Warning! Contains spoilers for Batman and Robin #1!Gotham is rapidly changing, and it’s making Batman’s rogues far more dangerous than before. As Catwoman makes substantial changes to the city’s low-level criminals, the biggest baddies of Gotham are teaming up in surprising new ways.
In Batman and Robin #1 by Joshua Williamson and Simone Di Meo, Bruce Wayne and his son Damian are back in action as a crime-fighting team. Catwoman’s plans to reduce crime in Gotham by training criminals to target the wealthy has driven a wedge in Batman’s family, leaving Bruce and Damian to solve a series of break-ins at scientific facilities by themselves.
Batman and Robin spring into action to aid Dr. Kafira, a scientific expert Damian believes is the real target of these crimes. The two head out to check on the doctor, only to find him in the middle of being kidnapped by Killer Croc and Orca. However, the two aren’t alone as they take on the Dynamic Duo. Croc mentions that while Batman’s team may be falling apart, Croc and Orca have formed their own little ‘family’ which also consists of Man-Bat and the Terrible Trio, the latter of whom have been turned into animal hybrids.
Batman’s Villains are Forging Dangerous New Alliances
During Batman’s extended absence from Gotham, Catwoman embarked on a mission to change the city for the better. By training henchmen to go after the city’s elite, Gotham has seen a 75% reduction in crime. Not only is street crime down, but Gotham’s most dangerous villains are floundering in their criminal endeavors due to the lack of experienced henchmen. Selina’s plan is unfortunately tearing the Bat-Family apart, but she’s also seriously thrown a wrench into the way Gotham’s biggest and baddest villains operate.
The idea of Batman’s villains teaming up isn’t surprising. Batman #137 revealed that antagonists such as Two-Face, Professor Pyg, Scarecrow, Mad Hatter, and the like were being forced into alliances as Catwoman’s plan has made them desperate. But that desperation may have created a problem Selina hasn’t accounted for. Sure, street crime is going down, but Gotham’s most dangerous criminals are still out there, some of whom have powers or destructive tendencies. Now that Catwoman has robbed them of henchmen, she’s forcing them to rely on one another, leading to bigger and bolder crimes. These new villainous ‘families’ could be far worse for Gotham than their independent operations ever were.
Gotham’s New Villain Teams Are a Much Bigger Problem
As much of a problem as Batman’s villains are, the Dark Knight can generally handle them on a case-by-case basis. But without underlings to serve Gotham’s heavy-hitters, they’re having to rely on teamwork to get crime done. To make matters worse, this is coming at a time when Batman’s family is falling into disarray and the Bat-Family has turned on their leader. Gotham is lousy with villains and there’s no telling how many are going to team up with one another to get by now that Catwoman has changed the game in Gotham. Fans can see how the changes are affecting Gotham’s high-profile villains in Batman and Robin #1, on sale now.
