Adrián Gutiérrez Cover D Variant
Batman and Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos #2
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Chris Samnee
Cover Artists: Adrián Gutiérrez, Chris Samnee, David Talaski, Duncan Fegredo, Greg Capullo
Colorist: Mat Lopes
Letterer: Clayton Cowles, Chris Samnee
Publisher: DC Comics
I had fun with the first issue of Batman and Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos, so I was excited to see where Mark Waid and Chris Samnee would take things from here. Thankfully, that same charm is still present. Robin continues to have that youthful eagerness to prove himself, while Batman's influence hangs over everything he does, for better or worse.
What caught me off guard was how much attention this issue gives to the characters outside of the Dynamic Duo. I wasn't expecting that shift in focus this early, but I think it works well and gives the story a little more room to breathe.
Wolf in Bat's Clothing
The Wolf Pack is back, and this time, they aren't causing mass destruction. The bad kids of Gotham are being infiltrated by Robin, who should be fine, besides his disguise making him look like, uh... Shrek? Thanks a lot, Bruce.
Catwoman, meanwhile, gets a visit from the leader of the Wolf Pack, an unnamed young girl who takes the name Mehitabel, after the one-eyed cat under Catwoman's care. While her intentions differ from Robin's, she still wants to find out who the Wolf Pack are and, more importantly, who this mysterious girl is who keeps herself so closely guarded from everyone.
Boy Wonder, Class Clown
I touched on it briefly with the Shrek joke, but I want to mention how much I've enjoyed the humor in Batman and Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos, two issues in. I know this has turned some readers off, with some expecting Dick to be written as a more mature and poised sidekick. Personally? I don't mind it at all. In fact, I think it fits this version of Dick pretty well. He's still a kid; he's eager to prove himself, and of course he's going to make the occasional dumb decision or find himself in a ridiculous situation. That's part of the fun of watching him grow into the character we know he'll eventually become.
I also have a lot of faith in Mark Waid as a writer, and I think he has a good feel for when to let the humor come through without letting it take over the book. Alfred is the perfect straight man to bounce the jokes off of, especially.
I don't need every version of Robin to be the perfectly composed, hyper-competent sidekick right out of the gate. Let the kid be a kid for a little while. If Waid keeps this balance going, I'm more than happy to see where he takes him.
Purrfectly in Character
As Robin gets sent along his merry way to meet Fiona at her swamp, Mehitabel drops in on Catwoman's house without warning, sporting a black eye. Catwoman, ever the motherly figure, brings out the blankets, asks Mehitabel if she wants to order some food, and offers her the guest bedroom. But when she turns around, Mehitabel is gone, the door left ajar as she disappears into a cold, rainy Gotham night.
I love this. Catwoman, despite her faults, has a genuine heart and sees herself in every kid left out in the streets to fend for themselves. This is a side of Catwoman I wish we could get a lot more of, rather than the usual, "Here's this valuable jewel I stole. I sure hope Batman doesn't catch me!"
That's cool, mind you. I've always enjoyed the Bruce and Selina dynamic, through all its ups and downs, but I've also always appreciated Catwoman's willingness to give back to underprivileged youth. It's her strongest character trait, in my opinion, and I can't wait to see her forge a bond with Robin.
A Beautiful Bat-astrophe
You might not be surprised by this admission, but Chris Samnee, yet again, is hitting a home run on art. We get some cool, bluish-hued shots of Robin putting on his disguise in the Batcave. I always enjoy seeing an artist's interpretation of what the Batcave should look like, and Chris makes it look great.
The highlight for me was when Robin is undercover with the Wolf Pack gang. They bring him along to a super-secret hideout full of impressive-looking statues that give you the sense that whoever runs this place must be important. The scenery here gives off a gothic vibe, and it looks fantastic. Samnee had a field day drawing this stuff.
I wonder how well he would do leaning fully into scenery like that for a book like Hellboy? Just thinking out loud here.
Three's Company
Batman and Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos #2 mixes in some well-timed humor without taking away from the more serious subject matter, with the cliffhanger ending driving that point home. It also gives Batman, Catwoman, and Robin plenty of room to shine without making any of them feel like an afterthought. Catwoman, in particular, gets the strongest character development in the issue, and I'm even more excited to see what happens when the trio finally gets the chance to work together.
The Cat's Out of the Bag: 8.2/10
Selina Steals the Spotlight in a Strong Second Issue.