Batman and Robin #1

"This is it. Batman and Robin. Together again for the first time"

It's always a good idea to periodically shake things up with a legacy character, even if such changes often come across as shock tactics. Under the banner heading of 'Batman: Reborn,' DC Comics's big initiative this summer is the repositioning of the Batman universe. With Bruce Wayne "dead" (because actually he's not dead, simply trapped in the past, and he'll return to the present at some point, certainly in time fot the next movie), the three-issue mini-series Battle for the Cowl (which I didn't read, because I'm not THAT interested) explored the fallout from his absence, whilst also setting up Dick Grayson - the original Robin - as the new Batman. Which is the obvious choice, but not necessarily the right one. In a recent episode of The Big Bang Theory ('The Hofstadter Isotope'), a comicbook store owner named Stewart argues that the role should have gone to Jason Todd - the second Robin, who was killed in the line of duty, and brought back from the dead a few years ago - rather than Grayson, who as Nightwing has been a hero in his own right for many years. Todd, on the other hand, has flailed between good and bad ever since his resurrection; had he been the new Batman, we could have been treated to his redemption arc. Instead, the aforementioned Battle for the Cowl set him up as a villain again. Ho hum.

So when wandering into Travelling Man, and realising that the first issue of Batman and Robin was out, I tried to resist buying it. But when you see the names 'Grant Morrison' and 'Frank Quitely' on the front cover of a comicbook book, that's easier said than done, even though Morrison's recent run on Batman wasn't received all that well. It's tempting to say that people didn't get it - which, given the complex nature of his plotting, is at least a partial truth - but, to be honest, it wasn't consistently fantastic. Perhaps his greatest success was the introduction of Bruce Wayne's "evil" son, Damian, a character whom Morrison seems particularly fond of, and who has taken over the role of Robin. His rebellious nature is in full effect throughout this issue - he'd really rather have taken over the role of Batman himself, despite his youth, and tells Grayson that "you can have my respect if you earn it, that's all I'm saying," adding "you're not my father" by way of an insult that is likely to become one of the central themes - the first issue spends time dealing with Grayson's insecurities at having to take over from his mentor and friend, whilst he also attempts to have some fun with the role, as befits Grayson's personality.

As with any first issue, all it really does is set the scene, but Morrison has done so extremely well. The dynamic between Grayson, Damian and Alfred already feels firmly established, and should prove to be a highlight of the book. It reads as a breath of fresh air, a needed change that hopefully DC will persist with for a couple of years - a period of time which would make Wayne's eventual return seem all the more significant. Meanwhile, Quitely's artwork is at its best, full of his usual expressive detail, and a real sense of fun, not least in the couple of splash pages he's given (and who wouldn't enjoy themselves drawing a flying Batmobile?). He perfectly compliments the weirdness that is always to be found in Morrison's writing, infusing the final scene - the introduction of new villain Pyg - with the necessary horror to convey exactly why we're supposed to view him as a threat to be reckoned with. The two belong together - as their definitve work together on New X-Men and All-Star Superman has already proven, and contained within this issue is enough promise to suggest that readers should be preparing themselves for another instant classic. Here's hoping they live up to that.