Batman & Robin Eternal #26 review

Ah, the little things that make the difference between buying a comic and not. I checked out of DC's latest weekly series after just a couple of issues, mainly because the supposed hook - was Batman killing people to get his hands on orphans to train? - was ridiculous. 

I came back because I heard Cassandra Cain was getting a new costumed identity this time - not Batgirl, not Black Bat, something different. That happens a few pages from the end of this extra-length issue, and it's a little underwhelming. 
Orphan was the name dark mastermind Mother (mistressmind?) gave Cass's father, David Cain, and as of this conclusion to the half-year series, he doesn't need it anymore. The name is dull, evoking nothing, and the costume bland in the extreme. Oh well, I'm sure a new name and look will be along in a minute. 

As Cass embraces a new stage of her life, so does Harper Row, aka Ruddy Big Taser Lass, sorry, Bluebird. It's Harper's story that kicks off this issue, a flashback that shows us what a great relationship she had with her mother, a woman whose spirit was battered, but far from broken. 

It turns out Cass killed Miranda Row, presumably back when she was a kiddie assassin. Can Harper forgive her?

As well as the answer to that question, this issue features a battery of Robins, Batgirl, Batwoman, Midnighter, Catwoman and likely a few I've forgotten. They're beating back a barrage of kids apparently brainwashed by Mother as part of a scheme to take over the world, kill it to improve it... maybe she picked up some old plan Ra's al-Ghul scribbled on the back of an envelope. 

I dunno, but this issue is fun; writers Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV give me enough to go on that I don't feel lost returning for the last couple of hours of the story. And after the wrap-up of the fighty fight stuff, we get the emotional meat - not just the fate of Cass and Harper, but the four Robins (Gotham's premier doo-cop group) reunited with Batman, newly returned from 'death'. This offers a chance for Dick to confront the question posed in those earliest issues - is Batman ruining young lives?
It's an elegant summation by Dick, a nice way to close the series. I'd love to hear from anyone who followed the whole thing - did it hang together better than Batman Eternal, which was less a coherent narrative than a stealth anthology?

There are lots of artists, so many I can't be bothered to type all their names. Screengrab!
The many hands don't stop the book from feeling of a piece - the pages are dynamic, clean, the storytelling precise. Damien looks too old at times, but that's pretty much his default. 
Colourists Gabe Eltaeb and Allen Passalaqua help unify the conclusion, laying down the mood with their well-chosen hues. Marion Patrizio's letters are sharp, while illustrator Tony S Daniel and colourist Tomeu Morey make the last cover count

I came for Cassandra, and found myself nicely entertained by a Batman comic that's big and daft while still being rather thoughtful. Good work, chums!

Comments

  1. Someone told Cassandra Cain about the upcoming reboot and she said "Is it Tuesday again already?"

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    1. Which reminds me, when did she start to talk? Was she only ever an elective mute? Or a traumatised type?

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    2. Was she a mute again Post-Flashpoint? From what I remember, originally, she had never been taught to speak vocally. The language taught to her was how to read a person's body/ movements so as to better kill/ avoid being killed. Babs/ Oracle taught Cassie to speak.

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  2. I always enjoy your reviews ... even for a book I'm not reading. Thanks for the great job Martin!

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    1. Thanks very much, Darrin! Let me know if there's anything you're reading you want looking at.

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  3. "Orphan." Yeah, that's just awesome. It's weird, they have in the new DK Batman encyclopedia that she's "Black Bat."

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    1. I love those DK Books, they turn up in so many formats, and the nature of the beast means they're out of date before they even hit the streets. Come on DC. Give us an online Who's Who!

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    2. They should! It's strange though, this DK book because, aside from Rebirth, coming up it was up to date, and Cassandra Cain was not mentioned to ever have been Batgirl - just as Steph seemed to only have been Spoiler. However, maybe this was just a way to try and fit as much as possible to meet fans' approval. While Black Canary is New 52/ DC You, BoP refers to Pre-Flashpoint and has a listing for Lady Blackhawk.

      Oh, and for amazing books that DC have just published in relation to Batman V Superman movie, the Scholastic Backstories line, at least the Wonder Woman and Superman feature the the characters as New 52 in appearance, and in a bit of New 52 mixture but feature Pre-Flashpoint/ Silver Age origins. "Backstories: Wonder Woman" even features Diana defeating Maxwell Lord, but she never killed him. They're "Young Readers 9-12" books, but can be appreciated by all ages. There's an introduction written by the heroes at the start, and throughout the books there are black and white "photographs" of such things as "bronze hand print of young Clark Kent," the front page of the Daily Planet featuring Lois' first interview with Superman and photo by Jimmy Olsen. Actually the Superman one is basically the Geoff John's Superman origin mini-series while the Wonder Woman one is heavily George Perez. Oh, surprisingly for a "children's" book, Doctor Psycho and Dr. Poison are mentioned as two of Diana's greatest foes. I haven't read the Batman yet. There's also going to be a Supergirl one coming out this year. They're inexpensive and available digitally, of course, and there are different samples available if you decide you want to check them out.

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    3. Oh, I think the Spoiler image in the DK book is actually from this cover, but I could be wrong. I also just realized that the centre of the cover is Batman's butt. Grayson is even drawn in such a way that we have to see Bat-butt.

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    4. Dick is in trouble if there's a bat-pump.

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