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Robin (1993) #1-6
Robin: Flying Solo
The current Teen Wonder, Tim Drake, graduated into his own monthly comics series in these stories that take place at the height of the best-selling Batman: Knightfall story In it, Robin battles the Cluemaster, only to run afoul of his beautiful daughter, the would-be hero called the Spoiler. Robin then runs headlong into battle at the side of the Huntress, Gotham City's deadliest vigilante
174 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
4 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Dixon
3,430 books1,033 followersCharles "Chuck" Dixon is an American comic book writer, perhaps best-known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s.
His earliest comics work was writing Evangeline first for Comico Comics in 1984 (then later for First Comics, who published the on-going series), on which he worked with his then-wife, the artist Judith Hunt. His big break came one year later, when editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' The Savage Sword of Conan.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy with artist Tim Truman. Continuing to write for both Marvel and (mainly) Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He also produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989.
His Punisher OGN Kingdom Gone (August, 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal (and later, more monthly and occasional Punisher titles), and also brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Denny O'Neil, who asked him to produce a Robin mini-series. The mini proved popular enough to spawn two sequels - The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992) - which led to both an ongoing monthly series (which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics), and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644-738 through the major Batman stories KnightFall & KnightsEnd (for which he helped create the key character of Bane), DC One Million , Contagion , Legacy , Cataclysm and No Man's Land . Much of his run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman-writer in the mid-1990s (rivalled perhaps in history by Bill Finger and Dennis O'Neil) - in addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin , Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101) and Batgirl , as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey .
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics (and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover), he also found time to launch Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He also wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow , regularly having about seven titles out each and every month between the years 1993 and 1998.
In March, 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, salthough he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One. For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the out-going Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March '03), The Silken Ghost (June '03) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct '03), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He also wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November '03 and April '04, the last released shortly before CrossGen's complete collapse forced the cancellation of all of its comics, before which Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May '04). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity."
His earliest comics work was writing Evangeline first for Comico Comics in 1984 (then later for First Comics, who published the on-going series), on which he worked with his then-wife, the artist Judith Hunt. His big break came one year later, when editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' The Savage Sword of Conan.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy with artist Tim Truman. Continuing to write for both Marvel and (mainly) Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He also produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989.
His Punisher OGN Kingdom Gone (August, 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal (and later, more monthly and occasional Punisher titles), and also brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Denny O'Neil, who asked him to produce a Robin mini-series. The mini proved popular enough to spawn two sequels - The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992) - which led to both an ongoing monthly series (which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics), and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644-738 through the major Batman stories KnightFall & KnightsEnd (for which he helped create the key character of Bane), DC One Million , Contagion , Legacy , Cataclysm and No Man's Land . Much of his run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman-writer in the mid-1990s (rivalled perhaps in history by Bill Finger and Dennis O'Neil) - in addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin , Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101) and Batgirl , as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey .
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics (and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover), he also found time to launch Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He also wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow , regularly having about seven titles out each and every month between the years 1993 and 1998.
In March, 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, salthough he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One. For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the out-going Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March '03), The Silken Ghost (June '03) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct '03), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He also wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November '03 and April '04, the last released shortly before CrossGen's complete collapse forced the cancellation of all of its comics, before which Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May '04). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity."
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 12, 2024
I've always be particularly to Bat-spinoffs more than of the man himself, and it was a nice turn when my favorite Robin Tim Drake got a long-running series in the 90s. During the Knightswatch era, it was a natural outgrowth written by Chuck Dixon back when he was a good person (and a great writer of women, see Spoiler and Huntress. What happened to him).
Great art by Tom Grummet and Phil Jimenz, it's fun and the relatively low stakes worked great before everything got overly dark. Robin is the original teen hero, glad he got a title at last.
Great art by Tom Grummet and Phil Jimenz, it's fun and the relatively low stakes worked great before everything got overly dark. Robin is the original teen hero, glad he got a title at last.
January 14, 2021
This is a hard one to rate. Dixon made Stephanie Brown into Huntress 2.0 - but the Saved By the Bell version.
Female? Check.
Wears purple? Check.
Out for a personal vendetta? Check.
Batman doesn't want them in the field? Check.
Underestimated? Check.
Narrative supports underestimating them? Check.
