Description

Robin: Year One                                     Trade Paperback Lot
Writers: Chuck Dixon & Scott Beatty
Artists: Javier Pulido & Marcos Martin
Inker: Robert Campanella
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Sean Konot
Editors: Frank Berrios, Matt Idelson, Denny O’Neil Mike Carlin & Jenette Kahn
All Covers by: Javier Pulido, Robert Campanella & Lee Loughridge

“His name is Robin. He’s my partner.” – BatmanLong before the Titans and his solo career as Nightwing, Dick Grayson fought alongside Batman as the original Robin. Brightly clad in red, yellow, and green, the Boy Wonder’s youthful wit and exuberance provided a much-needed balance to the grim demeanor of the Dark Knight. But as Bruce Wayne’s ward, the previously carefree circus acrobat was swept up in a world unlike any he had experienced before. As a performer, Dick was used to hours of practice, but now he has to juggle a regular school schedule and society functions with nightly patrols and intensive training sessions with both Batman and Alfred. This series explores Dick’s struggle to live a normal childhood, while still living up to the extreme expectations of his new mentor. And though he faces several of Batman’s enemies, it is his encounter with Two-Face that will have the most effect on the young hero.

Story/Spoilers
In book #1, The devious Two-Face is very interested in recent reports that Batman now has a teenage sidekick. Indeed, Bruce Wayne has taken young Dick Grayson under his tutelage as Robin the Boy Wonder! Alfred Pennyworth is unsure if the inclusion of Dick Grayson into Batman’s nightly adventures might not end up in a disaster, but the butler cannot deny the positive influence the lighthearted boy has on his master Bruce Wayne. After attending a dinner party for Generalissimo Singh Manh Lee of Rheelasia, Batman and Robin meet Captain James Gordon who informs them about a string of kidnappings taking place in and about Bristol Township. Behind the kidnappings is actually the Mad Hatter who has been enticing teenage girls with free headsets. His hat transmits a broadcast signal to the headsets that enables him to hypnotize his captives. His plan is to sell the captive girls to Generalissimo Singh Manh Lee. When one of the kidnapped victims turns out to be a girl from Robin’s school, the Boy Wonder attempts to solve the case on his own. After school Dick watches how, the Mad Hatter kidnaps another girl. Because Bruce is attending another party at night – this time on the yacht of the Generalissimo – Robin decides to stop the villain on his own. With a little support by Alfred, Dick finds out that the Mad Hatter is delivering the girls to the Generalissimo on his yacht. Robin enters the yacht, fights through a horde of goons, rescues the girls and exposes the Mad Hatter’s plot. The General uses his diplomatic immunity to get away though. Bruce is at first angry with Dick for going at the Mad Hatter alone, but he still is proud of his accomplishments.

Next in book #2, Following the Mad Hatter’s arrest, Batman and Robin defeat several more would-be supervillains, such as the Cluemaster, Firefly, Killer Moth, and Blockbuster. Robin grows more and more confident with each victory, heedless of Batman’s warnings that Gotham’s more elite criminals will not be so easily beaten. True to these warnings, Two-Face soon reemerges and kidnaps Lawrence Watkins, the judge who had permitted and presided over the appeal trial of mobster Vincent Moroni. Since this trial gave Moroni the chance to scar Dent with acid, Two-Face’s twisted logic holds Watkins responsible for “murdering” Dent. Revenge on Watkins, however, is only a small part of Two-Face’s goal; his main targets are none other than Batman and Robin. Despite Batman’s precautions, the Dynamic Duo are eventually captured by Two-Face as well and forced into a mock trial. After declaring all the defendants guilty, Two-Face places Batman and Watkins into custom-built double gallows, and dares Robin to appeal for their lives. A desperate Robin plays along, calling for neither man to hang if Two-Face’s next two coin-flips both come up clean. Both flips land in Robin’s favor, and Two-Face cuts Watkins free, only to reveal a trapdoor in the gallows that allows him to drown the judge instead. As Robin reels over Watkins’ death, Two-Face savagely beats him with a baseball bat, all while Batman is forced to watch. An enraged Batman breaks his bonds and beats Two-Face and his men unconscious, before rushing the badly injured Robin back to the Batcave.

Next in book #3, Captain James Gordon interrogates Two-Face and he learns that Robin might be dead. So, Gordon tells his men to look into the hospitals in search of the dead body. But Robin is not dead yet. After some first aid by Alfred Pennyworth he is brought to Dr. Thompkins, a free medic who has the trust of Bruce Wayne. While Robin is taken care of, Batman takes off to talk to Gordon. He assures the Captain that Robin still lives, but will no longer act as Batman’s partner. Of course, Dick Grayson is less enthusiastic as he learns of Bruce’s decision to retire him. Over the following days Dick works hard on the rehabilitation of his body. As Dr. Thompkins makes some final test using the equipment of the General Hospital, Mister Freeze enters the building and raids the hospital’s blood bank. Dick secretly follows him outside and picks up some clues which might lead to the hide-out of Mister Freeze. While Dick leaves a written message for Bruce, Mister Freeze tries to blackmail the city because in winter the blood reserves tend to diminish quickly. Dick successfully finds Mister Freeze and is also able to defeat him right before Captain Gordon arrives. Dick confirms that his days as a vigilante are over. And the letter he left at the mansion indicates that he will never come back. In front of a TV store, Dick watches the news that Two-Face was able to escape the police station. Suddenly, he is surrounded by some teenagers wearing black clothes. They attack him and Dick shows off his martial arts skills. A man who calls himself Shrike comes out of the shadows and invites Dick to become one of his pupils.

Finally in book #4, Dick’s new “mentor” turns out to be none other than Shrike, a member of the League of Assassins responsible for contracts in Gotham City. Under the name “Freddie Loyd”, Dick continues to train alongside Shrike’s other teenage mercenaries; eventually, Shrike reveals their first genuine job will be the assassination of Two-Face. Shrike’s “pupils” successfully find and invade Two-Face’s latest hideout, but are stymied by Two-Face himself, who takes one of them hostage. Dick is once again dared to flip for an innocent life, but refuses; this causes Two-Face to fly into a rage, allowing Dick to knock him off-balance and steal his gun. Unable to stomach cold-blooded murder, Dick spares Two-Face and flees, leaving his would-be victim vowing revenge. Dick briefly returns to the Batcave and reports his findings in another letter, causing Batman – along with Two-Face – to scour the city for Shrike. Eventually, all parties converge inside Shrike’s hideout, sparking a three-way battle that kills Shrike and gravely injures Batman. Upon finding himself outnumbered, Two-Face flees, while Batman reconciles with Dick. In following days, Dick returns to Wayne Manor and is allowed to continue as Robin, on the condition that he never again question Batman’s orders. Dick agrees, and shortly after, the reinstated Robin finally brings Two-Face to justice.

Trade Paperback Lot contains: Robin: Year One (2000 – 2001) Books #1-4.  DC Comics

Trade Paperbacks are bagged & boarded and will be carefully / securely packaged then shipped via USPS Priority Mail to ensure that it arrives to you perfectly and quickly.

All First Printings
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date: 2000 – 2001
Format per TPB: FC, 48 pages, TPB, 10.25″ x 6.5″
UPC: 761941223537

Collectible Entertainment note: Trade Paperbacks 1,2,3,4 are in Very Fine + condition.  Beautiful Set!  Please See Scans!!  A must have for any serious Robin and/or Batman collector / enthusiast.  A fun & entertaining read.  Highly Recommended.

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