the links contain scans as well

[3goodtimes]

As promised in yesterday's post, I've gathered up some scans of Tim in mourning (sort of) over Stephanie.



It should be noted that Tim's father died not too long after Steph. Then there was that whole Infinite Crisis, Conner debacle. Unfortunately, the writers mostly ran with the big pile 'o dead loved ones instead of focusing on individual characters for very long. Some of you probably recall Tim's oft-repeated 'I just lost my dad, my girlfriend, and my best friend!!' speech. In re-reading many of titles that featured Robin, I found that Jack Drake and Conner got more face time individually in Tim's grief than Steph did (although it's probable I missed some stuff).

Some of the scans below are repeats of pages that have been posted in the community before, but I left them in for the sake of continuity.

First we've got Robin #132. Though this issue contains Stephanie's funeral, there's only passing mention of her character. It's mostly about Tim's feelings, his new direction, and his altered relationship with Bruce.

I really dislike this style. Tim looks like Eddie Munster crossed with Doug Funny.


So much for that plan! *eyes Red Robin with distaste*


'Certain hope of resurrection' eh?


I love you Alfred.

Tim goes to Bludhaven to work with Cass. In Robin #134, we've basically got a repeat of the funeral speech. Tim promising to fight on in memory of the people he lost, saying he won't become a grim copy of Bruce, etc, etc...

Cassandra briefly acknowledges his feelings for Steph in Batgirl #59.


Many of you talked about the level of blame that should or should not be placed on Bruce. I thought these pages from Robin #136 were relevant.




Robin #156. Tim has apparently spent time working on his feelings with Dick.


He spots someone attempting suicide and steps in to help. We see Stephanie and the rest of Tim's mentally ill, missing, or deceased menegerie while he angsts.

Only one of those is dead now, so I guess it's okay (though Cass's character might as well be dead considering her current state--fix that DC)!

Later in Nightwing #139, Tim tries to ressurect everyone and Dick tells him that hairbrained idea will never work! So Tim gives up on it and takes sweet, brotherly kisses instead.

I don't remember which issue of Robin these are from, but I believe it's the one where Steph shows up again. Either that, or it's the issue right before. They're from Robin #170. Thanks nevermore999! Ironically, this is where we finally get some actual focus on Tim missing Stephanie herself. I guess they had to throw in some last minute grieving before shoving Steph awkwardly back into the comic.

Batdickery--makin a comeback. And it's eggplant, Tim! Gawd!


Hey look, angry fanbase! We're totally appeasing you by mentioning that! Forgive us now?

Of course we all remember what happens next. Stephanie returns and transforms into a giant mecha robot, killing every living thing in her path. She and Babs get married and reign over humanity as Supreme Overlords of Earth. Oh and The Flash gets a sex change and seduces Bizzaro, but that's not really relevent I suppose. His new boobs are pretty fabulous fwiw.

Comments

[nevermore999]

The scans are from Robin #170, actually (they're mine, too...I can tell by how impressively crooked they are!). 2 issues later Steph showed up officially, though Tim thought he spotted her earlier.

I don't blame Dixon for trying to fix things by making Tim show some feeling, he was upset over how the whole thing was handled as much as anyone. And it made me really happy at the time.

There was also a short exchange between Tim and Cass in War Crimes, but who wants to remember War Crimes.

[3goodtimes]

Ah, I hope you don't mind me using them! I can credit you, if you like.

Yes, the feeling itself was good. It just would have been nice to see some before that issue as well.

I'm not even sure I read War Crimes.

[nevermore999]

Nah. that's fine, they're available to everyone via the wiki. It was just funny to recognize them by their crooked smallness! (That's how I recognize all my scans- the bent edges and whatever crooked posistion I shoved them into my incredibly small scanner).

And you don't want to read War Crimes. It's the series where we find out that everythings Leslie Thompkins fault and not Batmans, nowaynosir because Batman could never do anything wrong!

[3goodtimes]

Ah yes, I vaguely remember reading Batman's scolding of Leslie in this community. I think that put me off reading any more.

