"ROBIN YEAR ONE" Talkback (Spoilers)

[Jor-El]

From DC Comics's Solitications...
The earliest adventures of Dick Grayson, the first Robin, unfold in this collection of the hit miniseries. Batman gave Robin purpose, but the evil of the world would shape Dick's destiny. YEAR ONE is the tale of Robin’s tragic beginning which shaped him into one of the world’s greatest heroes!I just read all four issues of ROBIN YEAR ONE. I am sorry to admit that it took me this long after the series had not only been released, but was released in an easily found, relatively inexpensive TPB. I guess I was put off by the series... well, for the first time, I don't know why I was put off by this series.

I normally don't like the work of Chuck Dixon at all, and I am thrilled that he has left BIRDS OF PREY and will no longer be able to make Dinah look like a ditz. But I thought that this mini-series was probably his very best work ever. I attribute the greatness of the writing largely to the fact that this read very much like a work straight from Paul Dini and Bruce Timm (the art, by Javier Pulido, Marcos Martin and Robert Campanella, was something of a cross between Bruce Timm and Darwyn Cooke.) I thought the plot was well-thought out and very well executed, and the dialogue was even stronger. All the characters read very naturally and realistically.

I'm not good at writing a review or responding to specific points because hey, this was 4 issues, and I need to really see it a few times before I give a detailed review and discuss exact plot points, I'll need to read it several more times which is something that my schedule simply does not allow for. :)

But let me know what you guys thought in the meantime.

[Marc]

Hey Barry,

I read Robin: Year One when it originally came out, and I was pleasantly surprised. I've never been a fan of Robin (Dick, Jason, or Tim) and I bought the first issue based on my comic shop owner's recommendation. I thought it was an enjoyable and fun read, and not just a cheesy companion piece to Batman: Year One.

I'd need a second reading to refresh my memory on exact details, but that's my two cents.

- Cap

[Clayface]

I've never read the Robin: Year One story. Probably because I've not been a fan at all of Dixon's recent work in comics, and I've never been a fan of any of the Robin incarnations in general. However, if you thought that one was good, you might want to go back and check out his various Robin mini-series (if you haven't already done so) - those were the only works of Dixon's that I can ever recall enjoying, and I thought they were great.

[Jor-El]

Clayface,

I agree with you that I don't like Dixon's work, and for the most part, I don't even like Robin. I'm not a huge Bat-fan at all really, so when I tell you that this is probably somewhere on my list of my top 20 favorite comics ever, that's a HUGE compliment. You're obviously a much larger Bat-fan than I am, so you really should at least give it a shot.

I'm also curious why the people who voted 1/2 stars voted that way. I recognize that I did a very poor job explaining what EXACTLY I liked so much about the series, but I'd like to try to understand why we disagreed so drastically... I am especially interested because two people voted this way. And yes, I realize that you are under no obligation to explain yourself, but I think it would really be nice; you might help myself and others see some more of the flaws in the mini-series, because I didn't see many.

Anyone else read this one?

[rggkjg1]

robin year one is good. iit was good b/c we got to see dick grayson as robin in post crisis form. i will also be picking batgirl year one for the same reason b/c there isnt any post crisis batgirl stories.

[Patrick Bateman]

5 stars. I've got the TPB and have read it probably 8 times since July. Being someone who's favorite Robin was Dick Grayson, this story was a real treat. I think I'll just make a list of what I liked.

- The artwork
- The story
- The excerpts from Alfred's journal
- The Dick/Alfred relationship
- The Robin/Capt. Gordon relationship
- Joker's "I called first dibs" line (one of his sickest lines ever)
- Gordon questioning Batman's judgment
- And , Batman's line at the end: "His name is Robin. He's my PARTNER."

I know there are like a million things I left out, but it's all I can think of right now.

This book is definately a must-read for ANY fan of Robin or Batman related stories.

