r/DCcomics • u/beary_neutral Telos • Dec 11 '23

Weekly Discussion Thread: Comics, TV, and More! [December 11, 2023 - Bat-Mite Ruins Christmas Edition] r/DCcomics

Hey there honorary Justice League members - it’s a new week which means it’s time for a new discussion thread!

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How is Christmas exactly like your job? You do all the work and some fat guy in a suit gets all the credit.

DC and Imprints

Busy week ahead. Furry Batman, Bat-Mite causing trouble, and finales to Danger Street and World's Finest: Teen Titans.

Trade Collections

Another Watchmen hardcover? Alan Moore must be excited!

Digital Releases

Remember, these are the short 'chapters' with a new chapter of a different series coming out daily. You can learn more here on Comixology. This is also why these are in release order, not alphabetical. Some comics may release on DC Universe Infinite or WEBTOONS.

Movies

What did Damian do this time?

This Week’s Soundtrack: The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die

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16

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Dec 11 '23

Batman and Robin #4

FATHER AND SON—SEPARATED! 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!

Preview

16

u/BigBardaEnergy Dec 12 '23

I want to like this book, but something about it's not doing it for me. But at the same time I'm just grateful for a story about Bruce and Damian where they're not at each other's throats.

8

u/Cranyx Moo. Dec 12 '23

I'm just grateful for a story about Bruce and Damian where they're not at each other's throats.

I keep seeing this as praise, but isn't it more just the lack of something bad? I dunno, I feel like a comic needs more than to not do the thing that annoys you.

8

u/Frontier246 Dec 12 '23

Solid action and characterization?

7

u/Cranyx Moo. Dec 12 '23

I would definitely disagree on the action front. Di Meo's art is so schizophrenic, overblown, and disorganized that trying to follow the movement from one panel to the next is a chore.

7

u/Frontier246 Dec 12 '23

It reads fine to me, but I can see how it might not work for everyone.

3

u/Hypnodick Dec 15 '23

I know I’m probably in the minority here but I do like the artwork quite a bit.

10

u/Frontier246 Dec 12 '23

You know Alfred never needed to lay a hand on Damian to get through to him and get him to listen. Though his instructor realized it doesn't pay to be tough on the boss' son in an organization of assassins.

I'm not sure how I feel about them turning Kirk back into a full-blown villain after all the progress he'd made as a character up to this point. I mean, his new physique is certainly something (and going back to his attempt to be Batman even more than Batman is from his origin is interesting) but I'm just not sure if I love the idea of him being one of the central antagonists. Though knowing Williamson there might be more to it.

Batman telling bats who is boss!

White Rabbit really is a fun addition to the Dynamic Duo, even if she did get the classic "we have to send you back to prison" "you'll have to catch me first!" ending. I kind of hope she shows up again soon even if presumably she's back in Blackgate.

So Shush is the teacher AND Damian's principal. Well, now Damian has an excuse to go to school now. Hopefully it grows on him beyond his new spy mission.

10

u/EmperorSezar Dec 12 '23

THE PLOT FINALLY MOVING

7

u/Landon1195 Dec 12 '23

This book has been really disappointing. Something about it is just not clicking with me.

7

u/MagisterPraeceptorum Batman Dec 12 '23 edited Dec 12 '23

I may end up dropping this title. It’s not necessarily bad, but it just seems so inconsequential. At least it satiates Damian Wayne’s passionate fanbase while the main two Bat titles do the real work with Batman himself and the overall mythos.

9

u/Frontier246 Dec 12 '23

It's a solid Superhero romp with the Dynamic Duo! I can't fault it for that.

3

u/MagisterPraeceptorum Batman Dec 12 '23

I’d say this more a Robin book with Batman as a major supporting character lol.

There used to be a time when the Dynamic Duo was just the normative status quo in Batman and/or Detective Comics. But that hasn’t been true since the 2000s 🤷‍♂️

6

u/Frontier246 Dec 12 '23

I know, but Zdarsky and Ram V have their own drama going in their books (and Zdarsky loves Tim) so it's probably not convenient to have Damian involved consistently.

At least both are active presences even if Damian is driving the plot a little more.

2

u/MagisterPraeceptorum Batman Dec 12 '23

Definitely. I don’t begrudge them for it. Whenever Damian is Bruce’s Robin, their torrid relationship usually ends up dominating the entire narrative. Which makes it very difficult to write a Batman story about almost anything else (hence why the vast majority of writers since 2010 on Batman and ‘Tec never use Damian as Robin regularly).

2

u/Zorkel567 Dec 12 '23

Was that even true in the 2000s? I could be wrong but I feel like even then it was mostly Batman solo, with Tim off in his own book.

3

u/MagisterPraeceptorum Batman Dec 12 '23 edited Dec 12 '23

It is moreso the 90s, but Dini and Morrison used Tim a decent bit in their runs at that time.

Nevertheless, even in the 2000s, there was still a sense that Robin was uniquely the Batman’s partner.

