Robin #58 (1998)

Robin #58 (October, 1998)
"The Stranger"
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Penciller - Staz Johnson
Inker - Stan Woch
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Letterer - Tim Harkins
Associate Editor - Jordan B. Gorfinkel
Editor - Denny O'Neil
Cover Price: $1.99

Had so much fun with Tim and Steph I decided maybe we should hang out with them a little longer.  I mean, Stephanie is going to need some looking after what with her being in a "family way".  Is Tim the daddy?  Can you get pregnant from a kiss?  We'll answer all those questions and more... right now!

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We open on a gobsmacked Boy Wonder... Stephanie Brown is p-p-p-pregnant?!?  We get the distinct impression here that for a brief moment, Tim fears the baby might be his.  This facilitates Stephanie giving him the quick 'n dirty on the birds and the bees...and births one of my favorite Robin references... "Boy Virgin".

She continues, stating she hasn't told the father-to-be as he fled Gotham in the wake of the quake.  She hasn't yet told her mother, either.  Tim suggests she does at least confide in her mom, because there's "things" that need to be done.  Stephanie flies off the handle, immediately taking this as Tim telling her to get an abortion... not so, however... Tim just wants her to start having regular doctor's visits and for her to consider "hanging up the tights"... at least for the time being.

Later Robin returns to the Batcave and we see that it and the Mansion are being reinforced by handyman extraordinaire Harold... who is quite the strong fella.  Batman heads out on patrol, taking Robin's Redbird, leaving the Boy Wonder behind to watch the monitors.

Robin hops on-line and gives a call to Oracle.  He asks her if they can talk some "non-professional" stuffs.  He confides in her that his friend is pregnant... after some "your friend?" confusion and razzing, Babs decides to lend him an ear.  I really miss the Oracle dynamic... really disappointed in what Barbara's become since 2011.

We shift scenes to check in on a trio of Tim's school chums.  They are debating whether or not Han Solo and Princess Leia got married following Return of the Jedi... which, I think we have a better idea of nowadays.  They also decide that the Star Wars "book" continuity "doesn't count"... which is somewhat prophetic.  Anyhoo, they look into the broken window of an almost destroyed bakery... destroyed due to the Cataclysm... and they see a weird critter chompin' on some nondescript baked good.

We rejoin Stephanie as she and her mother talk to a counselor at the Gotham County Social Services office.  Mrs. Brown tells the counselor that Stephanie has decided to have the child... from here, things get a bit uncomfortable... the counselor appears to begin pressuring Stephanie into considering having an abortion.  We'll leave this here for now... and talk about it some more (in a very "riding the fence" sort of way) down below in the review/reflection portion.

We meet back up with Tim as he is shooting some hoops with his dorky friends.  They tell him the story of seeing a "monster".  We then enter into flashback... which wasn't terribly clear my first time reading this... the geeks are doing some urban spelunking through the Gotham wreckage.  Robin is hanging out keeping an eye on them... to keep them safe he gives them a spook and sends them running.  I'm guessing Robin was the "monster" they saw... rather than the creepy critter they saw in the bakery?  Okey dokey.  Anyhoo, they plan on returning to the wreckage to prove the beastie's existence.

Back with Steph and Mom... they are now visiting... I wanna say it's an adoption agency... but there's a dude there offering her up to a hundred grand for her baby.  I didn't know adoption worked like that... you'd almost figure folks would view this as a viable career if this were the case, no?  Can't say I speak with any experience on the subject... for all I know, this is the way it goes.  Stephanie doesn't take too kindly to all this, and they walk out.

That night, Robin and Stephanie have a rooftop pow wow.  They have a fairly uncomfortable chat before Robin bugs out to meet up with his foolish monster hunting friends.

The next several pages feature the boys seeing a monster... and Robin swinging through Gotham City engaging in some very teenagery introspection.  When he finally arrives at the wreckage he sees his pals locked inside a sort of vault... it's basically the image from the cover... he then turns around to find himself in the presence of... Steeljacket (who?)!  To be continued...

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Well, this is a pretty run of the mill issue.  Thankfully a Chuck Dixon "run of the mill" issue is still better than most.  We've got a few things to cover and reflect on here...

First, love the conversation between Tim and Stephanie to start things off.  "Boy Virgin" elicited one of those half cough-half laugh things that you instantly regret because you spend the next five minutes attempting in vain to clear your throat.  Still worth it though.  I also really enjoyed Tim confiding in Barbara... I know I say this a lot... but scenes like this really make me feel homesick for the pre-Didio-darkening DC Universe.

