The first issue of Tim Drake Robin leaves fans wondering how he is going to be the hero he wants to be and live a happy life with his boyfriend Bernard. A new villain obsessed with classic detective tales creating deadly problems for Tim, and living away from Bruce Wayne is proving difficult. His journey of self-discovery and independence seems to be continually interrupted, forcing Tim to put his detective hat on and get to work. Writer Meghan Fitzmartin, artist Riley Rossmo, Colorist Lee Loughridge, and letterer Rob Leigh continue to put Tim through trials and challenges that widen the gap between Tim being happy and being a hero in Tim Drake Robin #2.
More murders seem to be popping up in the place Tim now calls home, and all the fingers are pointing at him. Robin wants to keep his loved ones safe. He even moved to keep Bernard out of harm’s way, but his new home comes with more safety concerns than he anticipated. This issue shows readers how great of a detective Tim is and lets him flex those skills in a creative way. There is a target on Tim throughout Tim Drake Robin #2, and it’s causing conflicts with both the police and, more importantly, Bernard.
Tim’s characterization in Tim Drake Robin #2 is a major step up from the first issue. Fitzmartin highlights Tim’s strengths as Robin, showing why he’s one of the best to hold that mantle. Fitzmartin lets the young hero show off in this issue, following clues and analyzing crime scenes. His intelligence shines as he has to dig deep to research his new villain. Fitzmartin displays how thoroughly he thinks his decisions through and how deep his emotions go. Fitzmartin shows readers what makes Tim such a compelling hero, even if he hasn’t quite figured out how to balance his duties with his personal life.
Rossmo’s artwork in Tim Drake Robin #2 is still one of the distracting parts of this new series. But much like the writing for this issue, it seems that the art is morphing to work in conjunction with the story. Rossmo’s art shines best when focusing on the small details of a crime scene, especially the corpse Tim has to investigate. His depiction of blood and trauma wounds is a grisly treat. Characters’ faces and proportions leave something to be desired, but as the story continues to head in a dark, twisted direction, that might work out in the long run. Whether she’s illuminating a grizzly crime scene or casting shadows for Tim to hide in, Loughridge’s color palette makes each scene captivating. Each panel flows smoothly into the next, even as the action ramps up, thanks to letterer Rob Leigh.
Fitzmartin and Rossmo both make a major step up in Tim Drake Robin #2. Readers get to see Tim work through stressful moments without losing his cool, and Fitzmartin lets him flex his detective muscles. This story continues to follow a young man on his own, trying to make a life for himself while juggling being in love and being a hero.
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