Batman and Robin: Born to Kill, Peter J. Tomasi

"As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics—The New 52 event of September 2011, Batman begins battling evil with his son, Damian, at his side, Batman now realizes that the hardest part of the job may be trying to work together!

As Batman and Robin try to adjust to their new partnership, a figure emerges from Bruce Wayne's past: His name is NoBody, and he's not happy that Batman Incorporated is shining a light on his own shadowy war against evil..."

Reinventing Batman for the New 52 turned out to be really easy. Out of all the comics that were relaunched in the massive bonfire of continuity that was meant to be the start of a bright new era of audience interest and sales, Batman was left almost untouched, probably because it came off the back of it's almost total encapsulation in the year long Grant Morrison rewrite that had defined Batman for the last few years. Indeed, it was Morrison's Batman, Inc. alone that continued on after the relaunch unaffected.

So, coming off the back of this run it is Tomasi and Gleason as writer and artist of Batman and Robin that had the best opportunity to run with the continuity and plots of the pre-New 52, Grant Morrison led Batman stories. Whilst Scott Snyder was on the flagship book writing some of the best Batman books ever these two have been quietly putting out some non-flashy, character led comics that are just brilliant.

This is a book that is first and foremost about Damian Wayne, and what it means to be the child of Batman. It's an incredibly nuanced take on the idea of Robin, and has as many parallels to Batman Begins as it does to Batman Year One as an 'origin' story of the new dynamic duo.

By this point we know the outcome of the Batman and Robin story. Damian, fully reformed by Batman, will die fighting his mother, a sacrifice that is currently throwing the Batman dynamic in a whole new direction, but which is foreshadowed and heralded here by Batman's first issue reminiscence of the death of his own parents. This first book is about putting away the past in favour of the future, and trying to escape from those things that would drag us back. The overall message is that sometime the future can't be saved, which is a bit bleak, but I guess that's why you need Batman.

Is it good. Hell yes. If you like Batman it's near essential. For all the faults of the New 52 it's currently putting out three excellent Batman books, all of which are guaranteed to have something for everyone.

And even though Damian's story may have ended, it's good to go back and read through these issues. After all, Batman and Robin will never die.

Also Try:
Grant Morrison, Batman and Son/ Batman and Robin/ Batman, Inc.
Paul Cornell, Batman and Robin
Scott Snyder, Batman