Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jul 19, 2024 | 6 comments

Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s 12-issue series is instantly the most highly anticipated comic of the year…

By CHRIS FRANKLIN

There are things in life that seem like guaranteed sure-fire hits that never materialize, despite fans and creators alike trying to will them into existence. Luckily, DC has greenlit one of those “can’t miss” projects, and one that 13th Dimension Grand Poobah Dan Greenfield has been beating the drum about for some time: Batman and Robin: Year One, by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee.

The 12-issue series, which launches Oct. 16, is co-plotted by Waid and Samnee, with Waid writing and Samnee illustrating (naturally). Waid can be expected to bring the blend of exciting fresh perspectives and nods to the characters’ pasts like he’s done in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, World’s Finest: Teen Titans, and Shazam! Samnee, meanwhile, can be counted upon to bring the same wit and pathos he has to his popular annual #Batober sketches, in which he consistently pulls off an uncanny ability to tell a story in a single, wordless panel. (He also did covers for WF: Teen Titans.) His evocative, economic line style echoes his artistic predecessors Alex Toth and David Mazzucchelli.

“Run” by Chris Samnee, part of his annual #Batober series.

The two have a sterling track record as collaborators, having wowed readers over at Marvel with their fresh but instantly iconic takes on Daredevil, Black Widow, and Captain America. That’s because in each case, they stayed true to the hearts and spirits of those characters, underscoring their core appeal, while spinning compelling, adventurous narratives around them. It’s as if they told readers, “Hey, this is why we love these heroes.”

Based on their portrayals in Waid’s World’s Finest titles, this series promises us a Batman and Robin with a decided Silver and Bronze Age soul, wrapped in Golden Age trappings and with a Modern Age storytelling approach: A Batman that is determined and serious, but not an emotionally damaged manchild who can’t relate to anyone. One who can crack a smile when Robin unleashes a bad pun.

“Cave” by Samnee

And this Robin (a young Dick Grayson, of course) is indeed a laughing young daredevil, but also on the road to becoming a capable partner, a master detective and crimefighter in his own right. Batman and Robin: Year One is designed to be the present-day interpretation of the classic Dynamic Duo stories that many of us longtime fans have been wanting to see for some time. A true “All-Star Batman & Robin.”

No matter what Waid and Samnee deliver, it’s sure to be thought-provoking, entertaining, and visually stunning. With that in mind, here’s a ranking of 13 THINGS that this lifelong fan of the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder hope to see in Batman and Robin: Year One:

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13. The Circus Connection. An aspect of Dick’s life that’s rarely been explored in much depth is his circus family, and how they reacted to his adoption by one of the richest men in the country. I’m sure Waid could mine some interesting story angles via the various performers and managers of the circus keeping in touch with Dick. Maybe even a keen-eyed observer would put two and two together when Batman debuted a very acrobatic partner several months after Dick left their fold.

“Stretch” by Samnee

Seeing Dick pulled between the world and family he knew, and the oath he made to Batman would make for some intriguing drama. And who wouldn’t love to see Samnee render a circus?

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12. Crazy Quilt. Although he began his Golden Age criminal career as foe of the Boy Commandos, Crazy Quilt made a very rare crossover into another strip and bedeviled Robin in Star Spangled Comics #123 (Dec. 1951). He resurfaced decades later in Batman #316 (October 1979), this time tangling with Batman as well. But it was Robin who struck the ultimate blow, accidentally blinding the color-themed criminal with his own light-blasting helmet.

Who’s Who: The Definitive Guide to the DC Universe, Vol. V

This led him to seek revenge against anyone seen in the Teen Wonder’s reds, yellows and greens, and he left the NEW Robin, Jason Todd, for dead at the end of his first official night in costume in Batman #368 (Feb. 1984). The kid maybe should’ve taken a hint! Either way, Crazy Quilt and his rivalry with Robin is ripe for a modern reinterpretation, and I can just imagine how Waid and Samnee would handle this mort-turned-menace. Maybe Robin tackles Quilt on his own while Batman works on the over-arching mystery of the series? Then at storyline’s end, Quilt is back for revenge, but couldn’t care less about taking out Batman. His target is Robin!

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11. Gordon’s Reaction. Briefly touched on in previous explorations, Commissioner Jim Gordon’s reaction to Batman’s new junior partner is rife for story potential. What would Gordon think of Batman endangering a minor? Modern interpretations of Gordon skew younger, with a child of his own around Robin’s age. How could he sanction Batman taking a young boy up against the most dangerous criminals and monsters in the world? Meeting this problem head on, and showing a convincing way that Gordon makes peace with this partnership would make for an enthralling story thread.

