Review: ROBIN #2

Test Your Might!
From the mind of writer Joshua Williamson and the pens of Gleb Melnikov and Luis Guerrero comes a story setting dripping with callbacks to the fighting game series Mortal Kombat. Just like the Mortal Kombat tournament Robin # 2 finds the Son Of Batman awakening on a mysterious island after recovering by having his heart ripped from his chest by the mysterious new heroine Flatline. The book goes onto explain while on the mystical island you can die a total of three times and unfortunately for Robin he’s already down a life.

The island is dripping with that Mortal Kombat aesthetic from the oriental palaces to the winding passages that lead under the island. There’s a wonderfully illustrated spread in the middle of the book where Robin performs a round of gory executions with sword slashes and bloody batarangs showing just how much the art here pops. To round out the tribute to the legendary fighting game this book comes complete with a roster of eccentric murdering psychopaths.

League Of Assassins
As Ravager and Robin navigate the island we learn there’s a tournament taking place and the last man standing gains eternal life. The books major focus seems to explore the relationship Robin has with Deathstroke’s girl Ravager and his murderer Flatline. Flatline is an interesting new addition to the DC universe who made her debut this May in 2021. While she is credited as the sidekick of Lord Death Man she very much feels like her own character which is a nice change of pace from somebody like Harley Quinn who feels like they are stuck in The Joker’s shadow. This book introduces a whole cast of crazy killers the standout among them aside from Flatline is Black Swan a ballerina who snapped and killed an entire audience at her last recital. Black Swan’s costume is elegantly simple and Flatline is sporting a punky Halloween style getup.

Damian’s Growing Personality
Bruce Wayne’s Son has come a long way from the unlikeable brat he started as to some fan’s favourite Robin. In this book, he’s still as arrogant, stoic and cocky as when he started but now he displays a maturity and control he’s learned from Batman along with a few moments of tenderness. When Ravager goes through Robin’s things we get a glimpse of a romantic manga he’s been reading showing the former assassin has developed a taste for trashy romance comics.

This Party’s Getting Crazy
The book ends with Ravager and Robin attending a beach party with the intention of living a little before the parade of death begins anew in the morning. At this book’s core, there’s a mystery, fun characters and a cool concept. I would recommend following Robin’s solo adventures for as long as it interests you because I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes. If you like Mortal Kombat & DC this issue is firing on all cylinders just for you.

3/5 Stars
“A deadly game with an exciting twist; this is one to watch.”

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Art: Gleb Melnikov
Publisher: DC Comics