Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 Review

Happy Anniversary, Boy Wonder!

Written By: Marv Wolfman, Chuck Dixon, Devin Grayson, Tim Seeley, Tom King, Judd Winick, Adam Beechen, James Tynion IV, Amy Wolfram, Peter J. Tomasi, Robbie Thompson

Art By: Tom Grummett, Scott Hanna, Adriano Lucas, Tom Napolitano, Scott McDaniel, Rob Hunter, Protobunker, Carlos M. Mangual, Dan Jurgens, Norm Rapmund, Hi-Fi, Troy Peteri, Mikel Janin, Jeremy Cox, Dustin Nguyen, John Kalisz, Steve Wands, Freddie E. Williams II, Jeremy Colwell, Rob Leigh, Javier Fernandez, David Baron, Damion Scott, Brad Anderson, Andworld Design, Jorge Jimenez, Alejandro Sanchez, Ramon Villalobos, Tamra Bonvillain

Cover Price: $9.99

Release Date: March 18, 2020

It's time to celebrate our favorite side-kick in an over-the-top 100-page spectacular that will take a look (some longer than other) at the people who have taken up the mantle of Robin over the years.  Now, this just tickles me in all the right places because I've said for years that as much as I like Batman, I like Robin even more so celebrating the Boy Wonder is the perfect way in my mind to start off this comic book week.  Let's jump into this issue and see what all these creative teams have in store for us with this big ol' book.  Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

Robin II: The Joker's Wild! #1 (1991) - "The Funniest Thing Happened..." Review

Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artists: Bob Smith, Tom Lyle, Adrienne Roy
Release Date: October 29, 1991
Cover Price: $1.00

Review by: Joey Casco

Please go check out Joey's awesome site TheWineStalker.net

"Robin II: The Joker's Wild!" is a four-part series that, when put into a collection, falls within Robin Vol. 2: Triumphant. I got each issue as they were released in 1991 when I was 11 years old and, at least for me, it's an early '90's classic!

Robin II: The Joker's Wild #2 (1991) - "Tomorrow A Tragedy" Review

Writer: Chuck DixonArtists: Bob Smith, Tom Lyle, Adrienne Roy
Release Date: November 19, 1991
Cover Price: $1.00

Review by: Joey Casco

Please go check out Joey's awesome site TheWineStalker.net

The Joker has escaped Arkham Asylum while Batman is away and kidnapped computer genius Dr. Osgood Pellinger for his next nefarious plan. It’s Tim Drake’s first time alone in Gotham as Robin and he has just had his first encounter with the Joker, which also happened to be Joker’s first encounter with a Robin since he killed Jason Todd. Now Tim needs a way to make Joker believe that Batman is still in Gotham so he doesn’t end up like his predecessor.

Robin II: The Joker's Wild #3 (1991) - "... A Comedy Tonight!" Review

Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artists: Bob Smith, Tom Lyle, Adrienne Roy
Release Date: November 26, 1991
Cover Price: $1.00

Review by: Joey Casco

http://www.TheWineStalker.net

https://www.youtube.com/c/JoeyCasco

Batman is away and Robin (Tim Drake) is up against the Joker, who has kidnapped Dr. Osgood Pellinger to hack into the computers of Gotham and provoke chaos. Knowing that the Joker will kill him like he did the previous Robin, Tim and Alfred tried to make it seem like Batman was still in town. But when the Joker broke away from his plans and risked an easy escape by deciding to shoot at Batman, the bullets passed right through him and Batman was exposed as a holograph. Robin is the lone vigilante in Gotham right now (I guess all those other ones are away too) and the Joker knows it.

