Tag: batman & robin

New Robin in Harper Row? Good and Bad

One of the hot topics in our Detroit comic book store is about the possibility of Harper Row becoming the new Robin in the upcoming months. While this is pure speculation, the amount of time dedicated to the character in Batman #18 could easily lead readers to suspect more from Harpo very soon. Is the character as the new Robin a good thing, or a bad thing?

Harper Row as New Robin?

Harper Row as New Robin?

Damian Fans and Harper Row

I could understand how Damian’s fans might automatically turn down the idea of Harper Row filling the boots left behind by Batman’s deceased son. Many are holding out hope that Damian will be tossed in the Pits and rejuvenated. This might still happen, but as we know from the upcoming changing titles of Batman & Robin – this is not going to happen right away. I believe DC Comics might have learned a lesson from the backlash Marvel received after bringing back the “deceased” Johnny Storm so soon after they made a big deal over his apparent death a few years back.

Harper Row as New Robin: Negatives

Is one issue enough to develop the store of the girl who might become Robin and headline one of the top DC Comics titles with Batman? Could DC Comic simply be trying to gain another pip in the press by assigning a female Robin? Even though Bruce Wayne is typically able to keep his emotions in check, can Batman move past the death of his own son so quickly?

Harper Row as New Robin: Positives

If Harper Row were to become the new Robin, she would give the female characters at DC Comics even more strength. This adds more inclusion as female readers (and potential readers) decide to give the character a chance. I don’t like the idea of rotating partners with Batman right now since it might harm the contiguous storyline so I am accepting of allowing for a new Robin in the coming months and see nothing wrong with making that character Harper Row as long as they are able to develop the character effectively.

Harper Row as New Robin: Needed Progress

As stated above, Scott Snyder needs to develop the character of Harper Row over the next few months. She needs to be toughened-up and she needs to be able to prove herself not only to Batman, but to the fans as well. She needs to spread out from the pages of Batman to other titles to give her more exposure and make her someone the fans can respect and accept as the new Robin.

Down the Road

When it is time to move on away from Harpo, DC Comics can resurrect Damian if they want to. Let the new girl have a run as the new Robin, if the powers-that-be see fit to grant her the mantle. Sometimes, change can be good and this is a transfer which I can get behind if Harper Row can be developed quickly enough.

Batman & Robin Name Changes and My Mixed Feelings

So Bleeding Cool is reporting that upcoming issues of Batman & Robin will go under different names as other members of the family are rotated into team-ups with Batman in the wake of Robin’s death. I have mixed feelings about this.

Batman Incorporated

Batman Incorporated

Schedule

Batman & Red Robin #19

Batman & Red Hood #20

Batman & Batgirl #21

Batman & Catwoman #22

Batman & Nightwing #23

The Positives

On the positive side, readers of Batman & Robin will be exposed to more members of the Bat Family and there is a potential to increase sales slightly among the other titles. Maybe someone will read #21 and gain a better understanding of Batgirl and decide to start reading her title.

The Speculation

We have to agree that speculation is one of the fun aspects of comic book reading. The change each month will help to keep the title fresh as DC Comics transitions with the title. Over the next few months, we are sure to speculate about how the title will change. Will Damian somehow come back to the Bat’s side? Will the title become a team-up title with Batman taking different allies in each issue?

The Negatives

First off, I feel sorry for anyone on the store level who is going to have to figure out how this is going to work in a database which keeps track of pulls. Remembering that the team-ups are the same as Batman & Robin might be easy for a reader to remember, but this is another hurdle which someone who has to keep tabs on hundreds of titles has to keep in mind.

How many fans who do not read online stories about comic books are going to become confused by the Batman & Robin name changes? Someone might simply walk by the Batman & Red Hood issue and think it is a title they had not heard of. While many fans keep up with the machinations of the comic book industry, we cannot assume everyone does.