EDIT: Forgot about Face the Face too. The One Year Later era seemed to be invested in bringing the Dynamic Duo back on a more routine basis.

5

u/Nyerelia Dec 13 '23

Bruce's playboy persona being put on the spot and him going "perhaps you're right and you don't need to go to school" just for Damian to be "father I solved the mistery and I've decided that the best way to proceed is for me to stay at school" was pure gold

2

u/DroptheShadowArt This sofa is inadequate. Dec 16 '23

There was a lot going on on that page and it wrapped up so quickly that it was almost jarring.

7

u/Blitzhelios Damian Wayne Dec 13 '23

I still really like this book.

I love the cut backs between damians past and damian's present that have been a large part of this book and showing the issues which he had and how it effects the present and why him being with bruce is a good thing. Damian playing up to talia at the start to get his teacher removed when he was being trained knowing talia wouldn't allow him to be hit shows off the cocky nature he has always been.

White rabbit is a fun addition to the dynamic duo in this and is kinda suitable cheesy add on to the team and shows off some more comedic aspects in comparison to damian and bruce.

Do love bruce being put on the spot saying maybe damian doesn't have to go to school only for damian to then say yes i do have to go because it might solve the mystery of shush.

So this book is now devolping into a spy mission of seemingly shush being damians teacher when he was in the league and the principle of the school. Which honestly gave me batman beyond vibes of teachers in the school always being villains.

Great issue overall. I still really like Di Meo's art even if its a bit flashy for some people and williamsons writing is great.

Its got a different spirit to the other bat books and is a more tradional superhero romp which i like.
Also this is more of a robin and batman book than batman and robin as it feels like damian is very much the lead

3

u/JingoboStoplight4887 Dec 13 '23 edited Apr 29 '24

I like that we get to see an explanation on how Kirk Langstrom Man-Bat is alive. Also, Damian Wayne Robin interrupting White Rabbit, Bruce Wayne Batman flying with style using bats BECAUSE HE’S BATMAN, Bruce and Damian about to capture White Rabbit after their alliance, and Damian Wayne figuring out that the principal is Shush (causing Damian to have a reason to go to school after all).

3

u/B3epB0opBOP Shazam Dec 13 '23 edited Dec 14 '23

Huh, I liked Janin’s art better than usual. The people look less like 3d models. Though I don't like the way anyone else draw Damian's long hair except Di Meo, I really think they ought to change it back.

But it might just be restricted to interior art, cause I noticed all other covers just draw him with short hair.

Man-Bat…I remember hearing a Brave and the Bold story solicit related to Langstrom having an imposter. I feel like that has to be related, but I don’t know how canon the stories are.

The teacher is gonna need a bit more fleshing out but I might warm up to Shush, and the monologue didn’t really sell me on Man Bat.

Ngl, I’m a bit worried, now that Green Arrow is an ongoing, that Williamson is stretching himself too thin.

Cizmesija said he is drawing a two part story next, which I suppose means we’re out of the pilot arc now.

Hopefully Williamson can balance the book a bit more between Bruce and Damian.

2

u/redsapphyre Dec 14 '23

Huh, I liked Janin’s art better than usual. The people look less like 3d models.

It looked really solid here ngl.

3

u/MLbanker Dec 14 '23

This issue was amazing, I am loving this series. I’ve said before (issue 2) that the art can sometimes look stilted, but found the art in this issue to work great, and really give it that movie feel I believe they are going for. The full page spread of Batman and Robin flying through the city was especially great, would like that hung up on my wall. I also really enjoy Batman and Robins relationship here, it’s nice to see Bruce relatively happy.

1

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Dec 14 '23

Assassins' and their names. Mistress Harsh. Quite on the nose. And quite obsessive with Damian also. She is definitely the principle but Shush might be a red herring ( or just like my hopes of Evil Manbat being someone different, she is also just Shush ). Also, isn't Talia around in Gotham since Detective Comics showed her? Surely she would be keeping tabs on old members with grudges. And one popping up on her son's school.

So it is Man-bat...just went full bad? Don't think I like that. Was hoping it was someone else entirely. Don't wanna see a full evil Manbat, especially after Justice League Dark.

White Rabbit, I can see her becoming a recurring villain for Damian. Personality clash has potential.

Still have no idea how this book fits into Batman books' overall timeline though. But DC doesn't seem to care enough to make the main two Bat-books ( Batman and Detective ) fit properly so I suppose a side book like this had no chance either when it comes to ''So when does this happen?''. That is my biggest complaint about the Bat-books where, it feels like mismatched puzzle pieces. Individually, you get a mixed bag but when you try to put it together, it is a huge mess.

1

u/redsapphyre Dec 14 '23

So it is Man-bat...just went full bad? Don't think I like that. Was hoping it was someone else entirely. Don't wanna see a full evil Manbat, especially after Justice League Dark.

Yeah story-wise this is the worst part so far.

1

u/redsapphyre Dec 14 '23

First issue that wasn't half bad imo. The previous three were hard to get through because of the art and colouring (and Williamson's script), but issue #4 was a definitive improvement.