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Batman and Robin (2023) (Collected Editions)
Batman and Robin Vol. 2: The Gotham Cycle
Not yet published
Expected 24 Feb 26176 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 24, 2026
1 person is currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Phillip Kennedy Johnson
522 books96 followersPhillip Kennedy Johnson earned a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas, where he served as Teaching Fellow for the Department of Jazz Studies, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastern Kentucky University. SFC Johnson has performed with the Lexington Philharmonic, Dallas Opera, Washington Symphonic Brass, and the Moscow Ballet, and was a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra from 2004 to 2005. SFC Johnson remains active as a composer, arranger, teacher, and clinician, and also enjoys a second career as a writer of comics and graphic novels. His work has been published by DC Comics, Marvel Comics, BOOM! Studios, and more.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 23, 2025
While the core villain of Batman and Robin, the supernatural entity named Memento, admittedly runs dry closer to the end, he's easily the weakest part of the story. He's just not that interesting.
Saying that, I LOVE the work with Bruce and Damian in this volume. They truly FEEL like father and son, and the story of Batman's desperate search to save his son from a subterranean lost city is full of great moments. There's a particular highlight with a team-up between Bruce and an overseas friend, and the journey to save Damian and interrogate the demon Etrigan is fantastic.
The way this volume brings the entire Memento storyline to a close is very satisfying, mostly cause of Damien's growth, and I'm excited to see what Johnson brings in the new storylines. A 3.5 but I'll bump it to a 4.
Saying that, I LOVE the work with Bruce and Damian in this volume. They truly FEEL like father and son, and the story of Batman's desperate search to save his son from a subterranean lost city is full of great moments. There's a particular highlight with a team-up between Bruce and an overseas friend, and the journey to save Damian and interrogate the demon Etrigan is fantastic.
The way this volume brings the entire Memento storyline to a close is very satisfying, mostly cause of Damien's growth, and I'm excited to see what Johnson brings in the new storylines. A 3.5 but I'll bump it to a 4.
September 22, 2025
This was such a good story arc I loved it!
This one goes full delving into Bruce psyche and reckoning with whats happening and giving us more of his mental state and fears as a father and reflecting on all that has happened and its about a father trying to save his son, we see him teaming up with Katherine and like their bond being tested in such ways and then also a story with Etrigan where we get the origin of MEMENTO, and omg wasn't expecting a supernatural angle on it.. that one was just amazing and makes sense as to why the villain speaks in verses like Etrigan!
AMAZING writing there and also then seeing the full battle of our heroes vs this villain and like a bit more about the origin of Memento and who it was all this time and what happened to Atticus kyle specially omg!! That one was a bit psychedelic but it was fun the way it was told and basically resolved itself!!
I like how we also had diary entries of Thomas and Damian and like their fears and everything and like seeing the story of 3 generations and how it connected.. and possibilities of what could have been vs what is and Damian maybe taking the path his grandfather took but also embracing the legacy of Batman! That one brought out a tear to my eye! Loved this!!
Seriously PKJ is cooking with this run! Can't wait for the next arc!!
This one goes full delving into Bruce psyche and reckoning with whats happening and giving us more of his mental state and fears as a father and reflecting on all that has happened and its about a father trying to save his son, we see him teaming up with Katherine and like their bond being tested in such ways and then also a story with Etrigan where we get the origin of MEMENTO, and omg wasn't expecting a supernatural angle on it.. that one was just amazing and makes sense as to why the villain speaks in verses like Etrigan!
AMAZING writing there and also then seeing the full battle of our heroes vs this villain and like a bit more about the origin of Memento and who it was all this time and what happened to Atticus kyle specially omg!! That one was a bit psychedelic but it was fun the way it was told and basically resolved itself!!
I like how we also had diary entries of Thomas and Damian and like their fears and everything and like seeing the story of 3 generations and how it connected.. and possibilities of what could have been vs what is and Damian maybe taking the path his grandfather took but also embracing the legacy of Batman! That one brought out a tear to my eye! Loved this!!
