Robin III Part 12: Batman #449 (Late June, 1990)

Tim’s idea proves to be a good one.

I have this issue.

Tim helps Alfred clean bird droppings out of the Batcave as Bruce confirms that Penguin is using sonics to control the birds. A fiber-optic camera on an owl’s collar provides the villain video surveillance. Tim believes that the video signal can be traced back to the source, but Bruce argues that the signal hasn’t been used since the last attack.

Bruce suits up again and heads out, but he orders Tim to cross check Batman’s files of known criminals with incoming flights to see if any are arriving to bid on Penguin’s technology. They learn that an Irish “person of interest” is landing in Gotham shortly, so Tim and Alfred scope out the airport. They find their man, and Tim radios Batman with the news, only to find Bruce already at the airport following another potential buyer.

The three of them then head to the Waynetech hangar. Tim prepares to triangulate the Penguin’s signal once the demonstration begins, and relay the information to Bruce – who flies off in a helicopter to follow the signal once Tim points him in the right direction.

Notes of Interest:

1) Bruce realizes that Tim’s idea to follow the signal was a good one, and tells him so.

WTF? Moment: I like that Bruce gives Tim credit for his idea. It shows that Bruce won’t dismiss anything, and encourages the lad to continue to contribute where he can.