Here it is, folks…
The “final” issue of ROBIN.
Upon looking at the front cover, one begins to wonder if it’s really over, with things like “Last Rites” and “Origins & Omens” plastered all over the page. I mean, we all know that Robin’s story won’t end here, so how does one attempt to wrap everything up for this stage of Tim Drake’s carrer?
The issue begins quite unexpectedly, with a character you may (or may not, at first) recognize, writing a death threat to Robin and eating some nice chocolates that were just delivered to her hotel room. Just go with it, okay? The threatening letter makes its way to the GCPD; the newly-promoted Detective Specialist Harper delivers the note to The Boy Wonder. Robin quickly deduces who sent the letter -- Lady Shiva.
Robin heads back to the Batcave to contemplate his situation -- is Shiva set to kill him, or just to test him? Suddenly, Jason Todd strolls right in -- Tim actually invited him. If you’ve been keeping up with some of the other Bat-books like THE OUTSIDERS, you’d know that Alfred discovered a ‘hidden’ room in the cave that activated itself to be discovered after Batman’s apparent and untimely demise. The room contains a machine that apparently has pre-recorded messages for everyone in the Bat-family -- Alfred, Robin, and yes, even Jason Todd. After Jason hears his message from Bruce, he leaves the cave, and Tim changes the locks.
Before tracking Shiva down, Tim takes care of a few things. He breaks up with his on-and-off girlfriend Zoanne, talks to his buddy Ives, and tries to contact Stephanie Brown (who doesn’t answer his call). Then, in a very Batman-like move, Tim actually spies on Detective Harper’s date with Jason Bard. Then, there is a short scene invloving the new Anarky.
Robin’s confrontation with Shiva actually ends up being one of the most badass moments in a Robin story that I can remember in a while. First, he deduces where Shiva will be, and arrives there twenty minutes before her, and remains undetected. Then (I won’t spoil it for you), after some trash talking (Robin actually tells Shiva that he’s gonna kick her ass!), he makes quick work of his would-be assassin. What follows is a quick conversation with Nightwing, some reflective inner-monologue, and the end of the issue.
In the end, I think Nicieza wrapped up the series as good as possible. What kind of story can you tell in a series’ last issue, when it’s not really over? The answer we get works out extremely well. And honestly, Freddie Williams’s art continues to get better and better. The cover and interior art is excellent, and the “Origins & Omens” mini-story was very, very well done, especially if you compare it to some of the other ones seen this month. The Batman stories that will continue in the near future may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but rest assured, ROBIN will return.
