In this review of Batman and Robin #25, the Quiet Man is coming, and he has his sights set on the Penguin.
Batman and Robin #25 main cover by Javier Fernández (DC Comics)
Batman and Robin #25
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Art by Fico Ossio
Main Cover: Javier Fernández
Variant Covers: GUILLEM MARCH, FICO OSSIO, MIGUEL MERCADO, LEONARDO ROMERO, GABRIELE DELL’OTTO, ASHLEY WOOD
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: September 10, 2025
This review contains spoilers
Batman and Robin #25 features two currently unconnected stories that will likely intersect next issue. The first story follows Batman and Robin as they take down Tiger Shark and his gang. Afterward, Batman spends time with Damian, expressing pride in him and planning a movie outing, despite Damian’s concerns about potential stress for Bruce. As they head to the Monarch Theater, Bruce is focused on bonding with Damian as his son rather than as Robin.
The second story is about a man named Cy being released from prison. Whenever he speaks, he only whispers. He goes to an old church graveyard and dicks up a small suitcase from a headstone with three quarter cross marked on it. In the suitcase is pendant of the same cross and a newspaper article about the death of a feared mob boss. The grave must be Cy’s son’s, and he walks away with the case whispering that they will take one more trip together.
Batman and Robin #25 ends that night, with Cy approaching the Iceberg Lounge where Penguin is indeed having a private celebration observing Tiger Shark’s downfall. Cy proceeds to John Wick his way through the Penguin’s goons and sets fire to the Lounge.
Review
Let’s start with the art in Batman and Robin #25. I like the colors for sure, and the art isn’t bad. In fact, Ossio does a really great job with the action scenes. They’re vibrant and fun, and look really cool. I will say, his character faces use too much cross hatch shading, so it looks really scratchy. That’s just a personal preference though, and all in all, I liked the look of the characters. Penguin is back to looking Danny-DeVito-esque, with black lips, greasy long hair, pointy teeth, and flipper hands, but I’m sure that’s how many (most?) people see him.
There was a moment where Bruce passes the chessboard he got upset about in the previous arc I didn’t quite understand, but Bruce talks to Ra’s (talking to the chessboard) stating that his boy’s happy and belongs here (in Gotham). I don’t know if this is foreshadowing of the return of Ra’s. Though when we last saw Ra’s (pre-assassination) he was enlightened, chill, and actually a pretty cool grandpa, but we will have to wait and see.
It was very sweet seeing Damian worried about Bruce’s reaction to going to the Monarch Theater. It shows that not only that Damian understands his father’s history, but also that he isn’t criticizing or minimizing as he may have done in the past. Damian is growing and maturing.
The main plot. I am mildly interested in the Quiet Man aka John Wick, but this creepy ex-con, mountain hermit loner, who has it out for Penguin better get more interesting soon. I really hope the weird pendant/symbol he pulled from the tombstone isn’t associated with a cult, cause I have really enjoyed our break from cults in Batman these last few years.
All in all, I’d say this is an okay start, but this 2nd arc isn’t gearing up to excite me as much as Williams ever did in this book, but we shall have to wait and see.
