DETECTIVE COMICS #838

The Resurrection of Ra’ al Ghul, Part Three

January 2008

Written by Paul Dini

Pencils by Ryan Benjamin

Inks by Saleem Crawford

Cover by Simone Bianchi

Synopsis

[Continued from Nightwing, issue #138]

Ninjas from the League of Assassins have captured Tim Drake (aka Robin) and Damian and have brought them to Ra’s al Ghul.  Up to that point, Tim and Damian had been playing possum.  Then they attack.  When they defeat the ninjas, Damian decides to run.  Robin, meanwhile, remains in the clutches of Ra’s al Ghul, who then has Robin’s wounds treated as he tries to convince Robin to join him in his cause.  In Tibet, Batman and Talia continue their search for Ra’s al Ghul.  The encounter som ninjas from the League of Assassins, but they also encounter I Ching.  Together, they continue the search.  South of Lhasa, Nightwing and Alfred are searching for Robin and Damian.  Meanwhile, Batman finally finds Ra’s al Ghul.  The two duel with swords.  Batman stabs Ra’s al Ghul, but realizes that Ra’s occupies a corpse and he cannot be killed.  Ra’s, however, wants a new body.  And he needs to soon.  He tells Batman to choose the new body:  Robin or Damian. [Continued in Batman, issue #671]

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

The beginning was a little confusing, as I discuss below, and the ending was predictable, but the middle parts of the issue were spot on.  I love the conversation between Ra’s and Robin as the Demon’s Head tries to manipulate the boy wonder, who in turn tries his best to delay until Batman can reach.  It is classic Ra’s al Ghul and easily the best part of this multi-part crossover. 

Did I miss something?  The ending to part two of this story has Robin and Damian still fighting the ninjas inside Wayne Manor.  At the beginning of this story, they have been captured and brought to Ra’s al Ghul.  Except they were faking it.  It would have been nice to see these events unfold rather than thrust into the middle of the story like that.  The art on pages 2 and 3 are not all that clear, either.  It isn’t quite clear why Robin doesn’t follow Damian when he runs.  It doesn’t look like anyone is stopping him; he just doesn’t bother to follow.  It looks like it might be because of the injury, but I can’t tell when (or if) Robin re-aggravated it.  And it doesn’t look like the cave is populated with ninjas, unconscious or otherwise.  Frankly, it just looks like Robin gives up and decides not to go anywhere.

The brief scene with Alfred and Ubu also doesn’t make sense.  Ubu has his hand around Alfred’s neck, holding the butler so he is facing away from him.  Then we see Alfred free from Ubu’s grasp, nailing Ubu in the groin.  Fine, I suppose, but we need the scene where Alfred frees himself from Ubu’s grip so he has the ability to turn around.  Otherwise, it doesn’t make any sense. 

The role of I Ching in the story is weird and to this point doesn’t make much sense.  All of his scenes to date have held very little importance.  Then, when he appears at the end, it seems like he is easily defeated.  What purpose does that hold?  And if he wasn’t defeated, why even bother adding those two panels to the final page of the issue.  Wouldn’t it be better to wait and start the next issue with I Ching breaking up the party?  Does this make sense, or am I missing something?

PREVIOUS	Main		Page	NEXT