DCU Comic Book Reviews

ROBIN #174

The Three

July 2008

Written by Chuck Dixon

Pencils by Chris Batista

Inks by Cam Smith with Rick Ketcham

Cover by Freddie E. Williams II

Synopsis

Robin, Spoiler, and Violet are about to be attacked by the Korean Mafia, putting in motion a plan set up by the Penguin, with the help of small-time crook Marcel Pincus.  The trio attempt to fight there way out, but are stymied by the fighting skills of the leader of the Korean Mafia.  So, Robin allows himself to get knocked off his feet to give him time to set up a plan.  Elsewhere, Marcel Pincus is executed.  Meanwhile, Robin remotely steers his car into the middle of the fight and then drives himself and Violet to safety as Spoiler gets away.  Later, Batman and Robin go visit Spoiler, where they learn the woman under the mask truly is Stephanie Brown.

Review by Binkley (e-mail)

“Now you know why there’s no memorial in the cave”

Here is the question of the year:  is the quote repeated above an attempt to show that editorial knew Stephanie was never dead even when she supposedly “died” or is that quote an attempt at a back door explanation to brush away the fact that DC screwed up in not putting in the memorial in the first place.  Personally, I think it is a little of both.  I am willing to believe that editorial knew Stephanie was never dead (and thus makes this story a little better, even if it makes Batman look like an idiot), but I also think that if DC really wanted us to believe she was dead, they would’ve put in the memorial.  So, I don’t believe editorial, said, “no memorial; she’s not dead.”  I just think they completely underestimated the vocal minority in this one. 

As for this issue, well, it is divided into two distinct parts.  The first part is typical Dixon-fare, with a little bit of the mystery hinted at and a lot of action, admirably rendered by penciler Batista.  It is the usual good stuff, but I doubt most people will discuss that part.  It is the second part of the issue that most people will focus on the most since it is that part where Stephanie is officially revealed to have come back from the dead.  In terms of explanations for return-from-the-dead characters, it works well enough, I suppose.  I was pleased that both Batman and Robin accept her without much fuss; this is one return that does not stretch the boundaries of believability (unlike, say, Jason Todd). 

However, there is something that bothers me.  Is it just me or does this issue seem like the reveal that Stephanie Brown is alive and well has been rushed to be completed.  The story feels off.  Dixon seemed to be slowly pushing Spoiler and then, at the last minute, goes right to the reveal.  It seems to happen way too fast.  While part of the feeling comes from the fact that next issue is supposed to be a Batman R.I.P. tie-in (thus putting any Robin-related plots on hold), it also feels a little odd that Stephanie is unmasked in the middle of the issue (something that feels like should’ve been saved for the cliffhanger).  Wouldn’t it be better to put it at the end and make us wait a month before offering any explanations?  I also seem to recall a solicitation for a Robin special in which the identity of the Spoiler would be revealed.  If I really did see that (or maybe I was hallucinating), I am willing to bet that Batman R.I.P. caused things to get shuffled around and Dixon had to do some serious rewriting. 

I love the brief scene of the Penguin with his meta-textual comment about the fight scene that the reader had to read.  Brilliant and a perfect encapsulation of what we just say:  a lot of sound and fury that really meant nothing. 

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