The Good
As a Batman fan, seeing Bruce Wayne step into a brand new armor is almost always treat. Over in Scott Snyder in Greg Capullo's BATMAN, we just witnessed the Dark Knight wear something that allowed him to defeat some of the most powerful Justice Leaguers and, as expected, it was fantastic. Here in BATMAN AND ROBIN, Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason are giving us something that allows the Caped Crusader to take on the forces of Apokolips and unleash all kinds of hell. If you're not a fan of seeing Batman act like an unstoppable badass, go spend your $2.99 elsewhere (also, how awesome is it this title's still only $2.99?). For everyone else, you're in for some moments that'll make you want to cheer.
Tomasi previously promoted this story by saying, "Pat and I really wanted to kick the doors off and it is action time." Man, he wasn't kidding. Even during one scene of exposition (Kalibak talking to goons), there's still someone getting blasted. It's just craziness after craziness and it's all so thrilling. Even when he's at his most vulnerable, Batman's driven and shockingly tough. He'll stand for zero nonsense and won't slow down until he saves his son. Not even an army will hinder him; it's great. And, even when you think he's completely lost it, you still see he can keep control of the mission and has a plan. Some may say Batman's acting a little out of character at times, but can you really blame him after all he's been through after Damian's death?
Right now, Barbara Gordon, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake kind of feel like they're just along for the ride, but it's Titus and Cyborg who really bring more to the story. Titus is the heart and Cyborg is there for story. Not only is Cyborg critical for the plot, but he gets one very cool moment to unleash. I would have loved to see what Gleason could have done with that scene if it was given a bigger panel, but it's still solid. As someone who's been with this book since the first issue, having Titus along for the ride just fills me with happiness. Seeing the dog leap into action makes me want to exclaim, "YEAH, TITUS!" and the look on his face as he meets Bruce is heartwarming.
If you're going to pull off an "I'm Batman!" it needs to send chills down the reader's spine and remind us why so many fear and respect this hero. The dialogue leading up to the famous line felt a little forced, but if you hear Batman's dialogue in Kevin Conroy's voice, it's sure to be an awesome moment for you, especially given the odds he's facing. A little forced, sure, but it absolutely made me smile. This story really feels like one big love letter to Batman's formidability. Oh, and that ending? Who else really wants the issue right now?!
Tomasi dishes out a fast-paced script that's full of madness and the art team (artist Patrick Gleason, inker Mick Gray, colorist John Kalisz) grabs us by the shoulders and then throws us right into all of the action-packed insanity. There's some angles that really sell just how cool the scene is (e.g. Batman plowing through a ship and zooming past a moon) and they continue to make the Dark Knight look terrifying in this new armor. As said above, it would have been neat if the big moment with Cyborg was given more space, but the layouts complimented everything else incredibly well. This is story that's loaded with a sense of urgency and intensity and each panel does a thorough job bringing the twisted nature of Apokolips and Batman's determination front and center. Tomasi's script is racing ahead and this art team has no problem keeping up with the pace and dishes out some very satisfying panels. These visuals are every bit as badass as the script.
The Bad
Batman seemingly destroyed a ship -- an attack which sent goons plummeting back to the surface -- but he can guarantee there were no fatalities? That seems a little hard to swallow, but maybe I'm selling the durability of these characters short. Also, I thought having the Robin symbols reflecting on his mask was great, but the reveal of them holding the symbols instead of standing with them in place felt like the gesture was a little much; almost like it was something they prepared in advance. It would have been just as effective if they were still on their armors and that's what Batman focused on. As for the story, this is basically pure action and just a wee bit of heart. It's looking like the really unforgettable material will be in the next issue.
The Verdict
This chapter is called "Chaos" and it most definitely lives up to its title. This one's incredibly fast-paced and refuses to slow down. It's non-stop excitement as we see Batman being seriously intimidating and formidable and then the story ends on a note that'll make you wish you could see what happens next right away. Everyone on the creative team is really going all-out to produce a story that's a total blast. If you want to see Batman completely unleashing and overcoming every single threat that's put in his way, you need to read this series. Seriously, it's pretty much one big and totally thrilling action scene.