As we inch closer to the conclusion of the first arc for Tim Drake: Robin, readers are anxious to find out who is going to come up on top between our titular hero and his new rival. Writer Meghan Fitzmartin teams up with Riley Rossmo and Ricardo López Ortiz for a story that continues to captivate the audience. Tim Drake wants nothing more than to fit in and be a normal superhero. He has a new apartment, new territory to patrol, and the love and support of Bernard. But it’s not that easy to be happy; life isn’t a fairytale, after all. Especially in Gotham City.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Tim Drake: Robin #5!
The story opens with Tim doing one of the hardest things to do when you’re in the Bat-Family: asking for help. Neither Nightwing, Sparrow, nor Batwoman has any clue where Bernard is. Through the first few pages, the anxiety and fear that Tim is feeling ripples off the page. Meghan Fitzmartin has refined her voice for Tim Drake throughout her tenure writing for him, and this issue is no exception. Tim, scared and frantic, is simultaneously looking for help while pushing others away. It’s some of the most understandable and realistic behavior for him or anyone in the situation.
One great thing this issue does is show how Tim looks up to Dick Grayson so much, while also showing how that relationship has grown. Dick is helping Tim search the city for Bernard while providing therapy for Tim. It’s here where we see Dick open up and reflect on how similar their experiences can be. Something very strong in this series is how Fitzmartin has not oversaturated Tim’s book with a crowded supporting cast. However, her utilization in this issue is both masterfully handled and welcomed. During their interaction, there’s a statement that Tim makes that is absolutely perfect: Sometimes things that used to feel natural just don’t fit the same, and he seems to be experiencing that too. This might seem too meta for some readers, but I believe it to be the perfect way to encapsulate Tim Drake.
Credit: DC Comics
Once again, Riley Rossmo continues to wow the readers with his art. I’ve been singing Rossmo’s praise since the first issue, and I’m going to keep doing that because there’s just something about his art that makes me think of a classic Sherlock Holmes story. It’s a very hit-or-miss art style for readers, but it ultimately creates the perfect atmosphere for the story. Partnered along with Rossmo is Ricardo López Ortiz, who seamlessly interweaves his art with Rossmo during the issue. Ortiz brings his animated art style that makes people’s expressions evoke more emotion at times. Together, the two make a mighty match for the issue’s artwork.
Each issue of Tim Drake: Robin has built off the last in a way that narrates a perfect story. The series is quietly crafting one of the most memorable mysteries in comics. Throughout the past issues, the stakes have gotten higher as the answers to this mystery slowly begins to unravel. Both for better and for worse. With the first arc nearing its conclusion, one can only wonder what challenges lie ahead.
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