DC #0s - Nightwing and Red Hood Review - The DC 52 Reboot of Robins
Two issue #0s this week focus on some Bat-history and give us some Robin clarifications...
Its a good time for finding out more about Robins in these DC #0 comics it seems. Last week we had some stories in both Batman and Batman and Robin, giving us an overview of where all the Robins were around the same time six years ago. Dick was in the circus, Tim was being uber clever and sort of cocky at school, Jason was street criminalling it up and Damian was with his mother training to be a little badass. In Red Hood and the Outlaws we focus in closer on Jason Todd and of course in Nightwing we look at Dick Grayson. So why am I reviewing these issues together? Well the main reason is, in this new DC52 world getting my head around Batmans career in the past six / seven years (that's how long DC have told us he's been in the cape and cowl by the way) is beginning to feel a bit rushed. So about six years ago Batman took on Dick Grayson. Of course, Dick has the same origin as ever for the most part. Parents killed in the circus, Bruce taking him in, Dick putting on the red and green costume and becoming Robin. Its all pretty standard stuff but it's still a story that is infinitaly compelling to read. Bruce and Dick feel so important and no matter how many times I've read this story in its multiple versions, the core of these two finding a connection and becoming the dynamic duo is pure Bat-genius. 
Of course things are slightly different here to how the origin played pre the DC52 reboot. Graysons Robin costume is sort of terrible and the classic look of Robin is pushed aside for a more Nightwing in a Robin costume approach. The story is also told in a way that gives Dick a streak of wanting to leave Batmans side pretty sharpish, calling the gig temporary even. Dick's yearning to break away comes pretty much from day one and that breaks my heart a little bit even if it's backed up with talk of Bruce and Dick never really seeing eye to eye on their goals (which are largely the same but whatever). This retelling of the first and arguably the best Robin suddenly feels like it was doomed to split from the start. The classic duo feel less classic almost and more of a test run. On a positive side, this change of angle for young Grayson makes him a stronger, more driven character somehow, it's just seems a shame he was never that wide eyed kid sidekick. This change serves the post DC 52 Nightwing well for the most part and I guess that's the point. Out with the old and with the new it seems and DC Comics are going with the all or nothing approach too. Given Bruce Waynes connection with Grayson and the similarities he sees in his quest for justice, it really seems he'd be left with a gaping hole in his protective instincts when Grayson moved on and of course as we know, Jason Todd fit right into it to the Robin shaped hole in Batman's life when Grayson finally walked away. The Jason Todd origin in Redhood and the Outlaws #0, again is largely by the book of the pre DC52 origin. Theres a bit more detail about his drunk dad and messed up mum but how the story is told about a Robin who is a little too cocky, a little too violent and a little too much a bad fit for the green and red suit is actually brilliant, especially as we all know where this is heading. 
Death in the Family is shown and as it does every time the impact of a beaten to death Robin at the hands of The Joker delivers than gut wrenching blow to Batman. Except of course it doesnt stick anymore because DC decided to bring Jason Todd back as Red Hood, a move I dont think Ill every fully swallow down despite trying my best to like this resurrected character. Anyway, the core of the Jason Todd backstory is very well put together but then comes a backup story that somewhat undermines this whole Jason Todd thing even more. What were shown is that all of Jason Todds young life, his abusive prison bound father and his drug addict mother were all set in place by The Joker. From afar, Mr. J set a plan in motion to make this kid head towards being a Batman helper and beyond. If that doesn't sit right with you either, it's okay. It just shows you care about Bat-mythology. 
Part of me wants to love this angle as being clever and of course congratulate The Joker for his evil scheme but the bigger part of me just wants to call even bigger bullshit on this whole mistreatment of Jason Todd. Batman picked a Robin. It wasnt working out and The Joker (as well as the DC readers remember) killed the new boy wonder. It was brutal, it was Batmans ultimate failure, it led him into darker territory and its something he could never fix... but unfortunately the DC writers could. Dont get me wrong, I dont dislike Jason Todd. Where he stands in the Batman mythology is extremely important to me but ultimately his resurrection does nothing for Batman in my eyes. The only place it has to go now that were over the initial shock of Todd's return is Bruce and Jason making up or the re-killing of Jason all over again and if this Joker back up story turns out to be anything more than a lark at the back of a comic book and ties into Death of the Family next month with the Jokers return, we may very well be seeing one if not both of those outcomes very soon. 
Anyway, wrapping up. What were led to believe is that in six years Batman has had four Robins and a Batgirl (and a Batwoman). Its being said Tim Drake jumped straight to being Red Robin rather than an official Bat-sidekick (something that pisses me off no end), Grayson seemed to have stuck around for no more than two years, Jason got offed in maybe 12 months and then Damien came along maybe a couple of years later. In the world of DC 52 this makes sense I suppose but theres something rather sad about this change of history. Sure pre DC52 was hard to pin down Robins in a timeline without making Batman about 120 years old but who cares, its a comic book, it doesnt need to be this specific in the mind of a reader who understands the evolution of storytelling will have some holes, changes in backstories, change of styles and of course decades to contend with. The Batman family history became a little bit more hollow this month with DC #0s I feel and the rumours about Batman having a thing for dark haired teenage boys who he likes to share secrets with suddenly adds another notch to its belt. If this becomes a character trait of Bruce Waynes and is explored over the next year or so, I have faith this could all come together to build a stronger view of Batman's decisions to have Robins but four teenage boys in six years, man, that seems almost obsessive. 
A year in and I'm losing faith in DC52. Everything here works for the characters (well, other than the Joker stuff). Dick Grayson probably needed this more serious Robin origin given the death of his parents and Jason's new backstory is fleshed out nicely (well, other than The Joker stuff) but for everything DC52 improves, it seems to make me feel more disconnected from the characters I love and the things I hold dear about them. These origin stories were meant to clear elements up but they feel like rush jobs that deserved more panel time to me. Nightwing # 0 and Redhood and The Outlaws # 0 are available in stores and digitally via VIA COMIXOLOGY