Category Archives: Robin
Review: Teen Titans #29
I am as surprised as anybody to declare that Teen Titans #29 ain’t half bad. Actually, maybe that’s going a little too easy on it. Let’s just say that Teen Titans #29 is not the train wreck that most issues have been. It helps that nobody does anything else stupid in this issue. Possibly because the story is about everyone reacting to all the stupid things they did in the last issue – and boy, those were some stupid things. Instead, Teen Titans does what I’ve always wanted it to do: slow down and treat these characters like real people who have real conversations and real lives. That these conversations and lives occur a thousand years in the future in the middle of some weirdly pro-Evil Empire war is just the price one must pay for still reading Teen Titans.
Teen Titans #29
I have little doubt that the latest issue of this unfortunate series is just the calm before the inevitable crapfest that will be the return of Harvest. I do not expect the final two issues to be anything other than painful, but at least writer Scott Lobdell gave us a brief moment of ‘not-so-terrible’-ness.
Comic Rating: 4/10 – Pretty Bad.
The primary reason that Teen Titans #29 isn’t as bad as the other most recent issues is that all of Lobdell’s worst writing traits are gone. There are no insufferable blocks of stilted exposition. The only editor’s note referring to another comic is referring to only the previous issue. There are no random, one page ‘teases’ for some future villain. And if you were in any way upset with his characterizations and bastardizations of beloved heroes, then there’s some bittersweet good news: he wipes them off the table in this issue. Evil Superboy, for example, doesn’t even show up. I have no idea what’s happening in his solo series, but we here in Teen Titans get one throwaway line about his whereabouts and that’s it! We don’t have to deal with his horrible inner monologues about needing to find a cure! Good riddance, I say.
Of course, I still feel bad for any fans of Bart Allen. To think there were Wally West fans who were upset that he didn’t get to appear in the New 52 when it started. Man, you got nothing on Bart Allen fans. I wouldn’t be surprised if we never see him again. There’s no last minute save. No change of fortune. Lobdell kicks him to the curb along with Solstice. I would feel bad for any Solstice fans, but really, are there any? She’s gone too. And yes, she totally killed that judge at the end of last issue.
I wonder if Teen Titan‘s imminent cancellation led to Lobdell’s deck cleaning in this issue, or did he always plan on ditching Kid Flash, Solstice and Superboy as awkwardly and as brutally as possible?
Join me after the jump for the full synopsis and more review.
6 Things I Want to See on Gotham
As hesitant as I may be to embrace the new Gotham TV show on FOX, I can still admit that it could be an amazing show. Gotham will be loosely based on Gotham Central, one of my favorite comic book series of all time, and one I have been praising as a potential TV adaptation from the very beginning. Any true Batman fan will tell you that Batman is only as cool as he is because of the world in which he inhabits, and Gotham City is one of the greatest settings in all of fiction.
The potential for Gotham to be a great show is through the roof!
In theory.
At least they got the logo sort-of right
The producers and writers could still mess it up big time. Weren’t we all giggling with glee at the potential behind Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.? That show is only mostly OK more than halfway through it first season, when we all expected it to be Firefly reborn (or at least I did). Gotham could go either way. Brilliant or bupkis. Glorious or garbage. Well if the good people at FOX want Gotham to be a success, they should take my phone calls and listen to the 6 things I want to see in the show!
I Do Not Want Nightwing to Appear on Arrow
Of all the possible DC Comics characters who could appear on their hit TV show Arrow, I think Nightwing is the one I want to see the least. I would rather there be an episode with Crazy Quilt than one guest-starring Nightwing. That may sound kind of odd from someone who loves Nightwing and Robin as much as I do, but I really, really hope the rumors that actor Steven R. McQueen is in talks to appear as Nightwing turn out to be a complete fabrication.
Begone, cursed one!
Arrow is great. If you haven’t been watching the second season, you’ve definitely been missing out. The show is absolutely brilliant in terms of action, tension, villainy, heroism and well-acted, well-crafted drama. Arrow is just that damn good.
And they’ve been great with the superhero guest stars. Black Canary is a reoccurring character now, Red Arrow is slowly being built up, and there are guest stars like the Flash, Bronze Tiger, Deadshot, Clock King, Solomon Grundy, Brother Blood and more. Even the Huntress is scheduled to make a come back and team up with Canary to form the Birds of Prey. How cool is that?
She’s as surprised as we are
But I absolutely do not want Nightwing to appear. And like the good blogger I am, I’ll tell you why.
Nightwing, for those who don’t know, is the grown up Robin. In the comics, Batman’s first sidekick, circus acrobat Dick Grayson, eventually grew up, ditched the green pixie boots and became his own superhero, Nightwing. He’s charming, funny, skilled and very popular. I’m a big fan.
But a Nightwing who exists without Batman or his history as Robin isn’t worth having.