Stephanie seeking out her "options" felt a bit stilted to me.  I have always heard that Chuck Dixon has some pretty strong political leanings, though, as opposed to some of his fellow creators... doesn't really leak them into his work.  Here though, I fell like he let it slip a bit.  The counselor at the clinic may as well have been drawn with a forked tail and horns.  I can't outright say there aren't counselors who speak like she does... and that perhaps make certain "suggestion(s)" to "girls in trouble", but I would have preferred a bit more ambiguity here.  I would have liked it if Stephanie was presented with all of her options in a more balanced kind of way, allowing her to make an educated decision... rather than painting either side as good or bad.  I don't think it's comics' place to say one way or another.

I did have some issues with the pacing... especially the flashback jump.  It wasn't entirely clear that it was a flashback, at least to me, at the offset.  That might just be due to my reading these out of context... for all I know, this scene actually occurred earlier in the series and I just forgot about it.  Either way, this was the weaker part of the issue...

In checking out the letters page... which features the proper way to perform CPR... I found that the following month was going to be the tie-in to DC One Million with Robin #1,000,000... meaning that it would be two months before this story resumes.  Can't help but feel this was a missed opportunity.  Stephanie revealing her pregnancy would have been a much stronger two-month long cliffhanger than what we get here.

Overall... perhaps not as strong an outing as last issue's Date Night, but still a fun issue of Robin.  Definitely worth tracking down and checking out.  Like we discovered yesterday... this is all available over at DC Digital.

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Robin #57 (1998)

Robin #57 (September, 1998)
"Date Night"
Writer - Chuck Dixon
Penciller - Staz Johnson
Inker - Stan Woch
Colorist - Adrienne Roy
Letterer - Tim Harkins
Associate Editor - Jordan B. Gorfinkel
Editor - Denny O'Neil
Cover Price: $1.99

I figure after the busy long holiday weekend what we all need is a day off... or maybe a night out!  Why not just push all the hustle and bustle out of our minds for a bit... and let's all have a date night with our good pals Tim Drake (shhh!) Robin and Spoiler.  I mean, what could possibly go wrong?

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We open during a... very starry... Gotham night.  Robin and Spoiler are about to begin their first official date.  Like a "date" date.  To start, Robin takes her to the highest point in Gotham City... after the Earthquake... Wayne Tower.  I just love how even with this little bit, Dixon includes a reference to the post-Cataclysm/pre-No Man's Land Batbook narrative.  It isn't necessary... but it's just so awesome that it's here.

They sit up there awhile trying to figure out a way in which they could conspicuously "have a date" while at the same time not tipping Stephanie Brown off to Robin' secret identity.  Yeah... Tim knows Spoiler is Steph... but Steph only knows the "Boy Worrier" as Robin.  Spoiler suggests they head to a theater catering to cosplayers for a sci-fi movie night.

As luck would have it, none of the other patrons recognize either vigilante... okay, I'm enjoying this so much I'll let that slide... but really and truly... that's kinda bunk.  Here Spoiler lifts her mask up a bit... Tim believes it's so she can have some popcorn... but instead she plants one on Tim's naive li'l lips.

We shift scenes to an interrogation room.  Steven "Shotgun" Smith is among the officers waiting outside the room while a gang is conferring with their lawyer.  What nobody is prepared for is that lawyer viciously beating each and every gang member to death on the other side of the wall.

Back with the kids... Robin and Spoiler decide to "give pizza a chance" and grab a late night slice.  Here Spoiler removes her mask entirely... which struck me as odd... I'd forgotten about her doing that.  The pair discuss their prospective relationship... Robin feels pangs of guilt that he cannot be more open with her whereas he knows everything he needs to about her.  After finishing their meal, they decide against calling it a night... there's still more fun to be had.

Back at the station, the gang massacre is discovered.  We immediately jump to the "lawyer" who is revealed to be the martial artist Dragoncat... who when he "kills 'em they stay dead."  There's a great comic book motto.  He confers with Cluemaster.  Speaking of whom, we also get a brief vignette of Shotgun visiting a young man in the hospital... and learn that the mastermind for the current rash of violence might be the very same Cluemaster.

We rejoin Robin and Spoiler as they swing through the Gotham night.  They wind up sitting atop a building where they have a cute exchange.  Spoiler ponders if it's weird that she has to call him "Robin" rather than by a "real name".  He laughs and reasons that at least Robin is a real name... he goes on to joke about how difficult it would have been if he'd gone by Nightwing, Green Lantern, or Aquaman.

We then shift to Shotgun and company raiding the Cluemaster's warehouse.  They are almost immediately engaged by Dragoncat.  What follows are a few pages of really nice hand-to-hand combat between Shotgun and Dragoncat... that is, until the grizzled old cop very nearly snaps the assassin in half.  Yeeeeesh...

It's getting late, and Robin and Spoiler are winding down their night.  They do the whole "it feels like we're the only people in the world" thing that most young couples do... and again, I'm enjoying this so much I'll allow the cliche.  They part company, but promise to do it again real soon.

