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Tim Drake is Coming Back as Robin in Chip Zdarsky’s Batman!
This is going to be another one of those niche blog articles where I’m really just writing my thoughts on a very specific comic book thing that I am interested in. Like, a lot of people reported on the cool news that creator Chip Zdarsky will be taking over the main Batman comic for an extended run. I saw the news and was pretty pumped, because for strange reasons, I’ve never actually read an ongoing Zdarsky comic. He’s supposed to be really good!
I was already planning on reading and reviewing Zdarsky’s Batman when it starts up in a few months…but something caught my eye just the other night that has raised my excitement through the roof.
When I first saw this picture, from a distance when cruising through headlines, I just thought that yellow on Batman’s chest was a stylized symbol. But when I got a second, closer look, I confirmed that it’s actually Robin! I love Robin!
So I went to ComicBook.com, which interviewed Zdarsky about his new run, and I learned some truly amazing news: Zdarsky plans to bring Tim Drake back as Robin full-time in order to recapture that Dynamic Duo action in his upcoming Batman run.
I don’t know if I can properly describe how excited I am by this news. This is everything I want from Batman comics; something I’ve wanted for more than a decade at this point, I think.
As we all know, Damian Wayne has been Robin for a very long time now. But Damian isn’t really a sidekick. He’s got a ton of his own things going on, including his own solo comic. Which is fine, but not something that I, personally, care about. I like the classic Dynamic Duo set up, where Robin is Batman’s sidekick and works with him on crimes and investigations, with Batman is a mentor role.
And we haven’t gotten this dynamic in a very long time. So I am very, very excited that Zdarsky is going to use Tim Drake, the best Robin, in the role that I love best.
Unfortunately, we have to wait all the way until July to see what happens. And the possibility remains that they’ll call him “Red Robin”, but let’s hope not.
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Some Cool Robin Comics Are Coming!
November is apparently going to be a big month for Robin comics! And if you know me and comics, you’ll know that I love Robin! So you best believe I’ll be checking out these two mini-series when they arrive
First up is Robins, written by Tim Seeley, with art by Baldemar Rivas. This comics won the Round Robin contest that DC held recently where they announced a dozen crazy new comic ideas and had fans vote for their favorite. Turns out fans really want more Robin!
Robins is going to be about all of the former Robins getting together to talk through their histories. And a mysterious woman claiming to be the first Robin?! L’gasp! This one sounds like a solid exploration of what it means to be a Robin. I love that kind of thing! Hopefully it doesn’t differ too much from my own thoughts on what it means to be a Robin, because I can be a fickle fan.
Next up is Robin & Batman, written by Jeff Lemire, with art by Dustin Nguyen. This one just seems to have popped up out of nowhere, with Lemire and Nguyen a solid creative team.
Robin & Batman is going to be an exploration of Dick Grayson’s early days as the Boy Wonder. There already exists a Robin: Year One comic, but I have no problem adding more continuity! Dick Grayson as Robin is a fun time period and definitely open to exploration from modern creative teams.
I especially love how young Robin gets to have proper pants and boots on that cover. The original Robin costume may be classic, but that does not make it good or worth using in a project like this.
Both of these comics sound awesome and both of them will be bought, read and reviewed by me! Doesn’t that sound exciting? I sure hope so.
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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 5/22/21
So this is a first! I absolutely adored every single comic book I read this week. Sometimes I’m pretty lukewarm on an issue. Sometimes they’re just fine. But hot damn, every comic I read for review this week was a real banger! From the new issue of Nightwing to even Power Rangers! And you know I love me some Runaways and the new Way of X.
Comic Book of the Week goes to Wonder Girl #1 because it has the benefit of both being a first issue and having the artwork of Joelle Jones, which almost seems unfair.
But seriously, every comic I read this week was a dream. I was this close to awarding every single issue a 9 out of 10, which is pretty much the highest score I give.
Meanwhile, Heroes Reborn continues to be a delight! Jason Aaron seems to be having a blast creating a new Marvel Universe built around the Squadron Supreme. It’s nifty as all heck! Double meanwhile, I just finished Shadow and Bone on Netflix and I can’t recommend it. The show was fine, but it was drowning in YA tropes that near about strangled the life out of anything actually interesting on the show.
