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This is probably my favourite issue of Red Robin. Ever. Tim is amazing.
Tim has found evidence that Bruce is actually alive, but in the process has managed to piss Ra’s al Ghul off, causing him to send assassins after everyone Bruce loves, in order to destroy Batman’s legacy.
There are just so many things I love about this. The final showdown between Tim and Ra’s. The challenge of trying to save eleven people that Bruce loves. Dick and Tim’s relationship. All the cameos. Marcus To.
Ra’s sent his ninjas after eleven different people, knowing that Tim couldn’t save all of them by himself, even once he’d figured out who they were. Alfred, “the butler”. Jim and Barbara Gordon, “the cop and his daughter”. Julie Madison, “the first love”. Selina, “the whore thief”. Damian, “the son”, and Dick, “the replacement”. Vicki Vale, “the reporter”, Lucius Fox, “the steward”, Stephanie, “the girl apprentice” and Leslie, “the doctor”.
Throughout the Red Robin series, Tim’s been moving away from Robin and towards someone who is more like Batman, as he states in the first issue of Red Robin: “But is there even a line to cross anymore? Does it even matter? Batman is dead, right? And I’m sure as hell not Robin.”
Tim’s never wanted to be that. He’s never wanted to be Batman, and here we finally see him moving away from that again. Tim says to Ra’s, “I’m not Batman. I have friends.” And those friends are the ones he called on to save the people that Bruce loves. Conner, Bart, Steph, Kate Spencer, Helena, Kirk, and Cassie.
Another thing I love about this issue is Tim’s refusal to compromise. The only sacrifice that he is willing to make is his own life, and only after he’s foiled both Ra’s and Hush’s plans. He’s covered everything. He realizes that he can’t beat Ra’s in a one-on-one physical fight, but he can save the others, if not himself.
And he doesn’t just do it to save the lives of eleven people. He does it for Bruce, to save the people and things that Bruce cares about. He still believes that Bruce is alive, and he never stopped believing, not even when everyone else dismissed him as crazy or traumatized. I like Tim’s awareness that even though Bruce won’t say anything, he’s still proud of Tim, and his acceptance of that, which is perhaps something that sets him apart from Dick.
I also admit, I’m a complete sucker for Dick and Tim’s relationship. I just love it. The way that Dick is the one to save Tim when Ra’s has pushed him out of the building, how he says ‘Welcome home’ to him when Tim wakes up, how Tim says, “You’re my brother, Dick. You’ll always be there for me.” This sort of reconciliation, along with Dick telling Tim that he trusts him in #11. How Dick finally starts to believe that Tim may be right about Bruce being alive.
Ra’s recognition of Tim – at the end, although it’s a little creepy, makes me quite happy. But especially earlier, when he calls him ‘detective’ – something he’s only ever called Bruce before. Because Tim is brilliant. I know that a lot of people don’t like Tim. But he really is brilliant.
I haven’t mentioned the art, yet. Marcus To is amazing. I adore his art, he’s one of my favourite comic book artists. His artwork is just so...pretty, and I think he can really get the expressions and mannerisms of the characters down. Alfred fixing his shirt with that endearing, almost haughty, look on his face. Bart’s cocky hand on his hip. The way Alfred looks sad but almost a little hopeful when Tim begs him and Dick to believe that Bruce is still alive. And the way Marcus draws Damian is just charming.
Tim has found evidence that Bruce is actually alive, but in the process has managed to piss Ra’s al Ghul off, causing him to send assassins after everyone Bruce loves, in order to destroy Batman’s legacy.
There are just so many things I love about this. The final showdown between Tim and Ra’s. The challenge of trying to save eleven people that Bruce loves. Dick and Tim’s relationship. All the cameos. Marcus To.
Ra’s sent his ninjas after eleven different people, knowing that Tim couldn’t save all of them by himself, even once he’d figured out who they were. Alfred, “the butler”. Jim and Barbara Gordon, “the cop and his daughter”. Julie Madison, “the first love”. Selina, “the whore thief”. Damian, “the son”, and Dick, “the replacement”. Vicki Vale, “the reporter”, Lucius Fox, “the steward”, Stephanie, “the girl apprentice” and Leslie, “the doctor”.
Throughout the Red Robin series, Tim’s been moving away from Robin and towards someone who is more like Batman, as he states in the first issue of Red Robin: “But is there even a line to cross anymore? Does it even matter? Batman is dead, right? And I’m sure as hell not Robin.”
Tim’s never wanted to be that. He’s never wanted to be Batman, and here we finally see him moving away from that again. Tim says to Ra’s, “I’m not Batman. I have friends.” And those friends are the ones he called on to save the people that Bruce loves. Conner, Bart, Steph, Kate Spencer, Helena, Kirk, and Cassie.
Another thing I love about this issue is Tim’s refusal to compromise. The only sacrifice that he is willing to make is his own life, and only after he’s foiled both Ra’s and Hush’s plans. He’s covered everything. He realizes that he can’t beat Ra’s in a one-on-one physical fight, but he can save the others, if not himself.
And he doesn’t just do it to save the lives of eleven people. He does it for Bruce, to save the people and things that Bruce cares about. He still believes that Bruce is alive, and he never stopped believing, not even when everyone else dismissed him as crazy or traumatized. I like Tim’s awareness that even though Bruce won’t say anything, he’s still proud of Tim, and his acceptance of that, which is perhaps something that sets him apart from Dick.
I also admit, I’m a complete sucker for Dick and Tim’s relationship. I just love it. The way that Dick is the one to save Tim when Ra’s has pushed him out of the building, how he says ‘Welcome home’ to him when Tim wakes up, how Tim says, “You’re my brother, Dick. You’ll always be there for me.” This sort of reconciliation, along with Dick telling Tim that he trusts him in #11. How Dick finally starts to believe that Tim may be right about Bruce being alive.
Ra’s recognition of Tim – at the end, although it’s a little creepy, makes me quite happy. But especially earlier, when he calls him ‘detective’ – something he’s only ever called Bruce before. Because Tim is brilliant. I know that a lot of people don’t like Tim. But he really is brilliant.
I haven’t mentioned the art, yet. Marcus To is amazing. I adore his art, he’s one of my favourite comic book artists. His artwork is just so...pretty, and I think he can really get the expressions and mannerisms of the characters down. Alfred fixing his shirt with that endearing, almost haughty, look on his face. Bart’s cocky hand on his hip. The way Alfred looks sad but almost a little hopeful when Tim begs him and Dick to believe that Bruce is still alive. And the way Marcus draws Damian is just charming.
