To celebrate Batman's 75th anniversary, DC is releasing a
new direct to video animated movie. With the trailer just released, Son of Batman stars Batman and the
latest Robin, Damian Wayne, his biological son.
Yes. Batman has a son. Drugs were possibly involved, but
that’s another subject.
It raises the question, with this Robin having so little
history compared to others, how come he gets a movie? Let’s take a brief look
at the five main Robins and see which one is Cinderella, the hardest worker
with the least recognition.
 |
| Detective Comics #38 |
Dick Grayson, acrobat extraordinaire with questionable
fashion sense, is the first Robin. He's been in the 60’s show, the 90’s
animated series and live movies. Eventually becoming Nightwing, he's considered
Batman's equal in many ways. Voiced by Neil Patrick Harris in a movie, so he’s
got nerd cred too. DC has changed other Robins and cartoon continuity just to
place him in the Young Justice
cartoon with a personality that doesn’t quite match the one in the comics. Everyone
knows and loves him.
The second Robin, Jason Todd, was screwed from the start.
Batman adopted him, thinking he could solve Jason’s anger issues by making him
a sidekick. Readers voted for his death and he met a gruesome end at the hands
of the Joker. Eventually, due to DC Retcon Syndrome, he was revived. He found
out Batman didn’t kill Joker and in true anti-hero fashion, he became Red Hood,
a vigilante that kills criminals. Somehow, he turned out to be a great character
with depth and a questionable mindset and he gained fans as a result. Jason got
an ongoing title and a movie with Jensen Ackles voicing him, probably as an
apology for his crappy comeback.
 |
| Issue #0 Red Hood and the Outlaws |
Next is Timothy Drake. I believe DC straight up hates him. A
detective to a fault, Tim earned his costume by deducing Batman’s identity on
his own. As the 90’s Robin, some highlights in his run include having his
father murdered, contracting a deadly virus and getting ditched by Batman in Knightfall. In comics, he created Young Justice but in the cartoon
adaptation, Dick is the founder and he appears in the second season. Tim makes
an appearance in the 90’s cartoon, but with Jason’s origin and personality. Eventually
in the books he becomes Red Robin and had a short lived title before leading
the New 52’s Teen Titans.
Robin four barely gets any love because she's little known. Stephanie
Brown had a short run before being killed in action. But like Jason, she suffered
from DC Retcon Syndrome. She came back, inherited the Batgirl costume and had Oracle
as a mentor. She gained immense fan following and made an awesome Batgirl
before the New 52 got rid of her. Maybe being Tim’s ex had something to do with
it.
(Left) Tim Drake as Red Robin (Issue #13) ; (Right) Stephanie Brown as Robin (Issue #126)
Damian Wayne is the latest Robin. Born from Bruce Wayne and
Talia Al Ghul, fans initially hated him. Raised as a killing machine, he was as
physically skilled as Dick Grayson, as morally ambiguous as Jason Todd and as
smart as Tim Drake with a dose of pre-teen angst. Given good writers, he eventually
softened up during his run and resonated with fans, which is probably why DC killed
him.
 |
| Damian Wayne as the latest Robin (Batman and Robin: Batman Reborn) |
So who's the Cinderella Robin? I thought Tim Drake had it, but
Stephanie Brown wins. Did you know of Stephanie before reading this? I’m
guessing either you didn’t or barely remembered her because she is absent in
other media. So defending any other Robins, remember that there was a
mainstream female Robin that no one outside comics heard about.
So let's hear it for the Bat's sidekicks. Hopefully one day
DC Comics will treat them all equally.
Except you, Tim. Get back in the cave and work harder.
Currently Listening To: The End is the Beginning is the End - Smashing Pumpkins
Book on My Nightstand: Batman: The Black Mirror
On my TV: Bones (season 3)
Currently Retro gaming: Final Fantasy VI (I'll kill Kefka in a bit)
Random Pop Culture Thought of the Day: "DC Retcon Syndrome needs to be a true disease."
No comments:
Post a Comment