REVIEW: ‘The Boy Wonder’ Issue #3

The Boy Wonder #3 is published by DC Comics through their Black Label imprint, written and art by Juni Ba, colors by Chris O’Halloran and letters by Aditya Bidikar. Robin enlists the help of Tim Drake, AKA Red Robin, to infiltrate Gotham’s biggest building and hunt down the demon.

This issue has a sensational sense of storytelling. Robin is hunting down the demon at its core, but so many other factors are laced within the plot. This issue expands the world within this slight reality. The mayor of Gotham City is The Penguin, who has gathered a group of his wealthiest and most corrupt cohorts for a philanthropic party.

This miniseries has an alternate history that lead to some pleasant surprises and intriguing reveals. Perhaps the biggest of these is that the Penguin is the mayor of Gotham. But they aren’t so drastic to affect the personalities of the characters nor alter their origins.  Robin and his brothers are the most important pieces of this story, so these glimpses at the wider world aren’t common.

Family drama is also mixed into the storyline as the heroes learn to trust each other. There is a petulant, agitated tone that fits the personality of the main character. His escapades require great effort, and he is celebrated for accomplishing any of them. Towards the end of the issue, Robin encounters Roc, the demon who has been stealing people from the street. There is another terrific and dreamlike fight scene that unsettles. Every issue of the run has been circular, but the bookending within the narrative of The Boy Wonder #3 may be the best of the bunch.

The character development within the issue is fantastic. Dedicating an individual issue for each Robin provides a vast space to explore their personalities and relationships with Damian. There is no presence of the Bat and so the boys are on their own. Tim’s attitude isn’t the easiest to place, but Ba does an excellent job of doing so. He is crafty and intelligent, brilliant at formulating plans. Red Robin is closer in age to Damian but still considers himself more experienced. So much so that it restricts Damian’s strategy.

Some of the problems Damian encounters, particularly with his brother, can appear petulant or insignificant to others. But as he is a young boy, even the slightest jab can be deeply hurtful and distressing to him. The mystical narration remains, framing Damian and his brothers as princes on a great quest. Then, within the dialogue is an engaging set of conversations led by the eternally grumpy Damian.

The art is fantastic, and the cartoon elements of The Boy Wonder #3 are so much fun, with the character designs accentuating their most important features. Damian’s diminutive stature makes his agitation more impactful. Often, his face is shrouded in shadow, but when it’s visible, a determined scow etches into it. Tim’s entire shape changes when he turns into Red Robin. The cowl turns his head into a beak shape, with wings stretching around his arms. It’s a terrific design that shines within Ba’s art style.

There are also representations of villains and other characters, with the cast expanding for the first time in the series. Penguin is grotesque, hideous, and inhuman. Roc, the book’s antagonist, is a haunting and dazzling creature continuously shapeshifting into massive and mysterious forms. The fight scene at the end is fast and physical, superbly ramping up the intensity.

The colors are terrific. Dark and ominous tones  mix with very bright and dazzling shades. The white of Roc is startling, cutting through the page and highlighted with bronze stripes. The variety of colors is phenomenal and makes the issue visually exciting. It is interesting how DC fans can often figure out plot devices via colors, such as the luminescent green at the end of the issue. The lettering perfectly suits the aesthetics of the series, looking handwritten within the quirky artwork.

The Boy Wonder #3 is a fantastic familial team-up. The book’s premise is interesting, brilliantly split between exploring the true protagonist of Damian while also giving focus to the guest star. Each chapter requires the older Robins to offer a form of inspiration and guidance to their brother, who is not easy to control. The concept of the prince metaphor has been consistent and never wavered in the caption boxes, creating an essential quest for Robin to journey on. And the small details about the world they reside in actually make Gotham look much bigger.

The Boy Wonder #3 is available where comics are sold.