Tag Tim Drake

A Batman #133 Micro-Review – Alfred With a Sword?

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman 133, cover, March 2023, Jorge JimenezTITLE: Batman #133
AUTHOR: Chip Zdarsky
ARTISTS: Mike Hawthorne, Adriano Di Benedetto (Inker), Tomeu Morey (Colorist), Clayton Cowles (Letterer), Miguel Mendona, Roman Stevens (Colorist). Cover by Jorge Jimenez.
RELEASED: March 7, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Does Alfred have a sword on that cover? Uh, why? I mean, he doesn’t wield a sword in the issue…

I go hot and cold on this  “The Bat-Man of Gotham” story. Some months I’m into it, some months I’m not. The art is fine. But from a story perspective, I’m waiting for something to really pique my interest, and thus far I haven’t seen it.

I found myself wishing the Tim Drake back-up got a little more page time. Or at least this segment of the story with Toyman.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Tim Drake: Robin #6 Micro-Review – Robin Kissing a Boy

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Tim Drake Robin 6, cover, February 2023, Ricardo Lopez OrtizTITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #6
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer). Cover by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz.
RELEASED: February 28, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

The novelty of Robin kissing a boy on a comic book cover should not be lost on readers. Especially those of us who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, when Tim Drake was created.

The book’s first arc wraps up here, and it was a decent one that ends on a nice note for Tim. I maintain that Riley Rossmo is a bit of an acquired taste for this particular book. But he makes it work. I’m looking forward to see what’s next for Tim Drake: Robin.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Tim Drake: Robin #5 Micro-Review – A Salty Nemesis

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Tim Drake Robin 5, cover, January 2023, Ricardo Lopez OrtizTITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #5
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Ricardo Lopez Ortiz, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Josh Reed (Letterer). Cover by Ortiz.
RELEASED: January 24, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

I like the idea of Tim getting his own arch nemesis. A Professor Moriarty to his Sherlock Holmes, etc. That’s what much of this story, and this issue in particular, build toward. The route the issue takes toward the reveal of our nemesis is a little befuddling, as it’s got a bunch of salt monsters, and a moment where Tim has to make himself vomit. But I like the destination we got to.

Ricardo Lopez Ortiz, who’s been our cover artist, does some interior work here. Thankfully, his style is similar enough to Rossmo’s that it works out okay.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Batman #131 Micro-Review – The Tim Drake Renaissance

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Batman, 131, cover, January 2023, Jorge JimenezTITLE: Batman #131
AUTHOR: Chip Zdarsky
ARTISTS: Mike Hawthorne, Miguel Mendonca, Ariano Di Benedetto (Inker), Tomeu Morey (Colorist), Roman Stevens (Colorist), Clayton Cowles (Letterer). Cover by Jorge Jimenez.
RELEASED: January 3, 2023

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Zdarsky’s “The Bat-Man of Gotham” storyline isn’t going much for me thus far. But I eventually came around on his previous story, “Failsafe.” So I’m hopeful that will change.

I’m partial to this issue’s back-up, which sees Tim Drake commence his hunt for the missing Batman. Granted, it treads some ground we already covered more than a decade ago. But still, between the revelation about his sexuality, his new ongoing series, and him getting this spotlight in Batman, I’m digging this Tim Drake renaissance we’re having.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Tim Drake: Robin #4 Micro-Review – The Batgirls Family

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

tim_drake_robin_4_cover_december_2022_ricardo_lopez_ortiz (1)TITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #4
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer). Cover by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz. 
RELEASED: December 27, 2022

The Batgirls, Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, make an appearance in this issue. It’s interesting, in that Riley Rossmo’s art almost feels like it’s in the same family as that of Jorge Corona and Neil Googe, the two respective regular artists on the Batgirls series.

This issue also contains a sweet moment between Tim and his boyfriend Bernard. I initially wasn’t sure about the two of them as a couple, given their history as friends in the comics. But they’re growing on me.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Tim Drake: Robin #3 Micro-Review – The Most Effective Disguise in Comics

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Tim Drake Robin 3, cover, November 2022, Riley RossmoTITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #3
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer)

RELEASED: November 22, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This issue suffers from bad timing. Normally the “all the past Robins together” thing works, whether it’s in a fight scenario or some kind of big group meeting. But we just saw it a couple weeks ago in Batman vs. Robin #3. So to see it again here came off a little lame.

