Welcome to Random Robin, where I flip a coin, open a longbox, and pick a random issue of Tim Drake’s Robin solo series and other notable issues. Here’s what I’m reading this time:
Batman: Gotham Knights
Issue #32
First-time reading: Yes
Stop me if you’ve heard this one: “instead of beating up the mentally ill, why doesn’t Bruce Wayne use his wealth to improve Gotham City?”
It’s a tired, pointless argument that isn’t nearly as profound or deep as one would think. The obvious answer is that these are comic books, and we need stories to read.
The less obvious answer is that he does, which is evident all across Batman’s history. Bruce has used his vast wealth to promote social causes, fund hospitals and clinics, and provide jobs for criminals seeking reform. There are countless examples of this over the decades, but Gotham Knights #32 here seems to have been written as a one-stop shop for anyone wanting proof.
Simply titled “24/7”, this issue is just that: a look at 24 hours in the life of Bruce Wayne, starting when he wakes up and ending the following morning. Along the way, writer Devin Grayson takes us from Wayne’s bedroom to the Wayne Tech boardroom, on to a golf course, up river to Blüdhaven, through various streets and familiar Gotham locales, and all the way back to Wayne Manor to show the good works he does in and out of costume. For the most part it’s successful, and works really well as a strong one-and-done primer on Bruce Wayne’s M.O.
What really helps with the pacing of the issue is that each page is a different scene, at different times of day. That means that if you’re not feeling the dialogue or scenario presented, the next page offers something new. That also means that if you’re really invested in one of Bruce’s meetings, though, you won’t get more than what’s there on that specific page. Most of Grayson’s ideas are strong, though, with hardly anything feeling shortchanged or like it’s overstaying its welcome. Some of the early scenes are pretty dialogue heavy, I’ll give it that, there are a few references to recent events in continuity that might fly over the heads of fans who aren’t familiar with this era, and there’s one scene between a couple that is a nice idea if lacking in execution, but there’s hardly a part of the issue that drags or feels out of place.
My favorite scenes are the ones that show a side of Bruce’s personality that is all too often overlooked: his kindness. Be it feeding an extravagant lunch to a group of senior citizens, offering a scholarship to a young employee, providing work opportunities for “unhireable” ex-convicts, or even asking a friend how their father is doing, this is a Bruce who cares. He fights crime, yeah, and won’t hesitate to strike fear into the hearts of criminals, but he still takes the time to respect the humanity of even his fiercest foes.
The pencils, inks, colors, and letters from Robinson, Floyd, Oakley, Workman, and Vasquez tell the story well, with Robinson’s figure work reminding me a bit of Phil Hester. There’s one panel that is kind of creepy, with a businessman’s glassy-eyed stare making him look more sinister and soulless than I’m sure the artists intended, but maybe there’s some commentary there about how corporate greed can wreck a man’s soul?
Yeah, probably not.
In all seriousness, despite some wordier pages, the art team use silent panels to great effect, notably on a sequence involving a mugger. Without any dialogue other than a single grunt, we see Batman save a woman from a purse snatcher, and then in turn saving the dazed thug from the path of an oncoming vehicle. Even the life of a criminal is precious to Batman, which we see through visual storytelling and sound effects.
“But Jay,” you say, “this is Random Robin. Where is Robin?”
Reader, I’m glad you asked, because while Robin is mentioned in passing and only appears in person on a single page, what a page it is. In the Coventry area of Gotham, at 9:31 P.M., Batman watches approvingly as Robin takes on a group of vandals.
And when I say vandals, I mean “skinhead neo-Nazis,” who are caught in the act of vandalizing a synagogue with hateful phrases and symbols. Robin makes quick work of the lot, leaving them for the police to find after he spray paints “LOSERS” across their unconscious bodies. This is the reason I bought this issue, after I’d heard about this scene, and even if it’s only a single page of Robin, it’s an amazing single page.
This is one of those issues that’s all too rare these does: a focused story that’s told in full over 22 pages, standing on its own without having to read what came before or what comes after to get the complete experience. It’s a great character study, reminding us all throughout and up to the final page why Batman does what he does.
Plus Robin beats up racists. Twelve stars.
Fun Facts
- We have ads for Corn Nuts, a huge JVC boombox, Ziyi Zhang for Got Milk?, an anti-smoking campaign, Fruitopia fruit drinks, some band called Neurotica, Magic The Gathering Online, the X Games, the DVD and VHS release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the PlayStation video game (c-12) Final Resistance, Right Guard X-Treme Sport deodorant, and Zapytz acne cream.
- Not much in the way of house ads in here, though there is a Batman: Black & White story from Mark Askwith, Michael William Kaluta, and Jack Morelli. Eh.
- The letters page– which shares the book’s title– has lengthy praise from one reader, and an inspiring story from another who related all too well to a recent issue’s handling of suicide.
- Not for nothing, it’s worth mentioning that this issue was printed on newsprint, so needless to say it smells wonderful.
- Total time covered: 21 hours and 48 minutes
- Businessmen Bruce shmoozes: at least 3
- Moves made in chess game with Two-Face: 2
- Nazi punks Robin thrashes: 5
- Batarangs thrown: 1
Who is Tim Dating?
Nobody is mentioned.
Check back next time for more Robin randomness.
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