Robin Jumpin On Point

[Ryan Broussard]

is there a good place to jump on this title...i have just recently jumped to nightwing....thinking of giving this a try

any advice?

[Blake Petit]

The issue that just came out last week is a pretty good spot. It's the first non-crossover issue since "War Games" started, and it's a very good summary of the current status quo of the title.

Although I'd be remiss not to point out -- although the writing on this title is superb these days, the artwork, sadly, is abysmal.

[Ryan Broussard]

ok I might check it out this week...thanks blake

[Blake Petit]

That's what I'm here for. :D

[Benoit Fabre]

I would have advised the same

[NightJim]

Me too. The writings great on this, that art is terrible. I nearly didn't pick it up for that reason but took a chance this month feeling flush and I'm hooked now.

[Walt Kneeland]

Originally posted by Blake Petit
Although I'd be remiss not to point out -- although the writing on this title is superb these days, the artwork, sadly, is abysmal.

I'll second (third?) that...

I've enjoyed my share of "anime" and "manga" stuff, but I don't much care for seeing regular versions of characters suddenly take on a "manga-esque" appearance and such. It's one thing for special projects or such, and I'm all for individual styles...but whatever the deal with the present art, I've just been trying to ignore it and focus on what I'm READING lately. :(

~Walt

[Kevin Reeves]

The art style is definitely an aquired taste; it reminds me of the comic books (giant books of B&W graphic storytelling) that were so popular (with kids & adults) in Japan when I was there in 1996.

It's a little weird to have such a dark time in Robin (Tim)'s life punctuated with this anime-like, softer-feeling artwork.

I think it's actually a kind of cool art style because it's so fresh in contrast to the more traditional artwork I'm used to seeing in the comics I read. But it is an odd way to flavor the retelling of so much tragedy for Tim.

[Walt Kneeland]

Originally posted by Kevin Reeves
I think it's actually a kind of cool art style because it's so fresh in contrast to the more traditional artwork I'm used to seeing in the comics I read. But it is an odd way to flavor the retelling of so much tragedy for Tim.

It's definitely an acquired taste, and I don't mind the style--I've enjoyed Pokemon (well, back in late 1998, trailing off into 2000), and more recently, stuff like Chobits and Fruits Basket (thank my roomie for those) as well as Dragonball Z, and been getting more and more interested in some of the other manga out there.

But it's NOT the style I think is appropriate for the mainstream/regular DCU. (It's also one reason I refuse to watch the "Teen Titans" cartoon).

But aside from maybe 3ish issues, I've got every Robin issue thus far, including all 3 minis from the early 90s, so just like Action Comics, I can weather some poor art times, especially as the writing's good. :D

~Walt

[Magnus2k]

They all look like monkeys to me in this art style. Not even human.

[Magnus2k]

They all look like monkeys to me in this art style. Not even human.

[Kevin Reeves]

Yeah, the art does accentuate the primate features of the characters, to be sure.

The fact that Robin's M.O. is to swing around rooftops like a monkey adds to that feel, too!

[Ryan Broussard]

i took yalls advice and jumped on at the last issue, I liked it alot

I really liked the art, its intersting

however, i dont know

what happened in war games, why is he not in gotham, where did spoiler go?

[Kevin Reeves]

Why'd Robin leave Gotham? Where's the Spoiler? Here's your answers: Tim Drake/Robin was dating Stephanie Brown/Spoiler for awhile. For a short stint, Tim gave up being Robin (after his father had found out & demanded he cease benig a vigilante). During that time, Bruce Wayne/Batman FINALLY offered his approval of Stephanie Brown/Spoiler as a vigilante (up to that point he'd considered her inexperienced & not worthy of the job), & he offered Stephanie the role of being his new Robin. So for a few cool issues, we saw Stephanie Brown actually playing the part of Robin. BUT, during that time, she got a glimpse of a plan Batman had in his Batcave to resolve the rival gang troubles that have long been a staple of the Gotham underground. It involved calling a secret meeting of all the gang leaders, which Bruce would also attend disguised as Matches Malone--a snitch of sorts who Bruce masquerades as from time to time to get information from the Gotham underground. What Stephanie Brown/Robin didn't realize was that Matches Malone IS Bruce Wayne. When she disobeyed Bruce's orders in the field, he fired her (you know how strict and obsessive Bruce can be!), so she went back to being Spoiler (against Bruce's wishes, of course). At that point, she wanted to show Bruce that she really is worthy of being a vigilante; she wanted to impress Bruce after he fired her as Robin. She decided to put his ganglord meeting plan into full swing all by herself, so she sent the invitation, just as explained in Bruce's plans, to each gang lord for a meeting. She didn't realize that Matches Malone wouldn't show up....because he's really Bruce Wayne. So when all the gang lords showed up, & the key figure (Matches Malone, a.k.a. Bruce Wayne) wasn't there, the gang lords thought it was a set-up & all started killing one another. This was what sparked the Gotham War Games. Stephanie Brown/Spoiler realized she really screwed up, & that she'd NEVER get Bruce's approval now, so she tried to fix everything. But she became captured, tortured, & killed by one of Batman's gangster foes--The Black Mask. Needless to say, even though Tim Drake had recaptured his role as Robin by this point, he was shaken by Stephanie's death...which was followed soon thereafter by the death of someone else very close to Tim ----- you gotta read the Identity Crisis mini-series to know who it was, if you haven't already figured it out from reading ROBIN-----and also another romantic interest of Tim's died during a War Games shootout at Tim's Gotham high school. All in all, War Games & Identity Crisis left Tim with 3 close personal deaths. He left Gotham behind, seeking greener pastures and to put that turmoil behind him...to start a new life (still as Robin) in Bludhaven, the city that until recently was watched over by Dick Grayson/Nightwing (the first Robin). That's where Tim Drake/Robin stands now. And Stephanie Brown/Spoiler, unfortunately, is deceased.
PHEW! Did you catch all that?

