dominicangirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rhganci's review
3.0
As much as I like Damian Wayne as a character, both as the Son of Batman and a different kind of Robin, I would not have matched him up with zombies. I would prefer that zombies just stay out of Gotham City. And while this volume has a few terrific moments, as a whole it labors a bit in terms of structure and sequential art, making it really just a fanciful Halloween sort of fun that kills time while the rest of the Bat-family prepares to welcome back the Joker.
The zero issue is really the best part of this collection, as it provides an efficient backstory for Damian's journey to become Robin (who is really the central character in the BATMAN & ROBIN book). It takes the muddled mess of Morrison's work a half-decade ago and smooths it out into something that really communicates the degree of struggle that Damian faced, and Tomasi is very clear in making that the object of Damian's journey. It offers a passable explanation as to how a 10 year-old can be more awesome than everybody but Batman, and even though a lot of the rest of the book ignores that, I feel like it's a point that has to be made. Nightwing, Red Robin, and Red Hood make some welcome cameos, and as a whole, the character development works okay. Gleason's art doesn't miss a beat, and while some of the sequences are hard to follow--such as the fight with Terminus and the deus ex Batarmor--the book generally looks great when Gleason and Gray are in control of the graphics.
The story, unfortunately, is where this one really tails off from the rest of the Batfamily lot. The army of Terminus makes to play for a huge conclusion, but as character development is prized over plot development, it never really reaches a dramatic climax that would sell its resolution that hard. After that three-issue arc comes the two-issue zombie story which is the most forgettable Batman story I've read in the New 52. It sort of recycles some of the best aspects of V1, but does it with zombies, then attempts to shoehorn the Saturn Society plotline into the Joker's return, which doesn't quite work. What does work is the relationship between Bruce and Damian, and if Tomasi and Gleason get one think accomplished in this volume, is that the deepen a Batman and Robin bond that we've not seen before. It's a true father and son bond that offers a great deal of emotional weight going into DEATH OF THE FAMILY, and it is in that work that PEARL stops short of becoming a poor book, and instead seems to be a nice piece of character development sharing duty with an unimpressive story.
The zero issue is really the best part of this collection, as it provides an efficient backstory for Damian's journey to become Robin (who is really the central character in the BATMAN & ROBIN book). It takes the muddled mess of Morrison's work a half-decade ago and smooths it out into something that really communicates the degree of struggle that Damian faced, and Tomasi is very clear in making that the object of Damian's journey. It offers a passable explanation as to how a 10 year-old can be more awesome than everybody but Batman, and even though a lot of the rest of the book ignores that, I feel like it's a point that has to be made. Nightwing, Red Robin, and Red Hood make some welcome cameos, and as a whole, the character development works okay. Gleason's art doesn't miss a beat, and while some of the sequences are hard to follow--such as the fight with Terminus and the deus ex Batarmor--the book generally looks great when Gleason and Gray are in control of the graphics.
The story, unfortunately, is where this one really tails off from the rest of the Batfamily lot. The army of Terminus makes to play for a huge conclusion, but as character development is prized over plot development, it never really reaches a dramatic climax that would sell its resolution that hard. After that three-issue arc comes the two-issue zombie story which is the most forgettable Batman story I've read in the New 52. It sort of recycles some of the best aspects of V1, but does it with zombies, then attempts to shoehorn the Saturn Society plotline into the Joker's return, which doesn't quite work. What does work is the relationship between Bruce and Damian, and if Tomasi and Gleason get one think accomplished in this volume, is that the deepen a Batman and Robin bond that we've not seen before. It's a true father and son bond that offers a great deal of emotional weight going into DEATH OF THE FAMILY, and it is in that work that PEARL stops short of becoming a poor book, and instead seems to be a nice piece of character development sharing duty with an unimpressive story.
apageinthestacks's review against another edition
4.0
This series continues being thoroughly enjoyable. I never thought I'd come to enjoy reading about Damian Wayne.
19lindsey89's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I liked Damian even a little, but I don't. At all. Especially when he pulls crap like putting a crow bar in Jason's bed. That crossed a line.
I'm also super unimpressed with how Batman handles Damien. Dick did much better in that regard.
I'm also super unimpressed with how Batman handles Damien. Dick did much better in that regard.
emilyyjjean's review
4.0
I'm really liking Damian, he might be my favorite Robin out of the bunch. But I guess I haven't really read much of the other Robins. This vol. gives some back story on Damian, and sets up the Joker's return in [b:Batman and Robin, Vol. 3: Death of the Family|17671947|Batman and Robin, Vol. 3 Death of the Family|Peter J. Tomasi|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1425135059s/17671947.jpg|24670934].
I thought it was hilarious in this vol. when.
I thought it was hilarious in this vol. when
Spoiler
Damian challenges the past Robins, and says he's going to defeat them and steal one of their personal belongings as a trophy for himselfdumblydore's review against another edition
2.0
I'm still wishing it were Earth-2 Batman and his other forgotten FIRST child, Helena Wayne at the helm of a series.
slipperbunny's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the first volume more, it was more emotional to me. But this was pretty funny and I like to read more about Damian.
subhamroxx's review against another edition
3.0
Talk about a severe downgrade in a run after a fantastic opening salvo.
This volume starts off with Damians origin retold and him fighting off a talon assassin and that was okay him saving people and all that and then him challenging different Robins to prove he is the superior and its fun and has some real arrogant moments that will make you hate him but its well done and finally that moment where the new villain Terminus attacks and its a good moment for Batman to suit up like Iron man and save the day and a zombie-ish storyline which was super weird and the villain organizing it..was expected.
It has its moments and feels disjointed with no proper villain or a clear direction and feels like a silver age-ish volume but then again it has some cool moments for Bruce and Damian both but yeah the moment in the end came out of nowhere but was nice and the fill in artists were horrible though I liked what Pat did in the opening issues. Its a good volume and continues to expand on Damian and his role with the bat-family and all that.
This volume starts off with Damians origin retold and him fighting off a talon assassin and that was okay him saving people and all that and then him challenging different Robins to prove he is the superior and its fun and has some real arrogant moments that will make you hate him but its well done and finally that moment where the new villain Terminus attacks and its a good moment for Batman to suit up like Iron man and save the day and a zombie-ish storyline which was super weird and the villain organizing it..was expected.
It has its moments and feels disjointed with no proper villain or a clear direction and feels like a silver age-ish volume but then again it has some cool moments for Bruce and Damian both but yeah the moment in the end came out of nowhere but was nice and the fill in artists were horrible though I liked what Pat did in the opening issues. Its a good volume and continues to expand on Damian and his role with the bat-family and all that.
geese82's review against another edition
4.0
This is probably one of the best series in the Bat family of books in the new 52. Since vol 2, I really like the dynamic of both Batman and Robin and how the attitudes toward working together differs greatly. Damian is still a kid but due to spartan training during his toddler days (including studying the science and arts, who does that nowadays?) he became this snotty brat who can go toe to toe with the best soldier there is. I also like his interaction with the previous Robin's, trying hard to prove himself as the best there is, as a Wayne and the Robin.
I like seeing Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason work their magic with the Batman mythos, I've read their previous work with the Green Lantern Corps and I enjoyed it. I would love to see more of their work in this title, and I hope they should stay more than just one story arc.
I like seeing Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason work their magic with the Batman mythos, I've read their previous work with the Green Lantern Corps and I enjoyed it. I would love to see more of their work in this title, and I hope they should stay more than just one story arc.
shayduhs's review against another edition
2.0
There was a severe lack of coherence in this volume. The plot just jumped all over the place.