It’s a pretty safe bet, considering this sequence from the unfinished Issue #1.

Perhaps it culminates in Robin and Gordon being up against a threat alone, and only Robin manages to save their bacon, proving he’s no mere child? Waid and Samnee would no doubt excel at such a story.

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10. Aunt Harriet. Given his proclivity for reviving long-lost aspects of comics lore and putting a new spit-polish on them, this is the perfect series to feature the return of Dick’s long-lost Aunt Harriet Cooper. Introduced in the “New Look” era of the comics in 1964, Aunt Harriet was a way for editor Julius Schwartz to squash the notions of over-thinking muckrakers like Dr. Frederic Wertham, who were concerned with Bruce and Dick living together. Alfred was killed off (nothing new, kids), and Aunt Harriet arrived at Wayne Manor’s door in Detective Comics #328.

From Detective Comics #328 – Story by Bill Finger, art by Sheldon Moldoff and Joe Giella

Mostly remembered for Madge Blake’s daffy portrayal of the character on the 1960s Batman television series, Aunt Harriet acted as foil to keep the Dynamic Duo on their toes when it came to guarding their secret identities. I think Waid and Samnee could have some fun with Dick’s distant aunt coming for a visit to see how her relative is getting along living under the guidance of a bachelor billionaire and his butler. All of this of course, while Batman and Robin are more concerned with the crime wave that is plaguing Gotham at the moment!

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9. The Beginning of the Trophies. As the Masked Manhunters continue their crusade, the Batcave begins to collect the spoils of their victories in the form of trophies. But who started this? Was it the young Robin, who wanted a souvenir for every adventure? Or was it Batman himself, saying he wanted to simply catalog such items for posterity, but in reality also wanted a memento of a thrilling escapade? Some fun could be had establishing just how and why, through a modern lens, a robot T-Rex and a giant penny ended up with a place of honor in a subterranean headquarters.

“Gigantic” by Samnee

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8. Young Barbara Gordon. While I don’t expect to see young Barbara adopting the identity of the Dominoed Daredoll (rolls eyes) in this series, it would be great to witness her early, pre-Batgirl interactions with the Dynamic Duo. Perhaps she moons over Batman, or maybe in this iteration, she doesn’t care for his somewhat disrespectful habit of rudely leaving her father mid-sentence!

Dan Mora

Watching Barbara developing her own desire to see justice done would be a fascinating subplot. But even more captivating would be the burgeoning relationship between her and Robin, or perhaps even her and Dick Grayson, if circumstances were allowed. It’s not a new notion, but seeing Waid and Samnee’s take on the early days of one of comics’ favorite couples would be a joy.

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7. To the Batmobile! Atomic batteries to power. Turbines to speed. The sight of Batman and Robin seated in their high-powered auto roaring out of their cavernous headquarters is one of the indelible images of the franchise. It would be a (turbine) blast to see how Robin’s presence influences the design and development of Batman’s No. 1 vehicle in his war against crime. Does Dick name the car as Frank Miller established in The Dark Knight? What will an underage Robin do if he has to evade a group of armed criminals, desperately trying to get a critically wounded Batman back to their headquarters, and Alfred’s medical attention? Just imagine the white-knuckle action Waid and Samnee could unleash, based around fiction’s greatest ride.

Cover to Batman #20 by Dick Sprang

Chicks might dig the car, but eventually Robin will need a set of wheels all his own. Perhaps spinning out of this Batmobile-centered story, Robin borrows a prototype Batcycle and follows his mentor’s lead with some serious branding. Seeing the Boy Wonder rocket in on his Robin Cycle to save Batman would be a sight to behold, especially with Samnee at the drawing board. And it could be seen as an early step into Dick’s own independence as a crimefighter.

“Ornament” by Samnee

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6. Dick Grayson: Middle School Student. One aspect of Dick Grayson’s life that has been woefully underdeveloped in his 84 years of existence is his time in school. Dick eventually received a steady supporting cast in his feature after he left Gotham for Hudson University, but how did he get along before that? Who were his friends? How did he handle hiding his athletic prowess, to avoid drawing suspicion? Did this former circus aerialist long for adulation from his peers? Were they aware of his time as a performer? Being the ward of the city’s richest man, did he have to deal with jealousy from his classmates? Exploring these questions would fill in many blanks, and perhaps give us an idea of how Dick learned to stand out and take charge among his peers, as both a leader and a friend.

