by Tony Rhea, Reporter

High school is weird. It is both a place where you are challenged to get ready for life and a place where you often face some of the greater challenges of your life. If you’re Damian Wayne, your challenges are your principle possibly being a villain from your past. Oh, and also, bullies. Damian continues his adventures in high school in Batman and Robin #5!

Official Description:
Batman and Robin have been separated! Batman works with White Rabbit to track down the new femme fatale Shush while his son, Damian, hunts down the criminal mastermind who is targeting his father! But Damian won’t like who he finds! Don’t miss out on the shocking ending!

Creative Team:
Writer – Joshua Williamson
Artist – Nikola Cizmesija
Colorist – Rex Lokus
Letterer – Steve Wands

In Batman and Robin #5, Bruce volunteers at pancake breakfast at Damian’s school, catching a lot of attention from some thirsty mom’s while trying to aid Damian in the investigation of his principal. Damian makes it clear that he doesn’t need his father’s help, as he had explained the previous night while the two chased after Orca seeking information on the endgame of Shush and Man-Bat. Damian catches the attention of soccer-jock Shea, and is stopped from a fight by another student who explains the principal’s involvement with the soccer team. Meanwhile, Bruce has a discussion with one of Damian’s teachers about how smart and special Damian is, and that high school may be beneath his talents, when Damian takes to the field to try-out for the soccer team. Damian makes a concerning revelation during this tryout about a fellow student and proceeds to investigate this with his father during patrol, and makes experiences a stunning revelation.

One of my favorite things about Batman and Robin #5 is the humorous and honest portrayal of a father and son. Williamson has managed to capture the awkwardness of these parent-child interactions without taking away from the action and adventure we expect from a Bat-Book. The focus on this relationship between Damian and Bruce doesn’t take away from the comic, but adds something fun and interesting to it. Williamson breathes some normalcy into Damian that make him more believable as a teenager, and it’s nice to see Bruce experiencing some of the normal joys of parenting as he watches his son excel during a soccer match. It doesn’t seem important on the surface, but this bit of world-building adds an extra layer of believability that this reporter appreciates. The only problems I had with this issue were fairly minor. Damian changes into a soccer uniform and is mid-tryout faster in the same amount of time it takes Superman to duck into a phone booth for his costume changes. As well, for someone who is trained in things like the art of infiltration, I find it hard to believe that no one would notice a kid perched in a tree as he is keeping tabs on the principal. Those things being said, hardly criticisms to merit in a comic where Batman and son are chasing a whale-person through the harbor (which raised absolutely no questions for me).

Cizmesija does a great job in Batman and Robin #5, especially in giving us a Bruce that looks like a Dad (other depictions of Bruce in this series, as can be seen on the cover, end up making him look more like an older brother to Damian). I thoroughly enjoyed the various facial expressions utilized throughout, as they amplified humorous portions, but were also subtle at times without being indiscernible. Although I noted one or two issues with perspective, these were very slight, and were not noticed until subsequent reading. We also great a great version of Batman and Robin’s underwater gear in this issue, and I think I like these designs best out of others I’ve seen.

Batman and Robin continues to be a fun take on these two characters that manages to surprise and delight, while maintaining the high standards for Batman books that readers expect.

Rating:
ComicsOnline gives Batman and Robin #5 – 4 out of 5 hot and delicious bat-pancakes.

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