Robin II: The Joker's Wild! #4 (1991) - "Chill Factor" Review

Writer: Chuck Dixon
Artists: Bob Smith, Tom Lyle, Adrienne Roy
Release Date: December 10, 1991
Cover Price: $1.00

Review by: Joey Casco

Please go check out Joey's awesome site TheWineStalker.net

It's Tim Drake's first time alone as Robin. Batman has been away for weeks and Gotham is on fire (literally and figuratively), as the Joker has used computer genius Dr. Osgood Pellinger to hack into the city's computers and provoke havoc. After Tim and Alfred's attempts failed to make it seem as if Batman was still in Gotham, the Joker is now aware that Robin is alone. And he's calling him out. To prevent the Joker's next prank, which will kill hundreds of people, one billion dollars are to be exchanged in a red tractor trailer... with Batman as the driver. The city of Gotham is broke. They don't have the money and they don't have the Batman.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2 Review

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2

Writer: James Tynion IV
Art Team: Freddie Williams II, Jeremy Colwell
DC Comics/IDW Publishing
Release Date: December 20, 2017
Cover Price: $ 3.99

Escape From Gotham to New York
Donny had a little snafu last issue, which lead to Bane and Donny basically having a Freaky Friday experience, only changing worlds with each other instead of bodies. This is basically a good news-bad news thing for Donny as he ran directly into Batman and Robin but unleashed Bane on New York, his and his brothers home. So where does that take us next ... let’s find out.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1 Review

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1 Review

Writer: James Tynion IV

Art Team: Freddie Williams II, Jeremy Colwell

DC Comics/IDW

Release Date: December 5, 2017

Cover Price: $3.99

Cowabungas & Batarangs

Did you read the first Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle crossover and love everything that was going on? Well if you did, and happened to pick up the trade paperback, you may have seen some of one of my review blurbs on the back cover. Ya shameless plug I know, but I only mention it because it infuriates Jim that I beat him to the back cover punch (while also beating him in fantasy football this week too). Anyway enough about me besting Jim. If you enjoyed everything going on the first time these two properties crossed over jump in with me and let’s check out the intro, to kick off of this second edition of the super team-up, of Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II.

PREVIEW: Robin 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular #1 (Includes Decade Variants)

Writer: Marv Wolfman, Chuck Dixon, Devin Grayson, Tim Seeley, Tom King, Judd Winick, James Tynion IV, Amy Wolfram, Robbie Thompson, Adam Glass, and Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Tom Grummett, Scott McDaniel, Mikel Janin, Kenneth Rocafort, Freddie Williams II, Javi Fernandez, Nicola Scott, Dustin Nguyen, Andy Kubert, and Frank Miller
Cover Price: $9.99
Release Date: March 18, 2020

DC Comics celebrates Robin the Boy Wonder's 80th anniversary in style with an all-star creative team representing each iteration of the iconic character across eight decades of history! From the high-flying adventures of Dick Grayson to the tragedy of Jason Todd, the enthusiasm of Tim Drake and the arrogance of Damian Wayne, the persistence of Stephanie Brown and the rebelliousness of Carrie Kelley-the mantle of Robin has been worn by many, but always represents one thing: a hero.

The Adventures of Superman #484 (1991) - "Blackout" Review

Writers: Dan Janke, Jerry Ordway

Artists: Tom Grummett, Doug Hazelwood
Cover Price: $1.00

Release Date: September 24, 1991

http://www.TheWineStalker.net

https://www.youtube.com/c/JoeyCasco

With all of these amnesia stories that we're seeing in DC right now with Nightwing, Aquaman, and Heroes in Crisis, it's a perfect time to go back to the amnesia story that I remember most (get it?) as a kid. This is when Superman lost his memory.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 Review

Birds of a Feather

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Freddie E. Williams II, Jeremy Colwell and Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 13, 2016

I have gone on and on about how much I've been enjoying this crossover and with two issues remaining, I can't see that changing before it's all said and done.  Well, I guess that things could explode into a heap of awful storytelling and shitty art...no, no it can't.  James Tynion and Freddie Williams are nothing but professionals and with their work on this book (and in comics as a whole), they have earned my faith and devotion.  Before I start sounding too much like a rabid fanboy, though, I will mention that everything up to this issue has felt like setup and I'm really looking forward to the big payoff and hopefully that starts now.  Back to Fanboy Land...the setup has been awesome and each issue just keeps adding more and more cool characters which is my favorite thing in a crossover like this.  So, does this penultimate issue begin the payoff or is it just another bit of setup for an explosive finale?  Let's find out...

