Review: Robin # 15 – The Batman Universe

Overview: IN Robin # 15, Robin (Damian Wayne), Batman and Talia al Ghul are all dealing with the downfall of the Lazarus tournament and Shadow War.

Synopsis (spoilers ahead): Robin # 15 begins long ago, on a submarine during a storm at sea, Damian Wayne faced a choice between Batman and Talia al Ghul. Now DEO Talia is offering a deal in the wake of Shadow War.

Damian returns to Gotham and fights the Red Triangle gang of clowns. After hitting the first wave, Damian is surrounded, but Batman, Nightwing, Robin (Tim Drake) and Batgirls (Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain) arrive and make cards with the gang.

Later, the family enjoys a pizza party (with Damian eating gluten-free vegetarian, to Steph’s disgust). They talk about Damian’s adventures over the last year – Cass said she would have won the Lazarus tournament – but Babs finds out that Talia escaped DEO. Batman and Robin (Damian) investigate and find director Cameron Chase with bruises and a clear exit to Talia. Chase finds himself alone, as is common in conversations with Batman and Robin. The dynamic duo finds Talia on a dock, and Damian breaks a smoldering battle between his mother and father. He begs them to pull themselves together for his sake and persuades Bruce to let Talia escape. We see her switch to a new green and yellow costume, with a green and gold car marked in the colors and symbols of the League of Lazarus, as part of her deal with Director Chase, so DEO will leave Damian alone.

Damian meets Connor Hawke on Lazarus Island, where he tells his new friend about a plan to make the island a haven for children who have been chewed up and spat out by the battle between heroes and villains. His dream is interrupted by Lord Death Man, who washes ashore and says that Flatline is trying to kill him.

Analysis: Fresh on the news that Josh Williamson is leaving Robin title in two more issues (# 17 is his last), Mark Waid writes a Damian vs. Bruce miniseries with five editions, and Megan Fitzmartin starting a new one Robin series starring Tim Drake, this final three-edition of Damian’s second solo series feels very bittersweet. The bitterness of losing one of the best titles DC is to wipe out plugs because of all the sweetness. Williamson, so uneven in his Batman title writing, has consistently been rock solid in writing for Damian’s book, and it continues without issue in Robin # 15. Seamlessly tie together the ongoing plotline from Robin series, fallen from the destruction of Shadow War, and the various other locations where Damian and his supporting role have appeared throughout the DC Universe, Williamson also manages to throw in great cartoon moments with craftsmanship and wonderful character moments. Gagen, with a huge crowd of clowns coming out of a tiny car, is funny, and although very silly, it fits the crazy, high-energy feel of the whole book. The Bat-Family reunion with so many character notes and references compressed on a few pages that really gives a sense of the warmth and complexity of the relationship between these characters is a huge highlight in the series (as Rumble of Robins in number 5 also proved). Damian tries to convey peace with his parents (excellently done, though only time will tell if Williamson’s efforts will have any lasting effect as he leaves the book), and Talia’s fate remains rather mysterious at the moment.

Roger Cruz, though not as energetic or characteristic as the original lead artist of the Gleb Melnikov series, nevertheless fits the title very well, mimicking Melnikov’s style enough to give the book a solid look while not being close so inferior a match. who switched from Jorge Jimenez to Carlos Barberi in Super sons title. Luis Guerrero colors the book with a good sense of the drama and flair that characterizes Gotham, Lazarus Island, and the other places Damian visits everywhere. All in all, while not necessarily the most flashy book in the stands visually, it is still very, very well put together artistically and rewards an eye for detail, especially if your favorite characters happen to show up!

DC produced four more covers Robin # 15. The main cover, by interior artist Roger Cruz, provides a nice thematic image of Batman, Talia (in her chic new-to-this-series white corset assassin costume) and Damian Robin as a family portrait, transfixed by a dagger and shaded by fighting shadows. Simone di Meo delivers the main cardstock variant, with Damian in front of a mysterious-looking jungle mountain, with di Meo’s trademark framing devices and neon lighting giving the image a lot of dynamic feel. Mario Fox Foccillo’s incentive cover features an exaggerated graffiti-style kiss between Robin and Flatline, with anime-nervous-sweaty Batman and Lord Death Man watching. Finally, Lynne Yoshii paints the Pride variant with Connor Hawke, in muted dark colors, while Robin and Hawke jump from a great height, ready for battle.

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 at Comixology through Amazon or a physical copy of the title throughout Things from another world.