Batman & Robin: Year One (2024-) #2 (Batman and Robin: Year One

by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee

Dick Grayson is struggling to adjust to his new life as Bruce Wayne’s ward, with both Bruce’s rules and Batman’s training making his life difficult. But Dick is happy to remind Bruce that turnabout is fair play. Gotham’s newest crime boss, the General, continues to vie with Two-Face for control—but could an alliance bene?t both of them and spell trouble for Batman and Robin?

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

Kindle Edition

Published November 20, 2024

About the author

Mark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.

Reviews

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce and Dick dynamic is amazing here.

[Ben Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really strong second issue, a step up from the first. Something about the style of the art and colors makes this feel so timeless and classic Batman. The dialogue Waid gives Bruce and Dick perfectly fits their voices in my head. CPS getting called on Bruce and him reacting by flirting with the agent + Dick’s acrobatics made me laugh out loud. But the ending heroics and some pretty ghastly visuals gave this a complete tonal shift toward the dark. I feel like the cliffhanger is going to resolve predictably, but everything building up to that was brilliant.

What can I say? All the Batbooks I’m pulling right now are really good, I hope they keep it up!

[rima · Rating 4 out of 5]

dick grayson is going to give a mid-twenties bruce his first gray hair i love it

[Aron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Just a super fun, highly entertaining comic. Waid and Samnee are a great team, everything they do together is awesome. There are some really great Batman comics running right now, and now that I think about it, DC in general has got a lot of great stuff running right now and Batman and Robin Year One is among the best.

[Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Child services begin their check ins to see if Bruce is up to the task of being a guardian of Dick, meanwhile the two try to stop an arson hit on one of the crime families.
I’m really digging the dynamic between Bruce and Dick here and there’s a good balance between lighthearted fun and the serious nature of being a resident of Gotham. It’s nice to see Batman smiling again.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Laura Lyn? Im here for her, speriamo diventi sempre più di punta durante questa run.

[Lilybeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, the artwork is just gorgeous.
Also love the Bruce & Dick dynamic.
This is what the 60’s show should have been.

All the way hooked.
Bring on volume 3!

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What another fantastic issue, I love that the exploration of Dick’s training and home life to relate to his relationship with Bruce out on the field is also being explored. And naturally when a famously recluse billionaire bachelor takes on a ward, CPS starts to get involved to make sure everything is okay. Today started with an announced visit, so batman was able to bring Robin’s training (and over showmanship that Bruce got quite angry about while training) to an end before the CPS agent showed up to take a look around. Bruce was able to answer all question and quell all concerns, but then when it came to seeing Dick…they found him seining from the chandeliers…literally.

“Sorry. You can take the kid outta the Chris, but not so much vice versa…”

Bruce had to quickly explain this behavior is not typical and not approved of, and while they got off today there will be more unscheduled visits later to worry about. Meanwhile across town the new boss in town, the dishonorably discharged General Grimaldi, is having an unannounced meeting of his own with Two-face. Two-face wants to make a deal, he wants in and he wants to help Grimaldi expand. Not only does he know the five families in Gotham well, but he also has a certain police file that Grimaldi may find interesting. Grimaldi said he would consider it…call it a 50/50 shot of yes or no…heh.

As night sweeps over Gotham batman takes Robin out on patrol to follow up with a lead on an arson job the Maroni’s are conducting against a Falcone business. Sometimes the Batmobile can announce their presence a bit too well, which is why the bat cave itself consists of an expansive system of tunnels underneath the entirety of Gotham! In some sections you even have to use the bat boat to get there, and batman owns buildings all across Gotham that connect to these tunnels to make it appear as if he is coming from anywhere. How awesome is that!

We then hone in on the Maroni truck preparing for the hit, but suddenly one of their members, Tommy, stands up and aims the flamethrower at the rest of the crew. This isn’t like him, he’s been a loyal member for years and is probably just screwing around…except the only true answer they get comes out of the flamethrower as Tommy burns everyone in the moving truck alive! Batman and Robin approach the vehicle as it is burning and quickly rush to help everyone surrounding the location of the crash site. As batman helps people outside, Robin quickly realizes that there are kids unaccounted for that could be in the apartment complex currently catching fire! Robin rushes inside and find them cowering in a corner, he is able to wrap them up in his cape to protect them as he works on a maneuver that ends with Robin busting the door down and riding the door with the kids safely secured to it as the building explodes in flames! For a moment there you could see the concern on Bruce’s face as Robin wasn’t coming out, and then it immediately wiping away seeing the circus showmanship Dick put on to save the day. With the bystanders secured the duo went over to checkout the truck, the stench from the bodies immediately hitting Robin (occupational hazard). There is only one survivor and there isn’t enough time to bring him to the hospital so batman makes sure to question him here. With a scorched breath the man gives up that Tommy did it, but there was something wrong. Not only did he go nuts, but his face…it’s like it was melting, like wax. This immediately makes me think that clayface is also involved in this, but I’m curious to see what happens next.

