Review: ROBIN WAR #1
Script: Tom King
Art: Khary Randolph, Alain Mauricet, Jorge Corona, Andres Guinaldo & Walden Wong
Colors: Emilio Lopez, Chris Sotomayor, Gabe Eltaeb & Sandra Molina
Breakdowns: Rob Haynes
Letters: Carlos M. Mangual & Tom Napolitano
Publisher: DC Comics
DC Comics has taken the theme of “Robin” and run with it this year. In honor of Robin’s 75th Anniversary, DC is ending the year with a crossover event titled Robin War. The event will bring all past and present Robins together to fight not only each other, but also the Court of Owls. The world of Robins has grown considerably with the inclusion of the “We Are Robin” gang of teenagers. They are inspired by Robin and want to make a difference in Gotham. The way Batman and Robin have. Mix in robo-Batman and a pissed off Damian Wayne, and you have your Batman crossover to end 2015.
What I Liked
The issue got off to a fast start with an opening scene illustrated by Khary Randolph. It depicts a member of the “We Are Robin” group trying to stop a convenience store robbery in progress. The very first page puts the reader right into the action, with a gun aimed straight in our faces. What a greeting!
There was a lot of real-world mirroring going on with this sequence. The police have been in the news for a lot of bad things lately, so the outcome of this crime and the two-page spread of news coverage felt very familiar. We even have the Gotham City police profiling anyone wearing “Robin” paraphernalia.
Tom King did a nice job introducing all the main characters (Grayson, Red Hood, Duke Thomas, Damian Wayne, etc). My hope is the “We Are Robin” group will play a significant role in the overall story. They are the newest players on the scene, and offer the closest POV for new readers.
What I Didn’t Like
While I enjoy the We Are Robin’s, I do have a bone to pick about their depiction. When Duke Thomas is introduced, he’s listed as the team leader. However, in We Are Robin, Duke is their newest member. And they really don’t have a leader, unless you count the mysterious figure who gives them clues and missions.
The timing of Robin War #1 needs to be questioned as well. There is a note to reference events in Gotham Academy #13, but that doesn’t come out until after this issue. Batman and Robin Eternal is also taking place. Both start with the premise that the Robins’ are reuniting to work together. But the reunion actually took place in Grayson #12.
Timdogg
#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE
