Robin: A Hero Reborn [Paperback]

Alan Grant (Author), Chuck Dixon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Robin | Publication Date: February 23, 1998

Tim Drake, the young computer wizard who became the third Robin, undergoes intensive training and faces the Scarecrow and other villains in this collection that details Robins origin for the modern age of comics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics; Graphic No edition (February 23, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563890291
• ISBN-13: 978-1563890291
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Chuck Dixon magic, July 13, 2005

By 

Corum Seth Smith (Hendersonville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Robin: A Hero Reborn (Paperback)

This book covers the beginning of Tim Drake as Robin. He is the third Robin and feels a strong need to prove himself. In his first adventures he fights and is even trained by, one of the world's best martial artists, Lady Shiva. Robin races to defeat a new threat more powerful than previous enemies. The terrorist Ghost Dragons have captured a sample of old bubonic plague and plan to unleash it, killing millions.

I really like Tim Drake as Robin because he does exactly what Dixon proposes: he "complements" Batman. He is not reckless and brash like Jason; if anything he lacks confidence. However, he is arguably the best detective of the three Robins, and incredibly clever.

His determination is what really impresses me. When he is training and feels so helplessly alone, he doesn't give in. That is a true hero. I also have always liked it when Nightwing and Robin get together. They just have such a great brotherly relationship. Chuck Dixon writes both characters really well.

Chuck Dixon is really great with these "coming-of-age" stories. Robin: "A Hero Reborn" is the story of one young man's journey to become a hero. He is not so arrogant to believe that he is destined to be great, and he acknowledges humbly the dangers of the world. Despite his fear, he bravely treads onward. Tim embodies our own struggles with inadequacy and anxiety and we cheer him on as he bests each new trial. This strong empathy between reader and protagonist is reason enough to check out this book for anyone curious to the motivations of a "Boy Wonder."

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For followers of the bat-mythos, August 19, 2001

By 

Ron Tothleben ([e-mail]) (Tilburg, Netherlands, Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Robin: A Hero Reborn (Paperback)

This book (which collects Batman #455-457 and the 5-part Robin miniseries) is best to be read right after "Lonely Place of Dying" where Timothy Drake got accepted by Batman to try out to become the new Robin. Here we see how 'the boy' Timothy Drake has to grow up and evolve to rightfully become 'the Boy Wonder'.

It all starts off with the three part story that runs through Batman #455-457 (with Art by Norm Breyfogle, which is sufficient but nothing great) in which Tim is ordered to stay home, while Batman is out on the streets. This in order for him to become fully prepared before he gets to roam the streets someday. Batman is determined not to make the same mistake with Tim he made with Jason Todd (see "Death in the Family"). But once things get too hot even for Batmans feet, Tim proves his worth (this is a story with one of Batmans major villains which shall remain nameless in this review because guessing who he might be is a vital point during the storyline). Storywise this is the most entertaining part of the book. After having proven his spirit is good, the Robin miniseries starts (with art by Tom Lyle, which is an improvement) with Tim getting send to Paris in order to learn more, and perfect his fighting skills. There he gets involved in a fight with a gang, which later turns out to be more than an average streetgang but instead an organisation lead by a mad man. Together with allies he met along the way he goes out to see if he can make a difference, and so his trip to Paris turns into a worldwide pursuit in which he learns a lot from the others and from himself.

This book is not for someone who's just out to get a nice self-contained Batman story (better get "Dark Knight Returns", "The Long Halloween" or "Batman: Prey" for that purpose) but it's a nice addition for people who like to keep track with the Bat-mythos. It continues right after the events that took place in "Lonely Place of Dying" so I'd really get that first (and if you want to know what all the hinting to 'Jason Todd' in the book is about you might wanna check out "Death in the Family" too, but that's optional, not a must). Given, it's not the greatest Batman-related story you'll ever read nor is it the most memorable, but it DOES make for a couple of hours of good, uncomplicated entertainment and will definately be worth your while (again, IF you're a fan of Bat-mythos).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Meet the new Robin!!, November 11, 2001

By 

"zsinj16" (Ill, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Robin: A Hero Reborn (Paperback)

I thought this Batman graphic novel was great!!! I really enjoyed seeing the new Robin (Tim Drake) taking the mantle of becoming the Dark Knight's sidekick. But it all doesn't happen just instantly, Tim Drake has to prove himself to be a true vigilante superhero by battling his own inner demons and through rigorous and grueling physical and mental training, just like Bruce Wayne had to do before he became the Batman. Plus he has to go up against a power-hungry druglord that plans to wipeout the whole city of Hong-Kong with a powerful secret weapon developed by the Nazis in World War II. I recommend this great graphic novel to all fans of the Batman mythos. I myself can't wait to buy the sequel to this story of the new Robin.