Review: Batman vs Robin #1

Overview: In Batman vs. Robin #1, Batman discovers that Alfred Pennyworth is alive. He is also attacked by Robin, who is under some form of magical control.

Synopsis (spoilers ahead): Batman vs. Robin #1 begins at Wayne Manor; it is a dark and stormy night. A figure in a raincoat approaches.

Bruce Wayne is at the mansion after feeling compelled to return. He looks at family memories and wonders what drew him here tonight. There’s a knock on the door. Bruce answers it and it’s Alfred Pennyworth, back from the dead.

Bruce runs the gamut of who could be impersonating Alfred. Alfred tells Bruce the last thing he remembers, which was Damian being held captive by Bane and the Flashpoint Batman (i The city of Bane history).

For the next hour, Bruce questions Alfred. Alfred walks by, then suggests Bruce examine him doctor in the Batcave. As they descend, Bruce feels uneasy. There’s something down there pulling him.

In the Batcave, Bruce is confronted by Robin (Damian Wayne). Robin hasn’t seen Alfred yet, so Bruce whispers for Alfred to hide.

Robin and his cohorts, Tim Hunter and Jakeem Thunder, attack Bruce. Bruce quickly switches to Batman and engages the teenagers, realizing that someone has taken control of Damian.

Batman takes down Tim and Jakeem. He is about to lose to Robin when Alfred appeals. The distraction works and Batman fights off the magic that Robin casts.

Batman and Alfred escape into one of the smaller cave systems. They almost make it when Robin catches up to them. Robin raises a gun and fires at Batman, causing both the Dark Knight and Alfred to fall. Fortunately, they drop into the dock for the Batboat.

Batman and Alfred ride out safely. The two argue over Alfred’s safety, with Alfred wanting to help Damian and Batman push back. After arguing, they embrace. They are all family, and family is connected.

Robin returns to the Tower of Doom in Salem, where a mysterious figure tells him he failed. When Robin says that this figure should not have given him children as an army, the voice tells him that a good carpenter does not blame his tools. Then this voice offers other artifacts in the tower, hoping that Robin will use them to get revenge on the voice’s captor, meaning Batman.

Batman and Alfred go through the tools they have left. They plan to work off-grid as their communications may be compromised. Batman pulls out a magical key that opens a portal to Zatanna’s home. The two enter to find her hanging from Schrodinger’s loop. She is not dead yet, nor quite alive.

Zatanna tells Batman and Alfred that magic users are being punished by this new evil. She says that Damian tainted magic and that Batman and Alfred must find out how. When they use the key again, they are taken to a new location where they will learn what Damian did.

Back at the Tower of Fate, Robin asks for more than trinkets. He says he owes greater power as he was the one who introduced Mother Soul to Devil Nezha (the villain from the last The world’s finest bow).

Analysis: batman vs. Robin #1 is a strange book. It’s probably not what readers expected, leaning heavily on magic and manipulation as its setup. Despite being cremated, Alfred Pennyworth is alive again, and undefined magic is to blame. The same excuse is used for Robin, who is under some kind of enchantment from the combined power of Mother Soul and Devil Nezha.

For those who aren’t big on magic in the DC Universe, this opening issue is a question. Readers should bear in mind that we will get very few answers in this issue. We know who is behind everything, but we don’t know how. We also don’t know why Alfred is alive, but a good guess would be that it’s some kind of wish-fulfillment/motivator for Robin, despite Robin getting ready to stab Alfred early in the issue.

What this issue does well is set the parameters for Batman and Alfred going forward. After the attack in the Batcave, Batman has limited gadgets and access to technology. It also shows how powerful and ruthless Robin is, going so far as to shoot his father with a gun. Obviously, this is not the Damian readers remember from the last one Robin series.

The rest of the question is skewed. While Alfred’s return in the opening pages has its moments, this book quickly devolves into an overlong battle that’s more harrowing than anything else. There is no real tension or weight to the fight. It’s a surprise attack by Robin and a few other kids and that’s it.

The art is beautiful, especially the coloring by Jordie Bellaire, but there is very little excitement. It feels like we’re reading this from a distance, disjointed and out of sync with the action.

Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with a copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Comixology through Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things from another world.