REVIEW: ‘Batman and Robin 2024 Annual’ Issue #1

Batman and Robin 2024 Annual #1 is published by DC Comics, written by Joshua Williamson, with art by Howard Porter, colors by Rain Beredo, and letters by Steve Wands. Bruce and Damian head out of Gotham for a road trip but soon find themselves embroiled with missing people and are quickly hunted.

Where some annuals may choose to have multiple stories, this issue uses the full book to tell its tale. That allows for a vastly different structure that works well with the premise. A slow build-up within the issue raises suspicion and instigates the natural investigative personality of both men. The first sign of something wrong happens some distance into the comic, highlighting how Williamson is happy spending time with the characters. The story alternates many times during its progression, becoming something new rapidly. What looked like a rural murder mystery adventure turns into a fight for survival against a group of hunters.

It’s fantastically scripted, centered around the intelligence of both Batman and Robin. The action is extended and immaculate. Unfolding uniquely, Bruce and Damian don’t move for much of it, yet so much happens around them. The most entertaining side of the comic is the unfamiliar surroundings. Batman and Robin are out of their comfort zone, with no costumes, very few weapons, and an absence of buildings to grapple with. How that is addressed is excellent.

The script within Batman and Robin 2024 Annual #1 is phenomenal—the issue lens into one of the main ideas within the current ongoing. Bruce is trying to be a better father to Damian, taking time with him and wanting to get closer to him. So, to him, a road trip is the perfect opportunity to get that chance. But as it becomes clear that something dangerous is happening, that is the real acknowledgment of how close they are as crime-fighting partners. Robin’s strategic knowledge is as good as anyone’s within the superhero community. Bruce implicitly trusts the boy’s intelligence and capabilities, letting him run off without worry. As the hunt unfolds, they both present an uncanny ability to adapt. Bruce is notably lighter within this annual, and it is a welcome inclusion to the book. He will make a few wry quips and is energetic around Damian. It is his son who is often the most serious and dour member of the duo.

The villains that emerge are dangerous but ridiculous simultaneously, serving up the premise for the fight Batman and Robin find themselves in. One is the perfect choice for the ringleader of the whole event, while the other is a lethal final boss.

The art is fantastic and fits the setting. Porter’s work can look creepy and unsettling, and the start of the comic leans heavily into the backwater rural stereotype. The evolution of the annual elevates it beyond that with some fantastic character designs. One of them has been altered and transformed to work within the hunt. The nature of the characters works well with the playability of their costumes. The other one is purposefully unchanged, and how different they are from everyone else in the room is played for laughs.

They may be out in the woods, but the location Batman and Robin find themselves in does not look natural in the slightest. The trees look unfriendly and nefarious, hiding danger within. The issue requires the characters to prepare for a fight instead of reacting to them, and the panel layouts illustrate that quickly. The only criticism is that sometimes, the face can appear misshapen and lumpy from certain angles. It is due to the nature of the artist, but characters are unable to look particularly handsome.

The colors are beautifully applied. Like with the art, the colors contribute to an unfriendly and nebulous atmosphere. A blended palette of browns and dark green, with pieces of red and purples added, fills the woods. Damian has a red waistcoat, which is less vibrant than his Robin costume. The lighting comes from natural sources, which a vampire gorgeously provides. The lettering is clear, and the SFX for the screams and yells is terrific.

Batman and Robin 2024 Annual #1 embraces the larger format. It is a perfect example of the stories that can be told in an annual, benefitting from the extra space. It allows the creators to take their time and unveil a plot that escalates and evolves several times. It’s a fun adventure that takes the city-dwellers somewhere new and unusual while forcing them to display their unrivaled survival skills. Bruce sought to bond with his son over campfires and s’mores, but it is investigating the mystery that highlighted how alike they are.

Batman and Robin 2024 Annual #1 is available now wherever comics are sold.