elvisdo's Full Review: Adventures of Batman & Robin - Robin
Robin's Reckoning is a very powerful story. On the surface, it recounts how young Dick Grayson meets Bruce Wayne. Underneath it all, it's a story about family.
The story starts off with Batman and Robin tracking down some thugs. One of the goons reveals who he is working for, a crime boss named Marin. As soon as Batman hears this name, he immediately pulls Robin off the case. A bewildered Robin wonders why and gets frustrated that Batman still treats him like a kid. After his own investigation Robin learns that "Marin" is really an alias to one Tony Zucco, the man who murdered his parents.
As the story progresses, we are treated to flashback scenes to when Dick was in the circus with his parents, Tom and Mary, better known as the Flying Graysons, a family of trapeze artists. Tony Zucco is running a racket that "protects" businesses from any "accidents" if they pay him. When the circus refuses, Zucco makes an example of the Graysons. Dick was forced to watch as his parents fell to their deaths as the cord to their trapeze was cut.
Enter Bruce Wayne. He happened to be watching the show and was concerned for the boy, not only because he was a material witness, but because he knows what Dick is feeling. Bruce takes him under his wing.
In the meantime, a young Zucco takes shelter at his uncle's house, and he abolishes Zucco for bringing the Bat down onto the family. Batman finally does track Zucco down but loses him. Zucco hasn't been heard from since then.... until now.
Robin is furious that Batman has kept him out of this case and kept him in the dark about Zucco's whereabouts. In that moment, he doesn't trust Batman, and doesn't think he can anymore. He proceeds to take matters into his own hands by tracking down Zucco.
Robin does get to Zucco before Batman and proceeds to administer his own brand of justice. In the end, he does what is right and leaves Zucco for the authorities.
Dick also understood why Bruce kept him out of the case. At first he thought Batman was a cold-hearted individual who didn't care about anyone but himself. Then he realized how emotionally charged he would have been if he was on the case. It was neither. Batman explains that Zucco took so much away from Dick that he was afraid that he might take away Dick as well. Without saying more, Robin realizes just how much Batman does care.
This is an excellent look at the relationship between these two men. Even though Dick lost his parents to crime, he isn't driven by the same demons as Batman. This young, spunky kid has learned a lot under Bruce's tutelage but has eventually become his own man. The relation between Bruce and Dick has always been a strained one which will eventually lead Dick to leave his Robin identity and form a new one as Nightwing.
Robin's Reckoning is a classic tale of showing how family - whether it comprises of your parents, the circus, or a surrogate father - can make a big difference in one's life.
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