Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: The Wrong Town: Part 1
Written by: Jon Lewis
Penciled by: Pete Woods
Inked by: Andrew Pepoy
Colored by: Noelle Giddings
Lettered by: Willie Schubert
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
Chuck Dixon guided ROBIN from his three mini-series appearances in the early 90’s all the way to issue 100 of the ongoing, just over a year ago. Dixon more than anyone was the guiding light behind Tim Drake, and the modern day Robin. Since his departure ROBIN has lost some of its gleam, becoming a little to dark for my tastes. That’s not to say Jon Lewis isn’t a talented writer. He has woven several intricate, well-planned stories, which were entertaining. Yet most issues have suffered due to the talking heads approach that is Lewis’ style.
The biggest mistake has been taking Tim Drake out of the classroom settings that much of Dixon’s stories centered on. Beyond a subplot, following Tim’s father Jack’s battle with depression, over his lost fortune, the stories have not shown much of Tim’s private life. Tim’s friends, and troubles he gets into in school because of his duel life are long gone, and sorely missed. Tim is becoming a Jr. Batman far to quickly! ROBIN usually was written with a slightly lighter tone, and shouldn’t be about gallivanting around in uniform constantly.
The current issue does have a very tight plot, which follows several different storylines simultaneously. While Lewis’ story contains minimal action, we are treated to three plotlines unfolding at once. Robin trails a gun smuggler, while Spoiler continues her devious ways by using the Birds of Prey to track The Riddler, at the same time Jack Drake tempts fate at the hands of a Valkyrie. The cover describes the contents as, “A Ghost—Guns—and a Riddleâ€, and I think that is very fair. Yet how will each element in this arc come together? That is the big question.
Pete Woods and Andrew Pepoy work together seamlessly, as always. The detail in each panel as well as the backgrounds is a pleasure to the eye. The only real fault I can find would be in some of the facial expressions. To many characters seem to be scowling slightly or having down-turned features. Woods’ work on Robin has gotten better each month and his run of more than three years is to be commended in today’s marketplace.
While not as good as Chuck Dixon’s work, Jon Lewis has put together a solid first year on ROBIN. As Lewis gains more experience with Tim Drake, I have faith the stories can reach the level of Chuck Dixon’s work.
