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Robin II: The Joker's Wild #1-4
Robin: Tragedy and Triumph
Can the new Boy Wonder survive an encounter with the Joker, the very villain who murdered his predecessor?
Collects Detective Comics #618-621 and Robin II: The Joker's Wild!
Collects Detective Comics #618-621 and Robin II: The Joker's Wild!
192 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 1991
95 people want to read
About the author
Alan Grant
1,712 books144 followersAlan Grant was a Scottish comic book writer known for writing Judge Dredd in 2000 AD as well as various Batman titles during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is also the creator of the character Anarky.
Alan Grant first entered the comics industry in 1967 when he became an editor for D.C. Thomson before moving to London from Dundee in 1970 to work for IPC on various romance magazines. After going back to college and having a series of jobs, Grant found himself back in Dundee and living on Social Security. He then met John Wagner, another former D.C. Thompson editor, who was helping put together a new science fiction comic for IPC, 2000 A.D., and was unable to complete his other work. Wagner asked Grant if he could help him write the Tarzan comic he was working on; so began the Wagner/Grant writing partnership.
The pair eventually co-wrote Judge Dredd. They would work on other popular strips for the comic, including Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog using the pseudonym T.B. Grover. Grant also worked on other people's stories, changing and adding dialogue, most notably Harry Twenty on the High Rock, written by Gerry Finley-Day. Judge Dredd would be Grant's main concern for much of the 1980s. Grant and Wagner had developed the strip into the most popular in 2000AD as well as creating lengthy epic storylines such as The Apocalypse War. Grant also wrote for other IPC comics such as the revamped Eagle.
By the late 1980s, Grant and Wagner were about to move into the American comic market. Their first title was a 12-issue miniseries called Outcasts for DC Comics. Although it wasn't a success, it paved the way for the pair to write Batman stories in Detective Comics from issue 583, largely with Norm Breyfogle on art duties across the various Batman titles Grant moved to. After a dozen issues, Wagner left Grant as sole writer. Grant was one of the main Batman writers until the late 1990s. The pair also created a four issue series for Epic Comics called The Last American. This series, as well as the Chopper storyline in Judge Dredd, is blamed for the breakup of the Wagner/Grant partnership. The pair split strips, with Wagner keeping Judge Dredd and Grant keeping Strontium Dog and Judge Anderson. Grant and Wagner continue to work together on special projects such as the Batman/Judge Dredd crossover Judgement on Gotham. During the late 1980s, Grant experienced a philosophical transformation and declared himself an anarchist. The creation of the supervillain Anarky was initially intended as a vehicle for exploring his political opinions through the comic medium. In the following years, he would continue to utilize the character in a similar fashion as his philosophy evolved.
Grant's projects at the start of the 90s included writing Detective Comics and Strontium Dog, but two projects in particular are especially notable. The first is The Bogie Man, a series co-written by Wagner which was the pair's first venture into independent publishing. The second is Lobo, a character created by Keith Giffen as a supporting character in The Omega Men. Lobo gained his own four issue mini series in 1990 which was drawn by Simon Bisley. This was a parody of the 'dark, gritty' comics of the time and proved hugely popular. After several other miniseries (all written by Grant, sometimes with Giffen as co-writer), Lobo received his own ongoing series. Grant was also writing L.E.G.I.O.N. (a Legion of Super-Heroes spin-off) and The Demon (a revival of Jack Kirby's charac
Alan Grant first entered the comics industry in 1967 when he became an editor for D.C. Thomson before moving to London from Dundee in 1970 to work for IPC on various romance magazines. After going back to college and having a series of jobs, Grant found himself back in Dundee and living on Social Security. He then met John Wagner, another former D.C. Thompson editor, who was helping put together a new science fiction comic for IPC, 2000 A.D., and was unable to complete his other work. Wagner asked Grant if he could help him write the Tarzan comic he was working on; so began the Wagner/Grant writing partnership.
The pair eventually co-wrote Judge Dredd. They would work on other popular strips for the comic, including Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog using the pseudonym T.B. Grover. Grant also worked on other people's stories, changing and adding dialogue, most notably Harry Twenty on the High Rock, written by Gerry Finley-Day. Judge Dredd would be Grant's main concern for much of the 1980s. Grant and Wagner had developed the strip into the most popular in 2000AD as well as creating lengthy epic storylines such as The Apocalypse War. Grant also wrote for other IPC comics such as the revamped Eagle.
By the late 1980s, Grant and Wagner were about to move into the American comic market. Their first title was a 12-issue miniseries called Outcasts for DC Comics. Although it wasn't a success, it paved the way for the pair to write Batman stories in Detective Comics from issue 583, largely with Norm Breyfogle on art duties across the various Batman titles Grant moved to. After a dozen issues, Wagner left Grant as sole writer. Grant was one of the main Batman writers until the late 1990s. The pair also created a four issue series for Epic Comics called The Last American. This series, as well as the Chopper storyline in Judge Dredd, is blamed for the breakup of the Wagner/Grant partnership. The pair split strips, with Wagner keeping Judge Dredd and Grant keeping Strontium Dog and Judge Anderson. Grant and Wagner continue to work together on special projects such as the Batman/Judge Dredd crossover Judgement on Gotham. During the late 1980s, Grant experienced a philosophical transformation and declared himself an anarchist. The creation of the supervillain Anarky was initially intended as a vehicle for exploring his political opinions through the comic medium. In the following years, he would continue to utilize the character in a similar fashion as his philosophy evolved.
