Batman & Robin: Year One (2024-) #5 (Batman and Robin: Year One

Batman & Robin: Year One

by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee

A lead from Gordon provides Batman an opportunity to chase down one of The General’s assets, but the best way to get close to them is not as Batman but as Bruce Wayne. But with Bruce off on his own, Dick is left stuck at Wayne Manor. What’s a boy wonder to do when no one’s watching…?

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

Kindle Edition

Published February 19, 2025

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

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weakest issue so far, but I'm still enjoying this series so much.

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am absolutely loving this story so far. I loved the contrast between Robin and Batman on their own. I also loved that we’re seeing that streak of anger in Dick. Overall pretty good!

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I KNEW IT! The cover gives it away, but our mystery face changing man is Clayface! But there are much more pressing matters to attend to before we get there…like Dick’s behavior at school! One hour. It took one hour for Dick to get kicked out after loudly disrupting home room when the teacher referred to the class as a “circus.” She said it in such an insulting manner that he couldn’t just stand by, and honestly I don’t fully blame the kid. He’s lived in the circus for his entire life, this is a new adjustment and space. But that doesn’t get him off the hook, Bruce was able to “Wayne” the principal and get the outburst taken off his record. He is going back tomorrow, apologizing, and if there is another outburst like this again then he is grounded from crime fighting. Dick agrees. But, hilariously, yes Bruce did use “Wayne” as a verb during that conversation.

That night the bat signal shone and a very impatient Gordon only wanted to talk to batman tonight. It’s hilarious flipping the page to see Robin scowling in the corner waiting for them to be done. Gordon informs batman that the mob war is surging and Grimaldi continues to work from the shadows to pit the families against each other. They don’t have any word on the melting man accept a name…Hagen. Gordon still refuses to give batman any info on the file he stole. And I have to agree, the stone walking is getting is nowhere. But here is where the night ends for the dynamic duo, they are heading home. Dick has school tomorrow, and Bruce has a social engagement.

As it turns out Bruce is attending a farewell party. His friend, Martin Koski, has sold all of his assets and is heading to live abroad. Bruce is slightly concerned, he took a moment off to the side to speak to Martin, making sure he isn’t getting in deep with the horse betting again. But Martin brushes off his concerns and wishes him a good night and to visit him if he is ever over in Italy, but Bruce noticed something off. What looks to be a wrist tattoo. Elsewhere Dick is quite restless and decided to fly the coop and take a bat cycle with him! Alfred only realized when he discovered Dick’s room empty. But Bruce is not done with Martin, he stayed around as the party goers left as batman. Immediately he noticed more things wrong with Martin. As soon as everyone left he dropped the happy face, this is atypical as the real one maintains a front even when no one is watching to continue conning himself that he is happy. This isn’t the real Martin, which means this is likely Grimaldi’s master of disguise which means the real Martin is probably gone. Right as batman approaches the melting man digging through the closet, we see as he dawns his own plastic mask to cover his face before barricading himself in the closet. As batman tried to rush after him he was suddenly distracted by his comms as Alfred attempted to reach him on Robin’s disappearance! Batman had to turn it off, he has to focus on the man he just cornered…especially when he starts shooting through the closet door!

But speaking of Robin, and Alfred’s begging screams for help over the comm system, it seems that he is just out looking for trouble. He went to the seediest alley you can find, you can really tell because it appears that Catwoman and her young friend and loads of cats from batman year one are sitting in a fire escape overhead, and was spotted by some of Grimaldi’s men. One of them encountered Robin before and had the wounds to prove it, so he isn’t taking any chances and has decided to call in backup. As we jump back over to batman we see as he evaded the gunfire from the closet. Batman reveals that his research is outdated and the real Martin removed the wrist tattoo he spotted a week ago. But as batman steps forward suddenly he steps in something squishy and begins to follow the trail leading outside the room. Javan is making a run for it, and right before he can get down the stairs batman throws out his grappling hook and pulls him back. Shocked to see the line sliced his foot clean off. But Hagen was back up in moments with a new foot growing right in front of batman! This is new and the mask and the silence are trying to be used against batman to keep him confused, but that won’t work…that’s a strategy batman invented. As Hagen leaps forward, batman grabs him by the neck…only for his melting trick to begin. But it doesn’t feel like melting…it feels like clay! And suddenly Hagen beings to engulf batman and suffocate him!