Nightwing sometimes let him win their races
I have no idea how Arrow would incorporate Nightwing, but I have to assume they can’t use Batman and Robin at all. That’s just how superheroes on the small screen work. There are all sorts of licenses and permissions that these shows need to use these characters, and I have no doubt that Batman and his buddies are tied up in the Batman vs. Superman movie or that Gotham TV show being developed by FOX. And there’s no way FOX is going to let their cash-cow Batman characters appear on The CW. It’s why Spider-Man will never show up in any of the Avengers movies, or why Batman and Wonder Woman never got to appear on Smallville, even though that series ran for 10 seasons and featured everybody from Hawkman to the Wonder Twins.
These licenses and permissions are killing all the best crossover possibilities, but they are the law of the land. So if Nightwing were to appear on Arrow, I can only assume he wouldn’t have any connection to Batman. Maybe there’s some clause where Arrow can use the name and costume, but they probably wouldn’t be able to mention Batman, Robin or Dick Grayson.
And for me, that’s just not worth the effort. I would rather not have Nightwing show up at all than use a cheap facsimile.
But honestly, even if Arrow could reference Batman and Robin, I still wouldn’t want Nightwing to show up. Because, again, Nightwing is really only interesting in the context that he’s Robin all grown up. And if Arrow isn’t prepared to tell that story (which it probably isn’t), then why bring in a character who has already gone through his emotional story arc?
There are still plenty of other superheroes who could appear on Arrow who don’t have the baggage of Nightwing. Besides, I’m still hoping for a Nightwing/Dick Grayson cameo in the Batman vs. Superman movie. And I’m still pushing my idea for a young, goofy, version of Ted Kord’s Blue Beetle to show up on Arrow.
Call me, writers of Arrow
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Review: Teen Titans #28
If I’m being completely honest, I don’t think writer Scott Lobdell did such a bad job creating pathos in Bar Torr’s rebellion against the Functionary. There is real emotion in his fight to free his people from a corrupt and evil government. So it’s a shame this comic is actually about a club of colorful, teenage heroes who wouldn’t know real emotion if it was beat into them with a crowbar. The Teen Titans are caught in the middle of a war that doesn’t belong to them, and they’re stuck flailing around in an embarrassingly desperate attempt to be useful.
Teen Titans #28
But in the end, the Empire wins. The Rebel Alliance loses. And Teen Titans has apparently decided to just cut its loses when it comes to the new and unique characters created for the soon-to-be-cancelled series.
Comic Rating: 3/10 – Bad.
If I could keep this honest streak going, I was mildly entertained reading this issue, because it’s largely just a bunch of action scenes. The art is actually pretty good, and the pacing is pretty OK, at least when characters aren’t having lengthy thought bubble monologues, and Lobdell engages in his favorite pastime: painfully blunt exposition. The new Evil Superboy has appeared in how many issues now? And in each one, he apparently has to mentally remind himself of his own motivations and personal storyline. It’s maddening!
But at least Evil Superboy gets to actually impact this issue, or stand out as a character. Red Robin, Wonder Girl and Raven are absolutely lost in this story. But they don’t just fade into the background, oh no. Instead, they insist on trying to stick their big noses into this war that has nothing to do with them, and likewise insist that everyone involved should adhere to their limited understanding of 21st century standards. It’s like the Titans are incapable of understanding the context of where they find themselves. It’s a war for independence from a murderous government, but the Titans seem to think they can just get everybody to play nice and negotiate – and this is coming from teenagers who have dedicated their lives to vigilante violence.
But at least those three don’t get character assassinated. If you thought Lobdell was burning Kid Flash’s character to the ground, just wait and see what he has in store for Solstice. I hope you hadn’t grown too attached to her.
Join me after the jump to find out why killing in a war for freedom is wrong, but murder in the name of love is righteous!
Robin Watch: The Immediate Future of Harper Row
Welcome to the latest Robin Watch! As some of you may recall, I am keeping my eye on DC Comics’ search for the new Robin, because I am confident that they’re not going to keep Batman solo forever. The phrase ‘Batman and Robin’ is just too well ingrained in the public’s mind. It’s marketing gold. The last Robin, Damian Wayne, has been dead for about a year now, but Batman is still flying solo. DC doesn’t seem to be in any rush to name a new Robin. They’ve got more than a few contenders in play, and something pretty major happens to my pick, Harper Row, in this week’s Batman #28!
I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming. It pretty much changes the entire game!
Though any game with Batman is still fun
I want to warn everybody that there will be massive SPOILERS for Batman #28 in this article. If you don’t want to be SPOILED, then don’t click to continue.
Want a little hint? Let’s just say that the developments in this week’s issue are so massive that I may have to change the name of this feature. And for those of you rooting for Harper Row, like me, this issue should be both amazing and bittersweet.
Join me after the jump to see what happens to Harper!
Henchman-4-Hire 