DCU Comic Book Reviews

ROBIN #137

A Gift From A Friend

June 2005

Written by Bill Willingham

Pencils by Guiseppe Camuncoli

Inks by Sandra Hope

Cover by Pop Mhan

Synopsis

Once more, Robin must face the Dark Rider, defeating him and then waiting for sunrise when he turns back into Stanley Baumgarten.  The next day, Tim’s Uncle Eddie (and now legal guardian) signs Tim out of school so he can be home schooled. That night, Tim tracks down The Rising Sun Archer to her apartment.  Strangely he finds he bound and gagged, thanks to an unknown person called “V.”  In Istanbul, Henry Aquista visits Johnny Warlock.  He has brought the dead body of his daughter Darla with him.  Henry wants to know if Darla can be brought back from the dead.  In Blüdhaven, Robin (with the help of Batman) interrogates the Rising Sun Archer and learns that Penguin has put out a contract for Robin’s life.  Meanwhile, Johnny Warlock learns from the possessed medallion that he indeed can bring the dead back to life.  Using Henry Aquista’s life force (and in the process killing him), Darla comes back to life, eager for Johnny Warlock to meet his daughter. 

Review

“No, I am really Robin and this is not a crank call.”

I love it when a plan comes together.  I had completely forgotten about Johnny Warlock and had frankly thought that he was gone to never return.  When I saw Johnny and saw Aquista, I think I actually smiled a little.  For long time readers of Robin this will be a jolt.  Yes, the story with the Penguin and Blüdhaven was moving forward, but now we were finally taking a step back to not only war Games but also to the time before War Games when Robin first defeated Johnny, which was little more than a year ago.  It took awhile for the connection to hit me, but when Robin interrogates the Rising Sun Archer, much of what Batman tells him in this issue is exactly what he told Robin long ago when he was interrogating Alfred in a mock exercise.  Like Johnny Warlock, that mock interrogation appeared over a year ago. It almost seems as if the War Games and the move to Blüdhaven had been editorial decision out of Willingham’s hands, forcing him to change what he wanted to do, but now that it was all over, he’s been allowed to go back to the original story he began, which of course was Johnny Warlock.  Then ext couple of issues should be intriguing. 

This issue confirms (I think) what I had hoped was not the case:  Tim’s long lost Uncle is actually a fake.  I wasn’t quite sure at first, but the last line when “Eddie” calls him “mon capitaine” and Tim insists on driving indicates to me that Tim is the one in charge.  What doesn’t make sense to me is why he would go to these lengths rather than let Bruce adopt him.  He seemed excited about the possibility when it was first broached, but now he doesn’t (assuming I am right).  I will grant Willingham the benefit of the doubt to explain it to me, but at the moment it doesn’t seem to make much sense to me.-- Review by MRB

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