There’s something wrong at DC Comics. To promote the Return of Bruce Wayne mini-series and lead into the upcoming Batman Incorporated storyline, they’ve churned out a series of one-shots, solely based around significant figures in the Bat-Family. Set after the end of the Return of Bruce Wayne series, these one-shots have featured a figure called the Insider who just so happens to be…well, if you’ve not worked it out after this paragraph there’s little help for you.

This issue deals with Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne, or Batman and Robin, as they deal with some goons, as well as the mysterious (cough) Insider. The interactions between the pair feel wonderfully fluid and are almost as powerful as when Grant Morrison pens the pair, but there’s something missing from this one-shot. It just doesn’t feel relevant, or important.

Fabian Nicieza has handed in a decent script; it works on the foundation of a typical Batman and Robin adventure, but there’s no real depth to anyone. It’s almost as though this series of one-shots doesn’t even matter. There’s some nice character development with Vicki Vale, taken directly from the pages of Nicieza’s own Red Robin series, but otherwise, nothing truly of note here.

Cliff Richards handles the art with a certain degree of flair. He is, by no means, the best artist in the world, but his visuals have a distinct and energetic style. There are times, however, where the art feels muddy and confusing, and this hampers things far too much to be excusable.

The issue’s ending leads directly into the Red Robin one-shot, also penned by Nicieza, and so the appeal of just picking up a couple of these one-shots is blown apart by the distinct through-line demanding that you obtain them all. How truly disappointing!

To Be Continued in “Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Red Robin #1”