Batman & Robin: Year One (2024-) #1 (Batman and Robin: Year One

Batman & Robin: Year One

by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee

While Bruce Wayne adjusts to the realities of adopting orphan Dick Grayson, a mysterious new crime boss called the General has come to Gotham to claim the city by disrupting and destroying its other mobs. But what is his connection to Two-Face? Batman and his new sidekick, Robin, are out for answers, but it’ll take everything they have to navigate both sides of their relationship as father and son and dynamic duo, with Dick Grayson’s present and future hanging in the balance!

Genres: Comics, Batman, Dc Comics, Comic Book, Superheroes, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics

Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2024

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[The Wintermute System · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I enjoyed this, I’d rather spend money on stuff with Bruce’s best son: Jason Todd.

[rima · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly? one of the best new comics i’ve read from dc, especially since 2016. from the art to the plot to the dialogue, everything was just so good. dick grayson is such an icon, and this issue (and hopefully the future ones) did such a good job with his character.

[ragigii · Rating 4 out of 5]

idk maybe a 3.75 stars
I really enjoyed it actually, and I’ve always LOVED the dynamic between batman and robin, so this was obviously fitting. but I fear I’ll compare every batman comic to the long Halloween from now on unfortunately

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have lots of fun with one. This has the potential of a great story.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey honeeey, Im hooome 🏙

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very solid first issue. It's a year one, so no major surprises, but Waid does the dynamic of Batman and Robin so well who cares. I liked that Two Face didn't turn out to a typical beat down moment. Nice change of pace.

[Myles Gerber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Realllly nice art and I’m liking Robin a lot. Mainly just setup buuuut we will see where this all goes.

[Haris Kozo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insane art, story is fine

[Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun art style and a great way to be re-introduced to Batman and Robin!

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
Waid basically IS DC now, apparently.

[mollythemagic]

yeah these are real short. love the art style!

[ferdi 🍉 · Rating 5 out of 5]

robin omg 🥺🥺
im so glad these comics make it canon that bruce adopted dick while he was still a kid and not as an adult like in the classic comics

[Gégé☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Les dessins sont trop beaux purée
Et Robin qui fait une ref à Mario ? Épouse moi

[Geo Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE seeing Dick and Bruce in Samnee’s style. I got the chance to meet Mark Waid a year ago and he and I had a lovely chat about how Robin truly is the center of Gotham/Batman stories and that perspective is so evident in this book so far, cannot wait for the rest of the series ❤️

[Nasya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spectacular, give me 14 of them right now

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much in the same vein of Waid and Samnee’s Daredevil I really like how this seems like it’ll balance dark tones with whimsy and adventure.

I really like how Batman isn’t all brooding stoicism here. He smiles (well, smirks), he shows a measure of understanding or empathy towards two face, and he kind of fumbles at first trying to guide Robin towards being a hero. Dick in here is embracing his newfound identity with brash excitement, I’m just wondering how things will be portrayed for the two once the shit hits the fan.

Also Samnee’s art remains some of my favorite in the biz. There’s a nostalgic warmth to it that makes me smile and feel like a kid again.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been meaning to jump onto this series for a minute, and issue 1 did not disappoint. Immediately throwing us into the world of Dick Grayson on his first night out as Robin. Alfred and Bruce are still unsure, but Bruce knows the anger Dick is feeling from loosing his parents to crime and knows that if he isn’t there to provide a controlled environment…then Dick may just go out in his own and get himself killed. With the ignition of the bat signal filling the night sky, that is the queue for our caped crusaders to get into the Batmobile and make their way over. There’s a very interesting moment on the ride, Robin makes a bit of an off handed comment hoping it’s one of the big villains for his first night, like joker, before realizing how inappropriate that is, especially when he looks over to see a stone faced batman. But batman explains that he isn’t angry, but he uses this car ride to mentally prepare himself, which includes dropping all pretense.

As batman arrives to greet and scare the daylights out of commission Gordon, he also takes a moment to queue in his new companion. Unlike batman creeping from the shadows behind Gordon, Robin leaps on and on top of the bat signal before turning it off triumphantly, showing the youthful, calmer demeanor he brings to the table to calm fears instead of stir them. Gordon is reasonably set back to see a child out here with the batman, and batman makes a pretty dark comment about children never being spared from war but I believe Robin demonstrates his abilities quite week by the end of this encounter. Gordon explains that two-face has stolen a file from him that they need back…a single file. This is immediately confusing to our duo, where’s the double angle to this? Two-face always works with twos, what would compel him to just steal a single file?

