Shallow End Of The Pool
* SPOILERS WITHIN *
In spite of having a very strong opening and ending, perfectly tying up the cliff-hanger left from the previous issue and leaving you desperate to pick up the next issue, this is definitely the weak-link in this story-arc. We are given some new plot developments, but are mostly kept in the dark save for a few names dropped, speedily, via exposition. The confrontation between Road Runner was very anti-climatic and left me feeling somewhat cheated. Roadrunner even said "Meep Meep", which made him only less threatening, in addition to his unusually gentle face (for a hardened criminal). And it's strange how easily Dick destroys his legs, in spite of deducing that they might be made from a titanium alloy.
I was also taken aback by Dick's generally unprofessional tone - saying "pissed off" and "forget this...". It feels out of character for Dick, who I've always felt had enormous respect for Batman and an understanding of the level of focus and professionalism being Batman demands of him, to speak and behave in such a juvenile fashion. It's not an illegitimate take on the character, but I would've preferred to see Dick become more mature and adult as he becomes Batman, while staying true to the childishness and optimism of his Robin persona, rather than behave like an angst-ridden teenager. Which brings me to my favourite scene in the issue.
I absolutely loved the interplay of dialogue between Dick's Batman and Tim Drake's Red Robin. Dick spoke with such authority and behaved just like our brooding Bruce, but beneath his performance, Dick was still Robin and still prone to childish behavior - while still being true to the Batman persona's desire for privacy. And how could anybody with siblings not relate to that scene? It was laugh out loud funny.
I give this issue a 3.5/5
