Review: This is going to be a tough one to review... Red Robin wakes up in some sort of bizarre world where he is the prisoner of the old-school Calculator and Riddler. He ends up getting saved by Batman and Robin circa 1960-ish. After the original Dynamic Duo get rid of the Calculator, they disappear. Tim gets up and somehow realizes that he was trapped in the Unternet, and discovers Tam Fox, but in the form a baby. Oh, and for some reason Riddler is serving as the physical manifestation of Tim's subconscious mind. *shrugs* Tim, Tam and Riddler travel around the Unternet and run into Harley Quinn, who Tim decapitates in a move that even surprises him. He then spots the Joker, who was the “mayor” of the Unternet version of Gotham. The original Anarky, Lonnie Machin arrives and skewers Joker with his weapon. From there Tim, Tam, the Riddler and Lonnie head to the Unternet version of Metropolis, where Viktor Mikalek(the Russian businessman from last issue)had taken over. Metallo attacks, but is “killed” by the Russian vigilante, Promise. Promise tells them that Mikalek had killed all of the Unternet version of the Justice League to impress the other villains on the Unternet, and is shot by Deathstroke and vanishes. Tim moves in to attack Deathstroke, and realizes that he and his allies have as much control over the Unternet as the villains, meaning that they can do anything. Tam grows back up, while Tim takes down every villain that he sees. Anarky manages to create a whole slew of new heroes and announces that the heroes would act as an internal firewall, messing up the villains ability to access the Unternet. With that, Tim wakes up and tells Red Star what had happened and that Mikalek really was evil. Star promises that he'll do what he can against Mikalek, and this issue ends with Mikalek hiring Catman(???)to track down Tim and Tam so he could regain power over the Unternet.
Thoughts: And somehow THIS leads into the big Red Robin/Teen Titans x-over... Now, before I go any further, I just want to say a few things before getting into this issue. I'm a huge fan of Tim Drake and I've always enjoyed Fabian Nicieza's writing, going all the way back to the original X-Force. So yes, I like this series, and the writer of it. However, I REALLY didn't like this issue. At all. It just didn't make any sense to me! First of all, why is Catman working to track down Tim and Tam when he's more of a tweener character in the Secret Six books? Using him in this spot makes no sense at all. Speaking of making no sense, how does Catman, a member of the Secret Six, going after Tim lead to an x-over with the Teen Titans?! Even the end of this comic, with Red Star suddenly seeing things the way Tim was last issue and agreeing to take down Mikalek made little sense. What exactly changed his mind, and why does Tim suddenly trust Red Star enough to leave Russia? Plus the Unternet stuff was just a mess. When you read a comic and are thinking of a whole mess of plot holes, you know something went really wrong...
Score: 5 out of 10.
I'm sure if it was up to Chairman Johns, EVERY Batman comic would be like this scene...
I'm sure if it was up to Chairman Johns, EVERY Batman comic would be like this scene...
Teen Titans vs. Secret Six? That seems like a very unnecessary fight. Also, Tim's costume in this issue was great. Kinda Red Robin kinda Nightwing. I vote yes on the switch.
ReplyDeleteBtw, Joker's pale white legs in a Robin costume was so weird looking it made me laugh very hard.
I just don't get Catman's involvement in that x-over at all... I don't even think the rest of the Secret Six are in the storyline, just Catman... Very strange.
ReplyDeleteI think EVERYBODY likes that costume. I know I do, and like every other Red Robin fan I've been in contact with also likes it. So the question is, why not make the change, DC>
I was at the CBR boards a LOT of people hated the costume which I found odd, I like it, it fits Tim's style, and ven the Robin costume he changed up and made his own, so why wouldn't he with the Red Robin costume? Plus he looks less like Doc Mid-Nite
ReplyDeleteWow, I've only heard good things about it... Weird. I mean exactly, it actually looks like TIM'S costume(like you said, just like the Robin outfit), not Jason's, not the General, not Dr. Midnite, it makes Tim stand out, which is good. Now if only they could slightly alter the name... I mean, I'll always think of Red Robin as that fast food joint!
ReplyDeleteHaha, how about Redwing :P Go Detroit, Go Detroit! Nah, I don't mind the Red Robin (...yuuuummmm) name, but I see what ya mean. They couldn't really give him a unique name though without it sounding like someone elses, or just very dumb.
