Batman and Robin #39

By Peter J. Tomasi, Patrick Gleason, Mick Gray, John Kalisz

“Okay. Come on.” – Batman

“Really?” – Robin

“What’re you doing with that?”- Batman

“Um, nothing.” – Robin

“Put it back. I’ll wait.” – Batman

Okay, so unless you’ve been living with Patrick Star (under a rock…get it?) you know Robin now has superpowers, which is awesome! Especially because now he’s even cockier, and that’s all part of his endearing charm.

Writer Peter J. Tomasi takes this month’s issue of Batman and Robin to flaunt a bit more of Robin’s new potential. The boy wonder is determined to clean up the streets of Gotham in a whole new way (making sure the city’s baddies know it, too), but Batman still has his doubts and wants Robin to learn some control. This new dynamic makes for one of the funniest issues in a long time for this series – even more humor towards the issue’s end (another young hero tries to relate to Robin…Robin isn’t very interested).

The artwork in this series is done by penciller Patrick Gleason, inker Mick Gray, and colorist John Kalisz, and along with the plentiful humor in this issue there is also plenty of great artwork. A scene packed with action has Batman and Robin in the middle of a high-speed car chase! Thaaat Robin decides to end quickly by using his superpowers. A series of panels features him flying directly at the canon of a tank (the high-speed chase involved a tank…) and even taking the blast of the canon fire. Kalisz and Gray play with the darkness of the night and the bright red flare of the fire as Robin rips the tank apart (he’s reeeally strong now). “Enough of this car chase nonsense!” 

Issue #39 of Batman and Robin proves this new dynamic to the dynamic duo is a positive one. Batman essentially is caring for a young, much cockier, Superman, but will he be able to help him control his powers?