Robin #176

This week, Robin and Nightwing both showcased why tie-ins rarely work, but for completely different reasons. This issue was part two (of two). Quick recap: Robin is worried Batman is going crazy. We all squared away on that? Okay, good. Now, watch out, major spoiler here: this issue confirms that Robin thinks Batman is going crazy, if he hasn't completely lost it already. The issue is basically devoted to Robin trying to confirm Batman's sanity, one way or the other, but the results are inconclusive.

That's not to say this is a BAD story. It's not terribly written, and the art is serviceable, but when Grant Morrison is writing one of his opuses in Batman, and he's NOT writing this issue which is so heavily based on his story, it's a pretty safe bet there aren't going to be any consequential events happening here. The best we can help for with an issue like this is a character study about Tim, with unique observations about him or insightful perspectives from him about what's going on in Batman.

This book tries to do that, but it doesn't really work. We just end up with some really awkward moments between Robin and Spoiler, followed by Robin going all teen angst/emo on us. At no point in the story did I feel like Tim was actually worried about Bruce, the man who is supposed to be his father now. He was just pissed off and sulking around Gotham the whole time. It also bothered me that I had no idea when this story was taking place in relation to what's going on in Batman. Bruce talked to Stephanie 49 hours ago about keeping Tim out of this, "he'll have to go on without me," etc. So, wait, Batman knew this insanity was coming on? How long ago did this happen? I got the impression in the regular Batman storyline that the Black Glove has basically made Batman into their bitch... I mean, they just completely blindsided him out of nowhere. I don't know, I might be reading into those few flashback panels too much, but they bugged me.

There were a few redeeming points to this issue, though. There were some cool scenes between Tim and Dick during the Lost Year (or whatever it is we're supposed to be calling that.) I"m a sucker for well done character interactions. You could give me a well written "Batman Family Vacation" and I'd be the happiest nerd around. There wouldn't even need to be costumes. It could just be them hanging out and getting into shenanigans while backpacking across Europe or something. I'd buy that series. I was also pretty jazzed to see the Red Robin costume make an appearance at the end. Was that Jason? Is Tim going to go the Nightwing route and be his own hero? I don't know, but I'm intrigued.

***Two more things that really bugged me: On the first page flashback, when Tim was in his old costume with the green, he looked a lot older than he did the rest of the issue. I mean, a LOT. He looked like 25 in that first picture and 15 throughout the rest of the book. Cut your hair, Tim. Leave the hippie look to Dick. You aren't going to fit all that hair under your Red Robin hood, and you're definitely not playing the "tough" card when you look like you have to call your mom and ask permission to break curfew. And finally, did anyone else think that the damning picture of "Crazy Batman" looked a lot like a picture of "Batman"? Doesn't he always look like that? Isn't he SUPPOSED to? It's not like he's going to smile while punching your face in (unless it's All Star Batman... that guy's nuts. How awesome would THAT have been if that picture had just a straight reprint of a panel from of All Star Batman? It totally would've made everything that's happened in ASB worth it. Maybe.) Plus... who is snapping that photo? Some guy has the goddamn Batman, raging and screaming and probably going to eat at least a part of his flesh, not six inches from his face, and he pulls out his phone and takes a picture of it? Did the guy just want visual documentation of the exact moment he pissed his pants? I'm not buying it.