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Yost did such a crazy-amazing job (possibly too good of job) transforming Tim.
 
I was re-reading all of my issues and I you could see the tiny mistakes that Tim normally would never make.  Nothing huge, obviously, but just small things that I know a bunch of reviewers (myself included) picked up on.  And you kept hearing Tim doubt himself and whine and sulk and make bad decisions, and so, the reader really got the understanding that Tim was off kilter because he was in grief and he had just been fired from Robin, the one thing he had left.  And no one, *no one* believed him when he said Bruce was alive.  That's gotta rock you a little bit, at least.  And so, in Yost's second arc in the book, we see him transform to a more precise, analytical Red Robin.  Tim's focus is on Bruce and Ra's and it gives him purpose, which is letting him progress as a character.  
 
And not only that.  Yost seemed to bend over backwards to try and make the book fit into a larger DC universe.  It's admirable to your product, your art, to fit in seamlessly with the universe as a whole, and I know I appreciate that in a comic.  
 
I'm really sad not to see him returning to the book, but he's such a good writer, that I know I'll pick up whatever book he starts in on next.  
 
And it seems that Fabian really loves Tim as much as the readers do.  I really loved, "A Search for a Hero" and I loved how Fabian wrote Tim with Jason, especially (pre BftC).  I think/hope/pray he does a good job with his arc.
 
Who knows?  Maybe Yost will return to RR after an arc or so.

It's not really an action figure, but I have this really cool Batman: The Animated Series alarm clock.  I've had it since like, 1995 and it's my most favorite thing ever.  It has a little projector thing that shines the bat signal on the ceiling when the alarm goes off.  And the actual alarm is a voice that goes, "Gotham City is in trouble!  Call Batman!"
 
*sigh* Now, if that isn't a reason to get out of bed in the morning, I don't know what is.

This series just frustrates me.  It's like Morrison is -pushing- Damian on us, forcing us to like him, making him his darling character.  Honestly, I only like Damian when Morrison is not writing him (See Batgirl and B:SoG).  I don't believe for a second that a 10 year old can make a car fly (Something Bruce had trouble with, Dick never did, and Tim couldn't do).  I have trouble believing that a 10 year old can know about business.  It's coming off like bad fan fiction, if you ask me.
 
I'd like to read a story where Damian is -not- Bruce's son.  Cause I do like Damian.  He's different and abrasive and I like that!  But, I'd like him to be a little age-appropriate.  I think Damian's character can only get interesting if he's not Bruce's son.
 
I'm not dropping the book, cause it's going to lead into Bruce's return, but I'm still not loving this story.

I was a bit let down.  I know I can't try and bring logic and reasoning to comic book land, but, the whole thing just seemed a bit too convenient for me.  
 
I also just hate Dick's characterization in this title.  At least in the other Bat Books he's still a bit like he was pre-Cowl.  This is just, wrong.  Bruce Wayne at his craziest, wrong.
 
I don't mind the art and I'm sticking with the series, but, as a reader I'm resentful of the fact that Grant Morrison isn't keeping up with the other titles.  It just seems equal parts lazy and greedy for him to ignore other titles and arcs.  
 
Not only that, but you have Chris Yost who seems to be bending over backwards trying to make his title fit continuity, like when in one of the earlier issues, he mentions how he hopes he see's Kon in heaven, but then Bam!  Kon show's up in Paris with Tim in Adventure Comics.   And then he doesn't get to write their reunion, so he fits one into his comic later, to compensate and have it make a bit of sense.
 
It's not to say I'm not enjoying the comic, I am, for the most part, but I'm still frusterated, I guess.
 
And I'll stop sulking now.

Tim's gonna be so pissed.

Something I'm kind of interested in is the relationship between Dick and Damian.  They seem a lot closer then Bruce was with any of his other Robins.  You have to admit, Dick and Bruce are two completely different Batmen (Batmans?) and if Bruce were to take back the cowl and Damian were to continue to be Robin, I could see major tension there. 
 
Another thought I had was that who says there can only be one Batman?  Let's face it, the way that Gotham's goin', she could use two caped crusaders.   
 
I'm really excited to read about Bruce's return.  I'm totally ready.  I just hope that the writers respect the fact that I've (we've?) been reading Red Robin with the hopes of Tim being -highly- involved in the return of Bruce.  And I'm not ready for him to play second fiddle to Dick Grayson. 

This had everything, everything I wanted in a final issue of an arc.   
 
Red Robin is the only Batbook that seems to be leading up to something bigger then itself.  Which is not to say I haven't enjoyed B+R and Batman, but, they both seem rather... stagnant?   
 
Nice review, man!

I really like this arc so far!   
  
I feel like, sometimes, in comic book land, the writer tries to rush the story.  They try to make it as action packed as they possibly can, and as a result, all the pieces don't quite fall into place and it leaves the story quite contrite, in my opinion.  I feel like Daniel is trusting the reader to be patient and just let the pieces fall into place.  And in turn, the reader has to trust the writer to connect all the dots, so to speak.  You see the pieces start to fit together a bit in this book, what with the maps that Selina stole and the girl Katrina, all the villains coming out of the woodwork... We know about the drug-cocktail, now, and I bet we find out about the gas masks from Damian soon... I guess I'm just really excited to see how this all ends! 
 
And I think the art is absolutely stunning.  I love the way TD commits to full scenes.  It's beautiful. 
 
Good review, Babs.  I agreed with nearly everything.    

   
I don't have anything of substance to add so, just for a chuckle: