BATMAN AND ROBIN #13

[ DEATH TO THE DISCOUNT ] 

Do you honesty like this new boy wonder? He's a brat which is ready to blunder. Like a Hilton with a camera. Or a Kardashian with a damaged-bra. He's one step away from Abracadabra. Not unlike Writer: Peter J. Tomasi; Artists: Patrick Gleason and Tomas Glorello; plus Publisher: DC Comics in November 2012. Cast your vote now, and let the public decide.

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Boy-oh-boy-oh boy! Just like an English butler looking for some proper Earl Grey in China, you have to feel sorry for the dynamic-duo in this issue of 'Batman and Robin', entitled 'Eclipsed'.

• Well, if it wasn't bad enough that the Joker is now running loose all over Gotham City, there's also an eclipse hovering over this darkly hued location as well!
• Still, after a jaunt into space, Batman does find the time to investigate a grave-robbery during the day. Whilst his sneaky little son, Robin, stops a big frog from turning him into pond-scum, by night.
• Moreover, as time passes, Robin comes face to face with a rampaging herd of Justin Bieber fan's by accident.
• Psst! They're zombies.

To be continued just as soon as Robin goes 'Arrgghh'.

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

I got a right kick out of that scene where Damien asked his Dad that question about his mother. You know the one; that part where they said...

ROBIN: Father?

BATMAN: Yes.

ROBIN: Did you love my mother?

BATMAN: For a brief shining moment, I believe I did. Why?

ROBIN: I just wanted to know.

BATMAN: Well, I'm sure you still have feelings for her, Damien.

ROBIN: She placed a 500-million-dollar bounty on my head. My mother is dead to me. But you were right, it's all about perspective.

Ha! Only in a comic book can you have two characters talking about love, pathos, and assassination attempts in a single scene.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

Honest to God, I really did enjoy seeing Bruce's relationship with Damien opening up in this issue. Starting off with that homely opening sequence where father and son 'go to work' and talk about matters of the heart together. As well as that whole middle sequence where Daddy warns Sonny-boy to 'look after himself'. Bless Batman. Isn't he a big softy?

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

My only slight gripe with this yarn was that the Joker was always mentioned in it and never seen. Granted, I know that this was just to inform 'us readers' that the clown prince of crime was in the other Bat-books. But why the hell do that for, huh? Unless he is integral to this story somehow!

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: OK, so it's entirely possible that my sardonic side is speaking; but I did find it very amusing that a mother would place a bounty on her own son's head, prompting a giant frog to cash in on this 'reward'. Go on. Try and say this sentence out loud without laughing.

Listen; I'm not trying to imply that this concept wasn't creative. It was. In that 'Alice in Wonderland' type way.

ART: There was a single panel in this issue that took my breath away as soon as I saw it. It was that picture of the eclipse casting a shadow over the Earth. Wow! What a nice and moody piece of art that was. Bravo Mister Gleeson, and bravo Mister Giorello too.

Well, not only did Tomas's work complement Pat's work an awful lot. But I loved his bold and earthy rendering of the 'the Gang', 'The Frog', and 'The Zombies', making what was once stale and normal, fresh and new again. Please come back soon, buddy.  

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

Always Listen To Your Parents Kids, Or Otherwise A Giant Frog And Pack Of Zombies Will Attack You. Got It?

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

THE FROG ASSASSIN: Now I'm going to go all smelly in this installment of casting call, and try to define an odor which could represent these characters. Well, I'd imagine that this lumbering reptilian would omit a rather strange Apple Cider Vinegar smell, tinged with B.O.

THE DOG, TITUS: Whilst I'd imagine Alfred taking very good care of Damien's 'Bat-dog', by sprinkling him with some talcum powder and aftershave. Come on! Don't tell me it doesn't make sense. Ha!

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

Conceptually this story reminds me of a movie where two characters inadvertently stumble onto a pack of zombies by accident. You're not thinking what I'm thinking are you? No. Not the Peter Sellers classic, 'There's A Girl In My Soup'. 'The Hills Have Eyes', silly.

FINAL thoughts...

As of late, I'm starting to see a rather unified trend where this series is concerned. Personally speaking, I found that this book has become the Bat-book that mixes family, adventure, and pathos together, making it into a sort of smorgasbord of drama and storytelling of the 'kitchen sink' variety.

Now I'm not tying to state that this is a 'bad thing' overall -- because it's not. Though what I am trying to say is that this concept is very difficult to maintain over a long period of time, and needs to 'broaden it's horizons' if this title doesn't want to be kicked into touch by DC's 'businessmen'.

This is just food for though. Nothing more... and nothing less.

MARKS out of 10? 8.7