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 11/22/14

I'm sorry if I seem a little down today, but I just found out that the Queen Latifah Show was canceled.  With that and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo no longer on television, what the hell am I supposed to do?  At least I still have Manhattan Love Story, right? What?  That's been canceled too?  Now I'm really depressed.  I'll try to get out of my funk for just a little bit so I can pick this week's best covers, but I will do so with tears in my eyes.  It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday...  Boys II Men, you always know how to make me feel worse.

Doctor Strange #10 Review and **SPOILERS** - Marvel Mondays

Marvel Team-Up Featuring Doctor Strange and Goopy Pain Monster

Written By: Jason Aaron

Art By: Chris Bachalo, Tim Townsend, John Livesay, Victor Olazaba, Al Vey, Tim Townsend Jamie Mendoza & Wayne Faucher, Chris Bachalo with Rain Beredo

Letters By: VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Price: $3.99

On Sale Date: August 3, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

We have arrived at the conclusion of the five-part story “The Last Days of Magic!” so I suppose this would be…the last day? I wonder if it will be like the Last Days of Disco: a half-believable, dull recollection of partying hearty. Or perhaps like the Last Days of Coney Island: a poorly-drawn, shamefully-animated half-assed attempt at a Ralph Bakshi cartoon. Or maybe it’s like the biblical Last Days: a crazy chaotic mess of weather anomalies and giant angels with multiple heads on snake necks and with lion faces breathing fire that neither burns nor ignites the faithful! Oh, please let it be like the biblical Last Days! With Doctor Strange, that’s actually not impossible. So let’s stop joshing around and dive into the review!

Retro Review: Batman #418 Review (1988) - "Ten Nights of the Beast: Part II"

Try the Veal

Written by: Jim Starlin
Art by: Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo, Adrienne Roy, and John Costanza
Cover Price: 75¢
Release Date: April 1988


The first part of this KGBeat introduction did well in setting our villain up as a straight up badass!  While we still don't know much about him, he already poses a huge threat to Batman and America itself.  Sure, some of the Cold War stuff may not play well now, but I still love the Beast and this next issue sets him up as an even bigger threat as we see how cold-blooded he really is.  So, let's get into it…

Weird Science DC Comics News: Week of June 18, 2014 Edition

This is a tough week here at Weird Science.  Each year on this weekend, Eric goes to visit his Father's grave.  I have only known Eric for a couple years, but when I started working with him, our common love of everything 80's made us fast friends.  We spend most of our day (actually, more like all) talking about cheesy movies, awesome cartoons and toys from when we were kids.  That always leads to Eric saying, "My Dad introduced me to that", "My Dad made me watch that", "My Dad bought me that".  His Dad really seemed to be
a little kid, himself.  I guess Eric got more from him than his freakish height.   I don't know much about Eric's Dad and their relationship, but when he talks about this stuff, I can tell how much he loved him and also how much he still misses him.  If we ever get off our asses and start our podcast, you will hear plenty of great stories about him.  Two of the best are his idea of what the Star Wars Prequels were about and the names of the Puppets in the Puppet Master movies.  Classics.

The funny thing about me is that I took to these sorts of things as a way to escape my family life.  Don't get me wrong,  my Parent's weren't mean, they just didn't pay much attention to me.  That coupled with a major social anxiety lead me to sitting in my room watching movies and cartoons...alot.  It's kind of a weird way the two of us ended up loving the same things from two completely different paths.  I wish things would of been different, especially for Eric, but I'm glad they ended up this way.


On With the News...

DC Comics January 2019 Solicitations

The DC Comics January 2019 Solicits have hit and there are a bunch of big things happening as the new year hits.  Brian Michael Bendis' Wonder Comics imprint starting up and an actual solicit for Batman: Creature of the Night!  That's right, Creature of the Night is finally back!  There are plenty of other things going on, so check them out...