‘Batman & Robin’ Issue 20 welcomes the new creative team of Peter Tomasi, Patrick Gleason and Mick Gray. Tomasi is coming off a very successful run on the ‘Green Lantern Corps’ book, and has been a huge contributor to Brightest Day. To say I’m excited to see what he is going to do with ‘Batman & Robin’ would be a huge understatement.

With everything that has happened to Bruce Wayne and his boys over the past couple of years, it is nice to see the issue start with a bit of levity. Alfred Pennyworth, Dick Grayson and Tim Drake are making snacks for movie night while Damian broods in the corner. Quick aside, I’m becoming a huge fan of Damian Wayne, he is entitled, moody, arrogant and now that Bruce has returned from being lost in time, in for the ride of his life. Damian continues to grow into a superhero with the help of Dick. Why all these happy thoughts and popcorn? Bruce has planned a movie night for his boys, and not just any movie: ‘The Mark of Zorro’. The same movie Bruce and his parents went to see the night they were murdered by Joe Chill. This is a great set of panels, as it truly shows the full circle of life for Bruce Wayne.

This being a Batman story it is obvious the good times will not continue to roll, and as he is about to enter a black tie gala event Dick Grayson is witness to an Icarus moment right in front of the gala venue. Out of the tux and into the cape and cowl, Dick and Damian are on the case.

While investigating in the morgue the exchange between Commissioner Jim Gordon and Robin is cringe worthy uncomfortable. Gordon physically scolds the young Boy Wonder for his disrespect of the dead. I don’t ever remember Jim Gordon ever laying hands on a Robin before, I remember a lot of concern for their well being, but never a good old fashioned talking to. Of course there has never been a Robin quite a petulant as Damian Wayne.

The Dynamic Duo’s trail leads them to the jump site and the dead man’s “suicide” note. There is a great moment here between Dick and Damian, when Dick cannot help but show off a bit of his circus theatrics when retrieving the note. It just adds some more fun to the seriousness of the issue at hand, and it is nice to see Dick Grayson being Dick Grayson. Once again the good times are interrupted, this time by the one and only Man-Bat…

Rating: 7.5/10 (a good jumping on point to Batman & Robin)