ReplyDeleteYou may have been joking, but I actually really like Redwing! I think that was the name of Tim's car when he was Robin though... But I'd def take Redwing over Red Robin anyday.
ReplyDeleteI was joking, but hey, if Red Robin won't sue maybe the Detroit Redwings won't. The name would work, hell I wouldn't mind. Redwing and Nightwing teaming up would be pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I mean like I said, I'm pretty sure the car was named the Redwing, so yeah. Plus I'm sure they could get around it by making Red Wing into one word or something. But yeah, I'd rather being named after a hockey team than a fast food joint! :P
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of that, how long do you think it'll take for Dick to revert back to Nightwing since he won't be staying Batman forever. Or do you think he'll just take another new name?
ReplyDeleteI seriously don't know... I honestly think Morrison is going to run with this Batman Inc idea, which means Dick may just be Batman for as long as Morrison is writing the Bat-books. Hell, that's like what, at least another 2, 3 years? Trust me, I'm shocked, because I figured once Chris Kent's time in Action Comics ended Dick would get the Nightwing name right back again, but apparently not!
ReplyDeleteSo is Kent in limbo again with Jason? And yeah, I believe Grant has Bats for two more years, then someone else can hopefully salvage it, make Joker normal, use Two-Face and such, make it so Black Mask isn't a joke and Jason isn't a ginger.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Chris is literally in limbo though. He was de-aged and sent back into the Phantom Zone, having slowly forgotten everything that happened during his Nightwing days, thus making it all a meaningless exercise... Yeah.
ReplyDeleteIDK, I'm still willing to give the Batman Inc thing some more rope before I hang it. Like I always say, at least it's something NEW! As for Mistah J, I think Morrison kind of corrected what he did to Joker at the end of the stupid Thomas Wayne storyline in Bats and Robin. He was way more like his normal self, and not some weird, split-tongued, tank-top wearing ghoul. But I WILL agree about the Jason thing... Where the HELL did that come from???
WTF?! You gotta be kidding me. That's so stupid...they may have well not even used him.
ReplyDeleteI'll give you that, and his Joker was pretty good there, but oh well. Who knows.... I just wish I could understand what the hell goes on in Grant's head sometimes.
Dude, seriously! I spent like 12-15 months reading Chris's adventures as Nightwing, and then he's sent back to the Phantom Zone, de-aged and forgets everything... I mean, it was like DC went and said, remember all those months you spent reading those issues of Action Comics? Forget they ever happened!!! God do I hate that...
ReplyDeleteI can't disagree with you there... Morrison definitely can write some CRAZY stuff every now and then, and by every now and then I actually mean most of the time! :D
That's so stupid. The sad thing is that seems to happen more and more now. Between stuff being completely forgotten from comics or everything just being revamped for no reason. Like a lot of people are upset in Birds of Prey how Oracle and Canary aren't being buddy buddy like they were in the first run.
ReplyDeleteI still don't see how you're gonna read Batman Inc, I mean FLashpoint is gonna change a lot of shit, and possibly fuck it up, but it still sounds more interesting than "Oh look there's a Chinese Batman! And an African Batman! And a Russian Batman! And an Australian Batman!"
Yeah, that really pisses me off... I mean I spend all these months reading about and liking these new characters, and then at the end, Flamebird is simply killed off and Chris quietly goes back to where he started... I mean why? Especially if DC knew Dick wasn't going to be taking back the Nightwing name. Why not do a Chris Kent Nightwing series and have him running around Metropolis like a male version of Supergirl? I HONESTLY don't get why he had to go.
ReplyDeleteSee, that's where I disagree with you. A lot. For me, there is no "possibly fuck it up" For me, Flashpoint IS going to fuck EVERYTHING in the DCU up. There is no possibly. Number one, it's a vehicle for my least favorite non-gorilla/non-midget DC character, and number two, it's going to allow Chairman Johns to finish the job him and that asshole Didio started, that being to turn the DCU back to it's 1985 status. Don't you see? If Flashpoint is all about somebody(Reverse-Flash let's say)manipulating reality/the past, Johns can get away with ANYTHING! I'm telling you, Flashpoint is going to destroy everything I've ever enjoyed about the DCU... It's so damn frustrating....
I still don't get why Connor isn't a male version of Supergirl but ah well. And yeah, that REALLY makes no sense, why even kill off Flamebird? All of that seems pointless.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about it like that. Now im curious...are they gonna DE age Grayson permanently with that Deadman and the flying Graysons crap? Cause if so, that's my final straw and I'll be done.
