Broken Frontier

In the follow-up to his “Batman R.I.P” story arc, acclaimed writer Grant Morrison has taken an all-new Dynamic Duo to strange, quirky and wholly entertaining places in Batman and Robin, which started hitting stands last summer.

With Bruce Wayne presumed dead, former Robin Dick Grayson has taken on the Batman mantle, while Bruce’s son Damian has taken on the role of Robin. Armed with a new state-of-the-art Batmobile, the pair takes on twisted foes such as the Circus of Strange, the Flamingo and the Red Hood.

With art by Frank Quitely and Philip Tan, this series balances darker themes and characters—including the nightmare-inducing Circus of Strange leader Pyg—with a sense of fun one doesn’t usually expect from a Batman title.

This series is also compelling in that it inverts the traditional Batman and Robin dynamic. Dick seems to actually enjoy being Batman far more than Bruce ever did, while Damian takes after his father in the scowling and violent butt-kicking departments. Watching Dick struggle not only with becoming Batman but with the notion of stepping in as a father figure to Damian makes this version of the classic team fresh and unique.

Perhaps most importantly, despite its ties to other Batman titles and the rest of the sometimes impenetrable DC Universe, Batman and Robin has provided an excellent entry point for new readers. Holy accessibility, Batman!