Robin is a title that the Revolution picked up with the beginning of the One Year Later storyline. This title has been an enjoyable ride and offers up pure escapist fun for the time that you spend reading it. I’m sure that Robin #153 is going to be another fun read. I’m rather curious to see how Robin and Boomerang are going to co-exist with each other. Let’s hit the review.
Creative Team
Writer: Adam Beechen
Artist: Freddie E. Williams, II
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Synopsis: This issue starts with opening the door to one of the Ventriloquist’s old hideouts and being confronted with an army of robot Scarface dolls guarding the missing nuclear bomb. Robin slams the door shut and he and Boomerang talk about what their plan of attack is going to be.
We then shift back to much earlier in the night with Robin examining a list of old hideouts by various villains that Boomerang supplied to Robin. This was information that Boomerang got back when he was in Lex Luthor’s Syndicate seen over in the pages of 52. Robin takes the list to his information Killa Nilla, and has Killa verify the authenticity of the information in Boomerang’s list. We then see Robin remembering Batman to never trust any information he receives second hand. But, if he can get two corroborating pieces of information from independent second-hand sources then, even though it still shouldn’t be trusted, it is worthy of being considered.
We then cut to Robin and Boomerang checking out one of Mad Hatter’s old hideouts. Robin triggers one of Mad Hatter’s booby traps and the entire building begins to collapse. Boomerang manages to pull Robin to safety. Robin tells Boomerang that his scanner showed that the Mad Hatter’s hideout was clean. Robin refuses to thank Boomerang for his help in saving him by saying that he would have escaped anyway.
Suddenly, the Dodge appears. He is the kid from a couple of issues ago who has teleportation powers. Dodge shows off his teleportation powers and then asks Robin to be his mentor and train him how to be a super hero. Robin pulls a Batman and tells Dodge that he is too young and for him to go home. Robin continues that this is dangerous work and that Dodge will get hurt. Dodge calls Robin a hypocrite since he is probably only 3 years older than Dodge. Dodge says that Robin is just jealous of his super powers. With that, Dodge teleports away.
We then shift to Robin and Boomerang checking out one of the Glass Man’s old hideouts. The two of them make their way through the Glass Man’s booby traps. Robin disapproves of Boomerang’s reckless actions in getting rid of Glass Man’s booby traps. Robin scans the hideout with his Geiger and says that the nuke isn’t here.
We cut to Tim’s school, where the teacher calls out Tim’s name. The teacher comments that Tim is absent once again. Zoanne looks at Tim’s empty desk with a worried look on her face.
We then see Robin and Boomerang pay visits to one of Doctor_Double_X’s hideouts, one of Doctor_Phosphorus‘ hideouts, one of Scarecrow’s hideouts, one of the Cavalier’s hideouts, and one of Killer_Croc’s hideouts. Robin thinks to himself about how he and Boomerang actually made a pretty good team, but that Robin wasn’t going to tell Boomerang that.
We then see Robin and Boomerang finally hitting the jackpot at the Ventriloquist’s old hideout. We then snap back to the scene at the beginning of this issue. Robin refuses to go first because he thinks that Boomerang will shoot him in the back. Boomerang says that if that was his plan then he would have done that a while ago. Boomerang swears that he has Robin’s back protected. Boomerang says that Robin has a right to hate Boomerang’s father, but that he is not his father. Boomerang says this is why he came to find Robin to tell him that just in case Robin had any plans to go to Nightwing and bad mouth Boomerang being in the Outsiders.
Robin opens the door and he and Boomerang brawl with the Scarface robots. The two take out all of the robots and then Robin disarms the nuke.
We cut to later that night. Robin tells Boomerang that he won’t say anything to Nightwing. Boomerang thanks Robin and then says that he doesn’t expect the two of them to be friends, but that they are bound to run into each other from time to time and that it is good to know that they can be civil. Boomerang extends his hand out to Robin. Robin thanks Boomerang for his help and says that “Civil is one thing…but you’ll forgive me if I’m not ready for the other stuff…yet.” With that Robin refuses to shake hands and swings off into the night.
Comments
The Good: Robin #153 was another entertaining issue. Beechen does a great job with this story dealing the team up of Robin and Boomerang. The issue is nicely plotted and moves along at just the right pace. Beechen serves up plenty of nice dialogue. Beechen has a nice feel for Robin’s character and for Boomerang’s character.
I loved the beginning with Robin remembering Batman’s advice on second hand information. It was great to see Robin actually remembering and then implementing Batman’s training. Robin is still a student and it is cool to see him actually take his training and apply it practically to one of his missions. It is neat to see Robin maturing and striving to meet Batman’s level of not only fighting prowess, but also his detective work.
The scene with Dodge was an interesting little diversion. I’m not too sure where Beechen is headed with this plotline or how interesting it can really be. But, I’m willing to give Beechen the benefit of the doubt that he can make Dodge a neat character and an entertaining plotline.
The scene with Zoanne at school was a nice way to work her into the storyline. Plus, it underscored how Tim tends to emulate Batman in positive as well as negative ways. Now that Tim no longer has any parents alive and is living at Wayne Manor, he is spending the vast majority of his time as Robin while his appearances as Tim Drake get rarer and rarer. That is just like Batman and his reluctance to spend time as Bruce Wayne.
The interaction between Robin and Boomerang during the scenes of them disarming the various old hideouts was perfect. The interaction between the two characters was perfect. There was plenty of tension and distrust, but in the end they made a formidable team. Robin slowly and grudgingly had to admit this fact. But, I loved that Robin refused to tell this to Boomerang. I like that there is a lot of the Batman lurking inside of Tim. Tim certainly is much more similar in how he thinks, operates and acts to Batman than Dick Grayson has ever been.
The final scene was just right. I hate it when two heroes who don’t initially get along suddenly become all buddy-buddy with each other after a team up. Beechen wisely as Robin keep Boomerang at a distance. Robin is willing to be civil. But, shaking Boomerang’s hand or being anything considered friendly is just something that Robin is not ready for. That makes sense and is consistent with Robin’s character. Again, Robin shows how similar he is in personality to Batman. I’m glad that this is the type of resolution that we got from these two characters. Having them end up being all friendly would have made no sense given their personalities and their pasts. This was a great ending.
Williams turns in another solid job in the art department. Williams art is a bit cartoon-ish, but it works with the tone and mood of Beechen’s storyline. Plus, Williams’ style accentuates the youthfulness of this title.
The Bad: I have no real complaints on this issue. I am a little concerned about how interesting Dodge can be as a character and as a plotline.
Overall: Robin #153 was another fun and exciting issue. Beechen isn’t spinning a serious work of art on Robin. This is simply what comics should be: pure escapist fun. Robin is popcorn for the brain, and I happen to love popcorn!
