Batman & Robin #2 (DC Comics)
Writer: Peter Tomasi; Penciller: Patrick Gleason; Inker: Mick Gray; Colorist: Alex Sinclair; Letterer: Patrick Brosseau; Editor: Michael Marts
There used to be a time when you would get quite a lot of story in the 22 to 24 pages of a comic book issue. These days, with stories spread over multiple issues (in this case a three issue arc), a particular issue won’t necessarily have a sense of completeness.
What just happened here?
Tomasi gives us three pages of the Wayne family at home before launching us into Dick as Imitation Bruce mode, both as socialite eye-candy and Batman 2.3 (come on, like we haven’t seen Dick-as-Batman before Grant Morrison inflicted it upon us?).In any case, a guy comes crashing down on the red carpet for a Martha Wayne Arts Foundation event, with huge wings attached to him. (We will skip over the implication that Bruce cannot be bothered to attend a function of a foundation named for his own mother. Well, actually we won’t skip it, because I would like to point out that this is one of the displeasing warpings that the current Bat-setup creates for the handling of the character of Bruce.)
The investigation begins, and we have to endure Damian-as-Robin being disrespectful toward Gordon and the victim. Of course, Damian across the board is disrespectful – bringing us the Unpleasant-And-Unamusing-Quips-Robin (why do we have to put up with this brat?). The brat observes that the inner structures of the wings has “glowing blood” inside them. “Blood” that is glowing? Is it blood? I’m never sure with Damian because he is careless about so many things.
Our Heroes then investigate the point where the faux-angel launched himself. And Dick-as-Batman finds an apparent suicide note taped to a highly unlikely spot of the building’s gargoyle.
But before we can proceed further and get a better clue about the faux fallen angel, Batman is seemingly-attacked by Man-Bat, with Langstrom carrying off Batman 2.3.
Damian-as-Robin plunges after them, attacking Man-Bat (or trying to), for all the world displaying his unworthiness as Robin since he does not seem to know the first thing about Man-Bat. All this time he’s been Robin and he has not familiaraized himself with Batman’s Rogues Gallery and tangential associates, of whom Langstrom would be high on the list?
Man-Bat pretty much literally throws Batman into the midst of the glowing fluid, while warning the duo – or rather Batman, because he ignores Robin (wish I could) – to stay away from “the light.”
And there the issue ends. Lots of questions from totally disconnected directions. I’m not sure why we are to care, other than it being a “problem for Batman to solve” but there it is, part one.
This story arc is titled “Dark Knight vs. White Knight,” part 1 of 3, the chapter being “Tree of Blood.” I think. It might be reversed and the arc might be “Tree of Blood.” Unfortunately, I can’t tell. In this chapter, there’s no “White Knight” obviously in opposition to Batman. But then, there also isn’t a “tree” that I can see, particularly not one “of blood.” So … I have no idea what’s up with this.
Generally, I like Tomasi’s writing, but this installment is all over the palce. Hopefully it will come into focus in the next installment (but half-way into a story is a long time to wait for focus).
