Robin
Volume 1: Reborn

Collecting Batman #455-457, Detective Comics #618-621 and Robin (1991) #1-5.

The collection begins with Detective Comics #618, by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle. Batman and Tim Drake are in the Batcave on the hunt for a hacker that is siphoning money from banks. Alfred appears with a postcard from Tim's parents, alerting him to the fact that they are extending their trip to the Caribbean. Meanwhile, over the Haiti, the plane with Jack and Janet Drake on board is brought in to land at the command of a mysterious individual by the name of the Obeah Man. In Detective Comics #619, Batman tries his best to comfort Tim over the disappearance of his parents, but Tim decides to concentrate on catching the hacker rather than dwell on his feelings. Batman later receives a tape that might lead to the whereabouts of the missing Drakes. In Detective Comics #620, Batman continues on the trail of the missing Drakes and begins to fear that they have fallen victim to a voodoo cult. Finally, in Detective Comics #621, Batman reveals to Tim Drake what happened to his parents in Haiti and he might not like what he hears.

During this story arc, Tim asks Alfred if having dead parents is a requirement for being Robin. Alfred assures him that of course it isn't, but unfortunately it sort of turns out to be true. Tim's father would live though, so I guess that's a small mercy. That would also mean that we'd get a load of tiresome drama about Tim worrying about hiding the fact that he is Robin from his father. That's yet to come though so I won't worry too much about that.

Next is Batman #455, by Alan Grant and Norm Breyfogle again. Batman investigates a spate of seemingly random murders by various people with no connection to one another, supposedly killing on a whim. Photo-journalist Vicki Vale gets involved when she tracks down the source of the murders but soon finds herself in danger. In Batman #456, Batman is out to rescue Vicki Vale from the culprit behind the random people killing on a whim. Meanwhile, Tim Drake grapples with the decision whether he should become the next Robin. This story arc ends in Batman #457, where Batman discovers the culprit behind the murder spree. (It's Scarecrow. it's not even as if this is a spoiler, he's on the front cover!) Tim Drake must overcome his own fears if he hopes to save Batman.

Tim is still upset about his mother's death, which is understandable I suppose. It's a pity the Obeah Man never made another appearance as I would have liked to have seen Tim get some resolution about what the villain did to his parents. I was a little disappointed that Tim only just became Robin properly right at the end of this story line. I guess we had to get to know him as Tim Drake first of all. I shouldn't be too upset as I suppose that I have known Tim as Robin the longest and it was nice to get to know him before he put on the suit. I know Dick Grayson best as Nightwing and I don't know enough about Jason Todd's time as Robin to make a decision. Then there's Damien, what an entitled little shit!

Robin's first limited series begins with Robin #1, by Chuck Dixon and Tom Lyle. Batman gives Tim Drake his new Robin suit. However, Tim isn't quite ready to become Batman's partner yet as he first needs to train with the greatest masters in the world. Tim is sent to Paris to enrol in an exclusive school that teaches Tibetan fighting techniques. Tim encounters a mysterious young woman named Lynx and encounters a street gang called the Ghost Dragons. In Robin #2, Tim gets a warning from the assassin Lady Shiva that he is in danger for messing with the Ghost Dragons. The Ghost Dragons are working for a man named King Snake and he isn't all that happy about Tim meddling in his business. In Robin #3, Lady Shiva reveals that King Snake has a cache of bio-engineered version of the Bubonic Plague. They travel to Hong Kong to try and stop King Snake's evil plan. In Robin #4, Lady Shiva offers her services to train Robin as they search for King Snake. Finally, in Robin #5, as Robin and his allies begin their final assault on King Snake's operation as he prepares to unleash his plague upon Hong Kong.

It was good to see Robin get his very own villain to fight in his first limited series. Blockbuster might have been Dick Grayson's first big villain he encountered in the Nightwing series, but he was still a cast-off from Batman's rogues gallery. I have to wonder what it is about the Robins attracting posh Brits as villains. First it was Tim with King Snake, then it was Dick with Lady Vic. I'm not complaining though, I love posh Brits as villains. Just take a look at some of my favourite movie villains.

I am always happy to see Lady Shiva appear in the comics. She doesn't particularly interest me as a character on her own, it's her link to Cassandra Cain that most interests me. No spoilers just yet as I have a couple of volumes of Batgirl to read and we will get to the link between Cassandra and Shiva in all good time.

I found this collection to be quite enjoyable. these collections don't actually get to Robin's proper ongoing until volume three. Volume two contain his other two limited series. Robin II involves his first encounter with the Joker and Robin III is the first post-Crisis appearance of the Huntress. The pre-Crisis version of the Huntress was the daughter of Batman and Catwoman from an alternate reality and this post-Crisis version is the vengeance-seeking daughter of a mob boss. I look forward to checking those out in all good time as well.

My rating: 3.5 stars.