This Applies To Marvel Characters, Too!

Circulating the internets is a discussion about how the comic character Robin* is being written inconsistently across his own title and Teen Titans. Apparently, in his own book, which I don't read, he freaks out a bit and cracks jokes. Whereas, in the team book, which I do read, he's cool and collected and serious. The thought is that this is bad writing and they should co-ordinate more. I disagree.

Having a character appear in too many books by different authors can often cause too many inconsistencies in the character's personality making them seem as two different characters. What I see in this case, though, is a person, when on his own, is freer to respond how he wants. When he's with his friends in a leadership position, he's able to shunt those insecurities aside and puts up a brave face. I could also see the opposite: someone brave and fearless in their own book, allows himself to fade in the back or joke around on a team as there are more people around to carry the load (like, maybe, Blue Beetle in the old Justice League books). So, rather than hurting the character, I feel this potentially helps, adding depth to the personality.

Oh, and, err, Dio rocks!

*I said the comic character, Robin!