A review by chigangrel
Teen Titans: Robin by Kami Garcia

3.0

Thanks NetGalley and DC Entertainment for the advanced copy.

So I'm a little out-of-date on my comics, and I wasn't aware we were at the start of yet another reboot. I knew reading this would be partially into an already started story but wow was I thrown when nothing made sense to me. The comic is competently written and drawn (though the art was incomplete in my ARC, what was done was done well) but was wildly boring and felt incredibly low stakes. Also, I guess I'm just unhappy with this reboot. I get it's updating the characters for a new generation but they changed quite a few things in ways I'm unhappy with.

I initially jumped at requesting this ARC because Damian is a favorite of mine; his haughtiness is amusing, his cunning made him interesting, and his relationships with each of the batfam were well-balanced. His unusual, sheltered, (lack of) childhood also made for some fun fish-out-of-water humor when he'd interact with other kids. He was the comic kid relief without becoming annoying. Apparently he's now just a normal-ish kid with heavy angst. So boring! And of course everyone is coupled up immediately (Dick is the only one not, but they're clearly about to introduce Kori and you know they'll then immediately couple up). It was just all so low stakes, boring YA teen drama.

Also, where on earth is Tim? They've essentially turned Dick into Tim now - Damian sees him as Bruce's favorite, "the son he always wanted", and hates him, whereas before that was all Tim. It's so weird to me.

Anyway, it's a perfectly fine entry for anyone unfamiliar with the old Teen Titans and Batman stories/relationships/characters. Especially younger ones (it felt very PG). For those who are familiar with the older comics, you'll be disappointed with the changes and how beige everyone has become.