...Carrie Kelley! That's right, the Robin from Frank Millers legendary Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is making a return to Batman comics after several years away, in the pages of next weeks Batman & Robin #19. Series writer Peter Tomasi confirmed the news in an interview to The New York Post:
What you'll find out once you crack the book, is that she's not exactly the "new Robin", but I don't want to spoil the story and her introduction into Bruce Wayne/Batman's life. In regards to how long she'll be around, let's just say that it's a helluva lot longer than "one issue". I've got plans for Carrie that play well into the future.
Damian Wayne, the most recent Robin, perished in the pages of Batman Incorporated #8 in February this year and speculation has been rife over his replacement as Robin. This choice answers the question of where the Batman & Robin series will go with a new partner joining Batman. This also marks the first time Kelley has become a part of Batman continuity - shes always appeared in out-of-continuity books like The Dark Knight Returns and The Dark Knight Strikes Again (hopefully Tomasis plans for the character will avoid the awful Catgirl persona). Tomasi went on to confirm that Kelley would become a permanent fixture of the New 52 line-up:
I'll let readers make up their own mind whether they feel this is a 'stunt' or not, but the way we're approaching Carrie's introduction into the Batman universe is anything but a stunt. It's organic and heartfelt and ties into Damian's death.
He continued:
It's a New 52 version, but we're staying close to Frank Miller's visual template and personality of Carrie Kelley. She's a college kid who's got spunk and speaks her mind. This is not an alternate-earth Robin, this is simply a girl named Carrie Kelley who we learn knew Damian which in turn weaves her into the fabric of the DC Universe for the first time in 25 years.
Batman & Robin #19 by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason is out on Wednesday 10th April.