Robin Vol. 77

This is issue #77 of the Robin series (1993–2009), titled "Dark is the Night," written by Chuck Dixon, penciled by Pete Woods, and released in June 2000. The issue continues the Man-Bat storyline and serves as the closing chapter of the "Robin at Brentwood Academy" arc. Tim Drake, as Robin, pays a nighttime visit to Gotham private detective Jason Bard to ask about Kirk Langstrom (Man-Bat). Bard tells him that the beast in Langstrom is gaining ground on the man year by year, and that he still keeps Langstrom's serum in his refrigerator; he gives Robin several doses. The next day at school, Tim is preparing a tranquilizer gun when the strict Ms. Bigelow confiscates it on the spot. He has no choice but to slip back into her room to retrieve his equipment before setting out. By the river, Robin first restores Francine Langstrom to human form. She stops her son from firing, unwilling to harm a child born with the Man-Bat condition, and instead guides the boy to call out to his father. Just then Jaeger, a hunter who takes pleasure in killing Man-Bats, appears. Robin holds him off while striking Kirk and his daughter Rebecca with the serum, finally reuniting the Langstrom family. The issue also continues the lighter passages of boarding-school life, with its roommates and school rules.