Batman is one of the most famous superheroes of all time, but in many of his stories, he is not alone – he has a whole family. One of the most underrated members achieved something incredible at just 9 years old.
Anyone who knows Batman has surely heard of Robin. Over time, various heroes have carried the title as Batman’s sidekick. The most well-known are probably Dick Grayson, who became the stand-alone hero Nightwing, and Jason Todd, who became the anti-hero Red Hood, after being killed by the Joker (and the readers).
Then there is Damian Wayne, the 4th Robin, who is Bruce Wayne’s biological son and was trained by the League of Assassins.
In comparison, the 3rd Robin, Tim Drake, seems not as spectacular. But that is a misconception, because at just 9 years old, he showed that he could be a worthy heir to Batman’s legacy; after all, he recognized Batman’s true identity early on.
A pretty clever kid
How did Tim Drake find out about Bruce Wayne’s identity? Tim Drake made his first appearance in 1989 in the comic Batman No. 436, and as Robin, he appeared in Batman No. 457 (1990). It quickly became clear that he must be a pretty intelligent boy. In Batman No. 441 (1989), he explains that he figured out who Batman and Robin are when he was just 9 years old.
He greets Alfred and Dick Grayson at Wayne Manor and explains to them how he did it. When he was 9, he saw a news report of a fight between Batman and Robin against the Penguin. There he noticed that Robin did a particular flip that only the Graysons could do. Since Dick is the only living Grayson, it had to be him as Robin.
Tim also knew that Bruce Wayne adopted Dick after the death of his parents, which led him to conclude that Bruce Wayne must be Batman. When Dick then became Nightwing, there was suddenly no more Robin, but the sidekick returned after Bruce adopted Jason Todd. Another clue for Tim.
When Jason Todd died, Tim noticed that Batman became more aggressive and grew worried. That is why he also visited Alfred and Dick: He wanted Dick to become Robin again. A Batman without a Robin is a great danger.
Tim himself fantasized about becoming Robin as a child. He trained his body and mind with the thought of one day becoming the sidekick of the Dark Knight. He did become that, and even though his story changed slightly in various reboots, he is a worthy hero who, in one respect, does not fall short of Batman.
The smartest of all Robins
What makes Tim Drake as Robin so special? Tim Drake may not be as athletic as Dick or as brutal as Jason, but he is incredibly clever, especially on a tactical level. Even Batman admitted this in Batman and Robin Eternal No. 22 (2016). He says about him: Tim has a strategic sense that I envy. I’ve never seen him act too early
(via Screen Rant).
In the Batman Hush
storyline (2002-2003), Batman also predicts a great future for him and even sees him as his successor: He wants to be the world’s greatest detective. And from what I’ve seen so far… he will be one day
(via YouTube).
This is also evident in many stories. Tim Drake is significantly more analytical and tactical compared to the other Robins. He has a high tactical intelligence that is even comparable to Batman’s. He may not be the best fighter among the Robins, but he is probably the best detective – and that is an important aspect of Batman.
But Tim Drake also eventually became independent and shed the title of Robin. In the comic storyline Battle for the Cowl (2009), the Robins have to fill the power vacuum in Gotham after Batman has died. In the process, Dick becomes the new Batman and Damian becomes Robin (Source: DC Database). Tim Drake then becomes the hero Red Robin
(pretty creative name).
Did you know Tim Drake, and which Robin is your favorite? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments. The Batman universe offers many elements that the numerous films have yet to utilize. Among them are also interesting villains: 7 villains of Batman that should finally get a big screen appearance instead of the Joker
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