If this issue weren’t the final issue of this volume of ‘Batman’ before this September’s DC Comics ‘New 52’ relaunch, it would be the perfect jumping-on point for new readers.
In a departure from the somber tones of other DC titles that are coming out this month, ‘Batman’ doesn’t resort to a farewell tale. Instead, this issue gives us a wide-scoping chronicle of the history of the dynamic duo of Batman and Robin from the classic origin of Batman through the present day stories of Batman Incorporated. This is a major undertaking indeed for a single issue but writer Fabian Nicieze manages to pull it off quite well. He touches on all the key moments of Batman’s history like the death of Jason Todd and Dick’s evolution from Robin to Nightwing and eventually into Batman. This would be brilliant if it weren’t uncertain how many of these stories will still be in continuity when the Bat-universe is revamped next month with DC’s relaunch.
[Warning: spoiler below]
When Damien Wayne is revealed as the narrator for this issue’s yarn, it at least pleases me to know that the young Wayne will still be Robin after the relaunch. It’ll be interesting to see how the new dynamic plays out with the Batman family now that Bruce is back as the Bat, Dick is Nightwing again, and Barbara Gordon is back in the cowl as Batgirl.
Stay tuned to ScienceFiction.com for all the news and reviews of the new Bat-titles as they’re released in less than a month!
BATMAN #713
Written by FABIAN NICIEZA
Art by STEVE SCOTT and RYAN WINN
Cover by TONY S. DANIEL and RYAN WINN
