DCU Comic Book Reviews

ROBIN #141

Good Girls Don't Die

October 2005

Written by Bill Willingham

Pencils by Scott McDaniel

Inks by Andy Owens

Cover by Scott McDaniel & Andy Owens

Synopsis

Tim Drake has just learned that Darla Aquista, who died during the gang wars, is really alive, thanks to Johnny Warlock.  However, she must repay the debt by killing Robin.  Tim concocts a scheme to make Darla believe that the Robin that Johnny Warlock wants is already dead.  So, he devises a plan, with the help of Superboy.  Elsewhere, the Veteran’s team learns they have lost all of their prisoners when someone helps them to escape.  Meanwhile, Tim and Darla are waiting for “Robin” (Superboy in Robin’s costume).  When he does, Darla becomes the Warlock’s Daughter and blasts him, thinking he has died.  Luckily, Superboy is invulnerable and survived the blast.  Later, Tim tells Darla he is going away for while and if she is still there when he gets back, he will find someone who will be able to take care of her.

Review

This was a good issue.  While I liked the focus on Darla and Tim’s relationship as well as her goals to kill Robin, the best part of this issue was the brief cameo by Superboy.  From him dressing as Robin (and looking really goofy to me) to the conversation in the alleyway, the scenes with the boys together showed that they really are best friends.  There is an easy camaraderie, a bit of brotherly competition, and signs of respect and friendship.  Despite all the time they have spent in the Teen Titans, this is the issue that shows the extent and nature of their friendship.  The same could also be said of Darla and Tim.  While they had gotten close during War Games, they were not dating and had not fallen in love.  I was worried that the story would bypass all that and settle them into some kind of loving relationship, but luckily Willingham portrayed their current situation by building upon their previous relationship (which was tenuous).  Her character is the tragic figure in this story, someone who has been given the second chance at life, but is consumed and haunted by the dark powers that gave her that life.  She is alone (her father is dead and I will assume all of her father’s gang pretty much died during the Gang Wars) and afraid, reaching out to the one person she also wants to kill. 

What exactly does the Veteran have locked away that would require such extreme security measures and required an obviously powerful person to make the escape? 

I will make a pretty big assumption and assume the events in this book take place before the Insiders arc that begins in Teen Titans, issue #24.-- Review by MRB

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