Dick Grayson, the first Robin, and Bruce Wayne's Batman are getting a brand new three-issue miniseries starting this November titled Robin & Batman. The series will reveal how Dick became the hero he is today by Batman's side. DC has shared a new look at the cover for issue #3, and it seems to hint at Batman taking quite the defeat, mirroring the famous death of Robin artwork from A Death in the Family.
Although many people have woven their way through the Robin legacy, none have made such an impact as the original, Dick Grayson. Viewed by many as the best sidekick in comics, Dick stayed by Batman's side until 1984, eventually moving on and becoming his own hero, Nightwing. The split created some long-running tension between he and Batman, with Dick eventually returning to Bruce's side not as a sidekick, but instead as a partner. The New 52 re-explored Dick's time as the boy wonder to a certain extent, but it's been five years since a Dick-centered Robin story.
Robin & Batman, written by Jeff Lemire with art by Dustin Nguyen, explores the beginning of Dick Grayson's crime-fighting career. It will be in prestige format, offering 40-page issues, allowing plenty of detail into the first year of Robin's heroic journey. The series will show how Bruce helps a young Dick overcome the trauma of losing his parents and survive in a cruel world. It will follow the relationship between their partnership as crime fighters, but also how the two become family, father and son. Enjoy the cover art from Nguyen and DC's solicit information for the issue below:
- ROBIN & BATMAN #3
- Written by JEFF LEMIRE
- Art and cover by DUSTIN NGUYEN
- Variant cover by RAFAEL ALBUQUERQUE
- $5.99 US | 40 pages | 3 of 3 | Prestige
- ON SALE 1/11/22
- To reconcile his trauma and move toward an optimistic future, Dick Grayson must first confront his tragic past. Unfortunately, that step includes a confrontation with an enraged Killer Croc, who is out for Grayson blood! This action-packed issue concludes the epic tale of a young man learning to live and love in a nightmarish world.
The newly revealed cover is absolutely stunning and provides an interesting twist on the death of the second Robin, flipping the poses of Batman and Jason Todd in Jim Aparo's iconic art from Death in the Family. Issue #3 will be an action-packed conclusion to the series that promises a confrontation with an enraged Killer Croc. While it may seem as though the cover is implying the death of Batman at the hands of Killer Croc, it's more likely a figurative representation of how Dick will have to prove himself without Batman's help. It's possible Batman is put out of commission, leaving Dick to solve his problems alone for the first time as Robin. Fans will have to wait until January 11, 2022 to find out just what the cover means.
Although this story of Dick's origin has been retold many times, this latest version could very well be one of the best, with the talented Eisner-winning team behind it. Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen previously worked together on Descender and Ascender with Image Comics, with Nguyen receiving an Eisner Award on Descender for Best Painter/Multimedia Artist. Lemire also won an Eisner on Black Hammer for Best New Series, and has previous experience with superheroes having penned Animal Man, Green Arrow, Superboy, and Teen Titans: Earth One. Robin & Batman #1 is available November 9, 2021.