Merideth says: After leaving Gotham for year, Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake return to resume their roles as Batman and Robin. Bruce has rededicated himself to the safety of the city, while Tim is still coping with the deaths of his father and friend, Conner Kent. Jim Gordon, taking the position of Commissioner for the third time, summons Batman to deal with a newly invigorated Poison Ivy. Many of Gotham's Rogue's Gallery have been released from Gotham, to the dismay of the police. Two of these criminals Magpie and KGBeast are found dead. Suspicion falls on the rehabilitated Harvey Dent, who Batman left as the protector of Gotham in his absence. Relieved of this duty, Dent struggles to contain his psychotic urges. Hints new crime boss and a mass murderer, coupled with concern about Tim and Harvey, show Batman in classic form.

Now, this is Batman. The world's greatest detective, protector of his city, driven, but not consumed by, his inner demons. Wanting a better life for those he cares about. Not a paranoid idiot who takes in half-trained girl waifs who can't recognize his own war game and building easily subverted psychotic sentient watchdogs. This book as all the classic elements of a great Batman book: interesting rogues gallery, a crime that is not what it seems, Jim Gordon, a conflicted Bruce. Robinson combines these elements in new ways to keep the formula fresh, and gives Bruce a lighter, yet still believable inner monologue. Two teams of artists worked on this book (as it crossed over between Detective Comics and the Regular Batman series) but the art flows together nicely, clean and unified. The included covers, by Simone Bianchi are stunning black and white portraits that truly convey the essence of Batman and Robin. After years of 'Batman as Jackass' it's nice to see him return to form. (cross-posted from MeriJenBen) ( )

After leaving Gotham for year, Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake return to resume their roles as Batman and Robin. Bruce has rededicated himself to the safety of the city, while Tim is still coping with the deaths of his father and friend, Conner Kent. Jim Gordon, taking the position of Commissioner for the third time, summons Batman to deal with a newly invigorated Poison Ivy. Many of Gotham's Rogue's Gallery have been released from Gotham, to the dismay of the police. Two of these criminals Magpie and KGBeast are found dead. Suspicion falls on the rehabilitated Harvey Dent, who Batman left as the protector of Gotham in his absence. Relieved of this duty, Dent struggles to contain his psychotic urges. Hints new crime boss and a mass murderer, coupled with concern about Tim and Harvey, show Batman in classic form.

Now, this is Batman. The world's greatest detective, protector of his city, driven, but not consumed by, his inner demons. Wanting a better life for those he cares about. Not a paranoid idiot who takes in half-trained girl waifs who can't recognize his own war game and building easily subverted psychotic sentient watchdogs. This book as all the classic elements of a great Batman book: interesting rogues gallery, a crime that is not what it seems, Jim Gordon, a conflicted Bruce. Robinson combines these elements in new ways to keep the formula fresh, and gives Bruce a lighter, yet still believable inner monologue. Two teams of artists worked on this book (as it crossed over between Detective Comics and the Regular Batman series) but the art flows together nicely, clean and unified. The included covers, by Simone Bianchi are stunning black and white portraits that truly convey the essence of Batman and Robin. After years of "Batman as Jackass" it's nice to see him return to form. ( )