Category Archives: Comics
Review: Teen Titans #17
Teen Titans #17 was very close to being one of the best issues in the entire series so far. Even with Lobdell’s horrible habit of introducing villains in cutaway scenes that are apropos of nothing, this was still a good comic for the actual Teen Titans themselves. But then he goes and blows it with a pretty lame final page surprise. For the first 2/3rds of this comic, it actually looked like Lobdell and co-writer Fabian Nicieza were going to do a good job in treating the Titans as real people. They even managed to surprise me by injecting some really cool drama into the group. I thought they were actually on to something new and meaningful.
Teen Titans #17
NOPE! What I thought was meaningful, character-based drama turned out to be just the start of another stupid storyline. Dammit, Teen Titans, why must you continually shoot yourself in the foot?
Comic Rating: 3/5: Alright.
Since the very beginning of this series, I have said time and again that the best way to make Teen Titans work is to treat the characters like real people. We need to see the Titans interacting like real friends and teenagers more than we need to see them thrown up against the latest, lamest super-villain. And for the first part of this book, Lobdell and Nicieza actually do that. We’re introduced to their new headquarters, they talk about what the attack by Joker has done to the team and we get a lot of really good scenes between the individual characters. The scenes don’t go as far as I think they should go in terms of establishing these characters, but it’s leaps and bounds above what we’ve seen before.
And if there’s one thing I can say Lobdell has done well, it has been keeping Tim Drake at the center of the comic. He’s the most fleshed out of all the Titans (though that’s not saying much), and Tim goes a long way in keeping the series from being unreadable. And for most of the book, Tim is even better than he’s been before. Lobdell and Nicieza use him really well.
But then they mess it up. And they do it on purpose. The twist ending is almost painful to read in just how badly they screw up a good thing.
Batman Does Not Understand Why He Needs a Robin
Batman needs a Robin. I already went over that earlier in the week. And it’s also my theory that Bruce Wayne doesn’t really understand why he needs a Robin. He just doesn’t get it. Oh sure, he can recognize the strategic benefits of having a partner. And maybe he even enjoys being a teacher and mentor. But Batman doesn’t really understand the crucial motivations that go into becoming a successful sidekick to the Dark Knight.
The key issue is whether or not the new sidekick wants to be Robin or whether they want to be Batman’s partner. And the difference will determine whether they are a success or a failure as the Boy Wonder.
One big happy family
There have been five different Robins in standard DC continuity. And it is my claim that when you look at the origins and outcomes of each of those Robins, you will see that their success or failure can be predicted based on what role Batman played in how they became Robin, and whether they were in it for the glory of the being Robin or whether they just wanted to help Batman. There’s a big difference between the two, even if it doesn’t sound like it at first.
When Batman picks the Robin, it ell ends in disaster. But when the Robin picks Batman, it works out great!
Join me after the jump as I explain why Batman doesn’t understand his own sidekick. Also, there will be SPOILERS after the jump! So be warned.
Damian’s Finest Hour
Something absolutely huge happens to Damian Wayne in today’s issue of Batman Incorporated! And I know people throw around terms like ‘finest hour’ all the time, but this issue really is Damian Wayne’s finest hour! And not just because he punches children.
Take that, children!
I’m not going to spoil the big surprise here in the opening, even if it’s been spoiled everywhere else. You can click the jump to find out what happens. But for now, I just want to say that Batman Incorporated #8 is a fantastic issue! I’ll review it like normal in my Hench-Sized Reviews, but since this is Robin Week, I wanted to do something special so that everybody could share in the awesomeness that is Damian Wayne’s Finest Hour.
Join me after the jump. There are full spoilers for Batman Incorporated #8!
The 6 Coolest Alternate Reality Robins
Robin Week continues now with a look at some of the coolest alternate reality Robins in comics. Alternate realities and parallel dimensions are a staple of comic books. Not only can they provide a new and exciting adventure for our heroes, but they’re an opportunity for imaginations to run wild. Want to write a story about Steampunk Batman fighting Jack the Ripper? No problem! Or how about a version of Superman raised in Soviet Russia? You bet! And did someone say Batman the Pirate? These types of stories are so prolific that DC Comics has coined the word ‘Elseworlds’ to categorize them.
And Robin has had some pretty cool alternate Elseworlds versions out there.
Give me ALL the Robins!
There are a lot more than six, so I’ve focused on simply the six coolest alternate reality versions of Robin. But just for kicks, I think I’ll add even more in the Honorable Mentions section! Join me after the jump for some weird but awesome Robin fun!
Henchman-4-Hire