Robin #158
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Summary
This issue is Robin #158 from the DC Comics series launched in 1993, titled "Strange Brew," released on January 24, 2007, written by Adam Beechen and drawn by Freddie E. Williams II. In the story, Klarion the Witch Boy from Seven Soldiers suddenly appears in Gotham and asks Tim Drake, the third Robin, for help: in his world someone is using black magic to assemble a monster called the "Judgment Beast," and the monster wants to devour his cat Teekl. Tim is initially skeptical of this strange visitor but ultimately decides to help. The two go to the Gotham Botanical Garden to obtain a sample of mugwort as the key to countering black magic. Then the Judgment Beast really does absorb Teekl into its body, and Klarion is swallowed along with her while trying to save the cat; Tim folds the mugwort into a cross, disrupts the monster's form, and defeats the mastermind Uriah, rescuing Klarion and Teekl, after which the monster disintegrates into the host animals one by one. This issue is a rare one in the Robin series that pairs the street-detective style with magical elements, and it also advances Tim's everyday storyline with those around him. It is collected in the trade paperback Robin: Teenage Wasteland.
Editor's review
第158期是亚当·比琴执笔《罗宾》期间一次有趣的类型混搭。提姆·德雷克一向以“没有超能力、靠头脑和棍术吃饭”著称，这一回却被塞进一个纯魔法的故事里，对面是《七战士》阵营里的巫师男孩克拉里昂和一头由黑魔法堆成的审判兽——这种错位本身就是看点：一个讲逻辑的少年侦探，面对完全不合逻辑的对手，该怎么拆解局面。弗雷泽·欧文的画风冷峻、上色阴郁，把哥谭的湿冷和异界的诡异拉到同一张纸上，与系列常规的明快少年感形成对比。篇幅只有32页，节奏紧凑，一场植物园取材加一场正面对决就把故事讲完，适合当作单期随手一读的尝鲜样本。对于在追提姆·德雷克成长线、或者想看看罗宾与DC魔法系角色如何互动的读者，这一期值得补进收藏。
Who it's for
A good fit for
- 正在系统追读提姆·德雷克版罗宾连载的读者
- 喜欢DC魔法系角色、对克拉里昂和《七战士》有兴趣的人
- 想买单期英文原版补完收藏的欧美漫画爱好者
- 习惯短篇单期节奏、不想投入长篇连载的读者
Not a good fit for
- 期待中文官方译本或合集完整阅读体验的读者
- 只熟悉近年《蝙蝠侠与罗宾》达米安线、对90年代连载不熟的人
- 偏好写实犯罪、排斥魔法奇幻元素的蝙蝠侠读者
Reading tips
- 先读合集《Robin: Teenage Wasteland》，再回来看本期会更清楚前后文脉。
- 若不熟悉克拉里昂，可先了解《七战士》相关背景，能更好理解他的说话方式与设定。
- 留意提姆在处理“无法用逻辑解释的对手”时的应对方式，这是这期最有意思的角色刻画。
- 单期英文原版页数有限，建议一次读完，不宜拆成多次碎片阅读。
FAQ
这期是漫威还是DC的作品？
是DC漫画。罗宾、蝙蝠侠、克拉里昂都属于DC宇宙；网上常把欧美超级英雄漫画统称为“漫威”，容易造成误会。
第158期是合集还是单本？
是单期漫画（32页），不是合集。它后来被收录进合集《Robin: Teenage Wasteland》，该合集还收录了第154至162期附近的内容。
没读过前面几期能直接看吗？
可以。本期是一个相对独立的魔法小故事，主线是救猫与对付审判兽；只是提姆的日常人物关系（如佐安妮、道奇等）需要上下文才更有味道。
这一期里的罗宾是谁？
是第三代罗宾提姆·德雷克（Tim Drake）。他并非超能力者，主要靠推理、棍术和装备作战，这期与魔法角色的对手戏因此格外有反差。
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