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cpittman0513's review against another edition
4.0
I love Batman's extended cast so much that I don't even care that Batman isn't in this series.
I breezed through this volume, but the inconsistency in the artwork and the filler issues knocked this down a star for me.
I breezed through this volume, but the inconsistency in the artwork and the filler issues knocked this down a star for me.
and_abelard_reads's review against another edition
3.0
So many elements that I loved; the robins, the Bat-mythos nods, the moody but clear art-style but it didn't pull together for me. I was left underwhelmed and then frustrated by a cliffhanger ending that left everything open on a run I'm not invested in continuing.
noveladdiction's review against another edition
4.0
3.5.
I probably should have looked into exactly where this fits in the chronology of it all, but it's always so hard for me to keep track of that stuff.
This was definitely an interesting story arc, and I'm desperate to get my hands on volume 2 so I can see how it progresses. But mostly, I'm just happy to have all my favorite former Robins in one place.
I probably should have looked into exactly where this fits in the chronology of it all, but it's always so hard for me to keep track of that stuff.
This was definitely an interesting story arc, and I'm desperate to get my hands on volume 2 so I can see how it progresses. But mostly, I'm just happy to have all my favorite former Robins in one place.
captwinghead's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so first book of the year!
I really enjoyed this although I have so many mixed feelings about the changes (?) to Cassandra Cain's backstory. In this iteration, she was still trained and manipulated by David Cain to be the perfect weapon but this time, it was partly to prove a point to Mother.
Mother's an interesting villain, I guess? She traumatizes children, kills their parents and all in the interest of raising them to become strong, powerful sleeper agents. That's an interesting plot on it's own but there's a human trafficking element to the whole Mail Order Bride aspect of her life. I don't really understand why that interlude was necessary? It creates a sick feeling in that she abuses children, sells women to rich men and tells herself that she's helping them. Its gross and makes me feel even worse for Cassie.
Batgirl (2008) gives Cassandra back some of her agency. She chose to be a hero and train with Batman to save others. She slowly learns ways to communicate with Babs and Bruce and, later on, Tim, Dick and Stephanie. She has an entire life where she is able to choose for herself. That's why I'm so confused about what's going on with her in this story. It doesn't say "New 52" on the cover so is this an alternate universe? A random one shot? What happened to create a story where Cassandra can't speak anymore, Stephanie (one of her best friends) refers to her as barely human and Dick speaks about her as though she's not even in the room. I don't like it.
However, I did enjoy Harper's friendship and protectiveness over Cassie. That was great to see. I don't know much about Harper or Bluebird aside from what I read in DC Bombshell's Vol. 2 but I loved her in the book. She's pretty damn kick ass and she did look better than Dick in his tux. She clearly cares about Cassie and watching her watch Cassie at the ballet was adorable! I'm no sure how old she is but I kind of ship it. Also, I love, love, LOVE, that Cassie was taken to the ballet. That was a pretty cool thing because of course she'd get a lot of enjoyment out of that. Also, the fight against Mother's ballerinas was amazing! The art was gorgeous and I loved seeing Harper and Cassie kick ass! Totally worth reading just for that fight!
Stephanie was barely in this book which was sad. Babs popped up for a few seconds and it was pretty cool but seemed tacked on unnecessarily. I enjoyed the Robin brigade. That was really cool! I'd love to read more about them.
There was a lot of Dick being the leader in this book and I loved seeing that as well. Dick has always been the Batfam's big brother and I liked that everyone followed his lead. Admittedly, some more willingly than others. He works with the entire team throughout this book.
Tim is paired with Jason for a lot of this and that was interesting. Tim is such a goody-two-shoes but he can get dirty when need be and Jason was perfect to bring out that side of him. The Bane story kind of went no where for me, unfortunately.
Anyway, the most moving part of this book was the interlude where Dick listens to Batman's audio files on the Mother. There's a part when Bruce wonders if he's not using Dick's tragedy to turn him into Robin for his own benefit. Bruce wonders if he's not just as guilty as Mother. It was a really interesting parallel and it gave this book some much needed depth.
4 stars because some of it lagged in places but overall, it's a recommend.
