This was, as many readers have noticed, the most normal and conventional "Batman R.I.P."-related comic yet. It actually explains in much detail the premise of what's going on with Bruce, how Tim is feeling about it and what he's doing to stop it. Included are narrated flashbacks to certain relevant events from 52, which really spell out the actions that set Morrison's whole run into motion: broadly speaking, Bruce wanted to purge himself of negativity and attempted to do so by getting rid of Batman, or at least getting rid of the demonic aspects of his psyche that are associated with his alter ego. While Morrison in the Batman title hasn't (yet) given us anything like a diagnostic of how well these strange rituals may or may not have worked, he's positioned them as if they might well be the key to understanding the "Why now?" aspect of the Black Glove's attack. With that said, upon seeing the flashback to 52 #30 on the first page of Robin #175, I was very pleased, because I thought we were going to get a little more insight into what Bruce went through. But we don't. We just get a lengthier recap of what careful readers have already known. This is fine, and while I wouldn't say it was anywhere close to "boring", it doesn't make for a particularly interesting issue, either.

There's a lot of narration and exposition in this issue, which I suppose will quell the ire that some readers have had about Morrison not--and I'm trying to be polite here--spelling everything out for them. For example, between the pages of Batman #677 and the opening page of #678 the readers are to deduce that Tim had taken the "missing" notebook of Bruce's. Though it isn't easy, I've enjoyed this sort of storytelling because it's encouraged the readers to become detectives: the mysteries our protagonists are trying to solve overlap with the mysteries we the readers are trying to solve, and it's very rewarding to figure things out. "So it wasn't Alfred being sneaky at all--it was Tim who took it."

I hadn't read Robin for a long time before this issue. (I think the last issue I got was a Dixon/Wieringo story from the '90s.) I did find the scenes with the Spoiler interesting enough, even though (or maybe "because"?) I have no idea who she is and am content to figure enough of that out in passing, without perusing back issues. I'm on board at least until #177, to see how Nicieza (whom I've liked alright since about Uncanny X-Men #280) does on his own. Lastly, the art here was fine, more than serviceable.

I can't help but wonder if this issue would have been any different had Chuck Dixon written it. I would guess that it wouldn't differ all that much, since every element here was quite benign. I can't imagine Dixon looking at what he was "supposed" to write for this issue and saying "No way". I think it's been pretty well established that Dixon wasn't let go because of friction over "R.I.P.", and the contents of issue seem to back that up. But when was the art drawn? Before Dixon left or after? I know this issue was pushed back several weeks--was that because it had to be completely redrawn, or simply because Nicieza had to take the time to fill in the word balloons (so to speak) with his own dialogue?

Overall, I have to say I'm really pleased with the Bat-titles lately. Dini's Detective has been a great foil to Morrison's Batman--which I'm unashamedly obsessed with--and I expect that I'll be pleased with the rest of the "R.I.P." tie-ins as well. On the other hand, I can see why some would want new creators on the books. There does seem to be a creeping chaos, not just on the narrative level but regarding the creative teams as well. Dixon's gone, Catwoman is apparently canceled, and (worst of all, from where I'm standing) Tony Daniel apparently can't handle a monthly schedule after all. I am really enjoying the ride with Morrison, but it's clear that much of the readership is agitated and they're sure to remain that way until "R.I.P."--no make that "Final Crisis"--passes and a status quo can return, just in time for an announced crossover next Spring. And while Robin #175 should help some reading find a bit of clarity, there are still going to be others out there who either won't take Tim Drake off the suspects list for the Black Glove's identity (those people are out there) or else will miss a pretty good storyline by worrying about whether or not Tim is going to put on a Batman costume (for maybe only a few pages) months from now. But me, I'm just content. Could DC have spelled things out a lot better for "R.I.P." readers by including recap pages in the front of the issues? Hell yes. Would this issue have been more helpful for readers if it came out a month ago, as it was supposed to? Yes. But I don't care. I think the overall mystery is very much worth it.