DCU Comic Book Reviews

ROBIN #148

Boy Wanted One:  Out Go The Lights

May 2006

Written by Adam Beechen

Pencils by Karl Kerschl

Inks by Wayne Faucher, Karl Kerschel, & Prentis Rollins

Cover by Ed McGuinness & Dexter Vines

Synopsis

One year later…Tim Drake (aka Robin) is caught in alleyway, blind by a bright light and being pummeled by an unknown assailant.  Robin is able to fight back by throwing his “Rs” that hit the assailant.  When the lights dim, Robin finds the dead body of Batgirl.  It is not Cassandra Cain, but instead he lifts the mask to find Lynx, who has been dead for some time.  The Police arrive, assume Robin was the murderer.  Robin flees and returns to Wayne Manor.  Meanwhile, the police call in the death of Batgirl with Robin as the primary suspect.  In Northern Africa, Nyssa al Ghul is caught in car bombing.  Robin tells Alfred who happened before he goes in search of Batman, who begins a course of action to clear Robins’ name.  Robin, however, wants to do it on his own.  Batman assents.  Realizing he needs to investigate Lynx’s death, Robin decides to infiltrate Gotham police headquarters, right into the heart of the very people trying to arrest him for murder.

Review

This was a great, great beginning to a new story.  unlike his brethren Nightwing, this story is simple and direct, but still retains plenty of mystery.  There is a story with room to breathe and characterization that make Robin seem more real than he ever has.  And the characterization of Robin in this issue was spot on the money.  You can tell he has changed in many ways in the missing year, but there is still the old touch of Robin, especially when he wonders if he is really turning into Batman.  And I like the emphasis on his detective skills.  Despite my Batman freak of a brother-in-law’s opinion, I never considered Robin that great of a fighter compared to some of the big guns in the DC Universe, so I really think it is good to get back down to basics and let him use his smarts for awhile.

Now, for the main mystery of this issue:  who was it that was watching Robin?  The answer in a ll likelihood is Cassie, but it was never explicitly stated.  I was rather surprised her book got canceled, especially when books that were selling less (like Catwoman) remained, so if Cassie is truly behind this plan, at least it might make sense, providing she continues to be a bad person, perhaps becoming Robins chief rival like Luthor to Superman.  But one has to wonder exactly where he main goal is in all this.  Will she be like Zoom and try to make Robin a better hero or is there something more sinister involved.  Or maybe there is nothing sinister, perhaps she didn’t kill Lynx and is trying to guide Robin into solving the murder for her.  But if that were the case, why not call on Batman?

The conversation between Batman and Robin was great.  There were several references to what had transpired in the past year, suggesting that they had grown closer to each other.  When Batman agreed to let Robin handle his way, I felt it was a clear sign that Batman is definitely not the same grim person he was before the missing year.  This was driven home further when Batman tells him “We’re family.”  It was a touching moment for two people who have no father or mother, but who at least have each other.  Although Batman’s comment about Robin being unable to defeat Cassie was brutal, it was true and I liked Robin’s response (“ouch”).  

Something tells me that Nyssa may not be dead.  I am not quite sure (assuming Cassie is behind all this) why Nyssa would be target, unless this has something to do with the Lazarus pit.  And where is Talia?

And didn’t Lynx die in War Games?  Yes, yes, she did die.  Is this an example of Superboy Prime’s punching the fabric of reality or could they not find anyone else with ties back to Robin?  Or both?  And didn’t I have the same question when reading Detective Comics?-- MRB

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