Batman and Robin #20 main cover by Javier Fernandez (DC Comics)
Batman and Robin # 20
Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Journal Art: Hugo Petrus
Present Day Art: Miguel Mendonca
Damian’s Art: Juni Ba
Release Date: April 9, 2025
Spoiler – Free Review: Batman and Robin # 20:
To get the general conclusion out of the way – I really liked this book. It does have some major detractors, but those are more from the story arc and how many times DC has had Damian have an identity crisis in the last 4 years. This single issue, aside from that, has a lot going for it, and has me excited for the next issue.
Summary
Batman and Robin # 20 opens with one of Thomas Wayne’s illustrated journal entries, describing how little Bruce came home from school wanting to make paper boats with him, and then float them in the pond. Thomas, being busy, forgets and later finds the paper boats crumpled in the bin. Alfred tells Thomas that the fact that he cares and feels horrible about forgetting makes him a great father already. The next day, Thomas and Bruce make boats together and they go out to the pond to play.
In the present, Batman, disorientated from the Gravedigger’s Poppy, calls on the whole Bat-family to do whatever it takes to find Robin. Oracle attempts to track Batman, but he is very confused, thinking he is in England while on the way to Pennyworth Manor. He finally makes it to Damian’s bedroom, where he frantically looks for any information Robin had gathered on Memento. Instead, he finds Damian’s illustrated journal/comic book – “The Adventures of Robin and Batman”.
Robin confesses that he feels that his past with the League of Assassins is always dogging his steps whenever he slows down and he fails – like letting the girl get hurt at the Sacred Heart fundraiser. Thomas’s journal has shown him there are other ways to help people, a path Bruce could have taken, but didn’t. A path Damian is now considering because he believes a world without Batman and Robin was better.
He talks about Katherine Lautrec, and how much he admires her – that she reminds him of what it could be like to work with a younger Bruce. He theorizes that Lautrec saw the face of their assailant at Scarecrow’s labs, and that she recognizes him, and that there is a chance it is Atticus Blye, but he hopes it’s not. However, Blye’s notes are impressively thorough and suggest to Damian that there is a possibility Batman does not want to accept – Memento is a spirit that is seeking out the Waynes.
He ends by stating that after catching Memento and getting Gotham back to “normal”, he wants to do the Sacred Heart Program and become a doctor like Thomas.
Batman can’t dwell on non-Memento clues, and is frustrated that he isn’t able to think clearly, and isn’t able to understand any clues Damian has given about Memento. Suddenly, a fiery illusion of Alfred appears, giving Batman the final push he needs to find Damian’s red Memento notebook.
Spoiler – Heavy Review:
Batman and Robin # 20 starts with a lovely little story about Thomas Wayne and the type of father he was. Considering how intense the last issue ended, with Damian taken by Memento and Batman seeing burning buildings and people all around, this was a lovely little opener. We see Thomas as a man who loved and cared for his son, loved and respected Alfred Pennyworth, and sought to be a better father, helping Bruce to become the man he’s meant to be. I really loved Thomas’s journal. It was the first time we get a glimpse of what Damian has been reading throughout this arc, giving us a glimpse of what his thought processes have been leading to his decision to give up being Robin.
It was also fun seeing the whole Bat-family, including Gordon, being called on to help out looking for Damian. However, there was only one double page spread of them being called on in the whole issue, so I really hope we see more of them next time. If not, I’ll be really disappointed.
I thought it was a little weird that Bruce went to Damian’s room to look for clues, rather than stay where Robin literally just vanished from, but in the opener we see Gordon and Lautrec over a body in a room that looks like where Dr Bashar died in the last issue, so it’s possible it has already been analyzed as much as he was able. So anyway, Batman rifles through Damian’s room, the monkey jumping out of his way (WHERE is that thing pooping and getting food from?!) I legitimately giggled when Batman found Damian’s notebook/journal: “The Adventures of Robin and Batman”. How cute is it that Damian has been using his art to journal his thoughts and feelings, just like Thomas.
The Comic Book Journal art was done by Juni Ba, which Damian lovers probably remember from his recent book, The Boy Wonder. That book was done with such love and care for the character, his history, and his family, and the art was so delightful – I couldn’t help but get excited when I saw the first page. And it lives up to its predecessor. And in this journal, we get a very detailed breakdown of why Damian wants to give up the mantle of Robin. That being a doctor could save lives and make you a hero without the burden of the League of Assassins looming over him.
Damian has always had a sensitive side, a need to protect children and animals, so this awakening isn’t out of character for me. He has always struggled with the darkness of the League of Assassins, so I can see that part of the argument too. I do think that the discussion is worth having, but it would be a tragedy if Damian gave up being Robin for good. Even as Damian is fantasizing about being more like Thomas, he keeps slipping into detective mode. I think it would be cool for Damian to focus more on his studies and become a doctors, but I think giving up Robin would be the wrong thing for him to do. I think he would be giving up part of himself that existed before he knew Batman. And that would be a crying shame.
And finally, Alfred’s appearance, though a little creepy, was still well received by this reviewer. It was refreshing to see Bruce’s 2nd dad ground and center him, and clear up his focus during his tumultuous drug drip.
So, highlights for me were Juni Ba’s art, Alfred’s appearance, all the Bat-families appearances and tease for future involvement, and the closer look at Damian’s thought process. As always, this rehashing of the “Damian wants to give up being Robin” plot has been done too bits recently, and this story line picking right after he decided to stay is ridiculous, but I will say of all the stories with that plot, this one is the most thought out. I have had issues with Batman’s actions and characterization in past issues, but since this was almost all from Damian’s past POV, it wasn’t as pervasive. Hopefully the Dynamic Duo will work things out, and this isn’t some weird send off for the book.