Good point on SB and SG. To be honest, Superboy living in Smallville makes NO sense since he's already lived on his own in Hawaii AND Metropolis. BUT, remember, Superman lived in Smallville back when he was Superboy, and DC is only interested in rehashing old shit, so I think that explains why SB became the neutered version of his former self. To be more like Supes circa 1955.
ReplyDeleteSee, it's for that reason and that reason ALONE you should be side by side with me ripping Chairman Johns and praising Crazy Grant. I swear to god, I WOULDN'T be shocked to see Johns try to pull some crap like that. Even if they don't go all the way and just drop Dick's age to like 17 or something. "Cause if so, that's my final straw and I'll be done." I'm gonna hold you to that, JT! :P
Good point. SB used to be all pimp, banging broads, saving the world and knocking boots with Knockout. Now he's all lame, runs around with a dog and a nerd and wears glasses and T shirts.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I'll side with you IF, and God forbid WHEN that happens, but for now, I shall give Geoff the benefit of the doubt. And I will NEVER side with the evil that is Crazy Grant.
Dude, it's the same with Bart Allen... I mena whatever happened to the care-free Impulse?! Now he's like quoting Shakespeare and disassembiling amchines at top speed... DAMN that Chairman Johns!!!
ReplyDeleteIt'll happen... Mark my words. I'm just glad you've started to read more Marvel books, so when the great DC Apocalypse comes, we'll still have stuff to discuss! :D
I wouldn't mind Bart's change if it led somewhere, I mean we all gotta grow up, why should he be any different. Better than being stuck in that role ala Beast Boy. I just wish he was doing something besides taking up space on the Teen Titans.
ReplyDeleteHaha, yeah, between Cap, Spidey, Deadpool and a few Daken and Wolvie comics, I'm building a little collection.
Great point with the Beast Boy comparison... I really can't argue that. I guess all I can really complain about is how drastically Bart changed. He went from being basically an idiot who thought in pictures to a near genius, all because Deathstroke shot him in the leg... Weird.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep pulling you in further and further. Before you know it you'll be a full fledged Marvel Zombie, which was actually my TOP SECRET evil master plan all along!!! BWA-HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!
Haha, I think they always wanted to go that route though. Not so quickly, but by mentioning beforehand that he could retain information via speed-reading, that shows right there he's probably the smartest Speedster. I do agree with how fast he evolved, but in hindsight I think it would have been the best decision if they capitalized on it better and didn't kill him off.
ReplyDeleteBut If I'm a Marvel Zombie, Punisher will kill me! I'm starting to think you may be a Skrull, X.
I think half the problem was that Chairman Johns just COULDN'T write Impulse. Even while Bart was still Impulse, in like the first 4 issues of Teen Titans, he didn't act of SOUND like Impulse to me. He was just off. That's probably why he grew up so hastily. Johns wanted a Kid Flash on the team, but couldn't properly voice Bart. As for not killing him off, there's not much more I can add to that. Bart probably would have been the BEST Flash ever, hands down. Plus he would have been a welcome breath of fresh air. You know, pretty much the opposite of EVERYTHING going on in the Flash books now!
ReplyDeleteSee, now I don't know how to respond to that... If I say no, you'll just tell me I'm denying it and that I must be a Skrull... If I say yes, well then obviously I'm be a Skrull... There's just no winning with you...
That's a good point. I didn't notice Impy being out of character in the beginning of Teen Titans run so I can't comment but you're the best on that topic so I'll take your word. I definitely agree about Bart possibly being the best Flash ever if he had the chance, I still think Fastest Man Alive is the best Flash story I've read, and I doubt I'll change my mind anytime soon..
ReplyDeleteSo by not answering... you admit to being a Skrull!!!! Oh God! Someone call Deadpool, tell him he's got more trash to take out. :P
Yeah, Bart's over the top comedy, his obliviousness(sp?)to everything, and his thought-pictures were all absent in Teen Titans. Bart's Flash run was definitely among my favorite Flash story as well... I don't know if it was my FAVORITE, but it was probably close.
ReplyDeleteDamn it!!! I just can't frigging win!!
What else would be some of your favorite Flash stories then? Outta curiosity since I'll probably look them up.
ReplyDeleteSkrulls will never win, evil-do-er!