I read this solely for Steph's introduction. I've made it clear in other reviews that I just don't vibe with Tim Drake. I don't like his attitude, I don't see how anyone would have him as their favorite Robin, and on top of that, his comics read like dated 90s TV shows. It reminds me that comics were sometimes just ways for boys to read and imagine themselves as these characters who get to wear cool costumes, chase bad guys and all the girls want them. And if anyone reads like a self insert character, it's Tim Drake.
Anyway, I just felt bad for Steph in this. Robin continues to take her intel on Cluemaster and leave her out otherwise. What's strange is that there's a turn here where Steph appears to have a crush on Tim and trust me, there is literally NO reason for that to occur. He's done nothing but be patronizing towards her thus far. Why would she care about this dweeb?
In Tim's personal life, he's being a pretty crappy and inattentive boyfriend to Ariana, his girlfriend. I ask again, why is he anyone's favorite?
Female? Check.
Wears purple? Check.
Out for a personal vendetta? Check.
Batman doesn't want them in the field? Check.
Underestimated? Check.
Narrative supports underestimating them? Check.
I read this solely for Steph's introduction. I've made it clear in other reviews that I just don't vibe with Tim Drake. I don't like his attitude, I don't see how anyone would have him as their favorite Robin, and on top of that, his comics read like dated 90s TV shows. It reminds me that comics were sometimes just ways for boys to read and imagine themselves as these characters who get to wear cool costumes, chase bad guys and all the girls want them. And if anyone reads like a self insert character, it's Tim Drake.
Anyway, I just felt bad for Steph in this. Robin continues to take her intel on Cluemaster and leave her out otherwise. What's strange is that there's a turn here where Steph appears to have a crush on Tim and trust me, there is literally NO reason for that to occur. He's done nothing but be patronizing towards her thus far. Why would she care about this dweeb?
In Tim's personal life, he's being a pretty crappy and inattentive boyfriend to Ariana, his girlfriend. I ask again, why is he anyone's favorite?
May 24, 2015
This is a lot of nostalgia for me - it's very, very grounded in the nineties and is somewhat dated. The work is definitely set in the era of four-color printing - the colors lack complexity, and the drawings are still a lot of stacked boxes.
That said, it's still a bit of solid storytelling. I loved the Spoiler/Robin arc in the middle, and the Huntress story at the end also works well. It's only the first one, with Robin and the car ring, that didn't work for me.
That said, it's still a bit of solid storytelling. I loved the Spoiler/Robin arc in the middle, and the Huntress story at the end also works well. It's only the first one, with Robin and the car ring, that didn't work for me.
May 24, 2017
Although I found the opening story to be a sort of long-winded dud, the Spoiler and Huntress adventures were better paced and more entertaining.
March 29, 2020
Robin: Flying Solo is a trade paperback that collects the first six issues (Robin #1–6) of the 1993 series and collects segments of Showcase '94 #5–6.
The first five issues are interconnecting one-issue storylines that has Tim Drake as Robin getting used to the new Batman in Jean-Paul Valley. His style of vigilantism is quite different than Bruce Wayne's and he has ended up being banished from the Batcave. Left alone to juggle the responsibilities of a personal life and a vigilante existence, Tim Drake takes his first steps towards being an independent hero instead of a youthful sidekick. He encounters villains such as Cluemaster, Cypher, and the Electrocutioner and teams up with Stephanie Brown as Spoiler.
"Benediction" is a three-issue storyline (Showcase '94 #5–6 and Robin #6) that has Tim Drake as Robin teaming up with Helena Bertinelli as Huntress as they take on the mob.
Chuck Dixon penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written moderately well. This trade paperback is set during the events of Batman: Knightfall, specifically the period when the more brutal Azrael is acting as an armored Batman, and he makes it clear he doesn't require Robin. Tim Drake takes the hint and his Redbird and leaves Wayne Manor. The villainous complications are provided by a gang of carjackers, and a group of Batman's lesser villains mentioned above.
Tom Grummett (Robin #1–5) and Phil Jimenez (Showcase '94 #5–6 and Robin #6) penciled the trade paperback. For the most part, the pencilers complement with each other rather well, which makes a rather seamless artistic flow. While the penciling style is a tad dated – it is done rather well and brings a nostalgic aspect to the trade paperback.
All in all, Robin: Flying Solo is a mediocre trade paperback of the coming of age story of Tim Drake as Robin.
