It seems impossible to predict which DC books will get an annual each year but I suppose I should have seen it coming. After all, a new ongoing bat-book is the perfect place to squeeze a little more cash from. Anyway, with that bit of cynicism out of the way, Bruce and Damian are going camping this week! Let’s see how that turns out…

I did enjoy this issue in general which is an improvement over the last few months of the main series. It immediately plays into everything I want this series to be as Batman proposes this road trip as a time for father/son bonding away from the superheroics. It eventually becomes something vaguely reminiscent of The Most Dangerous Game as Bruce and Damian are hunted by Bloodsport but, because they are without their costumes and have limited tools to protect themselves, it does feel like some of the slice of life aspect is maintained. 

As usual in Williamson’s writing, Bruce is portrayed as a caring father to Damian who is trying to find ways to create a better relationship. He’s never a dick like he is in most other Batman titles and he actually comes across as pretty well-adjusted (within the context of superhero comics). In the end, it turns out he knew they were walking into a human hunting ground and had made the trip in order to put a stop to it but I like that he chooses to leave behind their superhero gear, forcing them to at one point roast marshmallows and pretend to be “normal campers” together. He knows Damian just wants to fight criminals so he designs a vacation that allows them to do just that while still having a chance to help Damian step outside his comfort zone and do something fun with his dad. In a weird Batman-y way, it’s pretty sweet.

Unfortunately, despite the positive qualities my biggest complaint about this story is how stock most of it is. Some of this is caused by the basic villains who have no definable characteristics besides what crimes they commit. Williamson tries to make Bloodsport more interesting by having him turn down a potential cash reward if he wins the hunt. He’s just in it for the challenge and practice. Still, this isn’t something I haven’t seen before, and the character isn’t successfully characterized beyond this so I’m mostly left with questions about what his motivations are. This version of the character certainly looks a lot more like Idris Elda’s portrayal than he does his past comic book incarnations and a one-page flashback doesn’t give me enough information to parse out what his past is or how he became what I can only guess is a zombie.

The dialogue is also rather shaky at times which further lends to the flat uninspired feeling of this story. Lines like “Then what do you suggest we do, Damian? Never not be our masked identities?” come across very awkwardly and stand out but, in general, I don’t feel the dialogue here is particularly snappy or memorable; mostly, it’s mundane. 

In contrast to the styleless script, Howard Porter brings his usual busy feel to the table. As usual, I can appreciate his work for its craft and unique look but I don’t personally enjoy the aesthetic. It doesn’t help that he isn’t a particularly good fit for this story. Porter should be drawing more fantastical psychedelic stories or something in the realm of horror. That’s what this heavy, almost intentionally confused, artwork would best emphasize. Here, though you might be able to argue there are traces of horror influence, the bulk of the story is camping and action. Porter does do justice to the impact of the action scenes but an artist with a cleaner style would fit in better tonally and could highlight the family dynamic much better, especially since Porter’s style does not lend itself to drawing recognizable faces or facial expressions. 

Recommended if…

• You’re looking for a break from the convoluted main plot of Batman and Robin
• Howard Porter’s art appeals to you more than it does to me
• You’re a Bloodsport fan?

Overview

Balancing the positives and negatives, I can say this is an okay issue but it’s, unfortunately, the kind of thing you read once, throw in a long box, and forget about the next day. While the good elements remain refreshing against the current backdrop of the Batman line, it just isn’t a strong enough comic to justify a recommendation. 

Score: 6/10

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