BATMAN AND ROBIN #11

[ MY SALE ] 

Can Robin beat up the Red Hood? Even with a spiky plank of wood? Batman hopes he don't do this. Or he might get mighty pissed. As it would substantiate that his son is very misunderstood. Well, that's what these guys think. Writer: Peter Tomasi; Artist: Patrick Gleason; and Publisher: DC Comics in August 2012. Now who has a crow-bar?

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Have you ever heard of the quaint sixties expression 'People like you want to have your cake and eat it too'? If you have, then I think it best you try to visualise this proverb whilst reading this tale called 'Terminus Branded', having Robin in mind. 

• Well, conceptually speaking of course, this is an adventure of two half's in the execution.
• The first half of this story entails a battle between Damien (Robin) Wayne and Jason (Red Hood) Todd, so that the brat wonder can prove to himself that he's the better side-kick.
• Whereas the second half of this story is all to do with a very cunning plan devised by the bad-guy, Terminus, involving a Bat-shaped branding tool, the people of Gotham City, and a very pissed off dynamic duo.

SSsssstttt. Ouch! SSsssstttt. Ouch! SSsssstttt. Ouch! SSsssstttt. Ouch!

Damn right to be continued.

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

There were two bits of dialogue that floated my boat in this issue. The first one was when Damien said to Jason...

'I thought that leaving the crowbar might be a bit tasteless, Todd. But I think that it's the perfect way to show that you were the Robin that was getting hit -- whilst I'm the Robin who does the hitting'.

... because it also shows that Damien is a right bast*rd too.

Whilst the second pithy quote was when Gordon said to Robin 'Been driving long?' only for him to then reply 'Since I was eight'.

Boy! What a sarcastic little sh*t!

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

As much as I'm not too sure myself about the outcome of the fight between Jason and Damien, I have to admit, I thought that it was the best thing about this issue. It was funny. Full of angst. And a surprise in the telling. 

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

All in all I wasn't too keen on the sub-strand of this story -- that whole 'Terminus' plot. Well, whilst reading this section, a part of me was more interested about what Jason might do to Robin in retaliation to his previous actions.

OK, I know that this does sound very childish. But I have to tell the truth, huh?

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: I did get a kick out of Terminus's gang branding people with the Bat-symbol. I thought that was a very new plot-device if ever I saw one. Plus I did enjoy the way how Bullock reacted to this event as well -- 'can You I.D. the bastard?' -- Ha! What a plonka.

ART: During the fight between the Brat and the Hood, I did appreciate the Jim Steranko / Will Eisner type box-layout in it. I found that this was very derivative as a panelled piece, plus I thought that it complemented the battle quite nicely.

Oh, and as for that splash page with the flaming bats projected onto the buildings? Ha! Is that Patrick Gleason's 'Dark Knight' movie pastiche? Most probably, huh?  

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

SCALLOP:  Who doesn't love a red-head, huh? Especially if she is throwing poisoned darts into your face. Amy Nuttall does. She told me not so long after leaving Farm-Soap, ' Emmerdale'. 

BOOTFACE: Now with a name like 'Bootface', you have to be a rather thick skinned individual, don't you agree? And do you know who has rather thick-ish skin? Ty Olsson. From too many sci-fi epics to mention.

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

Sibling Rivalry. You Can Only Beat It With A Crowbar. Vote Bush.

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

In many ways this issue is a roguish tale of rebellion and rascals, right? So how can I not compare it to the Isley Brothers funk-tastic song 'Fight The Power'.  

FINAL thoughts...

At the moment this Bat-related title has an almost ying-yang flavour to it. Part of me loves the personal stories that Peter writes. Whilst another part of me feels let down with the way that 'other things' don't seem to meld very well within the whole.

Fair enough, I acknowledge the fact that this is my own personal taste, and does not reflect in any way, shape, or form, on the creators themselves. Nonetheless, I would like for this series to be better defined within the Bat-pantheon of books, and not just a mixture of odds and sods for the sake of adventure.

MARKS out of 10? 8.5