Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Damian: Son of Batman #1 of 4
DC Comics
Andy Kubert
Andy Kubert writes and draws the four-issue, out of continuity mini-series about Damian. The comic book is out of place in more ways than one. The death of the character earlier this year has produced a bit of gap for fans of the character so this series hints at filling the gap. However, the characterization doesn't really fall in line with previous creator's interpretations of the character and book just feels like a comic published six years late.
Damian is older and is still Robin. While on a case with Batman the pair have some banter that hints at some chemistry but before that can go anywhere Batman is seemingly killed off in a manner that is unworthy of a Batman death. It's not even worthy of D-list character's death. Immediately I knew this comic book was going in a direction that seemed problematic.
This launches the book into Damian seeking revenge. He finds his mother and grandfather while looking for help. His mother scolds him for joining Batman in the first place while his grandfather instructs him to embrace his heritage as Batman. This scene was so odd and left me wondering why this was included in this comic book. I couldn't make sense of it. Perhaps it was an attempt to fill in the readers as to where Damian came from. I don't know but it was not good storytelling.
The book finally involves Alfred at the end in a throwaway scene where he tries to tell Damian how his father wouldn't approve of his methods. The book ends with a cliffhanger I didn't see coming, but comes in a book that I didn't really understand scene to scene why characters were doing the things they were doing.
The comic is littered with question marks and odd scenes. Batman's funeral got one panel. Alfred barely shows up in the book while Dick and Tim are nowhere to be found. Damian appears to still have the mind of a child while visually he seems to be a young adult. Most of the revenge occurs off panel as the book seems to stay focused on Damian's thoughts. This book seems to ignore everything you've read in a Batman book over the last ten years and that is unacceptable.
The artwork is a shining beacon in this comic book. I have always been fond of Kubert's art and he delivers in this issue. There are plenty of iconic images and this definitely will go down as one of the more defining Damian as Robin visuals. It's not enough to make the book interesting.
Damian is a hollow character made worse in this issue. The uninvolved characters that are jammed in this issue makes it read like pages are missing or were left on the cutting room floor. The comic is not terribly entertaining and I think even the biggest Damian fan is going to be disappointed.
2 out of 5 Geek Goggles
