Tim Drake: Robin #4 is published by DC Comics and written by Meghan Fitzmartin. Artwork is by Riley Rossmo, colours by Lee Loughridge and letters by Tom Napolitano. Main cover art (left) is by Ricardo Lopez Ortiz.
Tim Drake: Robin #4 is available from today in stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold.
Synopsis
Bernard has been kidnapped and only one person can save him: his boyfriend, Tim Drake! Plus, the Gotham Marina continues to be the target of both political unrest and a string of bizarre crimes. With every part of Tim’s life seemingly ready to explode, can the young sleuth crack the case of his abducted admirer before it’s too late?
Review
It’s hard to believe that Tim Drake: Robin has only been with us for a mere three issues to-date. But now, DC and Meghan Fitzmartin are giving us a festive treat with a post-Christmas issue that begins to draw back the curtain on the series’ first mystery.
Over the course of this series to-date, I’ve praised Fitzmartin for a wonderfully paced story which has focussed on Tim as a detective and not simply a painting him a super hero. This month the story shifts gears again as Tim pull together the clues and our mysterious villain makes their first appearance.
Before we get to the reveal, there’s plenty of room for Tim to appear in civilian form and spend some time with Bernard. Though we’ve seen small interactions between Bernard and both Tim and Robin, it’s been a while since they spent significant time together. Given the developments later in the issue (teased by the synopsis above), it’s important that we get this reminder of how special their bond is. Fitzmartin brilliantly captures the purity of their bond. Simply put, their scenes together are a joy to read and a delightful counterbalance to the more weighty vigilante action.
This month’s issue once again perfectly balances both sides of Tim’s duality. After spending the prerequisite time with Tim out of costume, there’s plenty of time for Robin to put in an appearance. Across the issue there’s a sense of pressure on Tim to solve the unfolding mystery, both for this own sense of purpose but also for the sake of saving the marina where he now resides. The building tension calls for a little backup from none other than the Batgirls, another great cameo appearance which enhances rather than commands the story.
With the clues falling in to place, Tim Drake Robin #4 crescendos in to an excellent cliffhanger ending which seemingly reveals who is behind this classically inspired murder-mystery. With a loved one in peril and a new villain emerging, the series is left perfectly placed ready to go in to 2023 and one of DC’s most exciting solo-titles.
Verdict
The premiere arc of Tim Drake: Robin takes a huge step towards its finale with a deeply personal twist for Tim. A villainous reveal, a Batgirls cameo and a coalescing of the clues makes issue #4 a festive treat for fans.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