[Rob Vitagliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another solid issue in a run I'm glad I picked up. It starts off with workers from CPS questioning Bruce Wayne's motives for adopting Dick Grayson, and how long he'll actually play a father figure. The story cuts to Bruce training Dick somewhat harshly, whereas Alfred sees that the boy must form his own path from his own choices. There's a neat little revelation (and panel) about the Batcave that's a highlight for Batman fans, and there's a tease of a minor but sinister villain entering the fold by the end. Two Face and the mysterious General are also in there, so the Dynamic Duo will have their hands full in this story for sure.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Está bien que Waid admita que Chris Samnee tiene mucha autoría en lo argumental. Porque al menos de momento esto se sigue disfrutando por el dinamismo gráfico y el ejercicio retro de reexaminar el inicio de la relación entre Bruce y Dick imprimiendo más cuidado a la parte civil que la superheroíca. Aquí ya se plantea una "amenaza" bastante interesante para esta situación más que la nueva marea creciente del submundo criminal de Gotham. Aunque se deja un buen cliffhanger para motivar algo más de espectáculo de la Batgalería de villanos.

[a ☕︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this is so Y1 that dick is not even bruce’s right hand arm…man his everything his confidante his silly rabbit yet (probably last yes though 🐇). the fact that’s it’s only been three weeks since the circus is a bit !! to me (have they dealt with his parent’s murderers? i assume so but dick’s still so yippee woohoo yay that it reads a little off w such a short timeframe established). it’s not yet as good as dixon’s, but i’m curious as to how it’ll read collected. and i ofc have faith in waid bc he writes dick so cute fun snarky in world’s finest. and chris samnee’s art is A1

[Chris Loan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this second issue, starting off with the child services people doing a pool on how long Bruce will last with Dick, Robin taking his own way to stop a gun, and finding out how truly large the Batcave really is. That page showing the outline of the cave was incredible! Really loved the ending of this issue with Robin rescuing the children under his cape, and of course taking any opportunity to flourish!

[Tefi ⟡♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

dick presentándose a la reportera con piruetas y bruce y él bickering around during the visit JQJSJWKW chau lo amé totalmente. me encanta como siempre que hace una hazaña se alaba a sí mismo, gajes de haber estado toda su infancia en un circo, sí, pero eso no lo hace menos gracioso diosmio lo amo tanto 😭😭😭

[Pedro Espada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grapa muy divertida con lo que Mark Waid llama "fricción dinámica", esto es la relación entre Bruce y Dick, y que gracias al dibujo de Samnee que le viene al pelo lo vuelve lectura obligatoria para fans. Que buena etapa se está gestando.

[Willy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm all for the Child protective services conflict. Brilliant update to the Robin mythos.
That Batcave page was absolutely gorgeous
The colours are major highlight for me on this one. The 'rescue from the fire' scene is gorgeous.

[Nasya · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loooove their dynamic!

[keara · Rating 5 out of 5]

this dynamic is so elite… like it’s being done so well!!! and the art style is so !!! ya know!

[Vince · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another super fun comic. Insane art style.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing these two try and figure each other out and their dynamic so early on in their careers is just SO good. It helps also that the story is really interesting so far!

[☀️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

my shaylas…..

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought the explanation of the condemned buildings and the network of caverns was cool.

[may ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

dick being bruce’s biggest headache iktr

[Mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4,5/5)

[mollythemagic]

dan mora’s art style is so 😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏 and little grayson is SO CUTE AHHH

[gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ hehe i love this duo

[grimbamreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

[Ryan Gasser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the Batman (& Robin) series that I needed to read. Thank you.

[Ushnav Shroff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ah okay, so the plot thickens.

[luz · Rating 4 out of 5]

loving their dynamic so far