All great comic book writers have that one artist with whom they make up their dynamic duo. They may all have their Supermans, who they can work with very well, but there’s only one that’s their Robin, the one with whom, when they work together, they bring out the best in each other. Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are each other’s Batman and Robin, which is on full display here in Batman and Robin: Year One.
Mark Waid is certainly not new to writing Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson in the role, having written them in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest for 32 issues now, but this is Chris Samnee’s first foray into a series featuring the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder, after drawing two one-shots in their world – a Batman and Ventriloquist story in Batman: Black and White and a Poison Ivy story in Batman: 80-Page Giant.
Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s era of work together at Marvel, which encompassed Daredevil, Captain America, and Black Widow, is some of my favorite work in Big 2 comics. A perfect marriage of strong writing and some of the finest artistry to grace sequential art. Chris Samnee’s ‘Batober’ that he’s been doing since 2017 has had me begging for him to illustrate a Batman book, and to see him finally come into it, not only drawing it but also co-plotting it was a dream come true.
World’s Finest is a spectacular looking book, and a very fun written one at that. However, when I saw that Samnee was going to be on board, I was immediately excited. At the bare minimum, it would be a very cool book from which every panel would exude the electric feel of both these talented creatives bringing out the best in each other, and that this book does.
Many of my favorite Batman stories are set during his early years when he’s yet to be the perfectly refined crime fighter, and Batman and Robin: Year One hits the spot in that regard. This book kicks off a few weeks after Bruce takes Dick under his wing following the death of the Flying Graysons, during the first night Robin makes his public appearance.
At its thematic center – at least so far – is a story about a man who was forced to grow up when he was a child, learning to raise a child for the very first time, and I think that’s a very interesting take, akin to Dark Victory’s take on it. As someone who’s more fond of Bruce and Dick having a more brotherly relationship than one of a father and a child, I’m still open to this rendition.
It helps that Waid writes Bruce as someone who’s learning this as he goes, not only is he not used to working with a partner, but he’s also not used to raising someone. This is all fish out of water for him, and it’s further exemplified by how Samnee draws it all, giving him a nervous face both in and out of the costume. In contrast, Dick Grayson is more overconfident and excited, once again showcased through the way Samnee illustrates his movements, always having him jumpy and very expressive, talking by moving his arms around as opposed to a very reserved Batman.
The tone feels like something very akin to what I’d describe as a “classic” superhero romp – something Mark Waid’s very good at – and something that Chris Samnee’s art style very much lends itself to, especially with Matheus Lopes’ colors on top of it. It’s a beautiful-looking book, and Lopes as the color artist on top gives it a very distinct feel as opposed to Samnee’s work with Matt Wilson (their Marvel work, Fire Power). The lettering by Clayton Cowles, in conjunction with Samnee is also fantastic, and speaks to Cowles’ skill as a letterer, given how different it looks compared to the other Bat-Books he’s lettered this month, Absolute Batman #1 and Batman #153.
The bottom line is that this book is phenomenal. If you want to read a book about the Dynamic Duo, this book is certainly for you, but if you also want to read a book where two creatives bring out the best in each other, the Bat-Books this month are certainly the books you should be reading, and this one very comfortably joins that list from DC’s October Batman offerings.
