Droning On and On
Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas and Marilyn Patrizio
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: September 14, 2016
Detective Comics is one of the best books in Rebirth and it's all about the team. Batwoman, Tim Drake, Spoiler, Cassandra Cain and Clayface have been great together and while most have had their time in the spotlight, nobody has shone quite as bright as Tim Drake. James Tynion has been on a single handed crusade to redeem the former Robin after the New 52 pretty much turned him into a dick. No pun intended! Last issue ended with Tim changing Colony's plans to kill innocent Gothamites by making himself the sole target of their attack. It didn't look good, but Tim can't possibly die, right? Let's find out...
The issue opens on the Colony Airship and Jacob and Ulysses are realizing the craziness of Tim's plan. Right as Jacob is about to beat the living shit out of the General, Batwoman shows up to have a chat with dear, old dad.
It's a quick and brutal scene that's filled with Kate's raw emotions. She tells her father how he failed her, his country and himself. I'll give it to Jacob, though, he's in it to win it and doesn't budge at all regarding the Colony's overall mission statement.
After Argus shows up and Kate puts down her father, She gets ahold of Batman and if you didn't think this was big already, we find out that Batman has called out to Nightwing and others for help. This is a family affair for sure.
That's when we finally get to see Tim up close and personal and the first wave of drones have already attacked him. What? Maybe it's the sadist in me, but not seeing it was a bit of a disappointment. We do get to see the aftermath and Tim is a wreck. His face is swollen and beat up and he mentions numerous broken bones.
He then sees the second wave of drones arriving and even if the reader thinks he might survive, Tim doesn't think that at all. He tells Batman to pass on a message to the other Robins and Alfred, thanks Batman for everything and signs off. I had a huge lump in my throat at this point.
The waterworks then started when Tim calls Stephanie to say goodby and when he told her he loved her, I lost it a bit. There was actually a bit of excitement at what was happening, but it was more sadness and disbelief. It really was going to happen!
IF YOU DON'T WANT SPOILERS, TURN AWAY BECAUSE HERE THEY COME!
The second wave of drones then opens fire on Tim and he is ripped apart as he stands there. Tim Drake is dead! We get to see the reactions of some key players including Alfred, Dick Grayson and Jason Todd. For some reason, Clayface is the one that made me the most sad. I can't explain it except maybe that he is seeing the consequence to being a hero...playing make believe is over. Shit then gets real! Kate tells Batman that she wants to hand her father over to Argus, but Batman wants him for himself..."He'll Answer to Me."
Later, Batman goes to check on Stephanie and tries to comfort her in a very Batman way by explaining it's the life they all chose and this is the risk. That's when Steph drops the bomb on Batman by showing him the Ivy acceptance letter. This is about as emotional as you will see Batman as he drops the letter and comforts Stephanie.
I really thought the issue was going to end right there, but as I turned the page, I realized that Tim dying wasn't the big thing in this issue afterall. It's what came next. Tim is somehow teleported to Mr. Oz who explains that Tim was so loved that he was reconnecting things that needed to stay apart. The issue then ends with Mr. Oz leaving Tim in his cell, yelling that his friends will come for him. We will have to wait and see about that.
This was another emotional issue. I think the whole point of Rebirth is to make me cry while reading comics because I keep doing just that. I am a little torn with this issue because part of me wishes that we were left thinking Tim was dead for a little bit longer. Seriously, the impact was taken away in a couple of pages, but we got something pretty awesome to take it's place. Seeing Mr. Oz and what he did connects a bunch of storylines and makes me smile that DC has a larger plan already in place and moving forward.
Eddy Barrows was back on my nice list this issue because his art was totally kick ass! The only flaw was Duke Thomas, who looked awful, but beside that it was A-OK. The best panels were the obvious pick of Tim's "death", but I also loved the big spread of Batman comforting Stephanie near the end. Overall, this was an issue you could page through and enjoy just looking at the pretty pictures.
Bits and Pieces:
This was a very good and emotional issue that lost some of it's impact with the sudden revelation at the end. However, that same cliffhanger set this story (and the rest of the DCU) into a bigger picture mode that I can't wait to see more of. Everyone interested in the overall Rebirth story should pick this up and read it immediatley as well as Tim Drake fans everywhere.
8.5/10
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ReplyDeleteSo another Robin is believed dead by all of his friends and family? Great
ReplyDeleteSounds kind of familiar, huh?
DeleteThought this was a great and fast read, but no damn way Batman didn't know Tim was going to college. I call bullshit.
ReplyDeleteNope...no way that he doesn't have all of the bat family on a keyword search always going on the bat computer...he probably threatened a few guys to get Tim in
DeleteI thought that too. NO way he didn't know.
