SPOILERS: Batman and Robin #4

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

(Tags: creator: grant morrison, creator: philip tan, title: batman and robin)

Comments

[taggerung301.insanejournal.com]

gotta be Mr. J

[unknownscribler.insanejournal.com]

Not with that chin.

[sistermagpie.insanejournal.com]

See, how am I supposed to keep dismissing the one thing about this series that pains me when GM manages to highlight it in every issue? I like Sexton. I liked the return of Jason. (Or "Time Release" as I can't stop calling him in my head because he looks like a time capsule.) I liked Jason's relationship with Scarlet so far and think it could be pretty interesting. I am always interested in Dick and Jason dealing with their emotional connections to Bruce and to each other through Bruce.

Then here's this party where a society woman telling us she didn't know Bruce had a son--thus not only giving us this issue's announcement of Damian being Bruce's son, but kind of implying she didn't know because Damian hadn't yet been made public and there are no other sons that Bruce has, right?

Then the second woman says "Never mind that (meaning Bruce having a son) how do I get Richie Grayson to look my way?" So they know Richie Grayson...but don't know he's Bruce's son?

Then Gordon (Gordon? Really?) introduces Dick as Bruce's ward. Which he isn't, since he's over 18.

This could actually be really interesting if I thought GM was dealing with the irony and kind of cruel snobbery at work here. Unfortunately I feel like he's giving us the cast of characters as they exist.

[icon_uk.insanejournal.com]

I liked the return of Jason.

Well, thanks for THAT little bombshell.

Then here's this party where a society woman telling us she didn't know Bruce had a son--thus not only giving us this issue's announcement of Damian being Bruce's son, but kind of implying she didn't know because Damian hadn't yet been made public and there are no other sons that Bruce has, right?

Or else that she's a bombo who hadn't paid attention to any announcement about Damian, who is already known as "Damian Wayne" IIRC.

Then the second woman says "Never mind that (meaning Bruce having a son) how do I get Richie Grayson to look my way?" So they know Richie Grayson...but don't know he's Bruce's son?

Sure, why should they know about a ten year old who's been in town for a month or two? Whereas the more legal age Dick's been apart of Bruce's world for over ten years previously. The fact they call him "Richie", a name he never uses, also suggests they aren't really familiar with him at all.

Then Gordon (Gordon? Really?) introduces Dick as Bruce's ward. Which he isn't, since he's over 18.

I think it's 21 for a wardship, or it used to be at least. Though Jim Gordon and Dick's relationship is certainly an odd one, given that Dick dated his daughter for some considerable time.

[icon_uk.insanejournal.com]

Lucius referring to Dick as "Mister Grayson" just doesn't feel right.

Damian enduring the same "Isn't he cute" thing that Dick did, as shown in this (http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll125/mysteryfan/untold%20legends/4.jpg) image from mysteryfan's post (http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/941798.html), is nice, though I can imagine HIM more fantasising about how many of these stick-thin concubines to be he could break in two before Dick managed to stop him.

[freddylloyd.insanejournal.com]

Even Tim got a little "Isn't he cute?" treatment at a party he attends with Dick in the last Robin collection.

[jaybee3.insanejournal.com]

I really like how Dick and Damien (smug bastard that he is) are drawn here. Good of Morrison to mention Dr. Hurt's intention to spread lies about the Waynes (and the newspapers intentions on printing it) from R.I.P., as well as mentioning that Hush!BruceWayne and real Bruce Wayne act differently (as they should, since Tommy Elliot is not that good an actor) and people are noticing (although that's not as obvious in Streets of Gotham)

But isn't Lucious Fox on a first name basis with Dick after all this time. He is in previous comics.

[icon_uk.insanejournal.com]

Whilst it was an interesting idea, I'm surprised that the "Wayne family bad press fake history" has any legs at all as a plot point, since it was disproved completely almost as soon as anyone heard about it (partly because I don't think Hurt expected Gordon and Alfred to be alive to disprove them).

[nymphgalatea.insanejournal.com]

Damians' little smug smile! Hah!

And I'm really not a big fan of Philip Tans' work, but I quite like how he draws Dick here.

[xamda.insanejournal.com]

Oberon Sexton is the most slash-worthy name ever conceived.



*grins*

[stig.insanejournal.com]

Love how you can see the mask clinging to Joker's Manchester grin as he introduces himelf as Mr. Sexton.

Note the name Oberon - shapeshifting, jealous, manipulative King of a magical realm.

[espanolbot.insanejournal.com]

Glasgow smile isn't it?

[runespoor7.insanejournal.com]

There's no way there's no rumours saying that Dick/Jason/Tim are Bruce's biological sons. That woman must be new in town.

[icon_uk.insanejournal.com]

Depressingly I imagine there are rumours about Dick being something other than Bruce's son.

