Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Broken Futures
Written by: Jon Lewis
Penciled by: Pete Woods
Inked by: Andrew Pepoy
Colored by: Noelle Giddings
Lettered by: Willie Schubert
Assistant Editor: Nachie Castro
Editor: Matt Idelson
Publisher: DC Comics
Man all I can say is I’m extremely disappointing. I’ve really enjoyed Jon Lewis’ direction of late on Robin. In fact the recently concluded four-part arc “Wrong Townâ€, was one of the best comic stories this year. Following hot on the heels of the best, is what is shaping up to be an under whelming final arc for Lewis, that just doesn’t make sense.
Bill Willingham is taking over on the book with issue 121, and it seems his new direction will be more in line with Chuck Dixon’s run which including mini-series exceeded 100 issues. My hopes for Lewis’ last few issues were high, as he’s taken a very grim approach, something I mentioned in my review of issue 113 as, “Robin gets Vertigo-ized.†Sure the tone of this issue is the same, but the plotline is downright silly and the execution is failed in every way.
The basis for the next few issues centers on a projection of Alfred, from the year 2012, trying to alert Robin that a traitor will appear in their midst. As the seeds for the traitors actions are now being planted, Robin for some reason is the person Alfred chooses to contact. The view of the future is as trite as can be, involving superheroes that have taken too much power, and now oppress the common man.
While the whole plotline is fairly ludicrous, this is a comic book and I could live with it more if Robin wasn’t played as a fool. Hanging out with Batman and various other superheroes, I don’t think Tim would view the idea of time travel as such a far out notion. Plus the ideas drawn forth by Alfred with regard to temporal mechanics are idiotic, when they take place in the DC Universe where time travel has already played a large part.
The one real bright spot this issue is the exceptional work of the soon to be departing regular art team, Pete Woods and Andrew Pepoy. Their run on the title, especially Woods who’s been on for more than forty issues, has always maintained fine quality. This issue is no exception, as the now sixteen-year-old Robin and his surroundings are captured with a deft stroke. I’m anxious to see where both men turn up following their run here.
The one saving grace this ridiculous storyline may have is that the entire thing is a trick employed by one Batman’s rogues or the Dark Knight himself. Perhaps as a twisted birthday gift? Lewis has surprised me in the past by taking stories that don’t appear to be working in a clever direction. I do like the “dynamic†that Lewis creates between Robin and Batman; he certainly has a handle on their relationship. With any luck the next few issues will redeem this lackluster installment, but I’m not holding my breath.
