Category Archives: Robin
I Think Damian Wayne Just Quit As Robin…For Now
I am a huge Robin fan. I like the character even more than Batman. But more than any individual under the domino mask, I like the Robin mantle the most. I just love the idea that the dark and brooding Batman has this young, colorful, capable protege sidekick helping him out.
So it’s big news that the current Robin, Damian Wayne has quit maybe? He says as much in the final pages of Teen Titans Annual #2 from last week.
Is this real? Is this permanent? We simply don’t know. I haven’t heard any news anywhere that DC announced Damian stepping away from the role. Perhaps this is just a temporary tantrum.
But if this is real, I’m pretty excited. I’ve never liked Damian in the role of Robin. Damian was always Damian first, Robin second. I’ll grant you that he’s was a great foil for Dick Grayson as Batman, but I don’t think we’ve ever had any real Bruce/Damian team-ups in a long time. Have Bruce and Damian ever really worked together as a classic Batman and Robin team? Has Damian appeared regularly in any of the main Batman comics in years?
Instead, Damian has been showing up in either Super Sons or the latest volume of Teen Titans. I haven’t been reading the comic, but apparently Damian has been getting more and more ruthless with his villains. He’s accused of killing Brother Blood and he tries to kill Deathstroke in this new annual issue. When Batman confronts him and offers redemption, Damian punches him and fights for his freedom.
And that’s where we leave off for now. I am 100% in favor of Damian moving on to a new identity and leaving the Robin mantle open for somebody new. Damian has been Robin since 2009, so it’s been more than a decade. I’m ready for the character to move on.
Hopefully this is for reals!
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We’re Getting a Robin Video Game (Among Others)!
Holy guacamole! I wasn’t sure how I was going to share the various DC FanDome trailers we’re going to get today. Do I flood my blog with trailers? Do I space them out over the next few days so that I can digest them all? Well there’s no point in holding onto this one because I’m freaking out.
Gotham Knights is the next game in the Arkhamverse series and it will focus on the Bat-Family: Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl and Robin! I’m getting a Robin video game!
This is beyond my wildest dreams. I love the Arkham games, and Batman is great…but a game that focuses on the Bat-Family instead?! A game where Robin and the former Robins (and Batgirl) are the stars? Where you get to play as all of them throughout the game?!
Here’s some gameplay footage from an early build of the game! It’s got two-player co-op!!!
I am salivating. This is a dream come true. I was so prepared for another game where Arkham Batman fights the Joker. But a game where Robin and the Family have to take on the Court of Owls?! Are you kidding me?!
Somebody pinch me.
Now all I need is confirmation of Tim Drake as Robin and not Damian. He looks short and young in the trailer, but he’s taller, seems older and is dressed as Red Robin in the gameplay footage (though is called just “Robin” in the HUD). Could Red Robin just be a skin? Alternate costumes seems like a pretty common thing in these games.
UPDATE: Robin has been confirmed as Tim Drake!
Here’s the flavor text for all of the characters:
- Batgirl, also known as Barbara Gordon, is a determined fighter and a skilled hacker. As the daughter of deceased Gotham commissioner, Jim Gordon, she had helped Batman as Oracle in the past. Now, after years of recovery and preparation, she is ready to step into her new role, wielding her melee tonfa, and harnessing her training in kickboxing, capoeira and jiu-jitsu.
- Nightwing is Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who was Batman’s protégé before becoming a hero in his own right. He’s a natural leader and the eldest and wisest member of the Batman Family. Nightwing’s mastery in acrobatics is complemented by his expertise use of his signature dual Escrima Sticks, making him proficient at taking out enemies.
- Red Hood, formerly known as Jason Todd, is an intense and volatile anti-hero, which stems from his death and forced resurrection by one of Batman’s most dangerous foes. Red Hood has trouble keeping his temper in check but will not hesitate to step into the line of fire when a friend is threatened. His training has given him peak human strength and proficiency in multiple combat techniques with all manner of weapons – both traditional and high-tech.
- Robin is Tim Drake, the young prodigy and genius of the team, who is a master of deductive reasoning. As a true believer in Batman’s mission, he is motivated by the conviction that Gotham City needs protecting and hopes to be the type of hero Batman personified. An expert fighter armed with his collapsible quarterstaff and skilled in a variety of stealth techniques, Robin also possesses a background in combined psychological warfare and behavioral sciences.
Anyway, game is due out in 2021. Looks like this might be my Playstation 5 upgrade game.
