Originally published on Patreon
Batman has arrived on Lazarus Island, looking to save his son and put an end to the attacks; but Damian isn't alone, and has enslaved the other former Robins, preparing a nasty surprise for his father.
This isn't the first time that we've seen these characters fight Bruce, as each of them has thrown a punch or two at their mentor/father over the years; but this is the first time that all of them have been there, that they've made a gauntlet for Bruce to have to fight through. And to make it a little bit different Damian has given each of them a magical artefact to help them out. Tim gets a cloak that allows him to turn invisible, Jason gets a trident that controls water, Steph gets a staff that manipulates plants, and Dick gets the most deadly weapon of all, the Sword of Sin.
The former sidekicks all get a go at Bruce, with Tim getting taken down first after trying sneak attacks, and Jason and Steph tag teaming their former mentor with their new magic weapons. It's Dick, however, that proves to be the most challenge for him; which feels appropriate. He's the oldest, he's been a hero the longest, and he was Batman for a while too. But it's the sword he wields that gives him an edge, as the magics within it cause all of Bruce's fears and worries to come to the surface; and coupled with the accusations from his family it serves to slowly wear him down, allowing him to get wounded several times.
Considering the gauntlet only lasts for one issue, it's one of the more effective times that Batman has been slowly worn down and weakened, precisely because Damian knows what buttons to press. He understands his family and the issues they have, even if they don't talk about them and have mostly moved on, he knows what old wounds to reopen.
Whilst all of this is going on Nezha continues to drain magical artefacts and beings, depositing the raw power inside the Helmet of Fate. However, there's a moment in the secret lair that gives him, and Damian a moment of pause, as Shifu Pigsy, the mentor to the Monkey Prince, is brought in. Pigsy has a moment where he seems to be able to reach Damian beneath the mind control, appealing to the person beneath. Hopefully this is the first seeds of something that will lead to Damian finally breaking free at some point. Pigsy also reveals that Nezha's doing what he's doing because he fear another magical being, and that his opponent is already coming.
Back outside, Bruce is about to get run through with the Sword of Sin, but uses the one thing he has at hand to stop it; Alfred. The sword impales Alfred, and Bruce reveals that he's known Alfred was a fake sent by Nezha the entire time. The demon spirit breaks free from Alfred and flees, whilst Alfred begins to fade away. However, Alfred reveals to him that in order to make him Nezha had to take off a piece of Alfred's soul, and that the man laying before him now is a part of the real Alfred. The two of them get a moment to share some parting words, where Alfred tells him that his death isn't his fault, before he fades away.
This was a pretty solid and entertaining issue. The fight with the former Robins was good, and the criticisms of Bruce they all brought up felt valid and earned, even if they were retreading old ground. But that is kind of the point I guess, old wounds being reopened.
The introduction of Pigsy into the story, giving insight into what Nezha is doing was good, and seems to be laying the groundwork for Monkey Prince to turn up as part of the next event that's coming out of this.
The moments between Bruce and the parts of Alfred that were the real him were surprisingly moving, and made the inclusion of the fake Alfred actually mean something. It's helped to put some of Bruce's guilt to bed, helped him to accept his father's death, and is driving him towards going to save his son. It was important.
Overall, this was a good issue, and it looks like we're getting closer to the final confrontation between Bruce and Damian.
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