From The Untold Legend of the Batman #2 – Story by Len Wein, art by Jim Aparo

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5. Death Traps. A frequent feature of Golden and Silver Age Batman and Robin stories was the elaborate death trap. This of course became the central story hook of nearly episode of the 1960s TV series. The sight of the imperiled Dynamic Duo trapped by their latest arch-foe with seemingly no way out is at the very heart of the heroes’ legacy. Their triumph over each can’t-fail plot is a fist-pumping moment for readers and viewers. Waid and Samnee are more than capable of building some serious tension with our heroes defeated by issue’s end, only to emerge victorious through some incredible ingenuity by the beginning of the next. It will be interesting to see how this nascent partnership becomes the well-oiled machine no foe can vanquish.

“Trapped” by Samnee

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4. Alfred and the Family Factor. It’s hard to imagine now, but during Dick Grayson’s time as Robin, publication-wise, Alfred wasn’t quite the surrogate father/grandfather figure to Bruce and Dick he is seen as today. Alfred was introduced after Robin in the original Golden Age stories, joining the already established family. Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick were the first to touch on Dick being raised by both Alfred and Bruce in 1989’s Batman: Year 3 storyline.

“Forgotten” by Samnee

Obviously, the bond between Dick and Alfred is still very important to the current Nightwing series, despite Alfred’s death. While I don’t want a Batman who is incapable of seeing Dick beyond a warrior in his crusade, it will be nice to see how Waid and Samnee have Alfred interact with both of his charges, perhaps making sure Dick has a more well-rounded and loving home, and being far more successful at it than he was with Bruce.

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3. Meet the Rogues. Most retcons have Batman meeting the majority of his Rogues Gallery before Robin joins him, despite the original comics stories telling us otherwise. It would be nice to see Waid and Samnee dial this back, with Robin being there from the get-go when Gotham’s underworld begins to respond to its new fantastical heroic figures with twisted costumed villains of their own. Imagine the story potential of new takes on first encounters with Joker, Penguin, Catwoman, Two-Face, etc.

“Torn” by Samnee

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2. Bruce Wayne. One definite downside to the darkening of Batman is the loss of Bruce Wayne beyond a name, and a face seen in the Batcave with his cowl pulled back. Seeing how Bruce adapts to raising a son would be a great way to give new life to an aspect of the character that has been relatively abandoned for decades. Waid could approach Bruce’s new responsibilities to Dick as a means to pull him from the abyss of an obsessive loner, much like the introduction of Robin did for the early, darker Batman in the Golden Age. Watching Bruce get a second chance at the childhood he lost via having some fun downtime with his new ward would not only be touching but add some levity to the series.

“Hearth” by Samnee

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1. “Good Work, Old Chum.” What I’m looking forward to most is a functional father/son relationship and partnership between two of fantasy’s greatest characters. The trope of the two of them at odds has been done to death over the past several decades. Sure, there will be disagreements and conflicts, as fathers and sons often have. But it would be refreshing to see a balanced approach, with a Batman that’s not an unlikable, obsessed sociopath, and a Robin not damaged by the experience of being raised by a cold and distant surrogate father figure.

“Partner” by Samnee

Sure, Batman was a little strict with Robin in World’s Finest: Teen Titans at times, but ultimately he trusted Dick with the decisions he made and was proud of how he led his team. Waid has a strong handle on these characters, not ignoring the depth given to them over the past 50 years, nor forgetting the light and entertaining stories that proceeded them. Samnee has the visual language of the heroes down pat, and a rewarding smile and handshake from mentor to apprentice would be a wonderful sight to behold.

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MORE

— DC to Launch BATMAN AND ROBIN: YEAR ONE by MARK WAID and CHRIS SAMNEE. Click here.

— BATMAN AND ROBIN: YEAR ONE — This CHRIS SAMNEE Interior Page Shows Off the Duo’s Dynamic. Click here.

— Samnee’s BATMAN AND ROBIN: YEAR ONE #1 Cover is a Grand Homage to BATMAN ’66. Click here.

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13th Dimension contributor Chris Franklin is a graphic designer, illustrator, writer, and podcaster, who co-hosts and produces several shows on the Fire and Water Podcast Network, including JLUCast.