We wrap up our issue one week later.  Tim visits Spoiler at her home, as she did not make it to the playground.  She says she felt too weak to go... Robin figures she might have the flu or maybe she's on her period... oh but, not so Boy Wonder... for, your Stephanie Brown... is pregnant!  

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Such a fun little issue... I really miss these little "night off" stories.  I mean we still get them every now and again... but, there's just something missing these days.  Namely, history.  Issues like this and the (in some circles) legendary Birds of Prey #8 really helped ground these larger than life characters... made them feel not only real, but relatable.  It's not lost on me that both of these issues were written by the great Chuck Dixon.  Really wish he and DC would bury the hatchet and get back to doing some incredible Bat-Family comics.

This is one of those issues that it is weird to pull from at random... as we have two very different stories going on here.  We have the Robin/Spoiler date night... which is amazing... and we get a scene in the interrogation room at the Gotham City Police Department... which, when taken out of context, is not.  It's not bad... not at all... but putting this issue in a vacuum like we are here today, really makes it seem weak.

I gotta say, I wasn't prepared for the surprise ending... even though I already knew what was coming.  That's another strength in Dixon's writing... or perhaps an indictment on my memory... but we "zig" for so long, and so strongly... that when we finally "zag", it means something... and blows you away.  All throughout the Robin and Spoiler "relationship", she had, in passing, mentioned an old boyfriend... it was organic "teenagery" talk... nothing that would really stand out.  Love that it pays off in this way.

I love Robin's reaction to the news too!  Just that blank bewildered face he gives... makes me wonder if he thinks a girl could get pregnant from a kiss... 

Overall... great issue... lots of fun.  Staz Johnson's art here is great.  I find his work pretty underrated.  He had the misfortune of following Mike Wieringo on this title... which I would imagine could give a guy a sort of inferiority complex (internal and external).  The entire Dixon run here is a blast... almost comics "candy".  Definitely worth checking out.  Luckily this issue and the entire volume are available DC Digitally.

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Big Daddy Danger #1 (2002)

Big Daddy Danger #1 (October, 2002)
Creator, Writer & Artist - Adam Pollina
Inker - Tyson McAdoo
Colors & Separations - Thomas Chu
Associate Editor - Ivan Cohen
Editor - Mike Carlin
Cover Price: $2.95

Folks that know me will tell you... I'm a pretty big fan of the pro-wres.  I've watched wrestling for over three decades, and still (begrudgingly) watch it to this day.  I fear that my current fandom may be more a result of inertia than an intrinsic excitement... but even today, Vince's show does have its moments.

So into it was I, that during my late teens and early twenties, I actually dabbled a bit on our local independent circuit.  I only have a scant handful of matches under my belt, but the experience was worthwhile... even if only measured by the amount of stories I can tell.

With that out of the way, we can move into today's discussion.  Big Daddy Danger is a comic from late 2002 by Adam Pollina... a fella I know from his days drawing X-Force... during the most excellent "road trip" era of that title.  That's really all I need to know... let's head down to the ring.

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We open during the introductions for tonight's main event... for this night the masked sensation Big Daddy Danger defends his title against Der Meat-Maker... who looks to have gotten some cranial tattoos since he last boxed Bugs Bunny.  It's a packed house... with one very special spectator... Big Daddy's son, (the also masked) Danny Danger.  By the way... I think ADAM POLLINA might have had something to do with this issue...

After witnessing a smattering of what-a-maneuvers, including a powerbomb and and ankle lock, we shift scenes to the Mayor of Big City as he and his young daughter are being driven... somewhere.  Their trip is ill-fated, as they are soon ambushed by a pair of lady wrestlers... Shanghai Suzy and (Women's World Champion) Lady Eighty.  They nyoink the Mayor from his limo, and their handler drives away with the Mayor's daughter.

Back at the arena, Big Daddy Danger emerges victorious in his title bout to the adulation of the crowd.

An in-ring interview is conducted where Big Daddy does his babyface best to engage the crowd.  Standing next to him is his manager, who gets a ticker-tape S.O.S. via his ticker-tape cane (just go with it) informing him that the Mayor has been kidnapped.  It's time for Big Daddy to go to work... which vexes young Danny Danger somewhat.

This next bit is pretty great.  Big Daddy heads back to the showers to get cleaned up.  He removes his luchador mask... revealing a second mask.  His superhero costume is just a different colored/styled mask... that actually elicited a chuckle.

And so, our hero emerges from the dressing room.  Despite his son's protests (the tot's got a wrestling meet of his own tomorrow, ya know), he heads off to the Daddymobile to save the world... or, ya know... the Mayor of "Big City".

Closest thing we'll get to a Doom Patrol reference here... so, we'll take it.