Also lame? That Robin meets Tim Drake’s boyfriend Bernard in this issue, and Bernard doesn’t recognize him. It’s that classic, yet no less ridiculous rule that somehow the domino mask is the most effective disguise in superhero comics.

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A Dark Crisis: Young Justice #6 Micro-Review – Overdue Quality

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Dark Crisis Young Justice 6, cover, 2022, Max Dunbar, Luis GuerreroTITLE: Dark Crisis: Young Justice #6 (of 6)
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Laura Braga, Luis Guerrero (Colorist), Pat Brosseau (Letterer). Cover by Max Dunbar & Guerrero.

RELEASED: November 15, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

For yours truly, this mini has been the best part of the whole Dark Crisis experience. Every character has gotten a chance to to shine and be explored. What’s more, the art by Laura Braga and Luis Guerrero has been richly detailed and a joy to look at. These characters and this team have been long overdue for something of this high a quality.

Impulse has a line in this issue about hoping this isn’t the end of Young Justice. I second that. How about a new series written by Meghan Fitzmartin?

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

A Tim Drake: Robin #2 Micro-Review – Detective Comics

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Tim Drake Robin 2, cover, 2022, Ricardo Lopez OrtizTITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #2
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Rob Leigh (Letterer). Cover by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz.

RELEASED: October 25, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

They’re leaning heavily into the whole “Tim Drake as a detective” thing. That’s not a bad approach, as his mind is what sets him aside from the other Robins. I’m just wondering if we need all the references to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Raymond Chandler, etc.

How long have Tim and his boyfriend Bernard been together? They’ve known each other a long time. But how long have they been a couple? I ask because Tim talks about wanting to share his life with Bernard. That seems a little heavy if they’ve only been together for a short time, doesn’t it?

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.

Epic Covers: Tim Drake: Robin #1 by Sweeney Boo

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

This week’s Tim Drake: Robin #1 has been a long time coming. As in, more than 10 years. Tim’s Red Robin series, which was really good, ended when the New 52 began. Then he got that awful costume, and he was downplayed, and it was just bad, and-

I fear I’ve gotten off topic.

I always appreciate when artists create content that’s sexy without beating us over the head with it. That’s exactly what Sweeney Boo does with this variant cover for Tim Drake: Robin #1. Yes, it shows off Tim’s muscles. But it’s all in the hand being behind the ear. It creates a shy sexuality that’s fitting, given all the emphasis on Tim being bisexual over the last year. That’s something that will no doubt be explored in this new series.

Here’s to a new era of Tim Drake stories!

Tim Drake Robin 1, cover, 2022, Sweeney Boo

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A Tim Drake: Robin #1 Micro-Review – Robin’s Rightful Return

Rob Siebert Leave a comment

***This is where we keep it nice and simple. Comic book reviews in 100 words or less. Straight, concise, and to the point.***

Tim Drake Robin 1, cover, 2022, Ricardo Lopez OrtizTITLE: Tim Drake: Robin #1
AUTHOR: Meghan Fitzmartin
ARTISTS: Riley Rossmo, Lee Loughridge (Colorist), Tom Napolitano (Letterer). Cover by Ricardo López Ortiz.

RELEASED: September 27, 2022

By Rob Siebert
Fanboy Wonder

Riley Rossmo’s art doesn’t necessarily have the conventional look you’d expect on a Bat-book. (Though he has worked on Batman before.) So there’s an adjustment period with Tim Drake: Robin #1. But by the time you close the issue, you’re into what he and Lee Loughridge are doing.

Meghan Fitzmartin gets the series off to a good start here, which isn’t a surprise. Right now, there’s no one more qualified than her to write a Tim Drake series. She’s been killing it with him.

Email Rob at primaryignition@yahoo.com, or check us out on Twitter.