Either way, as our duo leaps from the 30 story building and swing away, they are on the case. The first stop is to hit up Batman’s usual street informants. But along the way it seems that their Batmobile is spotted and intentionally targeted by a hitman with a grenade! Both spotted the man and Batman works quick and orders Robin to brace himself, they are shielded but have to do a quick maneuver to stabilize the car. Robin immediately tries to find a way to eject from the car and go after the man, but batman intentionally didn’t tell him that the Batmobile has vertical capabilities allowing them to chase the man to the overpass he is escaping from, primarily because he wanted to see how Robin quickly adapted to situations and new information. And Robin was doing pretty well…until Bruce had to go and jinx it by calling out orders mid chase. While jumping across buildings to catch up the guy, Robin was momentarily distracted by Batman’s orders to hang back so he could lead…causing Robin to loose one step, allowing the hitman to get the step up he needed to turn the gun on Robin. Luckily batman was also able to remind Robin in time about his bulletproof cape, and although the guy was seemingly able to get away…batman was able to track him down anyway!

This lead them to a pretty seedy looking warehouse with none other than two-face waiting inside! As the two descended into the building, once again Robin took the lead against Batman’s orders…and ended put them right into two-face’s trap…a room filled with pressure plate mines. Each of them ended up trapped on a mine and one now in the perfect position to have a nice chat with Harvey and his goons. Batman knows he can find a way out of this, he just needs time and deep down he knows in two-face is a good man fighting to get out. But what batman really wants to know, is why is this file so important? And without even flipping a coin, Harvey refuses to tell him. With matters that come to his survival there is no decision to be made. But Harvey does mention that this city is about to get a lot more dangerous for batman, and at the flip of a coin he does decide to tell batman what he means. Apparently a new boss is moving in, he’s been placing advance men for a year, and they have all been ordered to go to war on the batman. Harvey refuses to tell him who it is, but Dick is just happy the coin landed on the good side up. Harvey starts laughing maniacally at this comment, it turns out he only told them that because it landed on the bad side! Telling them what is coming wasn’t a gift. And with that Harvey leaves them be, either they can die here at Harvey’s hands, or later at his. Batman then orders Robin to copy his exact movements, they each take a batarang and jam the planted below them then use their grappling goons to run like hell out of there! This was quite a night, first super villain and first death trap survived. But Robin isn’t sure, could the pressure plates with mines have been a bluff? Right as he said that, the batarangs click out from their jam…and the entire building they were just standing in goes up in an explosion!

Batman: “Tonight’s takeaway: never bet against a criminal mind.”

As the issue comes to an end it seems we get our first look at the incoming boss, a Mr Grimaldi alongside his wheelchair bound father. On the surface he comes across as a very old world respectful and powerful man, who will immediately flip and use his power in whatever way he wishes on a moments notice. As he meets up with his men they refer to him as General Grimaldi. He is excited to take on the bat, but after getting word that his men can’t be 100% certain that his arrival was a secret…it seems he takes out the man that failed him. No room for error in his organization.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Desde luego, nadie como Mark Waid para volver a la quintaesencia del super comic book. Algo que suele ser necesario más a menudo de lo que parece. Y si bien es cierto que es increíble como el propio autor hace malabarismos editoriales para tocar a mismos personajes en diversas cabeceras y propuestas (el World´s Finest con Dan Mora y la derivada Batman Vs Robin), o el propio Dick Grayson viene de protagonizar no solo una espléndida etapa distinguiéndose ya como uno de los personajes más maduros y completos del DC Universe, sino también aupándose como el gran icono de heroicidad en múltiples eventos catastrofistas recientes hasta llegar a Absolute Power (adivinan, TAMBIÉN CON WAID AL TECLADO). Pues ciertamente alegra tener este ejercicio de retrocontinuidad de volver a la génesis del Dúo Dinámico con un sabor neo clásico con el retorno de la dupla con Chris Samnee, con quien Mark Waid viene de estupendas etapas reformulaicas en La Casa de las Ideas con Daredevil y el Capitán América.

Poniéndonos más analíticos que emocionados ya solo por el acabado estilístico y formal. Es cierto que a priori Batman y Robin: Year One tirará más del hecho de volver a tener la dinámica (sic.) original de Bruce y Dick con cierto mayor dramatismo en los (inconscientes) primeros actos heroícos del sidekick por antonomasia. Pero no parece a priori que se recoja el ejercicio rápidamente truncado de reexaminación de los orígenes de esta dupla por parte de Jeff Lemire en su miniserie de hace unos añitos, pero sí que hay cierto gran interés en conectar con el Robin: Año Uno de Chuck Dixon. Volviendo a jugar con cierto contraste del mundo colorido del superhéroe juvenil en mallas verdes con algo más de amenaza en la galería de supervillanos de Gotham y, en especial, en las organizaciones más "terrenales". Teniendo aquí un preludio de un nuevo aspirante a rey del crimen (ahí queda la posibilidad de que Mark Waid revise la arquitrama de los mafiosos originales contra los supercriminales de la saga El Largo Halloween, aunque estando continuándose actualmente sería un golpe bajo).