DeleteThis issue was an emotional roller coaster. I knew that Tim was going to die, but the execution was so good, it still hit really hard. Then I was pissed that they took the easy way out and didn't really kill him at all. Then I was in shock by what they are setting up. I know that this will be left hanging for months, especially since the Monster Men event is coming up, but I am really excited to see where they go with this. Yeah. I agree with you Repairman Jack. There's no way Batman didn't know.
ReplyDeleteI knew he wouldn't be killed off, they've already done a brutal death of a robin Jason & Damian. The truth is DC doesn't know what to do with Tim since N52 started. They immediately made him a hacker from the beginning even the that's Barbra's stick, and they gave the Smart upping comer angle to Duke, and now he no longer has the teen titans to fall back because they gave that angle Damian. What else is left for Tim, ...Nothing. they gave all Tims character traits to other people in the. at family. this was a good issue, But the fake pseudo Death put a bad taste in my mouth.
Delete7.5/10
I agree 100%!
DeleteIt's not just the pseudo death for me...it's the almost instantaneous reveal. Use Monster Men crossover as a way to make it seem real (ie: make us wait) before showing us Mr. Oz has Tim
DeleteLets hope your right Jim, here's to hoping that they don't reveal him in the next 2 issues like they did with Bruce after EndGame.
DeleteI dont mind them changing up his character but AJ is right tim has no direction they even regressed is gear to a normal robin gear with an extra R i loved the original RR look with the cowl
DeleteHere's a question for every one, if Tim stays away long enough, Do we see anyone else taking up the Red Robin Mantle???
DeleteI Could see Stephanie becoming Red Robin & finally becoming are real member of the bat Family. The Same Goes for Cassandra who in fact was a member of the family pre-Flashpoint.
I think that will depend on how well fans embrace Duke. If he becomes really popular, I don't think anyone will take up that mantel. But if he doesn't go over well, then I think someone like Stephanie or Cassandra putting on the Red Robin suit.
DeleteDuke won't be as popular because he's a Negro, and racist funny book fans don't like colored people
Delete... well that just happened.
DeleteGreat finale! By far the best issue of Detective Comics yet in my opinion. Barrows did some great panels here.
ReplyDeleteI hated the set up for killing robin but loved that it was a fake out it puts the book in rebirth mode showing us mr.oz if they had killed him off or saved that for the next issue i would probably have hated this one
ReplyDeletelol...i wish they would have waited to make more of an impact...I think people would have been pissed though
DeleteGreat issue, great review. Great week for comics! This issue jumped to the top of my stack today because honestly, who doesn't want to see a robin die? The reveal at the end caught me off guard in the best way. I still have a problem with the logic of Tim Drake targeting all the drones at himself. Why couldn't he choose some alternate target of no consequence? Overall I love this series and the direction it's taking. Unlike some other team books (Justice cough cough Leauge cough) Tec always gives it's characters unique voices and spotlight moments. This was the Tim Drake show and I hope we get equally awesome issues for Orphan, Clayface, Spoiler and the rest of the gang. Woo-hoo for good comics!
ReplyDeletei really hope we get anything out of Cassandra...except her father returning. Also, maybe Harper Row will return
DeleteThe anticipation of this issues was getting to me! I had to wait all day at work and stay off social media before I could read it.
ReplyDeleteI think the emotional impact didn't hit me as hard as it would have if we hadn't gotten the Bruce/Gotham girl ending just last week. But, that said I still loved it.
I wonder if they didn't leave the Tim cliffhanger until the next regular issue because they were afraid of the backlash and having to wait until after Monster Men to do the reveal. It would have been exciting though! It is nice to have both Batman and Detective Comics going so well at the same time.
just talked about it on the spotlight podcast...Eric thinks people would have went nuts if they delayed the reveal...I think it would have made the whole thing stronger. Also mentioned the the Gotham Girl thing...but it made me think that it is getting to Batman.
DeleteNow Oz has Doomsday and Tim Drake? Is his endgame to collect the 90's? Superboy and Bart Allen better watch their asses...
ReplyDeleteand grunge, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, and Michael Jordan
DeleteIf Red Robin was Emilio Estevez's this issue would have been called FREEJACK!
ReplyDeletebut who would be Mick Jagger?
DeleteRed Robin's not Emilo Estevez?
DeleteI thought the art was great in this, with the exception of Duke. Especially the panel where Tim “dies,” it is just amazing. Kind of upset that Tim is still alive. I feel like that reveal would have been better suited down the line. This was such a good issue, and it ended very quickly. I’m glad that they captured and kept “Uncle Jake.” I would like to know just how far Batman is willing to interrogate someone, especially after Tim’s demise.
ReplyDelete