The first five issues are interconnecting one-issue storylines that has Tim Drake as Robin getting used to the new Batman in Jean-Paul Valley. His style of vigilantism is quite different than Bruce Wayne's and he has ended up being banished from the Batcave. Left alone to juggle the responsibilities of a personal life and a vigilante existence, Tim Drake takes his first steps towards being an independent hero instead of a youthful sidekick. He encounters villains such as Cluemaster, Cypher, and the Electrocutioner and teams up with Stephanie Brown as Spoiler.
"Benediction" is a three-issue storyline (Showcase '94 #5–6 and Robin #6) that has Tim Drake as Robin teaming up with Helena Bertinelli as Huntress as they take on the mob.
Chuck Dixon penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written moderately well. This trade paperback is set during the events of Batman: Knightfall, specifically the period when the more brutal Azrael is acting as an armored Batman, and he makes it clear he doesn't require Robin. Tim Drake takes the hint and his Redbird and leaves Wayne Manor. The villainous complications are provided by a gang of carjackers, and a group of Batman's lesser villains mentioned above.
Tom Grummett (Robin #1–5) and Phil Jimenez (Showcase '94 #5–6 and Robin #6) penciled the trade paperback. For the most part, the pencilers complement with each other rather well, which makes a rather seamless artistic flow. While the penciling style is a tad dated – it is done rather well and brings a nostalgic aspect to the trade paperback.
All in all, Robin: Flying Solo is a mediocre trade paperback of the coming of age story of Tim Drake as Robin.
October 18, 2020
Really enjoyed this!
I still don't know why/how Azrael is Batman (I'll have to Google it), but I do love Tim as Robin, even as he "flies solo" in this... He's so clever (looking up insurance records to find info on a car thief gang & then finding them at the docks for parts export...). And I liked the story with Stephanie/Spoiler & Robin's total luck surviving his run in with the Cluemaster.
And while I didn't like the art change at the end, I did like the volume's last story with Helena/ Huntress & Robin. They have a funny/annoying kind of sibling rivalry/back and forth going.
Helena: "I reread the comic. It's about a man who puts on a mask to fight the crime family he was born into. Pretty weird stuff."
Robin: "You looked in a mirror lately, Huntress?"
Helena: "Nice."
Pg. 161
You can almost hear her *eyeroll*.
And I especially like how bloodthirsty she is & how that brings out the best in Tim.
Robin: "No, Huntress! Kill her and you cross the line. Kill her and Batman and I will make this the last night you prowl Gotham."
Helena: "You little... I don't need approval from you or that moralizing stiff you hang with. We all operate outside the law, Boy Wonder."
Robin: "You just don't get it. We're outside the law, buy we're not outlaws. How long do you think Gotham would tolerate us if we started killing these hoods? You're playing the game, Huntress. But you don't know the rules."
Pg. 173
Love it! I love Tim's response & especially love how Helena calls him and Batman "boy scouts" on Pg. 161.
...
And while Tim is out playing Robin, he is totally destroying his social life, by ignoring his girlfriend and letting his secret identity overtake his life.
Love a good social conflict for my heroes. <3
Short, but well written Robin volume. Easy 4.5 stars.
I still don't know why/how Azrael is Batman (I'll have to Google it), but I do love Tim as Robin, even as he "flies solo" in this... He's so clever (looking up insurance records to find info on a car thief gang & then finding them at the docks for parts export...). And I liked the story with Stephanie/Spoiler & Robin's total luck surviving his run in with the Cluemaster.
And while I didn't like the art change at the end, I did like the volume's last story with Helena/ Huntress & Robin. They have a funny/annoying kind of sibling rivalry/back and forth going.
Helena: "I reread the comic. It's about a man who puts on a mask to fight the crime family he was born into. Pretty weird stuff."
Robin: "You looked in a mirror lately, Huntress?"
Helena: "Nice."
Pg. 161
You can almost hear her *eyeroll*.
And I especially like how bloodthirsty she is & how that brings out the best in Tim.
Robin: "No, Huntress! Kill her and you cross the line. Kill her and Batman and I will make this the last night you prowl Gotham."
Helena: "You little... I don't need approval from you or that moralizing stiff you hang with. We all operate outside the law, Boy Wonder."
Robin: "You just don't get it. We're outside the law, buy we're not outlaws. How long do you think Gotham would tolerate us if we started killing these hoods? You're playing the game, Huntress. But you don't know the rules."