[Gotham Knights '68]

Originally posted by Batman Year One
5 stars. I've got the TPB and have read it probably 8 times since July. Being someone who's favorite Robin was Dick Grayson, this story was a real treat. I think I'll just make a list of what I liked.

- The artwork
- The story
- The excerpts from Alfred's journal
- The Dick/Alfred relationship
- The Robin/Capt. Gordon relationship
- Joker's "I called first dibs" line (one of his sickest lines ever)
- Gordon questioning Batman's judgment
- And , Batman's line at the end: "His name is Robin. He's my PARTNER."

I know there are like a million things I left out, but it's all I can think of right now.

This book is definately a must-read for ANY fan of Robin or Batman related stories.

A GREAT post Bats Year One! I'm a huge Dick Grayson fan - he will always be the best Robin ever, and I like Tim allot ;) - but basically I could not have said it better than how you stated it above. By far, my favorite part of this series was Alfred's relationship with Master Dick and his journal entries. It was a great post-crisis story with Dick as Robin - man we need more of these, which is another reason why Legends of the Dark Knight is a great title. I know it wasn't received really well here on these boards, but the 5 part Grimm was IMO a great Dick as Robin post-crisis story as well. It was narrated by Dick as Nightwing - kinda reminicing about his early relationaship with Bruce when he first became his partner and I thougt it was a great read with great art work! Highly recommed this if you are a Dick as Robin fan!!!

Year one was awesome, hope there is a year two! I'm really looking forward to Batgirl year one, hope it is just as enjoyable!

[TimTwoFace]

It's been a while since I read this, but I thought it was a good read. Finally I got to see what this much-ballyhooed "double gallows" trap was all about. Anyhow, I gave it four stars. :) Isn't Chuck Dixon doing a BATGIRL: YEAR ONE story, too?

-Tim
(That's thirsty work, boys.)

[Ed Liu]

Howdy,

Originally posted by TimTwoFace
Isn't Chuck Dixon doing a BATGIRL: YEAR ONE story, too?


Yup, along with Scott Beatty. Pulse covers it with an interview with Scott. (http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=36&t=000231)

So, if I've hated most, if not all, of Chuck Dixon's stuff in the past, including his original Robin limited series and what he's done with Birds of Prey, is it worth my time to get this book?

-- Ed/Ace

[The Guard]

Yes. It's four books, actually. And it's worth it to see Two-Face done right, and see the "double gallows" thing, which Dixon also did a long time ago in an annual flashback with Nightwing.

[James Harvey]

Robin's story revealed!

ROBIN: YEAR ONE

http://wf.toonzone.net/wfboards/t-year1-02.jpg (http://wf.toonzone.net/wfboards/year1-02.jpg)

Written by: Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty
Art by: Javier Pulido and Robert Campanella

After a young Dick Grayson's parents were murdered, millionaire playboy Bruce Wayne took the youth in as his ward and changed his life forever. Using his days in the circus as a trapeze artist as a basis for his education, Batman spent months training Dick in the ways of combat and crime fighting. This book presents Dick's baptism by fire as he dons the costume of Robin, the Boy Wonder for the first time and patrols the night by Batman's side. In his earliest adventures, Robin learns very quickly that what he thought would be fun is actually a matter of life and death.

Comments? What are your thoughts?

Related Discussion:
Batman: Year One (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=139000)
Nightwing: Year One (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=145032)
Batgirl: Year One (http://forums.toonzone.net/showthread.php?t=145030)

[Robin]

I found this talkback through a link in the Batman: Year One talkback, so I hope no one minds if I add a couple comments.

One thing that stood out for me in this story was the artwork. It had the same idea as the artist for Batman: Year One, but he adds his own cartoonish flair with a European feel to it. He does a great job at making Robin a kid. He actually looks his age, and this seems to be a problem that alot of artists have. I've seen him draw like a 21 year old even though he's supposed to be 12.

The story is one of my favorites by Chuck Dixon. This kicked off his little tensure as origin-teller for all the Batman sidekicks and this is easily my favirute. Highly recommended.