Carrie Kelly is joining Batman and Robin Batman and Red Robin in issue #19 but will she be the new Robin following Damian Wayne's death? What does this mean for Harper Row? Following issue #19, the title features Batman team-ups with Red Hood, Batgirl, Catwoman and then Nightwing over the next four issues. But what about issue #24, which would hit LCS shelves in September, a month where DC Comics does something extravagant to celebrate the anniversary of the New 52 which launched in September 2011. Nothing would set social media afire like the introduction of a new Robin and if it's Carrie Kelley, that fire would turn into a raging inferno.
On this version of Kelley, writer Peter J. Tomasi shared the following with the NY Post,
"She's a college kid who's got spunk and speaks her mind. This is not an alternate-earth Robin, this is simply a girl named Carrie Kelley, who we learn knew Damian, which in turn weaves her into the fabric of the DC Universe for the first time in 25 years. What you'll find out once you crack the book, is that she's not exactly the ‘new Robin,’ but I don't want to spoil the story and her introduction into Bruce Wayne/Batman's life.
In regards to how long she'll be around, let's just say that it's a helluva lot longer than ‘one issue.’ I've got plans for Carrie that play well into the future. It's all in continuity. It's all part of the Batman universe in the here and now. Carrie Kelley has found her way into The New 52 and she's here to stay - in what capacity is anybody's guess - except mine of course."
As I mentioned above, after all the guest stars in Batman and Robin, the title will theoretically revert back to it's original name and that means we'll need an actual Robin to appear in the book. Snyder has stated that he 'never intended for Harper Row' to become Robin, which is not the same as saying she won't don a variation of the familiar red, green and gold costume when the time comes. Add in a character like Carrie Kelley and the picture becomes much less clear but is this a smoke screen or will Kelley really fight side-by-side with Batman in The New 52 just as she did in The Dark Knight Returns? We should find out by September at the very latest.
Batman and (Red) Robin #19
On the darkest of nights, who is the one person Batman meets that could change his life forever?
(w) Peter Tomasi
(a) Pat Gleason
release date: April 10th
$2.99
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