Comics Fondle

Beechan ends his Robin run nicely, tying off the biggest loose end (the sidekick wannabe Dodge) and leaving a lesser one kind of waving, but not dangling (Robin’s latest failed romance).

Even though it goes over three issues, there’s only really a couple’s worth of story here. Beechan fills the first issue with a flashback of Dodge assembling his team of lame supervillains, which isn’t exactly the best page usage, but considering Robin’s got two moderate sized reveals at the end (or three even), it’s kind of necessary.

The second issue is the classic, real-time Robin issue. It’s Robin against impossible odds, not just from supervillains, but from adults who don’t think he can do it (Commissioner Gordon in this case). Most of Robin’s interaction with Batman is of the familial nature–Batman doesn’t think Tim should join the tennis team, Tim tells Batman off. There’s a strange moment where Robin, in the narration, goes on about how he’s Robin because it’s so much fun (or something to that effect). It’s a jarring observation. Along with Batman smiling, it sort of breaks the “reality” of the DC universe (something they should a) have never have started and b) let Grant Morrison dispose of as quickly as possible).

The third issue, featuring the big reveals and Beechan’s de facto resolution to his open threads, it’s a little broad. Beechan takes an Ocean’s Twelve approach and while I’m impressed by Robin’s skills as a strategist and his Rolodex… it’s not a real human heart in conflict with itself, others and its environment thing going. It’s kind of easy.

Which is fine and good enough. But it could have been a lot better, especially since he gets off the moral hook with a line of dialogue.

B

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