Peter J. Tomasi: writer
Patrick Gleason: penciller
Mick Gray: inker
The Solicitation
Someone calls a meeting of the ROBINS, but who and why? And will the exiled and egotistical RED HOOD answer the call?
• RED ROBIN learns of DAMIAN’S betrayal – but how long will the youngest ROBIN’S lack of discipline stand?
• Many of Gotham City’s villains blame BATMAN for their downfall, but what happens when they stand together in a pact to bring the DARK KNIGHT down?
Preview
Why I Bought It
All the Robins, all in one place! (Except for Stephanie Brown...is she still considered a former Robin in this new 52 universe?)
What I Liked
Damian is a bad ass. Through and through. And he's a dick. Big time. Think back in the day years ago when people were calling Bruce Wayne Batdick.
Damian has this arrogance about him that Tomasi is able to go full force with. I think this is why I enjoy the book overall. You have the title character, Batman, and there isn't much you can do with the guy in terms of character development unless you relaunch a comic book universe. The Robin position has been pretty open to interpretation and that character has been allowed to grow up and develop.
I got into Batman around the time they were killing off the short lived Jason Todd. I have been around and grown up on Tim Drake as Robin. I was skeptical of Damian Wayne as a Robin, but damn it if he hasn't grown on me. And it is issues like this one that make him stand out.
Robin is basically calling all the former Robins together in order to tell them all at once that he will beat them and take something they possess and cherish as a trophy. It is really funny coming from a character who is only 10 years old and the son of Batman. And mildly believable as well.
Each former Robin reacts with very distinctive body language and look. That is a huge plus for when the art tells the story. The following fight scene between two heroes works just as well.
What I Didn't Like
Terminus. It is the name of the new villain out to get Batman. He has gathered people that the Batman has scarred in some way. One guy took a Batarang to the side of his head. A woman took one through the ear and it jump started her hiding beneath the surface piercing fetish. One guy has a permanent imprint of Batman's boot that he took the his face.
Interesting concept for a villain to gather those who have been scared by Batman and get them to team up and take revenge by killing Batman. Bigger villains have tried and failed. This is a concept that an editor should have put a stop to at the word go. This is a laughable, 90s era comic idea that was outdated back then. The name, the costume. Bleck.
Panel to Remember
Damian making his threat, posing like a classic image of Batman from the old Dark Knight Returns series. And right below that, the three former Robins all reacting in their own way. I think I like Red Hood's face palm the best out of trio.
Grades
Words: 8/10 - get rid of this new villain.
Pictures: 9/10
Recommend: Consider this the "State of the Robins" issue. Very entertaining.
Buy Next Issue: I hope this new villain isn't around for as many issues as the previous villain, but I would gladly go for seeing how Damian's threat gets played out over the next couple of issues.
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