[nevermore999]

The exchange between Cass and Tim is basically Cass training Tim, and Tim is like "I've had enough of getting my butt kicked today!" and Cass tells him he's more patient about training than Steph was...which, no. Steph let Cass beat on her for HOURS on end and never complained once and kept at it to the point where she VOMITED and nearly collapsed. Whereas Tim just apparently gave up ..and complained. So whut.

And then Tim's all "Stephanie ='(!" And Cass is all "Oops." And Tim is all "I don't wanna talk" and Cass is all "She was my friend, yo. You don't blame Batman for this? Because Steph kinda screwed up." And Tim was like "I totes blame Batman, let's not talk 'bout this no more." And then later Tim attempts to convince Cass Batman in not an infallible god and the news announced that Batman was responsible for the death of Stephanie and they are both like 0-0.

[3goodtimes]

Aaah... wait, I vaguely recall that. They get into a bit of a tiff over it on Cass's couch of angst and awkward. I missed the whole news story plot though.

I kind of like your summary better. They should replace Willingham or Miller with you.

[icon_uk]

Damion Scott's work on Robin is just so bizarre it's almost past the point of being bad, but not quite past it, alas.

[kingrockwell]

T-that's Damion Scott?? D:

[roxrox]

Wow, angst angst angst... I looooovvveeee it.

In the third panel, the way that Bruce is drawn, kind of reminds me of a white, gigantic Beast Boy... kind of like he was drawn in Teen Titans Animated Series. His ear is a little pointy :/

[sistermagpie]

Tim looks like Eddie Munster--and about 12 years old. What's up with that?

He's not actually grim and vengeful and cut off from what makes him human in Red Robin imo. It's not a happy go lucky book and he is all focused on what he's doing and intense, but it's not like he's become avenging angel Tim or anything.He feels lost, he knows he feels lost, he knows there are people who care about him and that that's important. It's not like reading Bruce Jr. imo.

re: Bruce's responsibility (as somebody who was talking about it) I think the responsibility he's giving himself here is correct. As he says, it's the chain of command. If something happens with people who were in his operation (and even if Steph had just left she was still acting out stuff that happened there) he does have responsibility and should learn from what he did wrong. It goes with people following him as the leader. I just don't think that can translate in any way to Bruce having any responsibility for Stephanie's personal crazy crazy decision to do what she did. There is a lot wrong in the way Bruce treated Stephanie. I don't think not telling her he was Matches was one of them, even if that would have changed the way things went.

[promethea4]

re: Bruce's responsibility - I completely agree with you, and thank you for articulating it so well. I've been trying to frame my thoughts on this with little success.

[mystery]

I agree. Well said.

[bluefall]

Oh God, Willingham voice.

[promethea4]

Ok, even though it's tangental at best, I totally love Alfred for visiting Dana in the institution so faithfully. Alfred is made of win.

[nevermore999]

...it's kind of spoiled by the fact that it's apparently because he has a crush on her. And she's what, forty years younger than him at best? AND her husband just died? Awkwaaaard.

[icon_uk]

Yes, that little twist was a real "WTF?!?" moment for me too.

[promethea4]

Ok, apparently I'd forgotten that not so small revelation. Ew. Now I feel dirty.

[freddylloyd]

Well, Bruce suggests that Alfred might be attracted to Dana, as I recall. And we all know that Bruce's emotional IQ can conk out at awkward times.

I think the destruction of Bludhaven meant that potential storyline just went away, along with Dana herself.

[jelly_ace]

I should really stop checking out S_D at work. Danged IT people blocks Flickr, and I can't see the good stuff. :(

[frolics]

Tim really grow to be quite handsome.

[bob_dylana]

Ok, is it just me or is Bruce's head just too small for his body in that first scan?

[bob_dylana]

...and his hands

[3goodtimes]

I'm assuming it's an attempt at stylized lower perspective, but it just looks ridiculous to me.

His hands remind me of that scene in The Science of Sleep.