Está claro que Batman y Robin: Year One es una propuesta totalmente facilona para cualquier tipo de lector. Se espera que más que la asegurada diversión y maravilla gráfica, Waid no pìerda la oportunidad de asentar uno de sus grandes puentes entre la era original de la narrativa comiquera superheroíca y la actual.

[Aidan]

Beautiful art that’s let down by the writing. I don’t know why Mark Waid sometimes decides to write real human characters (I really liked Last Days of Lex Luthor!) and other times writes exposition machines designed to fan service his younger self. This will satisfy anyone who wants more World’s Finest, but I didn’t like the attempt at a Silver Age tone there or here, it often lacks personal stakes and makes all the danger feel weightless. I’m no Jeph Loeb or Chuck Dixon stan, but this doesn’t compare well to Dark Victory or Robin Year One, which retell the same exact story but characters have apparent internal worlds. Not sure what this is supposed to add.

[Kyle Berk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent issue, the interplay between Batman and Robin is bullet proof. It's a very good set up plot wise and and the characterization of Batman is my favorite in any ongoing book right now.

Chris Samnee is a superstar artist, his Batman is fantastic with the way the cape is illustrated or how this Batman is as expressive as ever with his emotions clear through the cowl and his body language.

Matheus Lopes is maybe my favorite part of this book with how Gotham is colored, especially how he uses red, purple, and green. Special note to the first splash page- amazing.

[erszi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is really interesting to witness the Dynamic Duo at a time when they're not as in synch with each other as they will become in future, since this is the beginning of their collaboration.

The characterization is excellent, but with Waid at the helm I had no doubt this was going to be the case. As for the panels, they are absolutely gorgeous to look at and very dynamic, so props to Samnee (who in addition to drawing co-wrote the story with Waid) and Lopes for their work.

I'll look forward to the next issues!

[Nicolo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read the Batman and Robin: Year One #1 Batman Day Special Edition.

Batman Day 2025 had some excellent comics available for free. The best of the bunch was the reprint of the first issue of Waid and Samnee's Batman and Robin: Year One.

The best moment has to be Bruce admitting that he's never prepared himself to be a father and Alfred answering him that he's been an orphan most of his life and he's the best one to guide Dick, who's definitely feeling the internal rage of losing his parents, out of it.

[Machiavelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Batman and Robin energy from start to finish. This issue dives right into the early days of the partnership, giving Robin a chance to shine while showing Batman in full mentor mode. Chris Samnee’s art is the real highlight — crisp lines, bold shadows, and a Gotham that feels both dangerous and alive. The storytelling is brisk, stylish, and fun, with just the right mix of grit and charm.
A strong opener that makes me excited to see how the rest of Year One unfolds.

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is what I call a Batman book. Damn. I haven't been this excited about a Batman book in a long while (I lied. I REALLY enjoy Absolute Batman #1 last week also but you get my point). I love seeing this team grow from the beginning. You can tell Mark is really taking care of this book. Plus Chris's art - fantastic. Love love love

[Kevin Halter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad.

Like a lot of first issues this one sets up the characters, time and location for the series as well as hints about the upcoming storyline. Strong characterization with great art will get me back next month for part 2.

[Rob Vitagliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost waited for this one to come out as a trade, but the variant covers intrigued me. I thought this was a solid, if not earth shattering first issue. The art works well with it, the dark deco style with a comic roundedness to it. I'm not exactly sure what happened in the last few panels on the final page, so hopefully that will be explained in issue two.

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

[3.3]
Batman and Robin's (Dicky G) first night out.

Cool semi-cartoony art to go with a generic but well written start. Some background is given and setup for the villain(s). Just what you would expect, and I'm ready for more

[Lilybeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT intro!
I was hooked from the beginning.
Robin made me smile and I really enjoyed seeing Bruce's paternal side come out.

The artwork is beautiful.
The black/inks are deep which help make the colors (Robin!) pop.

Can't wait to see how the story develops.

[Chris Loan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this first issue showcasing Batman and Robin’s first night out. Robins bravery and skills are already impressing Batman, even if he’s also alittle brash, but hey, he’s a kid! Robin interacting with both Gordon and Twoface were great! I’m definitely liked this first issue!

[Willy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love "year one" comics. Always smells like fresh air.
I like the dynamic here.
Brat Dick Grayson, clearly clawing his way to be himself under the shadow of the Bat. And that's just "few weeks" after his tragedy.
I appreciate the down to earth feel of the threats.
exciting :)