This month’s issue of
RED ROBIN opens in Hong Kong with our hero revisiting his globetrotting roots. His mission? Discover if gang leader Lynx (who he captured a few issues back) is an undercover Hong Kong cop. And who better to assist him with this than former Batgirl Cassandra Cain?
While Tim doesn’t exactly receive the most helpful answer, it was nice seeing that the writers haven’t forgotten about Cassandra. Back in Gotham, Tim begins to put his life back in order. Still under the guise of being handicapped, he purchases the theater in Crime Alley and plans to renovate it into his new headquarters. He shows back up at High School (for about five minutes) and later gives the recuperating Lonnie Machin a new mission.
Then, something really cool happens. Red Robin follows his own intuition and breaks Lynx out of jail. She then gives him some…affection…for this deed, with Tim giving her mask back afterwards. Wow! Tim now has his own “Catwoman”! It’s so nice to see this pay off and I can’t wait to see how these two characters interact in the future. Oh, and then Batman shows up.
Remember the original focus of this title? Tim, traveling the world to prove to himself and others that Bruce Wayne was still alive. Since Bruce returned in the pages of other titles, The Dark Knight just kind of…shows up in this issue. What was once such an important focus of this series was just turned into an afterthought. This may also be a bit confusing to readers who haven’t kept up with all of this Bat-Universe stuff lately. Some fans are upset that they can’t “just” read about Bruce Wayne. And now, we can’t “just” read about Tim Drake either?
Whatever.
Disregarding the circumstances of Bruce’s return, his reunion with Tim in the pages of this issue was indeed a wonderful sight. For a few short moments, Batman and (Red) Robin are finally together again, swinging over the rooftops of Gotham.
All things considered, this issue tries its best to wrap up the previous arc and define a new status quo while also tying into BATMAN INC. at the same time. So, the question is -- what now? What will Red Robin’s focus be now that Bruce Wayne has returned for good and has launched this “Batman Inc?” I can only hope that whatever mission Tim takes on next is more in character than what his mentor has come up with.
I’ll be fine with it as long as there aren’t a bunch of “McRobins” running around