We then jump back over to Robin who has seemingly just come across a mugging. As he jumps in to help, he is quickly shocked to find both the assailant and victim are armed and ready for him! This is a trap and Robin walked right into it, and it’s not just two guys suddenly the entire alley is flooded with armed men gunning for him. He is able to use his acrobatics, meshed with a lot of great color and panel work, to hold them off momentarily. But their numbers get the best of him and he is knocked out. Elsewhere batman is able to get the upper hand on Hagen by gripping his grappling hook and forcefully ripping it right down the middle of Hagen! Breaking his mask, splitting him in two, and killing his concentration, causing all the clay to retreat. With Hagen gone Batman has more pressing matters and turns back on the transmitter to talk to a very pissed off Alfred. The boy is gone and has now been taken by Grimaldi! The good news is that Grimaldi doesn’t hurt kids. But that doesn’t stop him from using them as bait.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Está siendo muy interesante este abordaje del arranque heroíco de Dick Grayson con una personalidad tan temeraria y traumática, que es normal que al inicio de su relación, Bruce se presente como una fuerza tan autoritaria. Pero este número se basa casi en exclusiva en "revelar" que el brazo ejecutor del General es Clayface, en una versión que parece aunar a Matt Hagen con Basil Karlo (al menos en este número con el detalle de esa máscara y todo ese enfoque por parte de Waid y Samnee a que parezca una secuencia de terror).

[Chris Loan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic opening to this issue! “Did you just use “Wayne” as a verb?” Had me in stitches! And Gordon already not having it with Robin saying there’s no R on the signal. Loved it. I love how Waid is crafting this version of a young Robin at the beginning of his super hero journey. This issue also featured the first meeting of Batman and Clayface, which featured some great art! Five issues in and I love this story so far!

[keara · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's been a while since i've read an issue (and i'm still incredibly new to comics as a medium), but i really enjoyed this one.

i really enjoyed seeing the separate dynamics of bruce and dick, with bruce being his solo detective self, and dick really growing into the role of robin.

off i go to speedrun the rest of the released issues!

xo, k

[Tefi ⟡♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

no tan interesante… de todas formas, lo q sí me llamó la atención fue clay, tipo, amazing ahora que hay un nuevo mob boss tratando de hacerse espacio en Gotham.

asimismo, cómo gordon evita relacionarse mucho con robin? so dark victory coded really JAJSJAJ

psdt: memorable mención de dick siendo dick lit ese niño me trae vida lo amo

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sir, did you just use “Wayne” as a verb?”
Alfred once again gets the best line in the issue.

[Geo Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again amazing book. The interior art is gorgeous and I love the mystery of this book so much.

[Steven Shinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been saying for years that I wish people would stop using the word “clown” as an insult. So I empathized with Robin when he didn’t like the teacher using “circus” as a “slur.”

[luz · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.25

[may ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

goodness dick will be the death of everyone
the wally teaser HELLO??? its so good i need to read absolute flash

[Mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4,5/5)

[mollythemagic]

robin cmon man

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4

[Celss ⋆֙ ๑՞¸]

《THAT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH MORE EXCRUCIATING WORRY AND STRESS YOU WISH TO INFLICT UPON ME, DOESN'T IT?》nooot pobre Alfred jajaja 😔

[Pedro Espada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una grapa cargada de acción, dibujo a la par y presentacion de un Clayface que no te esperas!

[grimbamreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Ryan Gässer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fine installment in the Year One series. I must ask, though, is Alfred yelling at Batman a little too much? Just saying.

[Ushnav Shroff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gruesome... gruesome... gruesome. I love it!

[rafaela (taylor's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4, 5