Robins #3 picks up where issue #2 left off for another action-packed installment. A conversation between Dick and Bruce frames the comic and recounts the events following the last issue’s cliffhanger. The gang teams up to defeat a group of ex-sidekicks who have acquired technology that allows them to physically transform into their prior partners and hack Batman’s database.
Robins #3
Romulo Fajardo Jr. (Colorist), Baldemar Rivas (Artist), Tim Seeley (Writer), Steve Wands (Letterer)
DC Comics
January 12, 2022
This tech gives them the upper hand in the fight, as they have access to Bruce’s info on the combat styles he taught each Robin and the signature moves of the ex-sidekicks’ villain partners. Although one might assume this would lead to a fight where the Robins get beat up pretty significantly, Dick figures out the trick quickly, and the Robins bounce back fast. Seeing the Robins face a stronger setback might have helped create more of a narrative obstacle at the halfway point of the series, but despite the fight taking up most of the issue, the problem-solving feels rushed.
One thing that trips up the fight is how much Dick has to explain his way through it. Although it results in some quippy dialogue from the Robins, the exposition does take some spotlight away from the punches themselves, depowering the action and diminishing its pop. In particular, Dick’s exposition to Bruce at the end of the issue feels somewhat silly, making the technology too sophisticated for the apparently-ridiculous sidekicks to employ. Although some goofiness to the villains makes sense for a lighthearted Robin comic, the tone doesn’t add up as it spins from the absurd to the serious, leaving the dialogue scrambling to make sense of it. The concepts are cool, but could benefit from simpler explanations and artistic renderings.
Although Robins as a miniseries started on a good note, the halfway tipping point is looking less promising. We still don’t know much about the “first” Robin (Jenny Wren) and her specific motivation for chaotic revenge, and at this point in the book, we should. The twist on the final pages left me with mixed feelings, speaking as a big Tim Drake fan.
Another snag that might leave Robin fans disappointed is the lack of in-character bonding (or rifts) between the kids. I was looking forward to sibling rivalry, family banter, and the joy of seeing collaboration between my most favorite characters. When these elements emerge and fit snugly into the action, the issue shines. Less focus on plot mechanics and more on the characters could help elevate this series into a memorable piece of Batfamily storytelling.
This issue continues with uneven art. Like the last issue, the combat is sometimes difficult to follow, but overall, the Robins’ fight styles fit their personalities, and the ex-sidekicks have some fun moments.
Robins is in no way doomed. With three more issues, it can carve its way back to be a compelling character piece, even for Jenny Wren. The conclusion of Dick and Bruce’s conversation shows real narrative commitment to understanding who the Robins are and what their pasts mean to their present selves. If the miniseries continues to commit to the Batfamily dynamics, it could take a turn to be a worthy book for Robin’s 82-year history.
