I could not POSSIBLY agree with you more. Frank Miller’s writing in this series has been an absolute joke. A review of one of the issues (don’t remember which) here on Major Spoilers once called the series “All-Star Goddamn Batman and Robin.” It couldn’t be more dead-on. I’m sorry, I can’t see Batman ever smacking a child across the room. Is he a dick? Oh, heck yes. And I love that aspect of his personality. Is he insane? Maybe a little. Does he jump around rooftops cackling like a girl, laughing at the sky, and smacking kids? NO. Not to mention Miller’s over-written lines like (correct me, I don’t remember the line exactly) in this issue when Batman is thinking about a chuckle rising in his throat, “scratching like black diamonds.” What?! Ridiculous. And it is obvious that Miller HATES Hal Jordan. He is written like he is an absolute buffoon. “Stop confusing me!” What is that?

All in all, this series is absolute painful to read. Do I read it every time it comes out? Yes. Because it’s the trainwreck you can’t look away from. It’s irritainment.

* Hal probably underestimated Robin, and more importantly, likely held back because he did not want to/feel the need to hurt what was, to him, some poor kid in a costume.
* Not only was Hal lacking his ring, but he was subjected to mind games the moment he walked into the room - and considering he lost his cool enough to start swinging at Batman, they were obviously getting to him.
* On the flipside, Robin was not holding back at all, and was cool-headed to boot.
* This wasn’t a long, drawn out fight where Hal had time to figure out Robin could do some damage. Based on how the pages seem to tell it, the whole incident probably lasted under a minute.

So for me the question is “Is it realistic for Robin to punch the throat of a very fit and combat-experienced guy who has lost his temper, is holding back, and is caught offguard?” Answerin yes doesn’t seem all that unreasonable.

Those last 2 pages was a great emotional payback.

I’m going to go grief at the death of proof-reading. We scarcely knew ye, proof-read. :.( (the truly ironic part, and i didn’t notice this until AFTER writing the above, is that the reviewer longs to be an author….) And it’s “arc” when you’re refering to a “story arc”, not “ark” like “Noah’s ark”. Just trying to be helpful, even if simultaneously bat-dickish.

Also, I find the idea of 15-year old Robin beating Hal Jordan very disturbing.