An example of the cliches are Robin's training in martial arts. Where we get to see the compulsary scene of him getting his arse kicked. But then given a few words of handy advice, before being the one to deliver the beating.

This story isnt awful, I'm trying to avoid the fact the art isn't a personal preference of mine. But bottom line is, the characters are throwaway (when in paris which is where the majority of this tale unfolds), there's b****r all point to the change of scenery, the training bits got on my nerves, plus the detective work is kinda teeny boppy: 'well i'll just hack the database, and this difficult plot obstacle will just disappear.'

On the positive side of things, its very cheap for the number of pages there are, it doesn't ignore the past history of the robins and the scenes in Gotham are handled well.

Overall, if you'd like a decent early Robin rites of passage story I'd go for Robin: Year One, it's superior to this in every way.