Tim Drake takes on Red Robin role in 2009 series
As the “Batman Reborn” branding stretched across the Batman line of comics in 2009, a new Batman and Robin were chosen: Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne. This left former Robin Tim Drake (aka Tim Wayne) as a man without a title. He resurfaces as “Red Robin,” taking on a new heroic identity as he searches for Bruce Wayne, who Tim believes to still be alive.
Issues 1-5 are collected in Vol. 1, “The Grail.” Chris Yost and Ramon Bachs are the creative team as Tim crosses the globe looking for clues to Bruce’s whereabouts. What I liked about the story were some of the callbacks to the early Chuck Dixon Robin stories. The jet-setting nature recalls some of the elements of the first “Robin” miniseries. Drake, isolated somewhat from the rest of the Bat-family after the events of “Battle for the Cowl,” works with Ra’s Al Ghul’s team of assassins on his mission. It’s a compelling read for Tim Drake fans.
Red Robin #6-12 and Batgirl #8 are collected in “Collision,” the second volume, as Yost puts together pieces hinted at from the beginning of the run. Marcus To comes on as the artist. Tim must go against both the Council of Spiders and Ra’s group of assassins, and in so doing proves he’s one of the best detectives on the planet, himself. Any questions Tim Drake fans had about the storyline after the first volume should be answered by the end of Yost’s 12-issue run.
Fabian Nicieza, who has plenty of experience writing young heroes (“New Warriors” and the like) comes on to write Red Robin starting with issues #13-17, collected in the book “The Hit List.” Red Robin decides to take a more pro-active approach to crime fighting, making a Hit List of criminals to take down. And he’s done his homework: Each villain he takes down naturally leads into clues or events that help to capture the next on the list. It’s another good collection that shows how Tim Drake has grown as a character. There’s also a tussle between Robins new and old in this volume, as Damien isn’t always thrilled with Tim Drake’s methods.
Unfortunately, “Red Robin” will end with the DC relaunch in September, though Tim Drake will appear in the new “Teen Titans” series. Since Tim Drake has had a solo series since the early 1990s, let’s hope his absence from the stands is only temporary. (There are some additional trade paperbacks, which I haven’t got to yet, that are set to collect the remainder of this series.)
- Matt Price
Comics read in 2011: 1,263. Still to go: 748.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment