidey? We could play this parlor game all day… Some icons/mythologies you just don’t fuck with. Bruce Wayne as Batman is one of them.
Do you honestly think Steve Rogers isn’t coming back at some point? I wouldn’t mind if he didn’t, because his death actually had resonance, and Brubaker’s done an amazing job with his book, making Bucky the (reluctant) new Cap. So even though I’m sure he’s coming back some day (maybe sooner, maybe later), that wouldn’t bother me. Bruce’s “death” (and honestly… Show of hands here, who thinks he’s really dead?) had none of what Steve Rogers’ did. It was a fucked up mess crossing two different stories that had no real connection to one another. I also think it was just a cheap stunt, and excuse to try to sell all kinds of crossover books, but YMMV. If you enjoy it, go for it.
70 years of Batman, sure, but over the last, what, less than 20 years we’ve seen Bruce taken off the table several times now: Knightfall, 52, Trinity (where all 3 disappeared for awhile), and now RIP/Final Crisis. Fuck all of that. Not liking it. So Batman, and DC comics in general, just aren’t for me anymore. SO be it.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Mark D. White said: “To Brien: To some of us, Batman is more than a costume. It’s another aspect of Bruce Wayne, and for that reason only Bruce Wayne can ever be Batman.”
Agreed. Well said.
“I look forward to seeing Dick struggle with trying to be Batman, as good stories can certainly be told about it. But in the end I hope that both Grant and Judd are headed towards showing why Dick cannot (and should not) truly be Batman. As they say, we shall see.”
Now see, that would be interesting to me… I’m not buying any of these books right now, but if they do something like this and make it interesting I might decide to pick it up in trade. Might. Some of the goofier aspects I’ve read about in #1, coupled with an artist that I’m not terribly fond of, are strikes against it for me. But maybe I’ll check it out later if this series turns out be something special. I just don’t know that it will, based on what Morrison did with Batman the past few years.
June 5th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Aqualad said: “Bitch, bitch, bitch. If you didn’t enjoy B&R #1, then you don’t understand comics. Pure and simple.”
And people here seem to not understand the comments they read, pure and simple.
I never said I didn’t like B&R #1. I HAVEN’T READ IT. It may well be a perfectly good comic book. As said earlier, perhaps it’ll be a great one. I just have baggage going into it, and therefore didn’t pick it up. My LCS had plenty of copies yesterday still, so if it’s there next time I go in I might sit down and read it. I’m not expecting much, but then I might be surprised in spite of my baggage. I won’t know that until I actually read it.
But anyhow, how does one not enjoying it equte to not understanding comics? That’s a really silly thing to say.
June 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Kyle said: “Bruce was very much in this issue. His influence touches everything and there’s now way that will ever change. It IS possible to tell stories without having him as the focus.”
Sort of like what’s been happening in Captain America for the past two years? Well, there you go then. I’ll stick with that book and not bother with the however many Bat-family books are out there right now.
“But God forbid comics ever move forward in stories. Un-marry Spider-man, bring back Barry Allen, just don’t try anything new.”
A valid point, but I didn’t see anyone saying Superman should stay dead back then… Why all the anti-Bruce sentiment here?
Sorry, but to me Bruce Wayne was the disguise and Batman was his true identity. Anyone else is just a placeholder. But, as I said up above, a long-term transition (I’m talking years here) to eventually moving Bruce to the mentor role (like in Batman Beyond, or the end of Dark Knight Returns) would be an interesting idea. Some insipid death tale isn’t the way to do it.
Anyway folks, it’s been fun. The weekend’s here, and I’m going to enjoy the nice weather. We can argue some other time.
June 5th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Shaun: “Plus, Cap readers haven’t had to wade through a variety of other pointless books to know what’s going in the main title.”
I’m sorry, which “pointless books” that are supposedly necessary to comprehend what’s going on in Batman was I supposed to take that as?
June 6th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
“Sorry for ranting but I suppose you’re a comic and not a Batman fan.”
Or maybe he’s both and just happens to have a different opinion.
June 7th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Were the readers who don’t want the book because it’s not Bruce similarly outraged by the whole “Reign of the Supermen” business?
It’s the same concept- freshen things up by looking at a variation of the icon, what another Batman or Superman might be like for a while. Bruce Wayne will return to the role, there’s no doubt about that in my mind, so why not enjoy the ride?
June 7th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
@ Brien: So, would you like to see Clark Kent replaced as Supes? Peter replaced as Spidey? We could play this parlor game all day… Some icons/mythologies you just don’t fuck with. Bruce Wayne as Batman is one of them.
Steel, Superboy, Eradicator and Cyborg Superman never happened now? Has the Clone Saga been wiped from existence, where one of the two at least weren’t who we knew as Peter Parker all those years?