Batman vs. Robin: Road to War

Batman vs. Robin

by Robbie Thompson, Peter J. Tomasi, Joshua Williamson

A storm is coming…and a battle years in the making between Bruce Wayne and Damian Wayne is on the horizon. A major turning point in the lives of Batman and Robin brought to you by writers Robbie Thompson (Suicide Squad, Teen Titans), Peter J. Tomasi (Batman & Robin, Detective Comics), and Joshua Williamson (The Flash, Dark Crisis), featuring stunning artwork by Eduardo Pansica (Suicide Squad), Gleb Melnikov (Jinny Hex, Robin), and more!

Collects Teen Titans #43-44, Teen Titans Annual #2, Detective Comics #1032-1033, and a two-part backup feature that sets the stage for a new chapter in the life of Damian Wayne, originally presented in Batman #106 and Detective Comics #1034.

Genres: Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Action

176 pages, Paperback

First published August 9, 2022

About the author

Comics writer.

Reviews

[Diz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seems to collect bits and pieces of stories that take place either between or during bigger events, so the stories in this are a bit disjointed. As a result, it's not really a satisfying reading experience in itself. However, if you are interested in the relationship between Batman and his son, this has a lot of material in it.

[Dave Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume does the primary job it was marketed to do: set up the schism between father and son that leads to the Batman vs. Robin miniseries. But as a stand alone collection, it's rather underwhelming. If you can get it for two bucks like I did, then it will be well worth the purchase price. I would definitely discourage anyone from paying full price for it.

[Clodagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The entire first half of the book I was like "he would not fucking say that" about literally everything Damian did but it ended up being really good, we got Batman actually talking about Damian like hes his child and not just another soldier (for like two pages before he went back to the usual, I am Batman, I am the night, I don't feel anything emotionally except rage, but a wins a win) plus this is the lead on too Robin and the lazarus tournament which slays so hard so I'm not mad.

[Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always the same dilemma, still fun.

[Hugo Emanuel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This volume collects a series of issues from different series (Teen Titans, Detective Comics, and backups from Batman) that share a common thread: they all focus on Robin's "fall from grace", and becoming further estranged from his Teen Titans team mates, and his father, Bruce Wayne.

Considering its a mish-mash of issues, some plot threads from the different titles aren't obviously complete, but the collection does a good job of assembling some of the most relevant moments in Robin's difficulty with dealing with the grief of having lost Alfred, and conveying his frame of mind.
We also get to see Bruce in a more vulnerable state, and actually temporarly dropping his emotional armour to attempt to reach out to his son.

As someone who mostly keeps up and collects the Batman titles, I had read all the Detective Comics issues included here, but none of the others. I felt this was a good, organized way to get up to date with what's going on with Damian Wayne before delving into Waid's "Batman vs Robin".

It's an effective a primer to Waid's "Batman vs Robin", despite being a collection of different titles.

[Clay Bartel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been working my way towards picking up Robin Vol. 1 by Williamson and have been waiting for Batman Vs. Robin to be collected, so when Batman Vs Robin Road to War came out I was very excited to read this.

Normally I collect Batman and Batman related books quite minimally.

Batman has always interested me in film more than in the comics and Superman and the many minor characters in DC have always be my go to for comic reading.

But from time to time Bat books get me excited.

Whoa! I don't know why exactly but Damian has always been of a lot of interest to me. The sort of Son Of the Demon and of the Bat has been a cool concept and I love Damian's edge and willingness to be violent.

Road to War perfectly sets up Robin Vol 1 and has created a lot of excitement for me ... so much so I'm tempted to collect the singles of the Batman Vs Robin story rather then waiting for the collection.

I definitely know my next visit to the comic shop will mean buying Robin Vol 1.

Loved Road to War! Highly recommend!

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm usually not a fan of cross-comic collections like this, but this one seemed like a pretty good primer for the upcoming Batman vs Robin comic by Mark Waid. And, it was.

