Batman & Robin: Year One Dynamic Duos #1 Review

 

Batman & Robin: Year One Dynamic Duos #1 Review

Co-Plot: Mark Waid & Chris Samnee

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Chris Samnee

Colorist: Mat Lopes

Letterers: Clayton Cowles & Chris Samnee

Cover Artists: Chris Samnee & Mat Lopes

Variant Cover Artists: Marc Silvestri & Arif Prianto; Dustin Nguyen; Hayden Sherman

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99 US/Variant $5.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: August 12, 2026

 

When Bruce Wayne became a foster parent, the authorities in Gotham objected. No one took the apparent abuse of power more personally than Laura Lyn from Gotham City Child Protective Services. Then, Gotham's criminal justice system labeled the "irresponsible" billionaire playboy a criminal, and the authorities took Dick Grayson away from Bruce. But after Batman and Robin prevented Clayface and Two-Face from unleashing a devastating attack on the city, Bruce convinced Laura that he had Dick's interests at heart.

 

As the Dynamic Duo help the Gotham City Police Department safeguard their city, will Laura Lyn remain satisfied with Bruce's ability to care for the orphan? And will Batman continue to dress his young sidekick like "a basketful of Bell Peppers?" Let’s race to the Batcave, leap into Batman & Robin: Year One Dynamic Duos #1, and see!

 

Story

As his acolytes chant, Scorpio clutches a knife. He orders his victim to say his name, as if to acknowledge his power over her. The Alchemical Bishop explains his position in the cosmic hierarchy. Then he beseeches his god to accept this sacrifice and allow his cult to assist Barbatos in raining destruction on the Earth.

 

In Batman & Robin: Year One Dynamic Duos #1, Bruce Wayne's life has settled down. He may not be a conventional parent to Dick Grayson. Yet he wants the former circus performer to invest in his education. But Dick Grayson yearns for more time as Robin, keeping Gotham's streets safe.

 

Mark Waid's story shows how much Bruce Wayne has grown since becoming a parent. It also contrasts Bruce and Dick's differing views on what they do and how they do it. Batman may not wear red like Robin. Still, Bruce feels the same temptation to hurt criminals as Dick. That anger has not grown so toxic that, like Scorpio, they seek the world’s destruction. But when criminals threaten people he cares about, Bruce struggles to remember that while he fights crime, he is not responsible for punishment in Batman & Robin: Year One Dynamic Duos #1.

 

Art

A 9-panel grid opens in darkness, as tears fall from a bound woman's eyes. She gazes up at the hooded faces of her captors as they tie her to a platform. Then, the robed priests suspend the platform on chains over a pit as Scorpio raises his knife. Her blood pools on the wood and drips into the pit. Then Scorpio notices a dark figure arise from the circular, stone-lined pit filled with skeletons.

 

Mat Lopes drenches Chris Samnee's opening scene in reds as heroes and villains fight for what they believe in. A statue that glows red in one setting amid hatred turns indigo among more balanced individuals in Batman & Robin: Year One Dynamic Duos #1. While yellow, orange, and brown shine in the darkness, green-adorned threats arise, banishing Bruce’s calm and contorting his features.

 

Clayton Cowles and Chris Samnee fill white balloons with black uppercase letters. The words shrink for lowered voices, enlarge for raised voices, and grow bold with intonation. Shouts deform balloons, while giant letters seem like a wake-up call. Sound effects enhance a battle with a death cult and on the dangerous streets of Gotham. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When Bruce decided to foster Dick, he sensed a core of anger in the boy over his parents’ deaths. So, he trained Dick to direct that anger in a positive direction. But other children aren’t so fortunate. And there are not enough people like Laura Lyn to ensure that all of Gotham’s young are provided for. So, when he discovers other children who didn’t receive the advantages Dick did, Bruce Wayne ponders how best to care for them while preventing them from hurting others in Batman & Robin: Year One Dynamic Duos #1.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Batman & Robin: Year One Dynamic Duos #1.

 

For how the previous series began, see my Batman & Robin: Year One #1 Review.  

 

Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4 Review

 

Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4 Review

Writer & Artist: Rafael Grampá

Colorists: Mat Lopes & Rafael Grampá

Letterer: John Workman

Cover Artist: Rafael Grampá

Variant Cover Artists: Jock, Lee Bermejo & Jamie Hewlett

1:25 Variant Cover Artist: Valentina Napolitano

1:50 Variant Cover Artist: Thobias Daneluz

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 56 Pages

Price: $6.99 US/Variants $6.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: June 10, 2026

 

A murderer stalks Gotham. The killer paralyzes victims with one blow. Yet as the victim bleeds out, the killer continues attacking them. The killer leaves behind a pool of blood and circular marks on each victim’s naked back. Chemical residue on one victim led Batman to a derelict mansion, where a gang forced the unhoused to make TNT. And as the abducted people worked and died, the gang's boss watched old cartoons and drew his memories in black and red.

 

As he helps Detective James Gordon find a serial killer, Bruce Wayne plots his own demise. He can no longer afford to divide his time between a carefree playboy and a masked vigilante. For Batman to protect Gotham and cleanse the city of the corruption that breeds violence, Bruce Wayne must die. Yet who created Batman? And is that person still directing the Dark Knight's actions? Let's leap into Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4 and see!

