The Boy (and Girl) Wonders of Gotham: Every Robin, Ranked
Robin, the long-serving partner-in-crime-fighting to Batman, was not the first superhero sidekick in comics. He was hardly even the first sidekick character in fiction. But he was the first to be presented as a teenage protégé to a popular comic book superhero, and he would go on to inspire and act as a prototype for other superhero sidekicks across the wider realm of comics, not just in DC Comics.
Despite what the movies would have you think, Robin is an important part of the Batman mythos, right up there with other essential supporting characters like Alfred and Commissioner Gordon. Originally created as a way to draw in younger readers, Robin's introduction and inclusion boosted the sales of Batman comics significantly.
Since then, several individuals throughout the history of comic books have taken up Robin's name and his brightly-colored trappings. Even though they shared the same mantle, each character had their own personality and background, adding a unique flavor to each Robin. As you would expect, some wore the mask and cape better than others.
6) Stephanie Brown: A Rogue Career Cut Short
The daughter of Batman's enemy, Cluemaster, Stephanie Brown began her self-made vigilante life as Spoiler to thwart her father's schemes out of bitterness for his neglect. However, she grew to embrace her new identity in earnest and eventually joined Batman's family of crime-fighters. After Tim Drake, the incumbent Robin at the time and Stephanie's ex-boyfriend was forced to temporarily hang up his cape, Stephanie asked Batman to be his replacement, which he agreed to with some reservations.
As Robin, Stephanie disobeyed Batman twice, prompting him to dismiss her. Desperate to prove herself, Stephanie implemented one of Batman's potential strategies for controlling Gotham City's criminal element on her own, unintentionally causing a massive gang war as well as her capture, torture, and apparent death. She survived though and reclaimed her Spoiler persona while Tim returned to being Robin and the two reconciled. Stephanie would also inherit the mantle of Batgirl and make her peace with Batman.
Stephanie's tenure as Robin was very brief, and while she started out strong, it was marred by her mistakes and Batman's disapproval. In any case, her time as both Spoiler and Batgirl is far more distinguished.
5) Jason Todd: The Black Sheep And Fallen Hero
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A street thief whom Batman caught trying to strip the Batmobile, Jason Todd later facilitated the Caped Crusader's takedown of a group of crooks, resulting in his induction as the second Robin, succeeding Dick Grayson. However, in stark contrast to Dick's more wholesome character, Jason was aggressive, rebellious, and demonstrated a violent attitude towards criminals. At one point, he may or may not have deliberately let a villain fall to his death.
Jason's unpopularity inspired the comics writers to set up a poll allowing readers to decide his fate in an upcoming storyline. The vote ended in favor of killing Jason off. The famous "Death in the Family" story was then published, in which Jason was brutally murdered by the Joker. This event would weigh heavily on Batman, even after his eventual resurrection.
Regardless of Jason's shortcomings, he served Batman through numerous exploits and was also a member of the Teen Titans, a superhero team led and co-founded by his predecessor. Jason may have been the least-liked Robin, but his impact is undeniable.
4) Carrie Kelley: From A World That Could Be
In Frank Miller's seminal work, The Dark Knight Returns, Gotham has devolved into a dystopia and an aged Batman comes out of retirement to combat the evil plaguing his city. Carrie Kelley is a 13-year-old girl scout with inattentive parents who is saved from muggers by the resurfaced Dark Knight. She subsequently acquires a cheap Robin costume and improvised weapons and tracks down Batman, wanting to become his partner. After Carrie, in turn, saves a weary Batman from a powerful gang leader, he accepts her as his new Robin.
Although Batman threatens to fire her when she defies orders, he is nevertheless impressed with her abilities and keeps Carrie around. Considering that Batman originally left his vigilante life behind because of the death of the previous Robin, Jason Todd, this is no small feat. Carrie later plays a critical role in foiling the plans of a returning Joker. Despite being traumatized during the battle, she fights on and sticks by Batman to the very end when he is targeted by the government and Superman.
The Dark Knight Returns may not be canonical to the main continuity of Batman comics, but it is one of the most acclaimed and influential Batman stories, with Carrie sharing in its iconic status.
3) Tim Drake: The Boy Genius
In the period following Jason Todd's demise, Batman grew reckless and rageful. Tim Drake believed that he needed a Robin to aid him through his turmoil. Having already deduced Batman's identity and that of the original Robin, Tim approached Dick Grayson, hoping that he would be Robin again. When he refused, Tim volunteered himself, but even with Dick and Alfred's urging, Batman rejected him. Only after a case in which Tim assisted Batman and Dick out of a jam did Batman relent.
Tim trained to be Robin on a probationary basis, gaining an improved costume and gear, and gradually came into his own as a crime-fighter, enough that he went on solo adventures, a first for a Robin. He would also join different superhero teams and form lasting relationships with many young heroes. Apart from embodying some of the best aspects of his predecessors, Tim's defining attribute is his intellect, which is close to, and perhaps even surpasses, that of Batman.
Tim is often overlooked due to being stuck between Robins who represent particular milestones in the character's history when he contributed much to Robin's contemporary image.
2) Damian Wayne: Heir To The Demon And The Bat
The product of a union between Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul, the daughter of Batman's adversary, Ra's al Ghul, Damian Wayne spent his formative years being raised by al Ghul's League of Assassins before meeting his father. Damian's early upbringing had made him a highly-skilled but conceited youngster with no qualms about killing, putting him at odds with Batman. Still, Damian shared some semblance of his father's sense of justice and chose to stand by him as the latest holder of the Robin title.
In addition to their differing ideologies, Damian brought a new dimension to the Batman and Robin dynamic, in how he related to Batman as a son to a father, which pushed them both to grow as characters. For Damian personally, he had to resolve the dichotomy of his heritage to discover his true self, following the classic theme of nature versus nurture, making him increasingly interesting as a Robin despite many fans' disdain towards him.
1) Dick Grayson: Batman's First Son
Child circus acrobat Richard "Dick" Grayson of "The Flying Graysons" witnessed his parents die from the actions of a mob boss. He was soon after adopted by Bruce Wayne as his legal ward. The boy attempted to solve his family's murder by himself, which led to him learning that his guardian was the superhero Batman. Wanting to help Dick deal with his vengeful anger, Batman took him on as his apprentice. Dick thus became the first Robin, Batman's faithful companion in his crusade against injustice.
Dick fought alongside Batman for many years before establishing his independence with the Nightwing identity upon transitioning into adulthood, but he would always be remembered as the original Boy Wonder. Dick and Batman share a deep kinship because they both suffered horrific childhood trauma. As Robin, Dick epitomized the idea of a superhero sidekick, serving as a direct counterpoint to his mentor. Where Batman was the dark and edgy avenger, Dick was the balancing figure of optimism, color, and lightheartedness, cementing him as Batman's perfect complement.
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