Plot: Mark Waid & Chris Samnee
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Chris Samnee
Colorist: Matheus Lopes
Letterers: Clayton Cowles with Chris Samnee
Cover Artists: Chris Samnee & Matheus Lopes; Carlos D’Anda; Michael Allred & Laura Allred; Wilfredo Torres & Adriano Lucas
Publisher: DC Comics
Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 18, 2024
When General Grimaldi expands his empire to Gotham, Batman needs all his concentration to nip the incursion in the bud. Instead, Dick Grayson diverts his focus. Robin may come through in a clinch, but Batman worries that his protégé's showmanship will be the death of him. Can Batman constrain Robin's exuberance, combat an emerging gang war, and prevent Gotham City Child Protective Services from putting Dick in foster care? Let’s leap into Batman & Robin: Year One #3 and see!
Story
General Grimaldi has big plans for Gotham, and Two-Face wants a piece of the action. Grimaldi isn't sure he wants the former District Attorney as his second-in-command. While he contemplates Harvey Dent's offer, General Grimaldi moves ahead with his plans. As the chaos unfolds, Batman monitors the chaos from the Batcave. Two-Face may not be behind Grimaldi's efforts to turn Gotham's five criminal families against each other. But recognizable Faces are leading the families to Bad 'n' Ruin in Batman & Robin: Year One #3.
By staying in his Batcave and musing over what he learns, Batman is doing what he does best. It takes his butler to help the world’s greatest detective realize that he’s needed elsewhere. Alfred Pennyworth wants to help Dick Grayson. But while Bruce Wayne matured quickly after his parents' death, Dick frustrates him. Bruce Wayne promised Laura Lyn that he would oversee Dick's physical, emotional, and scholastic health. If he's going to retain a sidekick and ease him through his trauma, Bruce must change his methodical approach to crimefighting.
After years of conflict, the criminal families of Gotham have finally found a means of successful coexistence. When things start going wrong, they're quick to seek the culprit. Acting on Commissioner Gordon's information, Batman and Robin follow up on the Falcone family's investigation. But while Batman can observe events, Robin reacts emotionally. In Mark Waid & Chris Samnee's story, Robin's impulsiveness gets the better of him again. This time, Robin's cool cape may not protect him or Batman from his fervent pursuit of justice.
Art
Matheus Lopes lavishes a limited but targeted palette on Chris Samnee's art. Yellow shines from vehicle headlights, streetlights, and discussions in General Grimaldi's war room. Protective vests, gunfire, and explosions glow orange. Buildings look green at night as Gotham's crime families suffer one setback after another. Blue adorns the night sky and Batman in his control room. Red colors Robin’s room and clothes. Yet red also adorns an alarm, as one man goes back on his obligations in Batman and Robin: Year One #3.
Chris Samnee shows the opening stages of Gotham’s blossoming crime war quickly and succinctly. The Batcave's size explains why there are so many bats in Gotham. Bats hang from the rocky ceiling as Albert tries to attract Batman's attention. The face of a grandfather clock seems another reminder of Bruce Wayne's negligence. Yet dots and lines stream down on a raging sea, as Batman and Robin execute a late-night incursion on a vessel that makes their hi-tech submersible look insignificant.
Clayton Cowles and Chris Samnee fill white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes with uppercase letters. The words grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and rarely shrink as chaos erupts in Gotham’s underworld. Pain makes letters go wobbly, while shouting transforms balloons into stars. Sound effects accompany gunfire, alarms, sirens, explosions, and danger on the raging seas in Batman & Robin Year One #3. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this fun and exciting all-ages look back in time.
Final Thoughts
Alfred Pennyworth may regard Robin as unpredictable. But in Batman and Robin: Year One #3, one of Gotham's criminals proves far more dangerous than Master Bruce's "tornado in sweatpants."
Rating 9.6/10
To look inside see the preview at Comic Book Dispatch.
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