by Ult_Sm86 » Fri Sep 28, 2012 6:24 am
Unfortunately, Batman & Robin #0 didn't offer us any necessarily new insight into Damian's life as an al Ghoul before a Wayne. We learn, at best, that his childhood was crappy and deprived of anything reminiscent of an actual childhood. But we could've assumed as much.
For new readers, you learn he was trained to either kill his father or take his place, regardless of whether or not his father takes the side of The League or not... not sure it matters now that he's Robin (unless they're leading up to something Grant Morrisson isn't already touching upon in Batman, Inc.-- which I'm pretty sure he has everything under control there being Damian is basically a product of his imagination anyways), and apparently ManBats really are just everywhere. And no matter who is Robin, the Robins always end up fighting at least 1, through a multipage battle, in the sky. (Both Tim and Dick have done this as Robin, I'm assuming Jason was skipped on this. I know Steph has taken the ManBat family as Batgirl, not sure if she did as Robin).
Point is -- nothing new here. Disappointing? Maybe. Nice art. New perspective on the story, adding depth to Talia's methods if nothing else, and Damian's twisted past. I guess we can appreciate that if nothing else, right?