Robin #173 - DC

This issue, Robin finally comes face-to-face with . . the Spoiler. He still doesn't know who she is, but . . . at least he knows he wasn't going crazy when he kept thinking that he was seeing her out of the corners of his eyes. Chuck Dixon writes this book, and we all know how good he is with all the action stuff. However, on this book, I really like the way he's trying to balance Tim's life with that of Robin's. Robin has certain relationships built with certain people around Gotham, but . . so does Tim. I think Chuck is doing a great job at keeping that all on an even keel. Or . . as close as a guy in Tim's situation can get it. The two detectives that Tim's started to work with play their hand this issue. They want Tim to help them on a case, and if he doesn't, they make obscure threats about making Officer Harper's professional life . . difficult. He goes along with them this time, but he's going to have to do something about this situation. But their suggestion ends up putting Robin and Violet onto the same case . . sort of. It turns out to all be a trap, though. The Penguin is trying to take them both down, because they're both hurting his operation. Different parts of it obviously, but still the overall effect has garnered the attention of the Penguin personally. That's when the new Spoiler becomes involved. He comes in to warn Robin that he's walked in to a trap. The affect on Tim is . . not what she expected. He gets very angry and lashes out at her rather harshly. He's screaming at her "Who are you?!", and with his arm at her neck, she's choking out " . . don't do this . . please . . not like this . . please, Tim . ." Our first clue. Whoever this girl is, she knows that Tim is Robin. That list has to be pretty short. Unless . . it's someone who Tim doesn't know has figured out his dual identity. But, with a group of gunmen busting into the warehouse, with gun's drawn . . that mystery is going to have to be saved for next issue. Chris Batista does the pencils this issue. I thought he did a pretty good job. I like Freddie E Williams II and Pete Woods, but . . their pencils are just kind of . . "vanilla" for my tastes. I'm not sure if that makes sense. I think they're both talented . . obviously. But . . it's just kind of "plain-Jane". Anyways, I thought Chris brought a nice feel to the book.