Pg. 173
Love it! I love Tim's response & especially love how Helena calls him and Batman "boy scouts" on Pg. 161.
...
And while Tim is out playing Robin, he is totally destroying his social life, by ignoring his girlfriend and letting his secret identity overtake his life.
Love a good social conflict for my heroes. <3
Short, but well written Robin volume. Easy 4.5 stars.
November 7, 2015
Nice read.
Basically set some time after being kicked out by Azrael, Tim Drake now spends time patrolling the streets of Gotham alone without Batman while Bruce is recuperating as well as trying to find Tim's kidnapped father.
I can see how these stories aren't a part of the Knightfall saga, but they are a really good break and its much appreciated especially with the New 52 stories taking out most of the innocence that was present in Tim Drake's Robin.
Nice seeing him and Stephanie Brown back when she didn't know who he was as they unite to take on her father the Cluemaster. As well as the second major caper involving Huntress. I must say I wasn't a big fan of Helena Bertinelli's Huntress before, preferring Helena Wayne instead. But now I'm happy to say that I like them both.
Good read. B
Basically set some time after being kicked out by Azrael, Tim Drake now spends time patrolling the streets of Gotham alone without Batman while Bruce is recuperating as well as trying to find Tim's kidnapped father.
I can see how these stories aren't a part of the Knightfall saga, but they are a really good break and its much appreciated especially with the New 52 stories taking out most of the innocence that was present in Tim Drake's Robin.
Nice seeing him and Stephanie Brown back when she didn't know who he was as they unite to take on her father the Cluemaster. As well as the second major caper involving Huntress. I must say I wasn't a big fan of Helena Bertinelli's Huntress before, preferring Helena Wayne instead. But now I'm happy to say that I like them both.
Good read. B
February 26, 2013
Chuck Dixon, who was such a huge part of the Bat books in the 90s, gives us young Tim Drake starring in his own title. Tim, who always seemed a lot like Peter Parker, is his usual hard-trying, hard luck self. Balancing family, friends, girls, heroes, and villains, Tim pulls it off pretty well for a teenager. Dixon completely understands this character. The book suffers from a little too much DC corniness and I'm not sure how well it holds up after all these years. The art is average. A big drawback is the second story in the book which Robin is a bit player and focuses more on the Huntress. Overall, a decent book especially if you were reading comics in the 90s.
July 27, 2016
The main story darted in and out of the Knightfall storyline and was actually decent. Light hearted without being silly and action packed without being merely fists flying. The final three parter stretched over different comics and some of it was just visually incoherent, reactions without causes, panels that went sideways halfway through the art without any compelling reason to do so. Just awful to look at and hurt this book's chance of a higher rating.
July 9, 2014
This trade reprints issues where Robin, aka Tim Drake, works the Gotham crime without Batman. He meets up with the Spoiler and the Huntress.
Everyone has heard of the first Robin, Dick Grayson. This is the third Robin. Like Dick Grayson before him, Tim is young, energetic, and a likable character. He is not a naïve as Dick was at this age, but still maintains a certain naïve charm.
Everyone has heard of the first Robin, Dick Grayson. This is the third Robin. Like Dick Grayson before him, Tim is young, energetic, and a likable character. He is not a naïve as Dick was at this age, but still maintains a certain naïve charm.
February 7, 2010
The Robin/Spoiler team up has more plot, but the Robin/Huntress story is far more interesting. I like that the Mafia in Gotham ranges from campy to vaguely realistic. That it can do so within the area of every single Huntress comic I've read is a special talent.
December 29, 2011
I loved this! To me it is more of the classic Robin that I remember growing up. (I grew up in the 90's with the Adventures of Batman & Robin) The art to me is a times beauty. Love this & totally recommended!
October 4, 2020
An ok story; nothing great. And I had forgotten about Jean Paul pretending to be Batman; that made the story even worse.
August 4, 2013
Robin investigates the Clue Master, runs into Spoiler and tries to have a civilian life. Some fun here, but nothing incredibly substantial. A good read.
April 7, 2017
This was a solid read for any Robin fan. I picked it up because I've read very little of Tim Drake's time as Robin, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that Spoiler (another character I've not encountered much yet) was in this collection too. But above all, this volume was a great showcase of who Tim Drake is and has me interested in finding more stories with him.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews