Batman & Robin: Year One (2024-) #3 (Batman and Robin: Year One

Batman & Robin: Year One

by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee

The General makes his move, committing a series of bizarre crimes that turn Gotham’s underworld factions against one another and leaving little in the way of clues for Batman. And while things are bad for the Dark Knight, they’re even worse for Bruce Wayne and his teenage ward, Dick Grayson. But when Batman and Robin are once again called into action, their inability to get on the same page against the Maroni family and Two-Face could cost them both their lives!

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

Kindle Edition

Published December 18, 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

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I don’t understand. Are all boys his age like this?”
“I wouldn’t know. You were born 25 years old.”
…
“He is not you. He is a tornado in sweatpants.”

Alfred was hilarious in this. I miss him so much

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was again such a fun read!! It felt rather short, but I loved everything Bruce/Dick/Alfred.

[keara · Rating 5 out of 5]

i really really enjoyed this one! it really showed the faults that both bruce and dick have.

like up to this point, we can see bruce being that father figure (or at least trying his darndest), but now you can kind of see where his faults ultimately lie. he has a really hard time seeing dick as a different individual from himself. he literally admits that he thought that they would react in the same way that he did to the trauma, but while it’s true in some senses, it’s just not in most!

dick is his own individual, who is starkly different from bruce. and he’s also a child, something that bruce doesn’t really take into account. i mean, he has him fighting crime for godssake. but we see how him still being a child affects dicks actions in this too! he’s quick to act, and he’s inexperienced in a way that cost them!

i can’t wait to see how (and if) this gets addressed in the future installments because it definitely feels like something that’s being set up to be important (unless i’m entirely insane…in which case, just ignore me, but i don't think i am so...)

anywho that’s my little rant! can’t wait for the next one! because again so good!!!!!

[Lilybeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one moved way too fast and was somewhat confusing. I know that’s the point because Batman himself was confused but it didn’t make for good reading.
That ending tho! What’s gonna happen??
As always, artwork is spectacular!

[may ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

dick being so worried about bruce will kill me

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

General Grimaldi is stepping up his attacks on the crime families of Gotham, and never have I been so sure that they are using clayface to do it. Suddenly at a bunch of the families usual jobs and routines other heads of other families are showing up and ruining everything, clear as day no hiding it for the cameras fully out in the open. This is 100% clayface disguising himself as the other crime families to put them at war with each other. At one point you can even see the guy step out from the shadows as he “got his face ready.” I’m hedging my bets on that, but so far batman is racking his brain trying to figure out what is happening. And that has left Alfred in the precarious situation of trying to take care of the ball of energy and care free mentality that is Dick Grayson. After a week Alfred was finally able to pull Bruce out of the cave to put the boy some mind, and to Bruce’s surprise Dick has basically wrecked the place. Leaving clothes spread int everywhere and staying locked in his room without a care. Bruce is quite surprised as he believed both of them to be quite similar, and as Alfred jokingly remarks Bruce was born 25 years old so he has never had to deal with this kind of behavior. The pair are not used to teenagers being teenagers and they are going to have to reel Dick back in a bit.

At the very least Dick still has an outlet for all of his energy, and with the bat signal shining bright it’s time to go out and use some of it! Tonight the duo is pointed towards a ship just outside the coastal jurisdiction. Apparently the criminals on board think they have caught someone that can shed some light on all the recent chaos. As batman and Robin slink throughout the container ship on this dark rainy night they come to a room where an interrogation is occurring…with two-face in the hot seat! After a bit of beating him up he started to reveal what he knows about general Grimaldi, but he wouldn’t give anything else up for free. He started to go in about his name in this town and no one gets in without paying the “Dent Tax,” just like the Zuccos who rolled in and killed the circus couple. Upon hearing this Robin immediately freaked out, jumping into the fray, and started going after Harvey as batman rushed in and went after everyone else, flooding the room with smoke pellets. Harvey was just bluffing and Robin couldn’t see through it, and with all the confusion Robin even lost Dent. This gave Dent the ample opportunity to get his coin back from his torturer and stomp his face in. He then proceeded to mess with the ships “ballast tanks,” and cause it to start sinking! Robin spotted Dent through the rain, but missed when trying to rope him up. A mistake that I am sure Dick will hold over himself. But Dent is not the primary concern, they are on a sinking container ship with close calls all around them. Robin almost got wrapped up and dragged down by a loose wire attached to a container if he didn’t cut it in time. But batman wasn’t as lucky as only moments later a container slammed right into him! Sending him hard and immediately into the ocean!

