deep breath Only two issues left, only two issues left…

Alright let’s get to the positives, this intro is actually kinda good. There is a decent narrative flow, Tim using his analytical mind that’s communicated in a visually interesting way. The art looks good throughout, and the final scene is really haunting and has great use of imagery.

That out of the way, this book is still frustratingly infuriating. After the intro with Batwoman, she acts OOC, granted most of my Kate content comes from Tynion Tec, but here Kate feels much angrier than normal and acts incredibly irrational. Also the way that she escapes the grip from the Cult leader felt rushed and convenient equally convenient was how he escaped. Then we go to Bernard, and Tim sees him shirtless which his thoughts are like “Abs, abs, abs, arms.”

Now I now I like to play up my thirst for certain characters for you guys, I mostly do it for humor, so I know this may be rich coming from me. But Tim has more control than that. Granted that could just be my disdain for Bernard, Tim has fallen for feminine wiles on a few occasions. However, Bernard is shredded?!?! What the hell?! I hate saying this, but THIS IS FANFICTION LEVEL writing. A few issues back Bernard was more “twinkish” and looked like he could barely lift a barbell, now he’s jacked?! And that begs the question, if he was training himself to fight hand get in shape, WHY DIDNT HE TRY TO ESCAPE WHEN HE WAS CAPTURED INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR TIM TO COME AND RESCUE HIM?!?!

All of Bernard’s dialogue feels forced and unearned. I don’t feel the emotional connection they are trying to convey. Tim has helped his love interests through trauma and difficult life events before both as Robin, Tim, & Red Robin too. This aspect of his character is something that I will admit Fitzmartin does understand well, but the way it’s written here feels like gaslighting us into liking Bernard. I’ve seen Tim connect with people who went through trauma already from Ariana telling him about nearly being sexually assaulted, to Tam dealing with being held captive by the League of Assassins and nearly killed several times, to Tim helping Stephanie through a pregnancy, her father’s death, and telling him about how she was nearly molested, to a complete stranger who was just having a very bad day and wanted the pain to end. I felt more of an emotional connection with Tim and that stranger than anything with Bernard whom he allegedly loves with all his heart. I get what they are trying to do, it’s part of why I love Tim as a character, it’s just not done well, because it’s literally just Bernard venting and Tim think “Poor Bernard”, telling us what to feel instead of showing us.

Then Kate interrupts and tries to interrogate Bernard which leads her and Tim to fight. And the writing improves because Tim has his doubts that things in his life really improved after dating Bernard, and Kate was spitting facts that Bernard is a “dime a dozen.”

After that scene Tim thinks about visiting Bernard as Tim……what happens next was probably most irritating thing I have read of this series so far. Tim lands on top of his boat IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, one of his neighbors spot him, Tim changes out of his uniform, and for the third time in a row in this series HAS THE CURTAINS WIDE OPEN, then his neighbor (who we only met this issue, yet he and Tim are so close) spots Tim’s Robin suit SITTING ON THE TABLE, and assumes that Tim is cheating on Bernard with Robin.

Jesus fucking Christ, WHY ARE YOU MAKING TIM SUCH AN UTTER FUCKING MORON?!?! He’s more worried about feeling sad for Bernard. I’ve was more protective of my internet history as a teenager than Tim is with his identity in this book! Tim is supposed to be one of the smartest members of the Batfamily. He once faked an assassination attempt on himself, and pretended to be crippled for a year so that one of his foes wouldn’t think he was Red Robin. Tim also had a pocket in his clothes that had his costume inside the pocket so he wouldn’t be caught wearing his costume. Now yes, Tim has had a few close shaves, Tim overslept one time early in his career but was lucky enough to put on his robe before his maid noticed him costume, there was another time when his roommate at boarding school got super drunk and found his costume while Tim was severely sleep deprived so Tim lucked out there, and the only time he was caught was when his father ransacked his room when caught Tim in a lie and it led to Jack confronting Bruce and led to Tim having to give up the role of Robin to keep his father’s mouth shut. Needless to say it was a BIG DEAL. Here, this guy spots Tim getting changed and practically catches Tim in his costume, but then thinks that Tim is being unfaithful. I overreacted at first thinking that they leaned into the “cheating bisexual” stereotype, which I don’t think they did, but it’s still fucking stupid.

Okay so what happens next? Does Tim follow the tracker on the Cult Leader that he placed onto him? Does he go to check on Bernard as Tim like he said the scene before and came to his boat in order to change into civilian clothes? NOPE, he goes to Batwoman’s house as Robin in broad daylight. So much for the decent narrative flow.

Look if you like this, more power to you. But this is just infuriating to me. This series is more concerned at giving Tim & Bernard cute moments, than actually making Tim comes across as competent and smart. You can do both! I am so glad there is only one issue left of this and I hope writers of the future completely ignore it. more