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Sadly, That Glorious Silver Batman Costume is Not Real
The internet got hyped the other day when DC Comics revealed this new costume for the Caped Crusader as part of the upcoming Batman #100. It also made its first proper appearance in this week’s Batman #95, though only for a single panel.
As expected, the internet comic fandom lost their minds at the idea of their beloved Batman in this glorious silver fashion explosion. Personally, I thought it looked pretty neat, but didn’t worry too much else about it. Then DC Comics’ official Twitter put out a Tweet that suggested this costume was something real and permanent going forward, and suddenly my interest was piqued!
Is this really something DC is going to do? Something new and exciting with the Dark Knight?
Nope. The internet became so bothered that current Batman comic writer James Tynion IV got on Twitter and quickly explained that this costume will only exist as part of a dream sequence in an upcoming story.
Which is fine. I guess.
But…but what if…what if that costume was real? What if DC’s promise of a “New Batsuit. New Villains. New Gotham.” was a legitimate promise of an entirely new style and direction going forward after Joker War and issue #100? What if this glorious image was real and this got to be our Batman for a the foreseeable future?!
I don’t know what this wonderful world would look like. It’s not my job to design the next generation’s Batman. But just imagine how funky it could be!
In the comics, Bruce Wayne just lost his billions. Alfred is dead. The Robins are estranged. He’s about to have a pretty final-feeling confrontation with the Joker. Man…just imagine the places Tynion could go! Maybe this is a costume that Batman wears out during the day! Maybe he’s more open about helping the community. Maybe he’s healing some of her personal demons!
Maybe he gets a new Robin? With a costume to match? Just throwing that out there…
But nope. This is just for a dream sequence, which is a shame. The future could have been so silver…
Oh, also, while I’m imbedding Tweets, comic book artist Dan Mora designed a Power Rangers version of Batman and Robin!
And he’s got some other superhero Power Rangers crossovers in his Twitter feed. Check them out, they’re pretty fun!
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My 6 Favorite Teen Superheroes
New this week, Marvel Comics has announced their Outlawed storyline, in which teenage superheroes will be outlawed by the federal government. Oddly, this will lead to a whole new relaunch of a bunch of teen superhero comics, like Champions, New Warriors, Power Pack and potentially more! It’s as if they didn’t even hear the new law!
It’s gonna be a whole thing
I think it’s an interesting storyline idea and I wish Marvel all the best in seeing it through! And it got me thinking about my favorite teen superheroes. There have been a lot over the years, but as I looked over the lists I found online, I realized my own favorites list was pretty small. I discovered that I haven’t really been a big fan of teenage superheroes over the years. I’m a fan of a lot of young adult, early-20s, college-aged superheroes like Squirrel Girl or the Slingers. But teens? It’s a short, tight list!
Join me after the jump for my favorite teenage superheroes! And feel free to share your own favorites in the comments!
Everything We Know About Tim Drake’s New Identity
I’ve put off writing this article for a long time. It’s a tough moment, but one that has been coming for years of fits and starts.
Tim Drake will soon finally graduate from being a Robin.
Thanks, I hate it
This has been a very long time coming. Damian Wayne, the current Robin, debuted all the way back in 2006. It was a tough pill to swallow at the time, but I think 13 years is enough time to accept that Tim Drake isn’t Robin anymore. It didn’t help that Tim “graduated” into being “Red” Robin for those past 13 years, while reverting to just Robin again only recently (maybe?).
What can I say? Tim Drake is the best Robin and my favorite Robin. He arrived on the scene in that cool new costume just as I was really getting into comics on my own. And with a love for the character already brewing from the old TV shows and the 90s cartoons, Tim was my Robin.
I’ll be OK.
Tim’s new name is going to be “Drake”. He gets it from an alternate dimension version of himself in Young Justice #8, out this week.
Respect the mighty male duck
Obviously it’s his last name, but a drake is a male duck, and ducks are not to be messed with (I guess? Are we sure Bendis isn’t thinking of geese?). So I suppose it’s fine. It’s still a bird name, which is OK. Batman has a lot of bird allies these days.
And at least he can keep the cool name icon
I will make my peace with this over time. I think that new costume is pretty ugly, all browns and grays and unnecessary lines.
It’ll be OK. The only constant is change. Hopefully this will all work out for the best.
Now if only we could get a new Robin to replace Damian…
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Henchman-4-Hire 