Hmm... I pretty much enjoyed the Flash comics from Bart's debut(around Flash 80-90 or so)through 100. There's something else that's like right in the back of my head, but I'm blanking on it... Gah! It'll come to me...
ReplyDeleteYou wouldn't happen to be able to recommend specific trades would ya? Make my life a LITTLE easier X. :P
ReplyDeleteHmm......... I think the Flash storyline around #100 was called Maximum Velocity(or something like that, and I actually have a trade collecting Bart's early appearances(some Flash books, including his 1st, and the first few issues of Impulse)but I can't remember the name and I'm not getting out of bed to find the trade! :P I'll fill you in on both tomorrow. Promise!
ReplyDeleteLol well thank you sir. I'd also appreciate a quick rundown on that Maximum Velocity arc, if ya don't mind. Yes, you are my Google.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm in my living room and I just finished dinner, and quite frankly, I don't feel like getting up to find those issues right now... BUT, I have jotted a note down and left it on my deaktop, so when I turn my laptop on later on, I'll see the note and find out those issues! Yeah, yeah. I'm lazy. *shrugs*
ReplyDeleteYou are one very lazy S.O.B. X. And I commend you for that, because it's fun being a lazy S.O.B. I wish to learn from you X. :P
ReplyDeleteOkay, I finally checked it out. The trade is called Impulse: Reckless Youth, and the Max Velocity arc dealt with Wally's powers getting uber-powerful and him almost dying in an effort to get them back in check. There was also a three-part Black Flash story that I enjoyed. It dealt with the Black Flash trying to take Wally out for good.
ReplyDeleteThanks buddy, I'm gonna look these up after work. Oh, and my Human Torch/Spidey Hardcover came yesterday, gonna read that at work today which should be awesome.
ReplyDeleteSweet! I hope you enjoy(ed) that trade. If you finished it off, fill me in, because it's been a while since I gave it a read. Does it hold up, or was I way off base and it actually sucked?
ReplyDeleteFinished it last night and LOVED it So much humor, from them swapping, to Spidey screwing up the space exploration and Torch pulling the "I'm here with my sister!" line and it working, then him doing it on Kraven, and Kraven just sniffing and saying "No...You are not." Haha, so many fun stories that made me laugh, as well as just showing why each guy is so jealous of one another for different reasons. I really enjoyed that trade man, so thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteMan, I should seriously pull it back out and throw it onto one of the many comic piles I have laying around... I hardly remember ANY of that! I remember enjoying it, but not really any of the specifics. Glad you enjoyed it though. You should try to find a few more of Slott's early Marvel stuff. He did a short-lived Thing series which was basically a humor book, as well as the first few issues of Avengers: The Initiative, which wasn't a purely humorous book, but was actually pretty damn good.
ReplyDeleteI could see me liking both of those, I actually meant too ask you if nyou knew of anymore Spidey or Torch work he's done as well, he's pretty damn awesome.
ReplyDeleteTo my knowledge, no. I'd guess that the Torch would have shown up during the Thing seires, but I don't remember for sure. As for Spidey, I think Amazing has been his first crack at the web-slinger. Let's see, I know he had a pretty long She-Hulk run, and was pissed about the infamous Juggernaut/She-Hulk thing, he also did a Great Lakes Avengers mini-series which was pretty funny around the time he did Spidey/Torch, and niether character showed up during his Mighty Avengers run... Man, how the hell do I list this stuff off the top of my head... I wish I could make some money off of this "talent"! I can't think of anything else though.
ReplyDeleteYou're quite talented, between your sports and comic and wrestling knowledge and MY wrestling, TV and Comic knowledge were some sort of uber-nerd. Yeah, uber-nerd. But that's impressive, and Slott's done a lot of work that sounds really damn good, I may have to find that Thing run.
ReplyDeleteI AM quite talented for base street trash! Thanks, JT! Now if only I could find a way to cash in on all this useless information that occupies my brain...
ReplyDeleteHm.... you could always work as a continuity person in comics, which they DESPERATELY need... or hell you could just get a side-job at the comic shop. :P
ReplyDeleteHA! That's my dream job, "continuity guy"!
ReplyDeleteDC Comics: "So has Superman ever met Wonder Woman during her 'teenage Amazon' characterization?"
X: "Superman #708, pages 17, 18, 20, 22 and 23. Next." :D
Lol if those are the actual pages I'm done talking to you. :P And that would work, and the technical term would be "Comic Continuity Guy", See X, The Comic Continuity Guy!
ReplyDelete