THIS WEEK: Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #1 and Absolute Batman #9 are both distinct and excellent in very different ways. Plus, we check in with Batman – Dark Patterns!
Note: the review below contains spoilers. If you want a quick, spoiler-free buy/pass recommendation on the comics in question, check out the bottom of the article for our final verdict.
Robin & Batman: Jason Todd #1
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Dustin Nguyen
Letterer: Steve Wands
Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen, an Eisner Award-winning creative team, made waves with their first three-issue Robin and Batman miniseries, which quickly became a fan favorite. So, it came as no surprise that they were returning for a new installment, this time focusing on Jason Todd’s tenure as Robin. Instead of Dick Grayson, however, this new series centers a young and troubled Jason Todd, lashing out at the world and forming a tenuous bond with a Bruce Wayne who hasn’t yet figured out how to reach him.
This narrative direction sparked a strong reaction online. TikToks, tweets, and Instagram posts lit up with fan discourse. Many argued that Jason was a kind, if headstrong, child before his death, pushing back against the popular misconception of him as a violent, angry Robin. Skeptics pointed to how recent portrayals like H2SH have further muddied Jason’s characterization, so I genuinely wanted this issue to be what pulls fans back from the brink.
And despite that online chatter, Lemire and Nguyen deliver an engrossing, emotionally layered first issue that immediately earns its place among the highlights of DC’s current lineup. From the very first pages, I found myself wanting more.
Lemire crafts a compelling version of Jason: a boy driven by revenge and desperately trying to make sense of his emotions, even if the only outlet he has is the path Bruce laid out for him. I think that’s important. Watching Bruce and Alfred struggle with how to support Jason or how to simply live with him is captivating. Lemire makes it clear: this isn’t Dick Grayson. This is a Robin navigating trauma in real time, using the tools Bruce understands best. Watching Bruce slowly realize that he can’t treat Jason like a second Grayson is refreshing. He knows he has to meet this boy where he is.
However, they give valid reasons for Jason’s anger, as Lemire tries to show us through a haunting nightmare sequence towards the end of the issue. This is one of those times when Nguyen’s watercolor artwork is in a class of its own. Given that this run serves as a backstory, his dreamlike watercolors perfectly fit the narrative tone; it feels like flipping through one of Jason’s fever dreams.
What makes this so engaging is the rawness of Bruce and Jason’s relationship. It’s messy, unrefined, and deeply human. As a reader, you can’t help but want to see how this dynamic duo learns to communicate, to patrol together, to slowly understand what each of them wants from this partnership, and each other.
In the end, Lemire and Nguyen’s return to Robin & Batman is not just a rehash of old stories; it’s the start of a reexamination of grief, mentorship, and what it means to heal. While some fans may bristle at this darker, angrier take on Jason Todd, the creative team offers a nuanced portrait of a boy trying to find his place in a world built on pain and discipline. Jason Todd fans are in for character-driven storytelling and expressive, evocative art, all of which makes this comic a must-read. It’s a Batman story that dares to sit with discomfort and comes out stronger for it.
Final Verdict: BUY
The Round-Up
Absolute Batman #9 answers the question: what does Bane look like in a universe where Batman himself weighs 250 lbs? The answer, readers, is simply put absolutely massive. Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta have returned to deliver a comic that delves into how far Absolute Batman is willing to go for his friends, and what darker truths lie in this version of Gotham. Honestly, the title page after the intro of the comic feels like it leapt straight out of Akira, and I couldn’t have been more excited to dig through the rest of the issue.
Snyder reimagined Crime Alley, not as the place where Bruce’s life ended, but where his will to live began. I loved that. It was a genuinely powerful way to tie his friendships into his identity and mission. But that shift also comes with a heavy emotional cost. This is a Bruce who has everything to lose. With Waylon’s kidnapping at the end of issue #8, I expected #9 to hit hard. That was an understatement.
We dive into this comic with Batman and crew looking for Waylon, and it’s engaging from start to finish. As is Batman’s fashion, the lengths to which Bruce goes are above and beyond because, well, he’s Batman, no surprise there. However, what really had me glued to this book was its pacing. Most stories tend to start slow and build up to some dramatic reveal, yet this issue does the opposite, starting big and slowing down, allowing itself to deliver a phenomenal payoff at the end.That pacing mirrors Bruce himself, relentless, focused, driven. As he searches for Waylon, we see how his friends help keep him grounded. They’re fully aware of his dual life, and we get to watch the toll it takes on each of them as they try to uncover the truth. I loved that. The issue only slows down when it needs to, giving us just enough time to reflect before pushing forward again.