 

Story

As night falls, chaos descends on Gotham. Killers pour into the subway. Family members kill one another. Like zombies, people fill the streets, intent on murder for no other reason than committing violence. And from his tower, Doctorgeist looks down on his city and says, "It is good." Yet not everyone in Gotham associates evil with success. Having captured the serial killer, GCPD Detective James Gordon questions her reasons for killing the former patients of Dr Charles Quinton in Arkham Asylum. And as an explosion rocks the subway, Bruce Wayne rescues Nia Garcia from the masked gangs of knife-wielding killers.

 

Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4 primarily follows Bruce Wayne’s search for where he belongs. Yet, the story also follows the plight of the Unhoused. While James Gordon wishes he could have been a husband and father, the Crying Geisterman takes an abandoned child under his wing. Amid the fast-paced story, James Gordon struggles to understand the supernatural events he has experienced. Bruce gains a fuller picture of what he became a part of when Alfred took him to see Dr Charles Quinton. And Rafael Grampá illuminates why Dr Franz Ebner began researching how to harness the energy generated by each person.

 

Yet Doctorgeist casts a greater shadow over Gotham. Once, he sought to benefit Humanity. Instead, he became swayed by power. Now, Doctorgeist cares only for how much energy he can generate and control. Avarice, corruption, and hatred prevent Gotham from ever achieving its potential. Everywhere he looks, he sees evil. So while Bruce Wayne devotes his life to preserving Gotham, Doctorgeist seeks to end civilization as he knows it in Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4.

 

Art

James Gordon studies an illustration of a face pierced by needles while his captive watches. As bells clang in their tower, people fill the burning streets. As the well-to-do gather atop a building with flutes of champagne, their expressions convey fright, astonishment, and glee. Yet while explosions rock the city above, another detonation in the subway spawns knife-wielding people wearing masks. Bruce leaps to save Nia as a knife impales her former protector, and arrows thunk into the masked marauders.

 

As Mat Lopes and Rafael Grampá adorn the panel-packed pages with a subdued palette, Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4 shows the historic city coming apart at the seams. The Crying Geisterman, scorned by society and his former master, wears an orange coverall. Despite believing his civilian identity no longer serves a purpose, Bruce Wayne wears a blue jacket. Yet he aligns himself with Sage, who wears a yellow jacket, as he rescues people in the yellow subway. As red adorns Little Joe’s, Bruce Wayne’s, and the serial killer’s face, it links them with the warriors sporting the red three-pin symbol. And as violence fills Gotham, Doctorgeist rejoices in his red and black ceremonial robes.

 

As giant stone angels mourn the fires devouring the historic buildings, John Workman fills colored narrative boxes and white dialogue balloons with black uppercase dialogue. The letters grow bold with intonation, swell with raised voices, and rarely shrink. Sound effects include Doctorgeist awakening his sleeper agents, Bruce unleashing his Dark Aura, killers finding camaraderie in slaughter, and the rise of the Batman. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Some people define themselves by their work. Others measure their self-worth by their contributions to family and friends. While Bruce Wayne believes his work matters most, James Gordon wishes he had devoted more time to his family. As their world descends into chaos, both men must decide where they belong in Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4. 

Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4 Preview

 

A murderer stalks Gotham. The killer paralyzes victims with one blow. As the victim bleeds out, their assailant continues attacking them. The serial killer leaves behind a pool of blood, and circular marks on each victim’s naked back. Chemical residue on one victim led Batman to a derelict mansion, where a gang abducted the unhoused, and forced them to make TNT. And while the prisoners worked and died, the gang’s boss watched old cartoons, and drew his memories in black and red.

 

As Batman and Detective Jim Gordon hunt for the serial killer, Bruce Wayne plots his own demise. He can no longer afford to divide his time between his public persona and the person he was meant to become. For Batman to protect Gotham and cleanse the city of the corruption that births violence, Bruce Wayne must die. Yet who created Batman? And is that person still directing the Dark Knight’s actions?

Here's all the info from DC Connect:

 

Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham #4 Preview

Writer & Artist: Rafael Grampá

Colorists: Mat Lopes & Rafael Grampá

Letterer: John Workman

Cover Artist: Rafael Grampá

Variant Cover Artists: Jock, Lee Bermejo & Jamie Hewlett

1:25 Variant Cover Artist: Valentina Napolitano

1:50 Variant Cover Artist: Thobias Daneluz

Publisher: DC Comics

Issue Length: 56 Pages

Price: $6.99 US/Variants $6.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: June 10, 2026

 

The Heart-Stopping Conclusion to Rafael Grampá’s twisted masterpiece!

 

As bells ring out across Gotham City, blood runs in its streets. Doctorgeist’s plan has come to fruition, and his legion of loyal followers unleash the evil inside their rotting hearts upon friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. But there’s an evil lurking deep in Batman’s heart as well, one that Doctorgeist himself discovered long ago—and the only way to save Gotham might be to set it free once and for all…

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.