- Title: Batman and Robin #4
- Comic Vine: link
- Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
- Artist: Patrick Gleason
Although I’m still disappointed that Damian has been rebooted back into the little shit he was when he was first introduced (basically erasing all the progress the character had made working with Dick Grayson and Stephanie Brown) I will give writer Peter J. Tomasi credit for finding a way to play on the character’s insecurity and rebellious nature.
One of the things Batman and Robin has done well is to give us a Batman from his son’s perspective. As the reader we know why Batman is protecting and sheilding Damian from certain things, but from his perspective it looks like Batman is a stubborn ass.
I’m less thrilled with Nobody and his connection with Henri Ducard. Although he does offer Damian a tempataion, we know, despite all his flaws, Damian isn’t likely to give into his baser desires this early in the New 52. This means despite being handled with some skill (although the opening diatribe in the drive-in is pretty awful) this arc ultimately has nowhere to go. Worth a look.
[DC, $2.99]
For me, Damian’s reversion to a little bastard really works, not because any progress has been erased, but because Damian’s trying to relate to someone that refuses to be related to. Dick Grayson is the big brother everybody wishes they had, of course Damian could find a way to meet him halfway. With Bruce he’s got to do all the work, at least until Bruce starts holding up his end.
I agree with you that part of it is how Bruce is being depicted (he’s been reverted back to the Batman who doesn’t work so well with the Bat-Family, too), except Damian actually permanently cripples a guy (something he wouldn’t have done just a few months a go).
To justify Bruce’s distrust of him they’ve reverted Damian back closer to the character he was when he was introduced. The Dick/Damian relationship brought out a different side of the character that I don’t think we’re going to see in the New 52 for a good long while.