Showcase Presents: Robin the Boy Wonder, Vol. 1 (Paperback)

by Leo Dorfman (Author), Pete Costanza (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up–Robin is easy to like because he is fallible and immature. This volume includes a good portion of the late '60s/early '70s comics featuring The Boy Wonder. As a college student, he has to face the dominant issues of the day, namely civil unrest and campus radicalism. Comic art from this period is entirely black and white, with heavy lines and lots of background and shading. It can be a daunting visual and takes some time to get used to. While some cultural issues may fly over readers' heads, for the most part the book has plenty of action, strong characters, and the ever-present sarcastic asides that make comics such fun to read.–John Leighton, Brooklyn Public Library, NY
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Product Description
Over 500 pages of classic adventures are included in this value-priced volume! Batmans teen ally goes solo in these tales fromthe 1960s and 70s, solving mysteries and facing conflicts on college campuses and in the streets of Gotham City.This volume features guest-appearances by Superman, Batman, Batgirl and Jimmy Olsen.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: DC Comics (January 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401216765
• ISBN-13: 978-1401216764
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #717,600 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre unfortunately, June 3, 2008

By	J. Nicholas Dirga "Nik" (Roseburg, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While I generally love these big black and white collections this one featuring Robin isn't the best. Much of these stories are really dated and boring '70s "teen movement" themed with Robin cast as the middle man between the "uptight adults" and the "revolutionary college kids" he hangs out with. Sure, that sounds like it could be kitschy fun but most of these stories are dull and full of groan-worthy cliches clearly written by a middle-aged guy trying to make sense of the '70s college lifestyle. It's not terrible but certainly nothing you'd want to read more than once, there are better Showcases out there.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Robins Greatest Adventures, March 7, 2008

By	Tim Lasiuta "Comic Fan 42" (Red Deer, Alberta) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

One of the most anticipated series I get to review is DC Comics Showcase series.
Where else can you get over 500 pages of a book dedicated to your favorite characters? So, far, DC has 'showcased' Wonder Woman, Batman, the Justice League, Jonah Hex, The Phantom Stranger, The Elongated Man, the Flash, and even the House of Mystery! To paraphrase one of my favorite book titles, all in black and white for under $20!
Showcase: Robin, covers the comic book career of Robin the Boy Wonder from May of 1964 to September of 1975. It may not be a long time period chronologically, but the range of stories in the book spans the Worlds Finest team ups of Robin and Jimmy Olsen, Robin and Batman, Robin and Batgirl, Robin and Superman, and course, Robin and Robin.
Not only are there outstanding stories in the book, but also outstanding art as well. Gil Kane, Rich Buckler, Terry Austin, Curt Swan, Sheldon Moldoff, Pete Costanza, Joe Giella, Al Milgrom, Chic Stone, Sid Greene, Ross Andru, Vince Colletta, and Murphy Anderson contribute to the stories. Mike Friedrich, Leo Dorfman, John Broome, Frank Robbins, Bob Haney, Denny O'Neil, and Gardner Fox pen this Whose Who in the DC universe from 64 to 78.

Older comic readers will remember the stories from the first time they read them. I know I recognized a few right off the top, but that didn't stop me from sitting down and reading. Robin appeared in various titles like Detective Comics, Worlds Finest Comics, Jimmy Olsen, Batman, and the Justice League. My favorite tales include "How Many Ways Can A Robin Die??" by Frank Robbins, "Theater of the Mind" (Friedrich/Buckler), "The New Terrific Team" (Hamilton/Swan/Klein), and "Midnight is the Dying Hour" (O'Neill/Kane/Colletta). I am perpetually amazed by the volume of work that Gil Kane did for DC in his tenure there and books like this drive that point home every time.
The book cover is interesting. If we look back in our collections, there is a Murphy Anderson Batman/Robin cover that is almost identical! Perhaps they took the same cover, and just removed Batman from the mix, or is it even NEW art for just this book?
Enjoy the adventures of Robin, coming soon to a comic store near you.
Www.dccomics.com

Tim Lasiuta

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good... but not what I hoped it would be, August 24, 2008

By	blake scott "dr zoidberg" (Phoenixville, PA United States) - See all my reviews

I really like most of these DC Showcase (and the Marvel Essentials), I even like the fact that they're in B&W. I was hoping the Robin Essential would start with the late Golden age solo Robin series from Star-Spangled Comics, but instead they begin with new era Robin from 1964. Oh well..