Batman and Robin Annual #1 Preview/Discussion

[maxpower00044]

Yeah, there were a couple of times that I really let out a good laugh.

[Retro315]

Let's all remember this one when the "Best of 2013" topics start cropping up in 11 months!

And let's hope Tomasi's kickstarting a new era of Damian awesomeness - the outright Grayson-emulation only means grand things.

[thwhtGuardian]

I'm certain not to forget this issue anytime soon, so it'll certainly make my list.

I'm really looking forward to what the book will be like after Dotf, if this annual is a sign of things to come I'm beyond excited.

[JasonTodd428]

Sounds like I may have missed something special here so I might just have to take another look even though I've not been overly impressed with Tomasi's work on the title for the most part. Maybe something in the issue will change my mind. In any case, you're all making this sound like something special so I hope I'll not be disappointed (again).

[Rakiduam]

This was a fantastic issue. Great work of everybody in it. I loved it.

[Namtab]

Fantasic, fun, and heartfelt.

I love that Two-panel scene of Damian moving the batmobile seat forward, so that he could reach the pedals.

Heh, "Best! Batman! Ever!" indeed.

[InformationGeek]

Let's all remember this one when the "Best of 2013" topics start cropping up in 11 months!

I'll keep this in mind myself.

[Ogar]

When I think Batman, I certainly do not think of the words "lighthearted" and "funny," so I'm always really impressed when an author can bring that all together and make it work. I'm not familiar with the artist, but I certainly don't have anything negative to say after reading this annual. I feel like Tomasi's been doing a great job of making Damian endearing, even if he is almost unbearably cocky and self-involved. The first arc of this title really played on the duality between Damian's desires to both prove how great he is at everything without anyone's help, and to be a good son and make his father proud. I felt like this story really showed that he is growing as a character, which gives me hope that he'll mature and eventually become a great independent hero, similar to Dick going off to be Nightwing.

[DrSimonHurt]

Great book.

I think this was Tomasi's offhanded condemnation of Snyder and his goreporn Joker mess over in the other titles. I'm personally tired of this pretentious non-stories and maybe Tomasi is too.

Hey Snyder, read this book. Stop writing horror and write Batman.

[RoughNTumble]

What a fun issue. This is what's largely missing from the bat-line. The only thing that could have made it better is batcow and alfred the cat.

I feel like this is also the closest tomasi has come to capturing damian's voice.

[new_onslaught]

Since Morrison's Inc is coming to an end, I was thinking of starting Batman & Robin. I got the DotF tie-ins and liked them. If I like this annual as well, will I like the monthly series as well?

[OregonBat]

Wow. Perhaps it's because I have not been keeping up with B&R (though I will say B&R15 was probably my favorite DOtF tie-in) but I found this book to be pretty boring. I kept waiting for 'the point', something that would tie things together. The punch line is that Bruce is learning to trust Damian... Kind of a let down (for me) on the entertainment scale. I was apparently not picking up on the humor that some of you saw.

[Conway]

You can't argue with those threads. I was worried that like Superboy the Annual would be taken over by the big boy's arcs like DotF or Inc. But this really stands alone. And it does it well. I'm not even going to complain about "stupid" Bruce, because in the end he showed up first and it fit the story.

Wow. Perhaps it's because I have not been keeping up with B&R (though I will say B&R15 was probably my favorite DOtF tie-in) but I found this book to be pretty boring. I kept waiting for 'the point', something that would tie things together. The punch line is that Bruce is learning to trust Damian... Kind of a let down (for me) on the entertainment scale. I was apparently not picking up on the humor that some of you saw.

The point was a touching story about a father and son that haven't had the chance to connect. Damian was trained by Dickbats, they just haven't interacted much. Damian pulling a move like Dick in both of his titles was great. Part of it is also a boy trying to figure out who he is because his world has been turned upside down since he met his father. Most of the comedy is campy in a classic Batman TV show kind of way.

But in the end it was a 10 year old having fun with his dog because he's never been unsupervised in his entire life. Home Alone starring psycho killer Robin is fun.

[Desaad]

This was the best thing Tomasi has written in AGES. Strong, clever dialogue. Heart, without schmaltz. Fun, kinetic, plot. Strong characterization.

I don't...WHERE THE HELL HAS THIS GUY BEEN ON THE MAIN TITLE?!

Syaf was absurdly on point as well.

[maxpower00044]

Great book.

I think this was Tomasi's offhanded condemnation of Snyder and his goreporn Joker mess over in the other titles. I'm personally tired of this pretentious non-stories and maybe Tomasi is too.

Hey Snyder, read this book. Stop writing horror and write Batman.

Yup, every batwriter that writes something light hearted is obviously trying to tell Snyder they don't like the direction of the bat-line. I guess that's why he willingly participated in DOTF, right?...... IT'S ALL A CONSPIRACY, man!

To take a page from your book:

And we still don't care.