Hello, welcome back! Well, more like a late welcome back, but it's good to see you! I hope you're doing well, and I was wondering what do you think of the recent new comic "Batman and Robin: Year One"? I think it's pretty good, and I felt like you would probably enjoy it since it is a series that will be heavily focusing on our Dynamic Duo's relationship with also very fantastic art and so far, a good characterization of them, I would say. I also wanted to say that I truly am happy to see you come back, I always enjoy your meta and character analysis about Dick, you have great takes! You were one of the first ever people that I even followed when it comes to joining this fandom so thank you very much for being here! 💙
Anon!!! Thank you!
Thank you so much for sticking with me all this time, even when I was gone and here and other weird times which I don't even need to say since you probably know anyway. Thank you so, incredibly much!!!
I started crying last night at 12am thinking about your post because it really hit me in the feels. Thank you!!!
Batman and Robin: Year One is FANTASTIC!!! I really loved the first issue but I was taken back by the second issue just because the Bruce and Dick dynamic in it was so radically different. Of course I mean taken back in a great way! I think I loved the second issue even more because it introduces the two of them as brotherhood, rather than father and son which is something I was interally begging DC to write more of.
Batman and Robin: Year One Issue #2
So cute!!!!
It's such a throwback to the Batman (1940)'s relationship and how they were actually written -
Batman (1940) Issue #20
Like this Batman and Robin dynamic IS a 25ish year old immature adult paired up with a overly mature 8-year old and their ages and actions just balance out in the middle where they act exactly like best friends and brothers rather than father and son.
DC has been pushing the father-son relationship starting since after Jason and around Tim mainly but they keep forgetting that part of the reason Dick and Bruce fell out is because Bruce was turning darker during Dick's absence and secondly, Bruce was starting to become more parental as shown in the later comics which Dick absolutely did not like.
Batman and Robin: Year One is also a fantastic comic because it perfectly emulates Dick's Robin style. He did what Bruce asked, but his interpretation of the orders were a sliding scale version and definitely not what Bruce meant. Dick is creative and both issues showcase this creativity. His Robin is defined by how resourceful he is. He can pick up a stick during a gun fight and win - this style of his is shown in the comic so I deeply appreciate how the writers wrote it.
Furthermore, I typically judge characterizations by how they corroborate to previously written comics. Characterization is the development of their identities through multiple prior comics. So therefore, if you want to identify if a certain character would act that way, you look to see if other comics implied or spoke on that characteristic.
Issue 2 of Batman and Robin: Year One is actually eerily similar to Dick characterization in Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight.
In this issue, which is part of a long case, Dick Grayson as Robin has to save several kids from the fire. Look at both his personality and his relationship with Bruce.
Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Issue #153
It's very much a partnership with a side of mentor-protege
now compare this to Batman and Robin: Year One
Batman and Robin: Year One Issue #2
Whoever wrote this issue did a spectacular job. The first is absolutely amazing too but the reason I'm focusing so much on the second one is because it brings back a dynamic that DC doesn't really touch on.
Things that make Dick's Robin is his resourcefulness, his varied interpretation of Batman's orders, kindheartedness, and how annoying he is to villains. Both issues of this comic hit all four aspects and make it perfect. I really recommend reading it for those who haven't read it yet.
