Summary
WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers forABSOLUTE POWER: TASK FORCE VII #4!DC’s blockbuster event,Absolute Power, intensifies asNightwingandRobingo head-to-head with the evilBatman, Failsafe. Amid the fierce battle, a glaring weakness in one Boy Wonder is unveiled, yet this very flaw also highlights a vital strength, making a compelling case that Tim Drake is Bruce Wayne’s best Robin.
It’s especially exciting to see Nightwing and Robin get some one-on-one time, particularly given the bad blood that once strained their relationship.
Pornsak Pichetshote, Claire Roe, and Lee Loughridge’sAbsolute Power: Task Force VII#4 continues DC’s summer crossover event with a narrative that pits Nightwing, Miss Martian, Ray, Voodoo, and Tim Drake’s Robin against theBatman of Zur-En-Arrh-infused Failsafe. The resulting brutal battle combines wit, heavy artillery, and explosives. While all the heroes fight valiantly, Tim’s encounter with Failsafe stands out.
Within the android’s inner monologue,Failsafe reveals a surprising weakness in the third Boy Wonder—Tim Drake is the slowest Robin.Yet, the reason behind Tim’s lack of speed compared to his brothers, and presumably Stephanie Brown, also proves why he is the best Robin.
Failsafe Reveals Tim Drake Is Batman’s Slowest Robin (But It Also Makes Him the Best)
Tim’s fight against Failsafe sees the Boy Wonder following Nightwing’s lead, plastering the nearly undefeatable villain with as many explosives as they can. During Tim’s assault, Failsafe’s inner monologue reveals a surprising detail about the third Robin: “… his reaction time [is] a tenth of a second slower than the other Robins’.”While this might seem insignificant, Failsafe perceives it as a vulnerability to exploit, putting Tim at a disadvantage. This is confirmed when Failsafe adjusts his strategy accordingly and swiftly takes Tim out of the fight.
However, the reasoning Failsafe gives for why Tim is slower thanthe other Robinsalso underscores a major strength of Tim’s. In his internal monologue, the android notes that Tim is slower because his“…first instinct [is] to calculate and focus on the best stratagem for the team.”This strategic thinking makes Tim a tenth of a second slower than the others. Yet,his prioritization of the team over his individual attack is undeniably a superior approach in any battle, setting Tim apart from his brothers. Given that a team-focused strategy is more likely to succeed than an individual one, this ultimately makes a compelling case for Tim being the best Robin.
DC Just Proved Which Robin Is the One True Boy Wonder - And Made the Right Choice
Each and every person to take on the mantle of Robin shines in their own way - but only one has maintained the true essence of the “Boy Wonder.”
Nightwing and Tim Drake’s Robin Finally Get Their Long-Overdue Team-Up
Tim Drake and Dick Grayson as Robin and Nightwing (Image Art by Bruno Redondo)
While the reveal that Tim is always thinking about how to put the team first is undeniably cool, the highlight of this issue is undoubtedly the team-up between Tim and Dick. Although they’ve fought together in recent storylines, it’s usually alongside other Bat-Family members. That’s why it’s especially exciting to see Nightwing and Robin get some one-on-one time, particularly given the bad blood thatonce strained their relationship. Tim once again being in theRobinrole and fighting alongsideNightwingis a standout moment for fans who love this duo and want to see more of them together.
Absolute Power: Task Force VII #4is available now from DC Comics!