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lento pero sin pausa. Seguimos asistiendo a cómo esta nueva mente criminal recién llegada a Gotham está poniendo todo patas arriba gracias a la ayuda de uno de los antagonistas más versátiles (sic.) de la Batgalería. También ese arranque de la relación de paternidad disfuncional entre Bruce y Dick aún entendida por parte de nuestro Caballero Oscuro desde el estatus de tutelaje para encaminarlo en la lucha contra el crimen y poder buscar justicia por su ya conocida tragedia familiar circense que aquí ya descubre la implicación de Dos Caras en el asunto.

No sé. Creo que debería valorar más por debajo este comic pero Waid y Samnne (y el color de Giovanna Niro) tocan algunas teclas secretas en mi gusto comiquero y sentimiento de lectura conectada a través de las eras del medio que no poder descartar tan fácilmente.

[Rob Vitagliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid issue in this enjoyable run. The art is terrific in this series, it has this dark deco feel to it that reminds me of Batman: The Animated Series. The dark colors somehow give the story a brooding feel, but not a depressing one. Maybe it's the splash of color from Robin's costume or the occasional fire that keep it all from getting too dark. Also, the panels on the ocean made me imagine the cold and the wetness very easily. The visuals in this book have been terrific.

Bits and pieces of the plot are coming together, and it's also enjoyable to see a different side of Alfred. Overall, this comic is becoming one I'm looking forward to each month.

[Tefi ⟡♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesante, me encanta la dinámica de bruce y dick. bruce creyendo que por el trauma de tener a sus papás asesinados frente suyo hacia que ambos fueran iguales, pero literalmente ambos lidian con la pérdida de diferente manera. bruce en ese entonces comenzó a tomar un camino de entrenamiento por venganza, y dick solo quiere nublar su cabeza con cosas tontas para no pensar en eso seguramente :(

[Chris Loan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weakest issue so far, but it was still fun. Loved Alfred being so over Dicks antics as a kid. “Tornado in Sweatpants” is my favorite line 🤣 this book helped drive the plot a bit with the new family working in Gotham, with a classic ending akin to the old Batman tv show

[Patrick Herman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork…

Can’t wait for the next issue. Samnee and Waid fire on all cylinders. Hope DC extends this title past the planned twelve issues.

[Nasya · Rating 3 out of 5]

i hate cliffhanger😭😭😭

[Richard A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoying this how it all began series for the Dynamic Duo. Very well written and an interesting read.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am just loving it so far. Bruce and Dick’s interactions and Alfred snapping at Bruce—so good.

(Also “bat-umbrella” lol)

[Sam Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much More of a Shorter read than I expected.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s funny seeing Alfred lecture Bruce about how he should be more of a parent.

[Pedro Espada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy bueno, siguen adaptándose las personalidades de estos iconos.

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alfred is literally one of the best characters.

[mollythemagic]

oh robin buddy

[grimbamreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

[Ryan Gässer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every issue is a winner.

[Ushnav Shroff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my, this is turning out to be spectacular.

[fin riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

maybe we rethink the child sidekick idk

[mars · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh.

[lev · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I don’t understand. Are all boys his age like this?”
“I wouldn’t know. You were born 25 years old.”

[luz · Rating 4 out of 5]

tell him alfred!!