[Ryan Broussard]

yeah i got it thanks Kevin

I just wandered what happened to spoiler because I knew they were going out

I read batman up until war games, and of course I read IC, so i get the jest of it, I just didnt know about Stephanie

thanks again

[Kevin Reeves]

no prob. sorry I went overboard there, just wasn't sure what you knew.

glad you're not put off by ROBIN's art.

[jonsnow]

Well the good news is at least by June DC will have the art problem solved. Scott McDaniel has been announced as the new regular artist come June. It is a ways off, but it is Robin and the story has been solid. I'll stick around.

[Blake Petit]

Thank goodness -- he should be right at home on this book.

[Ryan Broussard]

hmmm then i may stay on robin

Now if an artist i like would just jump on batman i would be getting nightwing, robin, and then batman, I may pick up the trade of the batman current arc, but it doesnt interest me, although the new arc that starts in april sounds good

[Eric Barrett]

Originally posted by jonsnow
Well the good news is at least by June DC will have the art problem solved. Scott McDaniel has been announced as the new regular artist come June.
That is good news. This 'style' was never a fit for what Robin was about.

[NightJim]

That's me happy. And I know a couple of issues are supposed to be guest stars. I can put up with it till june. Especially with it being McDaniel

[jonsnow]

I think I will wait until June. Story looks great, but the art is too much for me to stomach.

[Blake Petit]

I really can't blame you there.

[Ryan Broussard]

see i like this art right now, its one of the main reasons i asked for about this title to begin with

[Magnus2k]

God. I got the latest issue, and for the first time in forever, I just had to put it down. I couldnt finish it, I really couldnt. The action scenes were so muffled I couldn't make out anything. I'll be glad when this art is done.

[Kevin Reeves]

Yes, I'm a bit baffled by the action too (even simple action, like walking across a room or something like that) in the latest ROBIN. What is UP with that? The prior issue was better, I thought, in terms of art. I know it's the same folks doing it, but still....at first, the art was cool & different to me.

I must say I'm coming around to the other way of thinking now. Could it be the result of the inker & the penciller just not complimenting each other? I don't know, but something's up & it sucks because Tim is such a cool, crafty Robin, that I really want to see as much of his action as clearly as possible!

[Blake Petit]

Having a penciller and inker that don't mesh CAN be a problem, but I don't think that's the case here. Things like fight choreography, camera angles and facial features and body structure are the domain of the penciler, and that's where the problems are IMO.

[Bad_Monkey]

Well, for those that don't like it, good news is here. For those that like this stuff, go have your head checked and in the meantime, enjoy Scott McDaniel's excellent artwork.

:smirk:

[Ryan Broussard]

ok let me spreaqd out the box here

I like the current art, now hold on let me explain

I think from an artist standpoint it is really something!
The angles of the inks, the emotion and energy come off the page, its really something. I feel like robin is in a constant state of movement, it is very out the norm.

From a comic book reader's standpoint, it is very had to follow with the story. Too many darks and at times seems a bit rushed

Studying art my whole life really has given me a diff view on comics, especially one like this.

Thre was one panel or page in this issue where I thought, that could go in a gallery by itself, with no explination at all, and the lines could be admired, it is so gestural and energy based, I love to paint that way, perhaps that is why i am drawn to this

However, I do also want to read my comic, and at times it seemed difficult, I feel this artist has some series talent, Robin my not be the place for him, but he def should have a place somewhere, especially in the realm of art and artist

just my 2 cents

[Blake Petit]

I can appreciate what you're saying about it having its own place, even if I don't agree. That's kind of how I feel about David Mack -- at least during his Daredevil run. The pages were beautiful, museum-quality pieces, but I thought they didn't serve to tell the STORY well. If anything, I'd say that's Scott's biggest problem, he doesn't know how to construct a story with his pictures.

[Ryan Broussard]

maybe....i just hate seeing him kinda ripped apart here

i remember last month when i picked up that marker cover of the last robin, Scott(me and blakes Comic shop guy) was like "come on artist your not gonna critique this cover its bad?" and i was like "no dude i freakin love it its amazing"