It isn't long before Big Daddy catches up with the kidnapping convoy.  To be honest, these baddies are a bit overarmed if their most likely foil is a professional wrestler.  Well, maybe not... Big Daddy Danger gets right into the thick of things, and actually runs a van off the side of a cliff... where it explodes... and not just a normal "boom" either... this is a full-blown mushroom cloud!

Big Daddy pulls close to the Mayor's limousine and hops onto the roof.  Here he runs into Shanghai Suzy... who informs him he's dealing with the "Ma'amazons"  Get it?  Oofta.

The grapplers engage in some catch-as-catch-can hijinks, which quickly ends when Big Daddy bodyscissors Suzy off the lid of the limo.  Big Daddy then proceeds to nyoink the driver out via the limos moon roof, and commandeers the vehicle.

Meanwhile... at Dayfield High School, Danny Danger is in the midst of his wrestling meet.  Wait... is it tomorrow already?  How long has Big Daddy been fighting the Ma'amazons now?  Hmm... okay, we'll let that slide.  Not gotta let something like pacing get in our way... let's just see how the lad is doing.  He's clearly wrestling outside of his weight class... which is something the school really shouldn't be allowing.  I guess to be fair, Danny might just be the most pocket-sized high school student ever entered into the system... and would have to wrestle grade-schoolers to get a proper oponent.  We'll just roll with it... he handily takes care of his oversized opponent... hitting him with a hurricanrana and cinching in an ankle lock... both totally legal in an amateur bout... ahem.  Among the cheering crowd, Danny believes he sees his (big) Daddy.

Meanwhile, back on the road... Big Daddy Danger gives the Mayor's daughter her first driving lesson.  He instructs her to keep her foot on the gas as he mounts the hood so that he may jump onto the Ma'amazons departing jet... ay yai yai.  Anyhoo, he leaps onto the jet's landing gear and pulls himself up to the wing... where he finds himself at the foot of Lady Eighty.

After a very brief tussle, the Women's World Champion gets hiptossed to certain death... if only she hadn't brought her parachute.  Big Daddy Danger rescues the Mayor and reunites him with his daughter.  Seeing the touching family moment, Big Daddy is reminded that... oh yeah, he's got a kid too!  He calls his son, who is super pleased to hear from him.  The boy then learns that Big Daddy was not the lumbering luchador he saw at the wrestling meet... and his demeanor immediately changes.

We wrap up with Big Daddy Danger entering his mask shrine to speak to his "fathers"... while, at the same time... the other masked man meets with the Ma'amazons... and we learn that he is none other than Big Uncle Danger... that is to say, Big Daddy's brother.

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Not quite sure what I was expecting going into this... somehow this had completely fallen off my radar at time of release... which is super-strange, as I was a Previews-fiend at the time.  In the years that followed... ya never hear anything about this short lived series mentioned.  Is/Was this in DC continuity?  Does Adam Pollina own the property?  Hell, is Adam Pollina still even in comics anymore?

Well, since we're likely not going to get be able to answer any of those questions... let's tackle the one question we can... was this issue any good?  Well...

Yeah... it wasn't half bad.  The art and action bits were fantastic.  Adapting to an almost Chuck Jones-esque style here, Adam Pollina shows his amazing versatility as an artist.  This is like Looney Tunes meets manga... just great stuff!

Now, like I said... this wasn't half bad.  The other half of the package... the story and dialogue... well, I found that a bit lacking.  I get where he's going here and in its distilled form, the actual story is not a bad one... it's super crazy high action... explosions, leaping from vehicles, cartoony violence... ain't nothin' wrong with any of that!  The dialogue though... it's a tad bit stilted.  Also, the pacing was a bit off here too... "tomorrow's" wrestling meet happening while Big Daddy is taking care of business "the night before"... I mean, it's daytime for Danny, and nighttime for Daddy... at the same time... hmm.  I'm not sure about Pollina's writer's resume, for all I know this may be his first published/professional script... and if that's the case, this is a very good first outing (like I'm one to talk...).  The "twist" ending was semi-engaging, though typical... not sure it will entice me to actually put reall effort toward tracking down future issues of this series.

I did appreciate some of the more pro-wres lingo being interjected... incorporating words like "slobberknocker" tell me that Pollina is probably a pretty big fan himself.  Even down to the movesets... actual pro-wrestling maneuvers are used... which is awesome!  Hell, he was actually part of an aborted project which would have been a crossover between Marvel Comics and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).  Here's a piece of concept art featuring HULK Hogan vs. The HULK.  Wonder if the rights to the name are on the line!  For the full Marvel/WCW story, check out this great piece from WCW Worldwide.

A Tale of Two Hulks
Art: Adam Pollina

Overall... worth checking out if you can find it on the cheap... and if you're a fan of Adam Pollina's art and/or Professional Wrestling.  Otherwise, I think you can safely skip Big Daddy Danger.

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