The History and Legacy of Robin

This year is the 80th Anniversary of Robin. So let's talk about what that means.

Robin debuted in Detective Comics #38, with his name and costume being inspired by Robin Hood. It's a relatively short, simple origin. Bruce Wayne takes him in because they both experienced similar trauma, and in an effort to help Dick, recruits him into his war on crime.

Detective Comics #38

After 1986's Crisis on Infinite Earths, Robin's origin was updated slightly to give both his name and costume greater meaning. In Robin Annual #4 and Batman: Dark Victory #12 and #13, Dick tells Bruce and Alfred that his mother called him "Robin" as a child, and that he chose the red/yellow/green color scheme because they were the colors the Flying Graysons wore. Robin then became a deeply personal way for Dick to honor and remember his parents, especially his mother. Bruce decides to train Dick because he sees an opportunity to help Dick cope and become a better man than him.

Robin Annual #4

Batman: Dark Victory #12

Batman: Dark Victory #13

This update is especially poignant due to the fact that Dick Grayson's first ever on-panel word is "Mother!"

Detective Comics #38

Like all young men, Dick eventually decided to leave the nest, and head off to college. During this time he continued to fight crime as Robin, but he and Bruce grew increasingly distant. By the time Dick joined the re-formed New Teen Titans, he was considering his place as Batman's partner. In the Pre-Crisis New Teen Titans #39, Dick voluntarily chose to shed the name and costume of Robin, in an effort to discover who he would be going forward. As we all know, by Tales of the Teen Titans #44, he had become Nightwing.

The New Teen Titans #39

Along with this decision, Dick was aware that Bruce had recently adopted a young boy, Jason Todd. Jason was enthusiastic and similar to Dick in many ways. While Dick was at first confused as to why Bruce had adopted Jason but only ever made him his ward, he eventually came around. Before Dick had officially given up Robin, Bruce and Jason had spent considerable time workshopping a new costume and name for Jason. In Batman #368, Dick visited the Bat-Cave to pass on the mantle himself, giving Jason his blessing to continue on as the new Robin.

Batman #368

After the Crisis on Infinite Earths, certain parts of continuity were changed. Dick and Bruce's relationship became more strained, and part of this was due to the nature of Dick's exit as Robin. Rather than making the choice himself, in this Post-Crisis world Bruce fired Dick, as seen in Batman #408 and #416, or changed slightly in Nightwing: Year One.

Batman #416

Nightwing: Year One

On top of this, it is also revealed in Batman #416 and Nightwing: Year One that Bruce made the executive decision to promote Jason Todd to Robin, without consulting Dick. This is the same timeline in which Dick's role as Robin was a deeply personal way to honor his family, something that Bruce and Alfred knew, yet Dick's feelings and thoughts were not considered when Bruce made this decision. Rather than tell Dick he had recruited a new Robin, Bruce remained silent, and Dick was forced to learn about the new Robin from either a newspaper or from Jason himself.

Batman #416

Nightwing: Year One

Despite this rough start, Dick did come around to the idea of Jason as Robin, though his approval was clearly not needed in the eyes of Bruce or Jason, and his passing of the torch was a formality. This doesn't mean it was without meaning, and Dick did grow closer to Jason after their rough start, even offering to lend a sympathetic ear if Bruce gave him a hard time. Interestingly, in Batman #416, Dick gifts Jason one of his original Robin suits, while in Nightwing: Year One, it is Jason who brings Dick his famous blue/gold collared suit.

Batman #416

Nightwing: Year One

Fast forward several years, and Jason has died, murdered by the Joker. To Bruce and Dick, Robin died with him, and there is no successor. Enter Tim Drake, insistent that "Batman needs a Robin." At first he thinks Dick should take up the mantle again, but when it becomes clear Dick is no longer at that stage in his life, he steps up himself. Dick isn't sold on Tim at first, and treats him with more than a little coldness, however, by the end of A Lonely Place of Dying he has been won over, and helps convince Bruce to take Tim on as the new Robin.

The New Titans #61

Batman #442

While Post-Crisis Jason was not originally sanctioned by Dick, Tim gets the stamp of approval relatively quickly. Dick even begins to view Tim as a younger brother, and takes an even more active role in his life than he did in Jason's. With Jason he made himself available and gave him his phone number, but with he actively helps Bruce train Tim, and serves alongside Tim as Batman in Batman: Prodigal. Several years after Tim becomes Robin, Dick even gives him his original costume as a Christmas gift.

The New Titans #65

Nightwing vol.2 #6

DCU Holiday Special

For a time, Tim Drake gave up being Robin, and Stephanie Brown, also known as Spoiler and Batgirl III, stepped up to take on the mantle. She wasn't in the role long, and never with Dick's permission. In fact, Bruce recruited her the same night she broke into the Bat-Cave in a homemade Robin suit, and Dick never interacted with Steph while she was Robin.

Robin #126

When Bruce "died" in Final Crisis, there was a power vacuum in Gotham. Thus, the Battle for the Cowl took place, ending with Dick Grayson as the new Batman. During the events of BftC, Damian Wayne, who had recently entered the Bat-family's circle, was given back the Robin tunic which he had stolen from the cave in Batman #657. Dick was operating as Nightwing, and needed backup, as Tim was injured while trying to become the new Batman. By the end of BftC, Tim was no longer Robin, as Dick had decided to give the mantle to Damian. This is the first time in the Post-Crisis timeline that the choice of a new Robin is entirely his. Years later, it is even revealed that Dick had considered adopting Damian, furthering the parallels between the original and new Dynamic Duos.

Batman #657

Battle for the Cowl #3

Nightwing vol. 4 #20

Years later, during the New 52/Post-Flashpoint timeline, Bruce has become amnesiac following the events of Batman: Endgame and Dick is a member of the international spy organization, Spyral. With no leadership for the heroes in Gotham, a wave of kids who have been inspired by Robin crop up. Their adventures are depicted in We Are Robin, and when Dick and the other Robins find out about them, they confront them. Despite it having been years since Dick wore the colors, and despite having never met any of the We Are Robin group, he immediately takes responsibility for them and offers to train them.

We Are Robin #1

Grayson #15

This team doesn't last, but Duke Thomas, their leader, remains a member of the Bat-Family as Signal. He has been adamant that he doesn't consider himself a Robin. Recently, Damian and Bruce have had a massive falling out, leading to Damian giving up the role of Robin and Tim taking back the mantle. This has all occurred while Dick has been going by "Ric" in Bludhaven, with no memory of his past life as a superhero.

Teen Titans Annual #2

Young Justice #18

It's unclear where the legacy of Robin will go next, now that Dick has regained his memories. Perhaps Bruce will track down Damian and try to make amends. Perhaps now that Dick has his memories he will decide to reach out to Damian himself. Only time will tell. This year is Robin's 80th Anniversary. But it's also Dick Grayson's. In that 80 years he has shared his childhood nickname and colors with several young heroes, none of whom know the true significance of that name and costume. He even shared the Robin 80th Anniversary Special (something Bruce didn't have to do in the Batman 80th Anniversary celebration). Maybe some day Dick will tell them. Whether he does or not, to me the costume and name of Robin will always be Dick's to bestow or take away, not Bruce's. Batman may be able to choose his partner, but Dick Grayson should chose who carries on his family colors.