It's a believable story of how Damian is falling from grace, and thus a nice character-piece. I enjoyed reading it, even with other plotlines from comics left unfinished. My only issue was with the plot itself, since Robin gives up the Robin symbol, but then suddenly is wearing it again in a new form. What happened there!? Hopefully it'll be explained in one of the upcoming comics, because it feels like something was left out.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were beats in here that worked for me, but the general thrust of this didn't. I don't read the original runs, just the trades, but it seemed weird to read Damian Going Through It without Dick being there at all. I think the writing could be stronger to emphasize Damian's reasoning in going through this negative character arc, especially because I felt like we got the same recycled emotional/ethical considerations we've seen Jason go through, just put in Damian's mouth. I get that it was coming from a place of grief, but I just wanted something more from it.

Also I do not care about Damian's Teen Titans even remotely so that was not a helpful thread for me, personally.

[John-E-Raps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a relevant set up for the events that lead to Batman Vs Robin. HOWEVER…readers should understand that this is not, although as advertised, a direct set up for the Batman Vs Robin series. There’s a lot that occurs between the events of this compilation and the Batman Vs Robin mini series, including the entire last run of “Robin” as well as the “Shadow War” crossover series. All imperative materials if you’re trying to get the whole narrative - crappy marketing is why a give it a four. Otherwise, great reading of the DC variety, especially if you love Damian and the way he fits into the overall Batman mythos.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not too big a fan of the teen titans rebirth so it did feel like I was dragging my feet throughout the first few issues but afterwards, it was pretty solid. You see Damian dealing with grief and guilt as well as his moral conflict – one of my favourite things about Tomasi’s writing (even if he only wrote one issue in this) is how he writes family dynamics and their relationships. As someone’s who has read Williamson’s Robin run – this does a pretty good job of setting up.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing about trade paperbacks is that you have to get them from the beginning. I thought perhaps this would be a good individual story, but it pulls from Teen Titans, Detective comics and Batman. So there are huge jumps in the story that don't make sense unless you're caught up in all three of those books. The art is great, and the idea is interesting, but I'm not caught up in the lore, nor does the title really live up to a war against the two main characters. I'm sure the story as a whole is good, but this portion of snippets left me disappointed.

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of stories that lead into Batman Vs. Robin, which in turn lead into Lazarus Planet. This is a more a set up volume, so it's a beginning without a definitive end, but that's what it's intended to be. The stories are good, showing the turmoil Robin is going through after the death of Alfred, turmoil which causes friction between he and Batman. I'm interesting to see what comes next.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a little unsure what war we are leading up to.

3.5. Good father/son and grieving stuff. But again where this was going as a Batman - Robin war is murky. I get where each go alone, but not together.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This acts as a prequel to the Damian's Robin series. We see Damian's confrontation with the Teen Titans and Batman as he's dealing with grief over the death of Alfred. The very end has some parts from Batman 106 Detective Comics 1034 which lead into Robin issue #1.

[Jameson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather enjoyed it. More than I thought I would.

[Anne Barwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the artwork and storyline, although having a bit of the story in the middle noted is in another graphic is a little annoying.

[Sarospice · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's always fun when Damian rejects Batman.

[Steve Howells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read with some really good art work.

[Nate · Rating 2 out of 5]

An anthology of various comics leading up to the Batman vs. Robin event. Following the City of Bane arc in the comics.

[C.Lakin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damien Wayne not only has father issues but also team, mother, and grandfather issues.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mishmash of back story leading up to the Batman vs. Robin series involving Mother Soul, the Demon Nezha, and Lazarus Planet. Some good things here, though kind of disconnected, really.

[John Reimer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice read, loved seeing more of the fallout of Alfred's death

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I (incorrectly) assumed this was a collection of, like, miscellaneous annuals and prologues that took place directly before Batman vs Robin. Instead, this was more like a curated list of emotional highlights describing what's been happening with Damian before his 2021 solo run. I had just come from the solo run, so I was incredibly confused at first why all his recent development was completely backtracked until realizing this happened before what I'd just read.

Once I oriented myself and cleared up that confusion, this is a well curated collection. I'm returning to DC after a long time away and hopping around Damian's history, so this collection was basically tailored made for people in my situation. Honestly it works better as an emotional introduction for Robin (2021) rather than Batman vs Robin, but either way it was a good read.