Comic Reviews: Nightwing #80, Power Rangers #7, Runaways #36, Way of X #2 and Wonder Girl #1.
Read the rest of this entryI Think Tim Drake is Robin Again…For Now
Something is happening at DC Comics regarding Robin and I’m not sure what. They haven’t made any formal announcements. They haven’t done any big events. The status quo is simply and quietly changing.
Just last week, Damian Wayne, the current Robin, made a big show in Teen Titans Annual #2 that he was finished being Robin. I made a blog post about it just yesterday!
Well today, in Young Justice #18, it looks like Tim Drake is going back to being Robin.
A year ago, it seemed like Tim had graduated to a new identity: Drake. That seemed pretty permanent. Why wouldn’t it be? DC had been struggling for years as to what to do with Tim Drake, and giving him a new identity seemed like the most logical solution.
But a lot has changed in a year. Dan DiDio was fired. That rumored “5G” project was cancelled. A lot of other people have been fired. Warner Bros is tightening their belts. A new video game was announced with Tim Drake as Robin.
What is happening? Are we really living in a world where Damian Wayne is no longer Robin and Tim Drake gets to assume the mantle again? Are we living in my dream come true?
I guess we’ve just got to take this one step at a time. I’ll stay with this story all night if I have to!
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We’re Getting a Robin Video Game (Among Others)!
Holy guacamole! I wasn’t sure how I was going to share the various DC FanDome trailers we’re going to get today. Do I flood my blog with trailers? Do I space them out over the next few days so that I can digest them all? Well there’s no point in holding onto this one because I’m freaking out.
Gotham Knights is the next game in the Arkhamverse series and it will focus on the Bat-Family: Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl and Robin! I’m getting a Robin video game!
This is beyond my wildest dreams. I love the Arkham games, and Batman is great…but a game that focuses on the Bat-Family instead?! A game where Robin and the former Robins (and Batgirl) are the stars? Where you get to play as all of them throughout the game?!
Here’s some gameplay footage from an early build of the game! It’s got two-player co-op!!!
I am salivating. This is a dream come true. I was so prepared for another game where Arkham Batman fights the Joker. But a game where Robin and the Family have to take on the Court of Owls?! Are you kidding me?!
Somebody pinch me.
Now all I need is confirmation of Tim Drake as Robin and not Damian. He looks short and young in the trailer, but he’s taller, seems older and is dressed as Red Robin in the gameplay footage (though is called just “Robin” in the HUD). Could Red Robin just be a skin? Alternate costumes seems like a pretty common thing in these games.
UPDATE: Robin has been confirmed as Tim Drake!
Here’s the flavor text for all of the characters:
- Batgirl, also known as Barbara Gordon, is a determined fighter and a skilled hacker. As the daughter of deceased Gotham commissioner, Jim Gordon, she had helped Batman as Oracle in the past. Now, after years of recovery and preparation, she is ready to step into her new role, wielding her melee tonfa, and harnessing her training in kickboxing, capoeira and jiu-jitsu.
- Nightwing is Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who was Batman’s protégé before becoming a hero in his own right. He’s a natural leader and the eldest and wisest member of the Batman Family. Nightwing’s mastery in acrobatics is complemented by his expertise use of his signature dual Escrima Sticks, making him proficient at taking out enemies.
- Red Hood, formerly known as Jason Todd, is an intense and volatile anti-hero, which stems from his death and forced resurrection by one of Batman’s most dangerous foes. Red Hood has trouble keeping his temper in check but will not hesitate to step into the line of fire when a friend is threatened. His training has given him peak human strength and proficiency in multiple combat techniques with all manner of weapons – both traditional and high-tech.
- Robin is Tim Drake, the young prodigy and genius of the team, who is a master of deductive reasoning. As a true believer in Batman’s mission, he is motivated by the conviction that Gotham City needs protecting and hopes to be the type of hero Batman personified. An expert fighter armed with his collapsible quarterstaff and skilled in a variety of stealth techniques, Robin also possesses a background in combined psychological warfare and behavioral sciences.
Anyway, game is due out in 2021. Looks like this might be my Playstation 5 upgrade game.
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Henchman-4-Hire 