Grant's projects at the start of the 90s included writing Detective Comics and Strontium Dog, but two projects in particular are especially notable. The first is The Bogie Man, a series co-written by Wagner which was the pair's first venture into independent publishing. The second is Lobo, a character created by Keith Giffen as a supporting character in The Omega Men. Lobo gained his own four issue mini series in 1990 which was drawn by Simon Bisley. This was a parody of the 'dark, gritty' comics of the time and proved hugely popular. After several other miniseries (all written by Grant, sometimes with Giffen as co-writer), Lobo received his own ongoing series. Grant was also writing L.E.G.I.O.N. (a Legion of Super-Heroes spin-off) and The Demon (a revival of Jack Kirby's charac
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 6, 2020
I'm not sure the reasoning behind what's in this book -- the first half is what happened to Robin's parents right before he became Robin, and then the second half is Robin's first solo patrol, presumably after all the events of Robin: A Hero Reborn, which I thought came first. Anyway, the two stories are very good. Batman characterization is great, there's real tension because the Joker remembers having recently killed (a) Robin, and it's a good time.
March 27, 2020
Robin: Tragedy & Triumph is a trade paperback that collects four issues (Detective Comics #618-621) of the 1937 Detective Comics series and collects all four issues of the miniseries Robin II: The Joker's Wild.
"Rite of Passage" is a four-issue storyline (Detective Comics #618–621) which is a story that further develops the origin story of Tim Drake as the new Robin following his introduction. Batman became aware of an on-line thief who was stealing massive amounts of money from international corporations, including Wayne Enterprises. Batman asked Tim Drake to help him track down the signal and eagerly accepted.
"Robin II: The Joker's Wild!" is a four-issue limited series that follows Tim Drake as Robin against Batman's most infamous foe: the Joker – alone. The Joker has escaped from Arkham Asylum and Batman is away in Rio de Janeiro and it is up to the fledgling Robin to recapture him.
Alan Grant (Detective Comics #618–621) and Chuck Dixon (Robin II: The Joker's Wild #1–4) penned the trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well. It is divided into two parts: Grant penned a story that delves into Tim Drake's life – especially with his family while he is still training to become Robin. While Dixon story deals with Robin's first encounter with Batman's nemesis – The Joker as Tim Drake wonders if he is truly capable in doing a mission alone in Gotham City – especially when it comes to the Joker.
Norm Breyfogle (Detective Comics #618–621) and Tom Lyle (Robin II: The Joker's Wild #1–4) penciled the trade paperback. For the most part, the pencilers complement with each other rather well, which makes a rather seamless artistic flow. While the penciling style is a tad dated – it is done rather well and brings a nostalgic aspect to the trade paperback.
All in all, Robin: Tragedy & Triumph is a wonderful trade paperback of the coming of age story of Tim Drake as Robin.
"Rite of Passage" is a four-issue storyline (Detective Comics #618–621) which is a story that further develops the origin story of Tim Drake as the new Robin following his introduction. Batman became aware of an on-line thief who was stealing massive amounts of money from international corporations, including Wayne Enterprises. Batman asked Tim Drake to help him track down the signal and eagerly accepted.
"Robin II: The Joker's Wild!" is a four-issue limited series that follows Tim Drake as Robin against Batman's most infamous foe: the Joker – alone. The Joker has escaped from Arkham Asylum and Batman is away in Rio de Janeiro and it is up to the fledgling Robin to recapture him.
Alan Grant (Detective Comics #618–621) and Chuck Dixon (Robin II: The Joker's Wild #1–4) penned the trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well. It is divided into two parts: Grant penned a story that delves into Tim Drake's life – especially with his family while he is still training to become Robin. While Dixon story deals with Robin's first encounter with Batman's nemesis – The Joker as Tim Drake wonders if he is truly capable in doing a mission alone in Gotham City – especially when it comes to the Joker.
Norm Breyfogle (Detective Comics #618–621) and Tom Lyle (Robin II: The Joker's Wild #1–4) penciled the trade paperback. For the most part, the pencilers complement with each other rather well, which makes a rather seamless artistic flow. While the penciling style is a tad dated – it is done rather well and brings a nostalgic aspect to the trade paperback.
All in all, Robin: Tragedy & Triumph is a wonderful trade paperback of the coming of age story of Tim Drake as Robin.
February 7, 2010
I never realized what an awesome nineties fanboy Tim was. I mean, I got that he was a stalkery computer freak, but I didn't realize he played "Warlocks and Warriors" with his school friends.
July 11, 2016
Woof, what a stinker. Some of the worst art plus a storyline that boggles the mind even for comics. The Joker disables Gotham's computers in the winter, leading to power outages, fires, riots, but oh no Batman is out of town for at least a week. Luckily he lets the new Robin (you know, the one replacing the previous Robin, the one The Joker killed) handle him on his own without any help, without contacting Robin or Alfred or any other caped heroes, like at least Nightwing who was just part of Robin's training two books back.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews