Review: Robin #182

Out with the old, in with the new

Last issue ended with the reveal that two of Robin’s former foes were actually one playing both roles, and with Gotham City about to fall into chaos, what is a young side-kick to do?  The answer, Dear Reader, is for him to grow a pair and step from behind the cape to become a hero in his own right.

What do we learn from this issue that is nothing but a climactic fight scene?  Readers discover that via the pen and computer of Fabian Nicieza and Freddie Williams II, Robin has really grown up over the years to become a man. Granted, he’s a man still technically in high school, but a man none the less, which has to make dating those high school girls a real pain in the butt.

Robin #182 features Tim Drake acting in the same manner as Batman ;making split second decisions, seeing all the angles and possibilities needed to defeat the bad guy.  While it plays out really well in this issue, if the character of Tim goes on to bigger and better things following the Battle for the Cowl, the Tim Drake character could fall into that same “Whim of the Writer” syndrome that has plagued Batman for the last decade.

There are some threads that are still dangling by issues end, that hopefully will find a resolution by the next issue.  By far the biggest one that sticks in my gullet is that Jim Gordon and the rest of the GCPD are little too forgiving over the death of The General’s siblings, which makes Gordon’s final act in the issue seem a little too trusting – especially considering readers saw the on panel death of two children, something we at Major Spoilers have been clucking our tongues over for a while.  Obviously this means Gordon condones Robin’s decisions and is willing to let him become a darker Red Robin.

And that is really the point of this issue, Tim Drake/Robin has finally moved out from the shadow of all who have come before and has finally made the decision to become his own kind of hero.  He no longer has to worry what his adopted father thinks of his actions, Dick will always be there to support Tim’s decisions, and interestingly Tim and Jason Todd see eye to eye.

Following last issue, I was more convinced than ever that Tim Drake was going to become the man behind the mask when Red Robin launches later this year.  However, after Tim and Jason exchanged pleasantries in Blackgate Prison with Tim giving away the code that will get Jason out of prison for free, I’m not so sure.

With Tim’s love life in shambles at the moment, I wonder what his relationship with Stephanie/Spoiler is?  He says he loves Stephanie, and forbids her to don the Spoiler costume ever again.  It’s obvious he doesn’t want her to come to harm in the line of duty, but since when has Stephanie ever done what anyone told her to do.  There is a storm a brewing for the two down the road, and it can only end one way – badly.

Oddly, Robin #182 concluded a major arc and was turning point for Robin as the hero he was always meant to grow up to be.  This would have been the perfect ending point for the series, but DC has decided to squeeze one more issue out of the creative team as a lead in to the Battle for the Cowl.  Even with the odd resolution or two in the story, I enjoyed this issue a great deal.  Nicieza and Williams II are going out on a high note, and depending on how the next issue goes, this could be the series they are remembered for.  Robin #182 earns 4 out of 5 Stars.

04/04