In this review of Batman and Robin #26, the Dynamic Duo come face to face with the Quiet Man as he closes in on the Penguin.
Batman and Robin #26 main cover by Tony S. Daniel (DC Comics)
BATMAN AND ROBIN #26
Written by PHILLIP KENNEDY JOHNSON
Art by FICO OSSIO
Main Cover: TONY S. DANIEL
Variant Covers: GUILLEM MARCH, CLAYTON CRAIN, ASHLEY WOOD
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 10/8/25
This review contains spoilers
Batman and Robin #26 opens in a wood workshop with an old man working on a project while the news reports about the attack on the Iceberg Lounge.
At the Lounge, Batman and Robin questions Penguin and his men about the attack. The unknown assailant was unarmed, before taking the guns of the guards, talked real quiet and polite, and left silver dollars on the eyes of the deceased. Penguin claims to not know who the man was, and after Batman leaves, he reveals that he isn’t sure, but he does suspect someone very concerning.
Robin confesses his regret about going to the movies, but Batman insists he wants his son to have both the life of Robin and of Damian Wayne, and refuses to be controlled by fear.
The Quiet man, in his hideout, cleans his guns while talking to his deceased son. He tells him he laid silver coins on the dead men, but “didn’t’ learn a damn thing”. There is also a note on his bedside table that reads “He’s out. Penguin and Two-Face know where. Don’t let ‘em get away with it.” The Quiet Man wonders if he will join his son tonight.
In the Bat-cave Damian practices fighting while Bruce examines the coins. They’re very rare Justice Dollars that had evidently been buried in a box near a body. They’re worth about $25,000 each, meaning that the man left $250,000 worth of coins on the corpses at the crime scene. Having left a bug at the Iceberg Lounge, Batman knows that Penguin thinks Two-Face is involved somehow, either as a culprit or a potential victim, and has arranged to meet with him at the Asher Estate. Batman and Robin go stake it out.
Penguin and Two-Face reveal that The Quiet Man is related to The Falcone Heist, and that he was released two days ago. Just then the man in questions appears, telling the two villains that they wronged him, and they know who he wants – their friend who killed his son. Robin, distracted by the Gotham Irregulars, notices and swoops in while Batman is en route.
Batman and Robin #26 wraps up with the fight escalating and taking people out until it’s just The Quiet Man, Batman, and Robin duking it out. While fighting, The Quiet Man reveals that someone Batman set free the lunatic that killed his boy, and Batman puts the pieces together – he’s after Arnold Wesker, The Ventriloquist, who currently is creating a wood puppet at a workshop.
Penguin doesn’t understand how this works (DC Comics)
Analysis
First off, I am excited that Batman is refusing to back down from doing father/son things as Bruce and Damian. He isn’t letting the fear of what will happen when they’re not on duty control him, which is a huge point of growth for the character. It’s also a good growth point for Damian showing him as a sort of mentor for the Gotham Irregulars, not lashing out or judging them for doing what they have to to live on the streets (i.e. steal food).
The art in Batman and Robin #26 is great, with very well-executed and fun action sequences. A highlight is the scene where Damian practices during Bruce’s analysis and hilariously decapitates a dummy hostage, claiming she “was acting suspicious.” This could foreshadow a future mistake or show his growth in accepting them. I also enjoyed seeing Damian’s relationship with the Gotham Irregulars deepen; he accepts their stolen snack and even compliments it, a sign he’s less “jerky” than before. He’s clearly starting to take on a mentor role, a development I hope is permanent.
The story itself is okay. Two-Face has very limited panel time, appearing only to confirm that the Penguin knows who the Quiet Man is, and then they and their goons get their butts handed to them before Batman and Robin take over as the primary fighters. The man appears to have a straight forward revenge motivation, and when it is revealed that the “big bad” that he’s after is the puppet-less Ventriloquist, I have to say my hopes weren’t raised and my appetite for the story was not whetted.
However, if the relationship building continues as is, and the character development and interactions stay as lovely as they have been so far, I am okay with it.
