DCU Comic Book Reviews

ROBIN #124

Good Parenting

May 2004

Written by Bill Willingham

Pencils by Francisco Rodrigues de la Fuente

Inks by Aaron Sowd

Cover by Jason Pearson

Synopsis

Jack Drake visits the school for parent/teacher conference, but first he approaches the football coach to talk about Tim’s try out only to learn that Tim never tried out for football.  In the batcave, Tim’s heart is not into being Robin knowing that he “killed” Johnny Warren.   He has lost his confidence in himself and as such Batman has lost confidence in him.  Meanwhile at Tim’s house, his father his rifling through his stuff looking for any clue that might explain why Tim lied.  When he gets to the closet, he finds the switch that moves the hidden door.  Inside is Tim’s Robin outfit.  In Istanbul, Johnny Warlock (formerly Johnny Warren) hires an assassin to kill Robin.  In Gotham, Tim takes a walk in the park with Stephanie.  Tim asks her: what if he wasn’t Robin anymore?  Stephanie tells him to grow up; he has the desire and the ability to make the most out being able to help others.  Meanwhile, Jack drives to Wayne Manor.  He tells Alfred he read the diaries, he knows what is going on and he wants his son.  When Bruce Wayne shows up, Jack puts a gun to Bruce’s head and demands:  “Give him back, you monster!”

Review

This was a riveting issue from the get go and when I reached the final page, I was so hooked.  This issue plays directly into the age-old super hero concern that some one may discover who they really are behind the mask or when the mask is gone.  Combine Jack’s search and eventual discovery with Tim’s musings of his life and possible decision to quit and it becomes obvious where everything is leading.  But the key point to the issue is not so much Jack learning who is son really is, but his violent explosion against Bruce Wayne.  It would be easy to have Jack accept Tim’s decision or for Jack to not accept it and simply disown his son from the point onward.  Instead, and I have to give Willingham all the credit, Jack blames Bruce for leading his son down the dangerous path.  To me this does not seem a strange idea.  I can see Jack’s point of view.  Robin is a teenager.  As such he is not an adult and while he may not be a kid anymore, he still is at that age when the right person can lead him astray.  While we know Robin’s decisions are his own, from an adult perspective, it can certainly look as if Bruce Wayne were using some sort of mind control (Kool-aid anyone?) to get these young kids (Spoiler, Batgirl could also be included) to do his work for him.  For Willingham to take this tact, to acknowledge what a father’s first thought might be and then have that character act upon it takes guts.  This single moment changes not only this book (or any of the multitude of books with Robin), but the essential character of Robin.  A key element to Robin was that his family did not know.  Now they know.  This will forever change his relationship with his father.  How this will be handled will depend on what Willingham does next and, man, am I so hooked to find out what that will be.-- MRB 

 

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