DCU Comic Book Reviews

RED ROBIN #3

The Grail, Part Three Of Four

October 2009

Written by Chris Yost

Pencils by Ramon Bachs

Digital Inks by Guy Major

Covers by Francis Manapul

Synopsis

Now, in Berlin, Tim Wayne (aka Red Robin) infiltrates the German Museum of Anthropology.  Just as he finds what he came for, he is interrupted by the Wild Huntsman.  Before, in Gotham City, Tim talks to Wonder Girl about the death of Batman.  Now, in Moscow, Lucius Fox calls his daughter out of a meeting.  In Berlin, Red Robin’s battle with the Wild Huntsman is interrupted by Ra’s al Ghul’s assassins.  Before, in Washington DC, an assassin completes his assignment and then, in turn, is killed.  Now, Red Robin realizes the assassins are there to help him.  Red Robin tells Ras’ to call off the assassins.  He then takes care of the Wild Huntsman and is able to get away.  Later, with help from Ra’s al Ghul, Tim arrives in Baghdad, where the assassins are waiting to help him with whatever he needs.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

This issue is much like the past several issues, with the same problems.  The changes around the timeline, to “before” and “now” are confusing, especially when you toss in scenes that don’t make sense in any context because we don’t have all of the information.  What exactly was going on with Miss Fox?  What is going on with the assassins?  Right now these are disconnected scenes that only serve to confuse the reader even further.  And while I like the scenes with Wonder Girl, the way they are cut and spliced into the main action reduces the emotional impact of the scenes.  And the fact that is a repeat of scenes from previous issues doesn’t help, either.  Overall, I think somewhere in these issues is a good story with Tim dealing with the loss of his father and doing whatever he can to locate Bruce, including taking up an alliance with his mentor’s enemy.  But the way the story is constructed, the impact of Tim’s emotions and actions are completely lost.  I think it would help if the story were more linear and focused on Tim rather than jumping around time and characters.

Interesting to note that the middle panel on the bottom of page 1 features a picture of cavemen, which is somewhat similar to the final image we saw of Bruce Wayne in Final Crisis.  Could that be the connection that leads Tim to finding Bruce?  And, what exactly did Tim find in the museum?  This is part of the frustrating part with this story so far.  Tim is looking for Bruce, yet there is nothing concrete in Tim’s investigation that makes me think he has a solid clue on where to look.  I still don’t get the sense why Tim’s search for Batman would take him to Europe or even why Tim thinks Batman is alive.  It is one thing to have that feeling someone is alive, quite another to have proof that would allow you to travel around the world in search of that person. 

Is it just me or does Tim in the flashback, just before he meets Wonder Girl, look to be about 8 or 9 years old.  Yet, in the costume he looks much older.  Is this done on purpose?

 

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