A one-shot dealing with Bruce's return and his interaction with Red Robin.
There's a bunch of Bruce Wayne: The Road Home one-shots out this week, some of them are connected.
The Good
The issue begins with Bruce Wayne's "White Casebook" and his thoughts of Tim (as Red Robin) in action. It's great to hear Bruce's thoughts and concerns as Tim continues his journey to the next level of his crime fighting career. The team of Fabian Nicieza and Ramon Bachs makes it feel like this is a regular issue of Red Robin rather than just a Red Robin one-shot.
There is also more on Vicki Vale and the fact that she's pretty darn sure she knows all the Bat-secrets. You'll definitely want to see what happens when she confronts Alfred with all this.
The Bad
This was the first "The Road Home" title I read this week so I felt a tiny bit lost at first. There's also the fact that The Return Of Bruce Wayne #5 (of 6) also came out and Bruce still hasn't made his return. Yet in these one-shots, Bruce is indeed back. Unfortunately the bad timing of the releases throws things off a little.
The Verdict - 4.5/5
I wasn't really sure how I felt about Tim taking on the Red Robin guise at first and I really wasn't sure what he would do once Bruce returned. Obviously there is the feel that we're missing something as Bruce is back, in a new costume but that's just something beyond our control. Putting those minor issues aside, this was a really good story. Things are getting set into motion. These may be a series of one-shots but with the bits left hanging, you're going to want to read this issue and the others to see more on Bruce Wayne's return.
The only Road Home i didnt like was the Outsiders. Maybe its because i havent pick up the book since issue 20. Looks like a new cast of characters. Perhaps ill catch up.
Me too. I can't wait Tim Drake is easily the coolest character right now as Red Robin because he's not a stand in for Nightwing and he's still his own person
Wow, 4.5? I wasn't expecting that. The art in this book was pretty lacking IMO. Every time I turned the page, I kept asking why they had someone do what looks like a novice job on the art. I hate saying that about any artist, but seriously, the art looking very half-assed and far too...I don't know the word... It looked like a high school student's art project for class at times.
The writing was great, though. It shows yet again that Nicieza is an immense talent at DC. Yeah, you need to start with Batman & Robin to know what's going on in this book, and it ties into Outsiders after that. Nonetheless, it was nice seeing Bruce in a slightly different light. I'm not sure if I like this "assessment" that he's doing, as I feel like there are some pretty big and important parts missing. I mean, he's just back and checking everyone out? Tim KNOWS he's back, but Dick and Damien don't? Where's all that coming from?
yeah i'm a completist, i must have them all. although ultimately i won't care about batgirl, outsiders, or gordon's. but yeah, i felt like i was missing something, like where is t he issue when he actually enters the present?
I was a little put off by the art. Really dig Marcus To on this book. I read Return of Bruce Wayne #5, this, then the Batman & Robin one shot. Needless to say I was totally confused for a minute.
The only Road Home i didnt like was the Outsiders. Maybe its because i havent pick up the book since issue 20. Looks like a new cast of characters. Perhaps ill catch up.
"
Technically it's a bunch of old characters coming back after a long time, but same thing basically. I highly HIGHLY recommend resuming Outsiders. #21-25 were decent, but the new creative team of Dan Didio and Philip Tan are practically gods writing this series. The first few issues were a bit shaky, especially when instead of the promised Philip Tan we got A LOT of Dan Kramer, who's art is passable at best, but once Philip Tan was regular artist, it seems like Didio got his head in the game as well because it has been absolutely mind blowing. Also, yeah, it'll make Road Home Outsiders make A LOT more sense, but I still didn't think it was nearly as good as the recent Outsiders or the other Road Homes.
It's a disappointment seeing DC mess up the timing of these releases, especially since the return of Bruce Wayne is a BIG DEAL. Oh well though, i'm sure it'll all tie together perfectly after all the issues have been released
" Passed on it. Hate tie-ins. Unless there will be no new issue of Red Robin this month. In that case, I will pick it up at month's end. "
There is no new Red Robin this month. Every title that has a Road Home tie-in has no issue this month. And even some that don't like Streets of Gotham. (Seriously, what's up with that?) I still recommend it because it deals with The Council of Spiders and teases a bit about The Hit List.
@The Mighty Monarch: Agreed. I liked how they worked Council of Spiders and The Hit List into this issue, and the story itself...how Bruce gets involved with what Tim is doing...was really well-integrated without feeling too displacing. I know that I'm going to have to go pick up Outsiders and Batgirl as well. Unfortunately, I know absolutely NOTHING about Outsiders, so that's going to be a bit odd. Hopefully it gets me into the series, though.
the way they worked the previosu arcs in was nice. a goo story overall, Bruce wayne was coming back anyway so i don't mind thee books coming out since ROBw was delayed.
" @The Mighty Monarch: Agreed. I liked how they worked Council of Spiders and The Hit List into this issue, and the story itself...how Bruce gets involved with what Tim is doing...was really well-integrated without feeling too displacing. I know that I'm going to have to go pick up Outsiders and Batgirl as well. Unfortunately, I know absolutely NOTHING about Outsiders, so that's going to be a bit odd. Hopefully it gets me into the series, though. "
If you don't know Outsiders Road Home is going to do very little to help that. It relies HEAVILY on a whole string of recent events. For The Road Home it's not very essential, it moves along some story from Outsiders a lot more than it does Road Home, but not as well written as the main title. There's a little pinch of Vicki Vale, and of course Bruce is following up on that assassination thing, but ultimately both Road Home Outsiders and Road Home Batgirl say, 'To Be Continued in Road Home Catwoman.' Road Home Outsiders won't really do much for you without having read the recent Outsiders, which is something I cannot recommend enough. One of my absolute favorite titles along with Batman and Robin and Generation Lost.
" Passed on it. Hate tie-ins. Unless there will be no new issue of Red Robin this month. In that case, I will pick it up at month's end. "
There is no new Red Robin this month. Every title that has a Road Home tie-in has no issue this month. And even some that don't like Streets of Gotham. (Seriously, what's up with that?) I still recommend it because it deals with The Council of Spiders and teases a bit about The Hit List. "
Damn. Figured that might be the case. B&R have an issue but that is only because of delays so I could not be sure.
Well, my bad. I will get it next week along with Road Home B&R and the others from series I read.
I've been waiting for this. For some reason I always felt that Tim was the better choice to take up the mantle of Batman more then Dick. It was almost obvious that Dick would become Batman (the eldest son gets the throne kind of deal), but Tim always came off to me as the better detective then Dick. Dick is Nightwing, and Nightwing for the reason that Dick wanted to seperate himself from Batman and be his own man. He has too. He has done it well. Since Tim became Red Robin Ive been more curious as to what Batman more then wondering what Batman thought of Dick becoming Batman. It's almost easy to see somewhere down the line Bruce telling Dick that he had nothing but confidence that Dick would take care of things and if anyone should ware the cowl it should be Dick. It's a gimme
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