This month Batman and Robin are working to confirm Damian’s suspicions about the identity of his principal in the aftermath of their confrontation with Man-Bat. I haven't been enjoying this series recently but maybe with a new artist things will change. Let’s not waste any time and get right into it!

This is my favorite issue of the series since the first, I'll give it that, but it’s also far from perfect. Immediately, I have to address the art which is leagues better than normal with Nikola Čižmešija filling in. The sequential storytelling is clear, the pages are easy on the eye and the action has punch. That said, this isn’t his best work. Maybe that’s because it’s a fill-in but I just don’t see many examples of the standout work I was used to on Sword of Azrael. Perhaps, that’s more a fault of the script though. Čižmešija’s work is best suited to the fantastical while this story spends most of its time in a few normal looking Gotham locations. The manga influence in the art does lend itself well to the tone of the book though and when paired with how much more readable this art is, I’m definitely not taking points off for a lack of “wow moments.”

So, what is the writing like separate from how well it services the artist? Well, it’s okay. Most importantly, we’ve finally gotten to spend some time with the civilian side of Damian’s life. He even joins the high school soccer team! Stepping away from constant action for a bit is the best choice this issue makes, though we still get an unnecessary fight with Orca. 

It just feels very obligatory. The issue doesn't need action just for the sake of it.

My favorite part of the issue is a scene where Damian, thinking himself superior as usual, tries to score a goal while practicing with his new team and is stopped by the goalie. It’s a really fun scene and there's a nice moment where we see Bruce taking pride in his son. It’s also great seeing Damian humbled, I must admit.

Unfortunately, a few pages later, Williamson seems to go out of his way to retroactively make the scene a million times less interesting. Damian is immediately suspicious of the goalie and rather than using this as a moment where Damian can learn to accept there is something he isn’t the best at, it turns out he’s right. There is something off about the goalie. Spoiler: He’s Mr. Zsasz’s son. Ugh.

Why does Williamson keep doing this? Besides the fact that is a tired overused trope in superhero comics to retcon the existence of children and relatives, there is no WAY Victor Zsasz has a kid. I thought it was bad when Penguin was “revealed” to have 15 children but at least I can imagine him hooking up with some gold diggers or something. Honestly, I was willing to accept Ethan Cobblepot when he was the only child because I could imagine there was someone out there who legitimately loved Oswald at some point in his life. But this is Victor Zsasz. I think he’s more interested in murdering people than he is in sex. I don’t want to theorize though because this isn’t interesting or cool and only makes Zsasz himself less interesting. He’s actually one of my favorite Batman villains and to me what makes him intriguing is the mystery surrounding him. In his early days, when Norm Breyfogle drew him with the crazy stylized eyes, I imagine him as some sort of enigma. Is he really a man or something more sinister? What could drive someone to a mania such as his? Now? Well, I guess he’s just another thug. This child fills my mind with visions of a younger Zsasz coming home from work with a briefcase and mowing the lawn.

There are other smaller problems with the writing here as well. Mistress Harsh is still a nonentity and, again, I’d rather Damian’s school life was separate from his “work” life, so the possibility that she is posing as the principal does not interest me. Then she may also be Shush but I’ve already talked enough about how lame that character is so all I’ll add is “lame” + “lame” = “even lamer.” 

Some of the dialogue is also pretty rough. Take a gander at this high school age teen’s thoughts on the principal.

I can’t image these words coming out of a high schooler’s mouth and the ideas here are quite fishy. It’s a really on the nose way of casting doubt on Damian’s suspicions and completely fails the “show don’t tell” rule. Additionally, this whole “fifty percent crime rate” doesn’t make sense on a number of levels. How does anyone have this data (much less a high school student)? Why would that change just because a principal introduced “programs” and what does it have to do with the school's crime rate? This girl specifically says they became criminals after graduating. Oh and last but not least, If 50% of this school became henchmen each year how many henchmen are there in Gotham? We have to assume they aren’t all sourced from the same school. These numbers just don’t make sense. 

Maybe I’m nitpicking but it’s still too soon after the statistics presented in The Gotham War. I guess I’m a little sensitive about it right now. 

Recommended if…

• You want better art on this title
• Damian finally doing some school related stuff interests you
• You don’t mind dumb retcon characters

Overall

This issue was serviceable. It takes several steps in the right direction and then turns around and takes a few back in the wrong one. I don’t know if I can recommend it since everything here is still built on a pretty weak foundation but maybe this is a sign of better things to come. Let's hope.

Score: 5/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purposes of this review