We also finally get a look at Bruce and Selina’s relationship. While it’s only just beginning to take shape, I’m glad to see it’s romantic. That’s something Bruce/Selina shippers will definitely appreciate. Even better, we get a deeper look at Bruce’s past with his friends, why Waylon matters to him, and how those friendships aren’t just emotional support, but integral to who he is as Batman. If his friends were the inspiration for who he became, their continued presence only strengthens him.
And in this issue, we finally see them mobilize. Together.
Dragotta has always had a knack for instilling a great sense of scale to the Absolute Batmanverse. Genuinely, it’s been something I look forward to in every issue. This series is a brand new world for fans, and Dragotta’s ability to make fans feel shellshocked with every new area is absolutely fantastic. Seriously, there’s a page in this issue I wish were a poster.
Something that I believe is worth mentioning is how well Snyder shows the humanity in Bruce, sure, how he views his friends and his relationship with his mother are important to that, but more importantly, how he shows Bruce’s emotions sells that Bruce is young. He isn’t afraid to show he’s afraid, albeit controlled fear, is still great to see as we get to explore Absolute Batman.
Absolute Batman #9 is more than just another chapter in a reimagined Gotham. It’s a reminder of how personal and human the Batman mythos can be when handled with care. Snyder and Dragotta continue to build a world that feels both fresh and emotionally resonant, where Bruce’s vulnerability isn’t a weakness but a powerful lens through which we understand his strength. Whether it’s the raw scale of Dragotta’s artwork or the emotional depth Snyder brings to every scene, this issue proves that Absolute Batman isn’t just about bigger battles or a bulkier Bruce. It’s about a hero who’s still learning, still feeling, and still fighting for the people who matter most. If this issue is any indication, the emotional stakes and the spectacle are only going to keep growing.
It’s no secret that I’ve been enjoying Batman – Dark Patterns. With this book, writer Dan Watters and artist Hayden Sherman have been consistently delivering, and this latest issue continues that pattern with eerie elegance. Before diving in, a word: pareidolia-–a psychological phenomenon where the brain perceives meaningful patterns or images in random or ambiguous stimuli, like seeing faces in clouds or shadows. That term becomes crucial as this issue unfolds.This chapter marks the beginning of a new arc. It’s a slow burn, building tension gradually but delivering emotional and narrative payoff in spades. At its core is Bruce Wayne, exhausted by Gotham’s endless cycle of violence. He watches his city burn, again, and it’s clear that it’s starting to take a toll. The story takes Bruce to the Rookery, a forgotten pocket of Gotham, a labyrinth of unnamed streets and numberless buildings. To Bruce, it’s the closest thing to hell the city has to offer.
The horror this time? A fire, and inside the wreckage: a charred body curled up in a washing machine.
It sounds absurd, but in the hands of Watters and Sherman, it’s unshakable. They know how to craft spectacle, but even more impressively, they know how to make it stick. What elevates this issue beyond just another Gotham mystery is how it blends slow, methodical detective work with the series’ trademark surrealism. Even with a grim premise looming overhead, there’s a spark of joy watching Alfred and Bruce connect the dots, slipping into that old rhythm of logic and loyalty. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling sometimes; there’s something so awe-inspiring about being shown all the pieces to a mystery and being allowed to come to your own conclusions. Watters has mastered the ability to do that, and I believe it’s what keeps fans coming back for more.
Toward the end, Watters lays it bare: Bruce isn’t just fighting crime, he’s at war with Gotham itself. One gorgeous full-page panel captures this beautifully, as Batman looks up at the towering skyline: a city of ghosts, a sea of strangers, and an endless battlefield. Bruce knows he’s being watched, and he’s more than willing to stare back into the abyss.
Dark Patterns continues to be one of the most intriguing and ambitious Batman stories on shelves. With its chilling premise, psychological underpinnings, and a creative team firing on all cylinders, this issue proves the series is only getting better. There’s a reason Sherman is now an Eisner nominee.
In Batman’s own words from this issue: The game’s afoot.
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