Robin Rides the Black Mariah

The fallout from the premiere issue puts Tim Drake through a trial by fire. Injured, handcuffed, and tossed into the back of a GCPD paddy wagon nicknamed the Black Mariah with a dozen uncuffed violent criminals, Robin must rely on everything Batman taught him to survive the ride. Through flashbacks, Fraction explores the bond between Bruce and Tim, establishing their partnership's depth while Tim proves he's no sidekick by taking down every threat in that truck before Batman can rescue him.

Meanwhile, Vandal Savage weaponizes the previous night's events. When a rogue cop is killed by his own partner during the chaos, Savage frames the Dynamic Duo as cop killers, planting evidence and coercing witnesses to build a case for an anti-Batman kill squad. The GCPD transforms from occasional ally to active threat, with officers now authorized to use lethal force against costumed vigilantes.

The issue balances action with sentiment as Bruce checks on Tim in the hospital, where Tim's boyfriend Bernard—who doesn't know his partner is Robin—confronts Bruce about how Tim always gets hurt when they're together. The seeds of future conflicts are planted while cementing that Fraction's run will treat the Robins as fully realized characters rather than mere accessories to Batman's mission.