I really enjoyed this although I have so many mixed feelings about the changes (?) to Cassandra Cain's backstory. In this iteration, she was still trained and manipulated by David Cain to be the perfect weapon but this time, it was partly to prove a point to Mother.
Mother's an interesting villain, I guess? She traumatizes children, kills their parents and all in the interest of raising them to become strong, powerful sleeper agents. That's an interesting plot on it's own but there's a human trafficking element to the whole Mail Order Bride aspect of her life. I don't really understand why that interlude was necessary? It creates a sick feeling in that she abuses children, sells women to rich men and tells herself that she's helping them. Its gross and makes me feel even worse for Cassie.
Batgirl (2008) gives Cassandra back some of her agency. She chose to be a hero and train with Batman to save others. She slowly learns ways to communicate with Babs and Bruce and, later on, Tim, Dick and Stephanie. She has an entire life where she is able to choose for herself. That's why I'm so confused about what's going on with her in this story. It doesn't say "New 52" on the cover so is this an alternate universe? A random one shot? What happened to create a story where Cassandra can't speak anymore, Stephanie (one of her best friends) refers to her as barely human and Dick speaks about her as though she's not even in the room. I don't like it.
However, I did enjoy Harper's friendship and protectiveness over Cassie. That was great to see. I don't know much about Harper or Bluebird aside from what I read in DC Bombshell's Vol. 2 but I loved her in the book. She's pretty damn kick ass and she did look better than Dick in his tux. She clearly cares about Cassie and watching her watch Cassie at the ballet was adorable! I'm no sure how old she is but I kind of ship it. Also, I love, love, LOVE, that Cassie was taken to the ballet. That was a pretty cool thing because of course she'd get a lot of enjoyment out of that. Also, the fight against Mother's ballerinas was amazing! The art was gorgeous and I loved seeing Harper and Cassie kick ass! Totally worth reading just for that fight!
Stephanie was barely in this book which was sad. Babs popped up for a few seconds and it was pretty cool but seemed tacked on unnecessarily. I enjoyed the Robin brigade. That was really cool! I'd love to read more about them.
There was a lot of Dick being the leader in this book and I loved seeing that as well. Dick has always been the Batfam's big brother and I liked that everyone followed his lead. Admittedly, some more willingly than others. He works with the entire team throughout this book.
Tim is paired with Jason for a lot of this and that was interesting. Tim is such a goody-two-shoes but he can get dirty when need be and Jason was perfect to bring out that side of him. The Bane story kind of went no where for me, unfortunately.
Anyway, the most moving part of this book was the interlude where Dick listens to Batman's audio files on the Mother. There's a part when Bruce wonders if he's not using Dick's tragedy to turn him into Robin for his own benefit. Bruce wonders if he's not just as guilty as Mother. It was a really interesting parallel and it gave this book some much needed depth.
4 stars because some of it lagged in places but overall, it's a recommend.
batmads's review against another edition
4.0
Jason and Tim sassing off to each other was as good as always.
susurrus's review against another edition
5.0
Robin stories are usually hit-or-miss for me and this one was a definite hit! Some not-so-flattering stuff comes up about Batman's past, and we don't even get the culmination of that in this volume so I'll have to read volume 2 ASAP.
The villain in this was really interesting and each of the Robins involvement was awesome. It actually upsets me because I really should go back and read Nightwing and Red Hood but I just don't have that much time committed to graphic novels.
Mother is creating orphans and breeding them for whatever purposes people want from the humans they are buying. It appears that Batman may have purchased one of the Robins from her but I'm not sold on that thought yet. Each of the Robins is sort of struggling with their own stuff as per usual. Tim and Jason are.. doing something and end up fighting Bane and Azreal. Harper befriends one of the orphans and gets herself in trouble while Dick tries to protect her and finds out the Batman stuff and recalls his first big case with Bruce. Dick is also a spy now apparently.
The villain in this was really interesting and each of the Robins involvement was awesome. It actually upsets me because I really should go back and read Nightwing and Red Hood but I just don't have that much time committed to graphic novels.
ishmael's review
3.0
The plot is weaker than Batman: Eternal but I'm here for seeing the Batfam interact and it continues to be excellent at that.