Batman and Robin #23 Review

Time is running out! Batman is still desperately trying to find Damian before it’s too late. As Robin is imprisoned in a subterranean part of Gotham that has long been abandoned, the origins of Memento finally get revealed. Will the Caped Crusader be able to save Damian’s soul from this otherworldly adversary? While it took awhile to get to this point, the momentum and intrigue in this story by Johnson and co. is reaching its epic crescendo. Here are my thoughts.

Since Phillip Kennedy Johnson took over for writing in Batman and Robin in issue #14, along with the various artists, it has been an up-and-down rollercoaster of a journey. Admittedly, I have been impatient as I felt this arc took too long to get to the meat of the story. And I think a lot of readers have felt the same way and point to the length of the arc as their main criticism. But now that we are at the penultimate issue, I can say that I’m very satisfied with how this particular story is wrapping up as issue #23 was phenomenal.

I’m going to reveal some spoilers from the issue, so read at your own risk… it is confirmed that Memento is actually a demonic entity that Nicodemus Crowe summoned in Gotham in the late 1800s. While under the influence of the Gravedigger’s Poppy, Crowe intended to summon Memento in order to obtain his power. But the nefarious entity instead possessed Crowe’s own son just to torment the father, and that’s what he plans to do with Damian. At first Batman is skeptical and just thinks Crowe was hallucinating from the Poppy, but Etrigan confirms that this is Memento’s purpose. 

Memento’s true form is revealed as he possesses Nicodemus Crowe’s son.

What a way to start off an issue, and it just kept getting better for me. With all the build up that Johnson established in the previous issues, I was at the edge of my metaphorical seat as I was reading this issue. I felt the tension as Batman figured out where Damian was located in the ruins of Squatterstown, and as he raced to get there before Memento could possess his son. In hindsight, I can see the breadcrumbs that Johnson was leaving as it pertained to Memento’s supernatural background and I really appreciate that lore building. 

Damian relives traumatic events from the first couple of issues in the run.

There were several emotional moments where Batman gets vulnerable as he worries about his son’s safety. There’s this part where he is in the Batmobile, and a hallucination of Alfred appears next to him. I just thought the imagery was so encapsulating, and that particular page was a standout for me.

Batman has a genuinely vulnerable moment worrying about his son.

The artwork in this issue was absolutely haunting, and I loved it. Memento’s true form as he is summoned by Crowe in the beginning is horrific. The various designs of Memento throughout this issue alone were incredible, so shout out to Miguel Mendonça and Marcelo Maiolo for their incredible work. The illustrations between Javí Fernandez and Mendonça have been seamless when they trade off in this series, and they complement each other really well. They have both produced this horror atmosphere that perfectly encapsulates Johnson’s vision for the story. Maiolo’s colors (specifically warm colors like red, yellow, and orange) really stood out. 

Steve Wands’ lettering again proves why he’s one of the best in the industry. The dialogue just gets an extra boost of emotion with his letters, and it just elevates the story for me. The entire creative team killed it in this issue.

Miguel Mendonça did his thing on this page. Just wow.

I only have a couple of gripes with the issue. It involves the pacing that lead to some minor conveniences, and Damian’s subplot of whether he’ll continue to be Robin or not kind of just fell flat for me. But other than that, this is easily my favorite issue of the run so far.

Recommended if…

• You’ve been enjoying this arc since the beginning.
• You like more horror/supernatural elements in Batman stories.
• You want to marvel at the hauntingly beautiful artwork by Miguel Mendonça.

Overall

Batman and Robin #23 was awesome. Simply put. I was intrigued throughout as the foundation that Phillip Kennedy Johnson laid out in all the previous issues is really paying off as we reach the finale. I still think that this arc will read better all at once compared to reading it monthly, but I’m left wanting more as the issue ends on a big cliffhanger. Hopefully the next issue sticks the landing after all this time, and I think that it will. I can’t wait!

Score: 9/10

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