The mantle of Robin has been held by several individuals, and much like Doctor Who, everyone has a favorite. Whether it’s the high-flying heroics of Dick Grayson, the impulsiveness of Jason Todd, or the entitled seriousness of Damian Wayne, the character of Robin has been defined and redefined over the decades. However, Tim Drake’s name rarely comes up among the list of Batman’s favorite proteges, despite being the star of a long-running Robin title that ran from 1989 to 2009.
It’s important to note that the Bat-landscape looked very different when Tim Drake first appeared on the scene in Batman #436. In 1989, Bat-mania was sweeping the country after the release of Tim Burton’s Batman. Dick Grayson was Nightwing, Jason was dead and Damian was barely an Easter egg in the all-but-forgotten Son of the Demon. The only other Robin fans had connected with was Carrie Kelly in the out-of-continuity Dark Knight Returns.
Tim Drake is unique among Robins because he initially sought out the mantle after deducing Bruce Wayne was Batman, and that the latter had grown reckless after the death of his previous protege. However, there’s something else that makes Tim unique among Robin – his father is initially alive, albeit paralyzed. Thus, much of Robin’s early adventures give him more of a supporting cast to springboard off of, including his father, his classmates, his on-again, off-again love interest Stephanie Brown and his teammates on Young Justice and later the Teen Titans. Tim’s youthful enthusiasm, helped by his vibrant supporting cast, gave him a new perspective into the world of the Bat-Family.
Unfortunately, over time, many of Tim Drake’s confining characteristics were chipped away, little by little. Tim Drake’s father was murdered by Captain Boomerang during the events of Identity Crisis. Ultimately, Tim himself took the Kingdom Come-inspired Red Robin costume, but the new solo title jettisoned much of his supporting cast. The New 52 reboot didn’t make things any easier. His origins became unnecessarily complicated, and he was given a truly horrendous costume which included bird wings. By then, other Robins began to take center stage, such as Jason as the anti-hero Red Hood. Ultimately, the burgeoning Bat-Family focused on other proteges, such as Damian or Signal, leaving Tim nowhere to go but the background.
Even after DC Rebirth, it became clear DC had little idea what to do with Tim. The character did star in James Tynion IV’s Detective Comics as part of Batman and Batwoman’s team of heroes, but he was somewhat sidelined after being imprisoned by Mr. Oz. He also took on the very questionable name of Drake, which did little to hide his identity. Fortunately, recent events have made it clear that Tim Drake is returning to the role of Robin, but it does beg the question – how will DC make Tim stand out among fan-favorites like Nightwing, Red Hood, or most of all, his direct predecessor, Damian Wayne?
The issue is perhaps best highlighted in a therapy session in Tom King’s Heroes in Crisis. Every Robin – save the dependably snarky Damian – is seen questioning what they bring to the table in the face of their fellow Robins’ lofty accomplishments. Both Dick and Jason praise Tim’s intelligence, and while much has been made of Tim’s potential future, smarts aren’t really a defining characteristic, least of all in the Bat-Family, which includes the likes of Bruce Wayne and Barbara Gordon.
Tim already has an uphill battle winning over fans of Damian Wayne. In order to reclaim his former glory, Drake will need the characteristics which made him an appealing Robin to begin with, including a likable supporting cast and a relatable premise. Even more so, Tim Drake’s Robin will need to provide an engaging perspective into whatever shape the Bat-Family takes after the events of Joker War.