[yaseen101.insanejournal.com]

Also note the waitress obviously staring at Dick while he and Lucius talk. Obviously Dick is going to be the new playboy in town since Bruce is dead/lost in time.

[taggerung301.insanejournal.com]

it will be interesting to see how he handles that

[retro_nouveau.insanejournal.com]

Yikes, Jim looks like a melting wax figure of Einstein, and Alfred looks like he's wearing a bad V for Vendetta mask and dried his hair by taking the Batcycle for a spin.

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

LOL, especially on Gordon. A lot of this is very, very pretty but that one panel did give me significant pause...

[espanolbot.insanejournal.com]

Joker or not, I like the design of that Oberon guy. :)

If he isn't, well we do need another British superhero after the current Hawk's death don't we?

[espanolbot.insanejournal.com]

Also yay for Morrison (was this written by him?) referencing Dini's books, when it seemed to be oddly insulated by the actions in Detective Comics, Catwoman etc. etc.

[btravage.livejournal.com (from insanejournal.com)]

Where's the Frank Cho art?

[btravage.livejournal.com (from insanejournal.com)]

Oh I mean Frank Quietly, not Frank Cho, my bad.

[kingrockwell]

Whoever Sexton is, I can't help but get King Mob vibes out of him.
And speaking of Morrison's earlier work, anyone else notice the resemblance this new Red Hood has to the old Red Death?

[sandoz_iscariot.insanejournal.com]

I'm totally naming my kid Oberon Sexton.

[icecream_cool.insanejournal.com]

Is it possible that Damian introduced himself to the ladies as Bruce's son and not because it was announced?

I imagine the tabloids would have a field day trying to figure out who the mother is. It would add fuel to the fire that Hurt has put the Wayne family in already.

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

We don't know. The thing about it that is striking to me is that he's like 'the only son' even though Dick's a few steps away. Then three panels later, Dick gets introduced by a long-term family friend as a 'not son'.

[superfan1.insanejournal.com]

Oberon Sexton what a energetic brisk name, also Damian might not be my favorite character. But he look adorable being all smug,while getting complimented.

[xdoop.insanejournal.com]

They don't think it's strange the guy looks like a supervillain?

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

I know. It's pretty odd.

[omgwtflolbbqbye.insanejournal.com]

Actually Oberon Sexton reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Homer pretends to be a lumberjack named "Chad Sexington" to hit on Marge.

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

Heh. Hercules Rockefeller. Rembrandt Q. Einstein.

[tohofuhai.insanejournal.com]

Im sorry but All Im seeing for some Reason is Professor Layton.

[thanekos.insanejournal.com]

man, that explains the Riddler.

he's Luke, gone to seed.

[galateus.insanejournal.com]

There's no reason it'd actually be him, but I can't stop thinking of Mr. Sexton as Gentleman Ghost. (Time to dust off the Nth-metal knuckles, Dick.)

[seele02.insanejournal.com]

Why is Commissioner Gordon introducing Dick as Bruce's ward? Bruce legally adopted Dick in Batman: Gotham Knights #21. If I recall correctly, he also legally adopted Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Cassandra Cain.

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

I know!

Three panels after reminding us that Damian is Bruce's son, a long-time family friend introduces Dick, who he knows to be Bruce's son (one of several) as NOT Bruce's son.

I also would like an explanation. I think it's because Morrison is so enamored with his original character that now genetics tops earlier relationships and Batverse history. I hope I'm wrong, but in every issue of Batman and Robin we've been told that Damian is the "true" son. And Dick, Jason and Tim (all legally adopted--Cass's is also mentioned as pending in one issue of that last BG series) are all just placeholders for the true son.

[zegim.insanejournal.com]

-TT-

How's that supposed to be read?

[nymphgalatea.insanejournal.com]

As a sort of half-amused, half-impatient tutting sound, I think.

[batcookies.insanejournal.com]

1. Oberon Sexton... don't like him.
2. The world has been told that Damian is Bruce's son? Really? Wonder how they got around saying who the mother is.
3. Bruce adopted Dick. It's very odd to hear him referred to as Bruce's Ward.

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

1. I am curious, actually.
2. I'd love to know how that worked out.
3. Agreed. I'm really worried GM's changing the basic elements of the Bat Universe in order to fit the story he wants to tell about his original character.

[psychop_rex.insanejournal.com]

There's already a character named the Gravedigger, isn't there? If I remember correctly, he was a Vietnam War-era special ops guy. Is it possible Mr. Sexton is a modern-day incarnation of him, possibly deeply undercover (or that DC just wants to keep the name in circulation)?

[mysteryfan.insanejournal.com]

There is a character codenamed 'Gravedigger'. Two, actually.