Review: Tim Drake: Robin #4

Overview: In Tim Drake: Robin #4, Tim continues his investigation with the help of the Batgirls while the new villain kidnaps Bernard.

Synopsis (spoilers ahead): As Tim Drake: Robin #4 begins, Tim is relaxing on his boat, going over the evidence he has.  He was told that he has all the clues, but he is having difficulty putting them all together.  He is soon interrupted by his landlord James.  This is not the distraction he wants.  James is a scared civilian, but he is also a pain in the ass.  He quickly snatches the old computer printout in Tim’s hand and absently looks at it.  He then makes an interesting statement about the viper.  Tim is immediately interested, but again he is interrupted by his phone.  Bernard is calling him.  He pushes James out and leaves to meet Bernard.

On his way, he muses about the cipher.  Is it possible that the printout is a cipher?  It is six lines of numbers with three numbers on each line.  His thoughts are interrupted by an approaching Bernard.  Tim asks Bernard about letting a superhero onto his boat, and Bernard says that he figured Tim wouldn’t mind; they both have something in common.  They both keep saving him.  Again this scene is interrupted.  This time a resident of the Marina is getting fired.  The business owner makes a statement about the residents of the Marina being degenerates.  This prompts a conversation with the onlookers who are including Tim and Barnard.  Tim makes a statement about not losing their homes; it was hard enough moving his books, and soon it will just be Tim and his books.  This sparks a thought in Tim.  He realizes that four of his books are missing.

Bernard brings his boyfriend food.  He is confused about Tim running off to stare at his books.  During their conversation, mainly focusing on their school memories, Tim realizes that he has to get into his head.

This prompts him to look up his missing books on Google.  He can find the pages and zero in on the words corresponding to the various numbers on his cipher list.  He comes up with three names:  Wally Sype, Kathy Horne, and Carol Donovan.  Bernard does not realize that he is working on Robin’s mystery; he thinks he is trying to figure out who is stalking him.  Tim tells Bernard that everything is safe and that there is nothing to worry about.

Tim decides to call in help.  This is in the form of the two Batgirls, Cass Cain and Stephanie Brown.  It is too dangerous to bring in anyone but the family.  Robin tells them this person came into his home and is targeting him.  Stephanie asks about Bernard.  The two quickly decide to help Robin.  After a search, it was discovered that there were a number of people who have one of the three names Tim identified.  The three split up to investigate each name.  They rule out all but two names.

Robin decides that the three should investigate these last two together.  He decides to start with Wallace Sype.  The three enter and find Sype dead.  The three do a search of the body.  In the previous murders, there were clues to a detective story.  Robin immediately identifies the goldfish.  At that instant, a giant glowing goldfish attacks.  Robin immediately starts to search for the white disk.  They are unable to find one, and the fish continues its attack.  Robin decides to jump inside the giant fish.  He finds the disk inside the fish.  The fish explodes into pearls releasing Robin.  Robin gets a call from Bernard.

When Robin picks up, it is not Bernard, it is the villain of this story, and he has kidnapped Bernard.  The villain’s goal is to become the best villain in Gotham.  To do that, he needs a dapper costume, a killer name, and a worthy opponent.  He wants Robin to be his opponent.

Analysis: I am disappointed with the art in this story.  The style of the characters is not what I want to see.  The people do not look human.  Their proportions are not realistic.  In addition to that, all the characters are beginning to look feminine, including Tim and some of the side characters.  They all are drawn with feminine or juvenile-looking features, and I do not like looking at this art.  The art by Riley Rossmo is really taking me out of this story.

The story, though, is very interesting.  The chief complaint is I am having a hard time following the logic of Tim’s discoveries here in Tim Drake: Robin #4.  It seems that Tim is suddenly getting brain storms to move the story forward, but there is not any evidence or reason for the conclusions he is drawing.  I did like the idea of bringing the Batgirls into this, and I agree with Robin’s reasoning.  This is getting very dangerous, and characters like Williams and Sparrow are too green and inexperienced to handle this situation, especially given that Tim has no real idea what is happening.  To bring in the experience of Cass and Stephanie, both being capable fighters as well as being trained by Batman and Batwoman, can hold their own.  Tim relies on their experience when he jumps inside the goldfish or, more accurately, a shark.

It appears that the antagonist is a new character.  The main question is, does this person know that Tim Drake is Robin?  It appears that they do since they went after Bernard, the one character in which Tim has a romantic interest in.  This is a common tactic to get inside the head of their opponent.

Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with a copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Comixology through Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.