DCU Comic Book Reviews

ROBIN #168

A Boy For The Demon

January 2008

Written by Peter Milligan

Pencils by Freddie E. Williams II

Inks by Freddie E. Williams II

Cover by Andy Kubert

Synopsis

In Hong Kong, Ra’s al Ghul tells the League of Assassins to find his grandson, Damian.  In Gotham City, Tim Drake is in the batcave looking after the city in Batman’s absence.  Meanwhile, Damian enters the batcave, hoping to find his father.  Instead, he encounters Robin.  Elsewhere, Ra’s questions Talia, but she refuses to tell her father where Damian has gone.  Later, Batman rescues her.  Talia tells Batman that his son Damian is in Gotham.  He calls Nightwing to check on the kid; Batman wants to find Ra’s.  In Tibet, Merlyn the archer is looking for one of the seven pieces of the invisible map leading to Nana Parbat.  In Gotham, Alfred tries to stop Robin and Damian from fighting but is unsuccessful.  As the two fight, Wayne Manor is surrounded by the League of Assassins [Continued in Nightwing, issue #138].   

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

Whether you think this is the first (as the credit page states) part of this story or the second (if you include the prelude) or the third (if you include the Annual), the story and the plot are still at the beginning stages, so essentially this is no more than putting the proverbial pieces into play.  In that regard, Milligan sets the stage well enough for the next writer to pick it up (with Nightwing arriving at the manor).  Beyond putting the pieces in play, Milligan still needed to write some sort of story to flesh out 22 pages, so he chose to write in conflict between Robin and Damian.  Sadly, the characterization of Robin comes across badly; he is usually not that whiny or bratty.  I like the idea of Damian and Robin butting heads and it should lead to some compelling moments, but Milligan seems more inclined to bypass any intelligent conversation and go right into the fight by using the predictable “misunderstanding leads to fighting” plot. 

By the end of the issue it seems fairly obvious that the fight between Robin and Dimian is meant to waste time until the next part of the story.  Unless rigidly plotted, multi-part stories are difficult to write because the beats in the story are often given in broad terms, forcing the writer to fill in gaps with some kind of story, but something that doesn’t harm the overall story.  I would guess tat Milligan was told, “Damian arrives at Wayne Manor, but Batman is not there.  Hijnks ensue.”  And that pretty much sums up this issue.  Overall, it isn’t so much bad or good as simple “there” existing as part of the overall plot.  Milligan keeps things interesting and he doesn’t let the pace flag, so he manages to keep up his end of the bargain by not stinking it up.  Let’s see what the others do.

ïPREVIOUS	Main		Page	NEXTð

Home ●  Blog ● Who Are We? ● Site News
Alive and Well since April 16, 2006

 DC Universe Reviews.  All Rights Reserved
  Characters, trademarks, brands are property of DC Comics

For problems or questions regarding this website, please contact our kindly webmaster.
Last updated: 08/06/11.