Batman and Robin #21 Review

Damian is still missing, and Batman is desperate to find him before it’s too late. After finding some clues about Memento’s potential next move inside Damian’s comic, Bruce seeks out Katherine Lautrec for assistance. Will the two of them be able to find Robin and finally put an end to Memento’s reign of terror? Let’s get into it, and these are my thoughts.

Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s run on Batman and Robin has been an interesting journey for me so far. Initially, I thought the story was a slow burn. But then it started to pick up a little momentum after a couple of issues. Now, looking back in hindsight, this “Memento” arc has been meandering. The quality has been consistently okay, but I just feel the pacing has been really slow. Even though I do find Memento to be an intriguing villain, I just don’t feel like this storyline should be going on this long.

I do admit that issue #21 is one of the better issues of the run so far though. But I also feel that this issue should’ve happened earlier. I feel that if this story was a little bit more streamlined, then I probably would’ve enjoyed it more. Regardless, there were things revealed by the end of the issue involving a person from Batman’s past that peaked my interest heading into the next issue. I also noticed that there are subtle hints at another known DC character that might show up. I’ll give you a hint: the character’s name starts with an “E” and ends with Demon. So we’ll see if that actually plays out.

I also liked the interactions between Katherine Lautrec and Batman. Lautrec gets brutally honest with him and brings up good points about how he puts Robin in danger constantly. I appreciated that Batman does some self-reflection and agrees with her, and he values her opinion.  Lautrec herself has been an excellent character and every time she shows up, she is always a highlight. She’s been integral throughout the story so far, and I feel like Johnson will continue to utilize her in a satisfying way as we near the conclusion of the arc.

The artwork by Javí Fernandez continues to be great, along with the colors by Marcelo Maiolo. Their combined effort really creates an atmosphere in this version of Gotham that’s gritty, gothic, and beautiful at the same time. Also, Steve Wands lettering continues to shine as well, especially for Memento’s dialogue.

Recommended if…

• You’ve been enjoying Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s run so far.
• You enjoy darker Batman stories.
• You think Katherine Lautrec has been the MVP of the story.

Overall

Issue #21 of Batman and Robin is one of the better issues in Johnson’s run. The plot seems to have moved forward substantially, even though I feel like it should have happened sooner. Hopefully the pacing will continue this momentum. By the end of the issue, I was intrigued and I’m interested in what happens next. ‘Til next time!

Score: 8/10

DISCLAIMER: DC Comics provided Batman News with a copy of this comic for the purpose of review.