Robin III Part 28: Batman #465 (Late July, 1991)

It’s Tim’s first official night on patrol in Gotham.

I have this issue.

After spending some time on the streets of Gotham together, Tim is left to continue on his own. He stops a mugging, saves a young woman named Ginny Gray from some trouble with a vagrant and visits his father – still recuperating in the hospital from the Obeah Man.

A short while later, Tim sees the same young woman from earlier that night heading towards a charity event hosted by a popular soap-opera. After doing some digging, Tim learns that Ginny has been stalking one of the show’s stars for years. By the time he catches up with her at the event, she’s already been stopped…by Bruce Wayne.

Tim fills Batman in on the details of Ginny’s history when the bat-signal appears. They arrive at police headquarters, and Commissioner Gordon tells them that Sarah has agreed to marry him.

Notes of Interest:

1) This issue takes place immediately after Robin #5.

2) This is the first time Tim meets Commissioner Gordon (and Sarah Essen) face to face.

WTF? Moment: First off, my copy of this issue is signed by artist Norm Breyfogle. I didn’t have him sign it; I bought the issue after it was signed.

WTF? Moment #2: I like how Bruce let Tim call the play on their first case of the evening. It shows that Tim’s ready and Bruce knows it.

WTF? Moment #3: Tim’s slip about how spending an extra half-hour without Batman “won’t kill [him]”, and Bruce’s reaction to it, felt forced. Jason is dead. Let’s move on…

WTF? Moment #4: So far, Tim’s been beaten by a gang, a street-wise D.E.A. agent and an artist. Slapped in the face by someone he just rescued? Add it to the list.

WTF? Moment #5: I was glad to see Tim visit his father again. As far as I know, this is his first trip to the hospital since he left for Paris - which brings me to…

WTF? Moment #6:…since this is Tim’s first night out since returning to Gotham, how would he know about Harold, and when would he have given Tim the mini-modem? My guess is that Bruce told him about the tech-savvy mute, and gave him the equipment off-panel.