In only two issues of the new Batman and Robin, Morrison and Quitely just may have introduced us to the quintessential portrayal of these DC icons. After reading issue one I really didn’t know what to make of this. I liked it but wasn’t sure why. It certainly wasn’t the grim and gritty Dark Knight that we’re all used to, that was for sure, and this dynamic duo seemed unbalanced, although not in a ‘Crazy’ kinda way. They were total opposites to Bruce and Tim. Dick (sorry, Richard) has reluctantly taken on the cowl, probably out of a sense of duty rather than desire and I get the feeling that he is still thinking like Nightwing and berating himself for doing so. Damian is just a nasty piece of work, who, without the guidance of Richard and Alfred, could very well be a sociopath in the making. These characters should not work, yet they do.

Issue two came along and Morrison gave us great moments and exchanges between Richard and Alfred, Batman and Gordon, Batman and Robin and Richard and Damian. It was reading these that I realized that this book would not exist with different people behind those iconic masks. Tim Drake or Jason Todd under the cowl just wouldn’t work. It isn’t the masks that make the stories so good, it’s the personalities behind them.

In the capable hands of Morrison and Quitely this book could redefine the legend of Batman and Robin for the 2000’s.

Everyone is asking ‘when will Bruce be back’. I’m hoping that he is away for a very long time. The old guy deserves a rest.