We switch to the first day of Tim's junior year of high school, which is also at a new Gotham area school (at least new in that Tim's never gone here before). Since it's something of a tradition for every new Robin writer to switch Tim's school and thus change his supporting cast of friends - I'm going to do the same.
As soon as Tim arrives on campus, Bernard Dowd ("Don't you dare call me Bernie") recognizes him as a new kid and takes him in hand actually Bernard does an impromptu interrogation.
"Well, let's have a look at you, new kid," Bernard says. "It's important right away to determine where you fit in. You don't have any visible face-shrapnel, so you don't belong in the tattoos and piercings set.
"Your eyes are clear enough that I doubt you're a head. You're packing enough books to tag you as a nerd, but I don't quite buy that. You obviously bathe too often and don't walk with a permanent cringe. And you're in shape enough to be a jock, except that you lack their universal dull, mean and vacuous expression. You're a bit of a puzzle, Tim."
"I might almost suspect you plan to transcend cliques, except that in the entire history of Louis E. Grieve Memorial High School, I'm the only one who's ever been able to pull that off."
Bernard is one of those Eddie Haskell types, massively self-interested, and certain that they're automatically welcome in everyone else's business. In fact, Bernard can mathematically prove that he is the center of the universe. "Positing infinity, any given point is equidistant from every edge of existence. Therefore I am the precise center of the universe," Bernard quips. "Except then that everyone else is too," Tim points out. "Not my concern," Bernard answers. This dialogue probably won't occur in the first issue - because we will want to establish more of his character first, but it's mentioned here to show just what sort of critter Bernard is. Tim is mildly amused by the grilling and can't help but take an instant liking to Bernard - possibly because they are so much unlike each other.
"Stick with me, Drake. I'm the one who knows everyone and everything around here," Bernard says.
Original plot synopsis excerpts from Robin: Unmasked! (2004) by Bill Willingham
Panels from Robin (1993) #121 by Bill Willingham with art by Rick Mays, Aaron Sowd, and Guy Major
Thank you to @hyacinth-lilac for sharing the Unmasked excerpts with me!
Read Date: September 06, 2022
Cover Date: April 2010
● Writer: Bryan Q. Miller ● Penciller: Tim Levins ◦ Lee Garbett ● Inker: Dan Davis ◦ Aaron Sowd ◦ Trevor Scott ● Colorist: Guy Major ● Letterer: John J. Hill ● Editor: Michael Siglain ◦ Harvey Richards ●
Synopsis:
The situation is dire as Batgirl and Robin must venture into Devil's Square in an attempt to save Batman…before Roulette's most dangerous game turns deadly.
(https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Batgirl_Vol_3_7)
Fan Art: Roxy Rocket (E27: Enhanced) commission by phil-cho
Accompanying Podcast:
● Batgirl to Oracle - episode 05
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