Batman and Robin
Last night I had a chance to read BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 from the team of Morrison and Quitely (who also brought us such greats as ALL STAR SUPERMAN, WE3 and JLA: EARTH 2). Based on the whole Batman RIP and Final Crisis fiascos I wasn't really expecting much, but as far as new launches go, this one was actually very, very good. The storyline with our heroes against the new villain Pyg, the teasers showing upcoming adventures --- the cover to issue 3 released today showing the new Red Hood (which is probably Jason Todd post-Battle for the Cowl).
It feels like a new start. The new Batman and the new Robin are a Dynamic Duo with a brand new dynamic... and it works well.
This is one of the better aspects of the DCU --- and that's that they have generally allowed for the next generation to move up and take the role of a deceased or departed hero - such as when Wally West became the Flash, who took inspiration from Jay Garrick. It adds a historical / legacy aspect to the characters that works well. Unfortunately, just as easily they can bring that dead/lost character back anytime they want and shift backwards -- such as they are doing with Flash: Rebirth.
The only inevitable problem looming here is that Bruce Wayne is only "sort of" dead. Not fictional dead. He's been sent to the prehistoric past (as shown in Final Crisis -- and has left clues about his status that will probably lead to someone going back and getting him --- God I love comics logic). Everyone think he's dead, which will be part of this whole Blackest Night storyline.
There's even an entire series - RED ROBIN (which launches next week I believe), that has a central character globe-trotting about looking for those clues to what happened to Bruce Wayne -- is he dead or not. While some other guy took on the role of Red Robin (from Kingdom Come) in a recent DC storyline, all signs post to former Robin Tim Drake as taking on the role of Red Robin in this new series, accompanied by on and off again girlfriend The Spoiler.
Provided people like the new Batman and Robin, this won't be an issue... even if Wayne is returned he might play a secondary role for a while, and if they don't .... faster than you can say it they'll be a distant memory and it will be back to the status quo of Bruce Wayne as Batman.
It feels like a new start. The new Batman and the new Robin are a Dynamic Duo with a brand new dynamic... and it works well.
This is one of the better aspects of the DCU --- and that's that they have generally allowed for the next generation to move up and take the role of a deceased or departed hero - such as when Wally West became the Flash, who took inspiration from Jay Garrick. It adds a historical / legacy aspect to the characters that works well. Unfortunately, just as easily they can bring that dead/lost character back anytime they want and shift backwards -- such as they are doing with Flash: Rebirth.
The only inevitable problem looming here is that Bruce Wayne is only "sort of" dead. Not fictional dead. He's been sent to the prehistoric past (as shown in Final Crisis -- and has left clues about his status that will probably lead to someone going back and getting him --- God I love comics logic). Everyone think he's dead, which will be part of this whole Blackest Night storyline.
There's even an entire series - RED ROBIN (which launches next week I believe), that has a central character globe-trotting about looking for those clues to what happened to Bruce Wayne -- is he dead or not. While some other guy took on the role of Red Robin (from Kingdom Come) in a recent DC storyline, all signs post to former Robin Tim Drake as taking on the role of Red Robin in this new series, accompanied by on and off again girlfriend The Spoiler.
Provided people like the new Batman and Robin, this won't be an issue... even if Wayne is returned he might play a secondary role for a while, and if they don't .... faster than you can say it they'll be a distant memory and it will be back to the status quo of Bruce Wayne as Batman.