Seriously PKJ is cooking with this run! Can't wait for the next arc!!
November 2, 2025
A little messier than the first volume as we conclude the Memento arc. There’s still a lot of great stuff here exploring Thomas Wayne and his relationship with Bruce. I really liked the insertion of Damian’s comic and his understanding of legacy. I hope they follow this track with Damian being interested in medicine because that’s a really cool concept for him.
There’s a tiny bit of the batfam here (-Cass). I enjoyed Lutrec’s character a lot and I hope we see her again in the future. I loved how much she bonded with Damian. I can’t wait to read more of Johnson’s take on Damian.
There’s a tiny bit of the batfam here (-Cass). I enjoyed Lutrec’s character a lot and I hope we see her again in the future. I loved how much she bonded with Damian. I can’t wait to read more of Johnson’s take on Damian.
October 26, 2025
Sadly PKJ follows his pattern to date and drags this storyline out far too long. Exactly what he’s doing over on Incredible Hulk. I think this is the danger of writers with multiple books and limited ideas.
The prior volume set up a great mystery but the answers to that mystery are all a bit of a silly, hand waving cop out.
Disappointing. Perhaps the next arc will be more focussed.
The prior volume set up a great mystery but the answers to that mystery are all a bit of a silly, hand waving cop out.
Disappointing. Perhaps the next arc will be more focussed.
read-seq-art
December 25, 2025Read as single issues.
September 14, 2025
tive o prazer de traduzir esse volume pro português para o Darkseid Club. batfans brasileiros, dêem uma olhada lá no site!
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a satisfying ending to a great arc. if the first volume was all about damian's internal conflicts and character development, this one focuses more on bruce as he reckons with the fact that his controlling tendencies and paranoia once again pushed one of his children away.
batman is forced to rely on robin's previous research (even as it leads towards the supernatural) and reluctantly work with katherine lautrec to solve the case, putting aside his reservations in order to get his son back. and okay, i wouldn't exactly call this bruce a great dad, but at least he is trying.
i also really liked the conclusion to damian's internal journey. i loved the parts where we see his sketchbook (juni ba, you will always be famous!) and get a more honest insight in what's going on in his mind. damian learns that there are more ways of helping and protecting people other than fighting–something necessary for a character that has only known this kind of life. personally, i'd like to see him stepping down from vigilante life, going to med school, and taking on a supporting role more like alfred's in the batfamily. i think he's going to become a doctor anyway, but if he's going to keep being a vigilante at least it's by his own choice and in his own terms, knowing that there are other options.
last but not least, i loved lazlo and the irregulars! hope they show up again in the future. and bruce taking lucy the monkey around with him was adorable lol
johnson's been doing a good job so far. i'm excited to see what he's got planned for the dynamic duo in the next phase.
—————
a satisfying ending to a great arc. if the first volume was all about damian's internal conflicts and character development, this one focuses more on bruce as he reckons with the fact that his controlling tendencies and paranoia once again pushed one of his children away.
batman is forced to rely on robin's previous research (even as it leads towards the supernatural) and reluctantly work with katherine lautrec to solve the case, putting aside his reservations in order to get his son back. and okay, i wouldn't exactly call this bruce a great dad, but at least he is trying.
i also really liked the conclusion to damian's internal journey. i loved the parts where we see his sketchbook (juni ba, you will always be famous!) and get a more honest insight in what's going on in his mind. damian learns that there are more ways of helping and protecting people other than fighting–something necessary for a character that has only known this kind of life. personally, i'd like to see him stepping down from vigilante life, going to med school, and taking on a supporting role more like alfred's in the batfamily. i think he's going to become a doctor anyway, but if he's going to keep being a vigilante at least it's by his own choice and in his own terms, knowing that there are other options.
last but not least, i loved lazlo and the irregulars! hope they show up again in the future. and bruce taking lucy the monkey around with him was adorable lol
johnson's been doing a good job so far. i'm excited to see what he's got planned for the dynamic duo in the next phase.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews