Review – Batman and Robin #21: The Hunt for Robin
Batman and Robin #21 cover, via DC Comics.
Ray: The hunt for the Memento killer has been one of the most intriguing DC mysteries in a while, with so many layers to it. Is the killer really Batman's disgraced mentor, with a new copycat killer kicking off a new wave of murders? Or is he something far darker and more supernatural under the curtain? This mystery has preoccupied Batman enough that he made some critical mistakes that have alienated his son – and not only has Damian quit as Robin, but now the boy has gone missing after the murder of his mentor Dr. Bashir. This has led Batman to rock bottom, and when he seeks out the help of Detective Lautrec – and it's very clear that he's a broken man at this point. As she berates him for all the damage he's caused to Gotham and to Robin supposedly, he can barely muster a word in response. And that's the scariest thing about Memento – this is a villain that has left Batman with no answers. The ugly truth. Via DC Comics.
Memento seems to primarily work in the shadows, which means he's usually not seen until chaos already erupts. That's the case for this issue, which primarily takes place in the rafters at the Gotham Opera – as Memento prepares to unleash a second act of one of the biggest tragedies in the city's history. There's one great action set piece in this issue, but it's more than enough to drop some major new clues about Memento's identity. Robin is largely kept off-panel in this issue, but when we see where he is, it blows the whole mystery wide open. This is easily one of the darkest Bat-books right now, with a truly deranged villain and some deep psychological underpinnings in the story. Batman might eventually save the day, but the damage he's done to his relationship with Robin can't be punched away – and that might be the hardest fight he's had in a long time.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes. Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!
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