Review: Batman and Robin Vol. 1- Born to Kill

Quick Summary

Pros: The main storyline has thrilling levels of action and suspense. The entire comic works well as an exploration of Batman and Robin. The family dynamic seen throughout this book is executed very well and has the potential to get even better.

Cons: Nothing significant.

Overall: This is a tremendously positive start to a series that has tons of potential. It has all of the action that one would expect from a typical Batman comic, all of which is fun to see play out. However, it also contains an emotional story about an unorthodox family, which ends up being surprisingly relatable. Any reader with an interest in Batman or an interest in intense parent/child relationships should consider reading this volume.

Story

Batman and Robin Vol. 1: Born to Kill, by Peter J. Tomasi, is an absolutely fantastic start to a series that already seems to be heading in a very positive direction. Over the course of the book, readers are treated to the full suite of awesome Batman action. There are fights against common thugs, flashbacks to Bruce Wayne’s past, and a larger narrative that has Batman and Robin go up against a formidable supervillain. However, all of this secondary to the family-centric narrative being built right alongside. This comic dives into the mixed-up world regarding Batman’s family structure and even goes on to address how hard it is to be both a parent and a child. The end result is an exciting book that also manages to be deeply meaningful.

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In many ways, the narrative in Born to Kill is exactly what a comic fan could want from a Batman book. It has intense bouts of action, seen when Batman and Robin take on their shared enemies; it has a threatening villain, whose malevolence is punctuated through his gruesome decision to liquidate his targets in acid, and it wraps up in an excellent victory, for the heroes, by the conclusion of the ordeal. There is even a portion of the book that gives a glimpse into a young Bruce Wayne’s training days, something that is always a treat to witness.

The narrative in Born to Kill also gives a wonderful justification behind Batman’s “no kill” rule. His attempts at explaining this rule to Damian transcend into explanations for the reader. This reinforces Batman’s mentality and addresses an issue that is right at the core of his character.

However, the real focus of this comic is on the characters and their relationships with one another. Bruce, Damian, and Alfred form a makeshift family that is simply trying to do its best. Bruce has an incredibly difficult time understanding Damian as a person and an even more difficult time understanding how to be a father in general. Meanwhile, Alfred takes on a grandfatherly role for both costumed vigilantes and garners plenty of reader respect while doing so. Watching this interplay of relationships work out is tremendously satisfying, especially since nearly every reader should be able to find some shade of relatable moment among the mix.

Tomasi specifically does an excellent job in writing Damian. He gives readers plenty of avenues to understand that Damian has deep psychological issues that go beyond most ordinary children. He kills bats for fun, has drawn a disturbing array of violent artwork, and is constantly forced to suppress the very instincts he spent his entire existence developing. In other comics, Damian is a jerk who readers simply have to accept. In this comic, he feels like the well-rounded person he was always meant to be.

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Art

The artwork in Born to Kill is excellent and is a perfect companion to the story. Patrick Gleason’s pencils are dynamic and make every character feel alive and full of emotion. In a book rife with tense relationships and strained moments between characters, these emotions are very important so Gleason’s work stands out in an even more positive way. In addition, Gleason’s page layouts really help in telling this book’s story. Well choreographed action sequences are fun to see play out while dramatic splash pages help emphasize the shock behind a surprising reveal. All in all, the visuals here are positive and make for a better reading experience.

Continuity

Batman and Robin Vol. 1: Born to Kill starts the Batman and Robin New 52 series. This means that this is the first volume in a brand new continuity, so there are not many references to previous books or specific character histories.

The story started here is continued in Batman and Robin Vol. 2: Pearl (Review).

This volume also references another comic book, detailed below:

• Damian specifically mentions that Dick Grayson trusted him as a partner. The two teamed up in the previous Batman and Robin series, which began in Batman and Robin Vol. 1: Batman Reborn.
• Many details from Damian’s early history are mentioned or shown in flashbacks. Most of these details come from Damian’s appearance in the Batman and Son story arc.
• References are made to Batman “franchising” his work and taking it internationally. This topic is fully explained throughout the Batman Incorporated series, starting with Batman Incorporated Vol. 1: Demon Star.