Hmm. I feel like Steph's characterization (though not mine, because if a DC writer were to write me, I'd want it to be Devin Grayson) has been nothing more than a plot device lately. I've read the early Robin titles that she's in as Spoiler (like Robin: Flying Solo), and I really like her in those. So my assumption is that *something* was needed to kick off War Games, and Steph ended up being the most expendable.

SA and I were listing characters we thought would be dead by the end of War Games/Identity Crisis, and came up with (tell me if I should whitefont, but these are NOT spoilers; pure speculation):

Tim's Dad
Tarantula (pleasepleaseplease)
Steph
and I'm also going with Darla, though she doesn't really mean all that much to the storyline, except inasmuch as her death will serve to make Timmay that much more nuts

She had pretty much the same reaction that I did at the Batman panel.

I, uh, may have growled happily at that panel. I loved Batman's confidence that Tim would have all the recon they'd need like a good soldier. Also loved Nightwing's protest that Tim might not because nobody's perfect -- boy's STILL freaking about how Bruce will react when he finds out about Blockbuster. And then Nightwing brushes off Tim as Timmy's putting the puzzle pieces together. And Batman following the trail of bodies to the infirmary! Oh, Tim, how I adore thee when you let your vigilante hair down instead of trying to act like a normal boy.

I still haven't seen a new issue of Outsiders. And I forgot to buy Catwoman.

Yeah, that's pretty much how I'm feeling, Tep -- I never really loved her before, but there's definitely been a shift. The pathological and dangerous attention-seeking seems to have replaced a character that I used to think was at worst sometimes fine and sometimes annoying. Hrrmph. And, agreed on "expendable" -- but I called that one as soon as they leaked the Robin casting. I just wish it weren't so obvious (and so literal).

I still haven't seen a new issue of Outsiders.

Oh, yeah. DAMN ALL OF YOU! When SA was in Seattle, she ganked the current run of Outsiders from Plei, and then put them on a CD for me (among many many many other titles). I read Outsiders 1-4 last night.

DAMN YOU ALL! Now I have another title to buy.

So the outsiders line goes Victor -> Plei -> SA -> Teppy. I think the only revenge solution is for you to get someone else hooked on Outsiders.

amych, in the Bat titles I've read in the past, Steph's characterization has probably been inconsistent, but I've liked her a lot. In a lot of the Robin backissues, I actually liked her enough to get why Tim was dating her. She's cute, funny, and gets the whole vigilante thing, even if she's... well, not entirely suited for it. She tries too hard, wants Bat-approval, and acts impulsively -- but I think it was more of the "endearingly irritating" kind of characterization. A good writer can carry it off; Willingham isn't so much a good Bat writer.

And I agree with Steph that, hee, Steph definitely could be considered expendable. I mean, we've all been expecting it for months, but somehow I doubt it'll turn out to be a "you were watching the wrong hand!" mislead.

Exactly, shrift.

I want War Games!!! I need to find out when the next shipment is getting in and also go get the part 2, which I'm missing and didn't realize until yesterday.

I do my best to answer without deciding which comics she may already have read (didn't you say you hadn't read Nightwing, P-C? Maybe I remember wrong).

If you are asking questions about the latest chapter in a self-contained story, I consider it *eminently* fair to assume that you've read the previous chapters. If you opened Jane Eyre to the middle of the book and said "Who's this Mr Rochester guy?" the only intelligent response would be to tell you to start from the beginning and find out.

Michele, then don't answer.

Let those of us it doesn't bother help out.

I obviously set my bar for intelligence a lot lower than yours. Yet, still happy with my quality of life.

My bar for self-contained seems to be higher, though.