Tim Drake

Tim Wayne (formerly Drake)
Promotional art for Robin #150 (July 2006) cover featuring Drake as Robin, by Patrick Gleason and Prentis Rollins.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	As Tim Drake Batman #436 (August 1989)[1] As Robin Batman #442 (December 1989)[2] As Red Robin Red Robin # 1 (August 2009)
Created by	Marv Wolfman (writer) Pat Broderick (artist)
In-story information
Full name	Timothy "Tim" Jackson Wayne
Team affiliations	Batman Family Teen Titans Young Justice
Partnerships	Batman
Notable aliases	Tim Drake, Robin, Red Robin, Alvin Draper, Mister Sarcastic, Todd Richards, Gary Glanz, Caroline Hill
Abilities	Skilled martial artist and acrobat, high level intellect, keen detective skills , skilled in weaponry, peak physical condition

Timothy "Tim" Jackson Wayne (formerly Timothy Drake) is a fictional character, a comic book superhero from the DC Comics universe. As the third Robin in the Batman comics, he served as Batman's sidekick, and a superhero in his own right. He currently uses the superhero identity of Red Robin.

Publication history

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DC Comics was left uncertain about the readers' decision to kill Jason Todd; DC wondered if readers felt that Batman should be a lone vigilante, disliked Todd specifically, or just wanted to see if DC would actually kill the character. In addition, the 1989 Batman film did not feature Robin.

Regardless, Batman editor Denny O'Neil introduced a new Robin. However, mindful of the poor reception Jason received from readers, O'Neil arranged for a more nuanced introduction in which Tim first introduced himself to Dick Grayson and impressed the former Robin with his skills. This led to Grayson and later Alfred Pennyworth to support Tim's request to be Batman's new sidekick. O'Neil hoped that Grayson's approval of Drake would ease reader acceptance of him. Evidently, this approach was successful with Tim Drake being so accepted by readers that the character had his own series from 1993 through 2009.

As Robin, the character has also been featured in the Young Justice and Teen Titans series, and, as of June 2009, Tim Drake/Wayne took on the new identity of Red Robin, starring in yet another series by the same name.

Fictional character biography

Before Robin

Tim Drake's first Robin costume designed by Neal Adams.
Cover of Robin vol. 2, 0 (Oct, 1994). Art by Tom Grummett and Ray Kryssing.

Tim is the son of Jack and Janet Drake. Years ago, the Drakes visited the Haly Circus and met The Flying Graysons. Both families briefly acquainted, especially the sons of both families, Dick Grayson and Tim Drake, momentarily bonded while their parents asked someone to take a family photo of them with the Drakes' camera. After John and Mary Grayson's murders under Tony Zucco's orders, The Drakes learned that Dick became Wayne Enterprises' head Bruce Wayne's ward. The elder Drakes later sent a copy of the photo of them with the Graysons to Wayne Manor and try to put the incident out of their minds, but young Tim would never forget the tragedy he witnessed. After Tim reaches the age of nine, Drake deduces the identities of Batman and Robin as Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson while watching a fight against the Penguin with his parents, and noting a gymnastic move by Robin that Grayson displayed while performing with the Flying Graysons. Seeing Dick as an older brother figure, Tim is inspired by his exploits as Robin and since then not only trying his best in school, but also persuades his parents to allow him to train in acrobatics and martial arts along with pursuing a self-taught course in investigation. ^[3]

As Robin

Noting that Batman has grown reckless and violent following the death of second Robin Jason Todd, who was murdered by the Joker, Tim tries to convince Grayson to become Robin again. Grayson agrees to aid Batman but maintains his Nightwing identity. Drake stresses that Batman needs an actual Robin and convinces Alfred Pennyworth to give him the uniform. Tim saves Batman and Nightwing from a battle with Two-Face.

Still haunted by Jason Todd's death, Batman provided Tim a grueling series of trials that Dick and Jason never endure to ensure that Tim would be ready before he can take the role. After saving Batman and Vicki Vale when they are kidnapped by Scarecrow, Drake is allowed to be Robin. Bruce provides him with a redesigned costume.^[4]

Once Tim has joined Batman as the new Robin, he serves admirably for some time. He even defeated the Joker during their first encounter while Batman was out of Gotham, pursued the Clown Prince of Crime, succeeded where Jason Todd had failed, and redeemed the Robin legacy. After his mentor suffered a spinal injury during Knightfall, he was forced to patrol Gotham solo when Bruce Wayne's substitute as Batman, Jean Paul Valley, expressed no desire to have a partner. Even after Bruce Wayne reclaimed the Mantle of the Bat, Tim would occasionally patrol the streets himself and eventually gained his own rogue gallery in the city. Tim briefly left the role to Stephanie Brown when his father discovered his identity, before going through multiple hardships, including the murder of his father in Identity Crisis, which leaves Tim as an orphan, and the death of his best friend, Superboy, in Infinite Crisis. The death of Superboy causes Tim to redesign the Robin costume yet again, discarding the green in the color scheme and instead choosing a red suit with long sleeves and a "feather-motif" black and yellow cape. During Infinite Crisis, Tim was confronted by Jason Todd, who was inadvertently revived by Superboy-Prime and Alexander Luthor, Jr. Jealous that his successor have surpassed him as Robin, Todd engaged Tim in combat and defeated him. This encounter created a bitter relationship between them, yet it also made Todd develop a grudging respect towards Tim. After the One Year Later story arc, Tim is adopted by Bruce Wayne.

Tim Wayne as Red Robin, from the variant cover from Red Robin #1. Art by JG Jones.

When Batman goes missing after Batman R.I.P. storyline, Tim dresses in the classic blue and gray Batman costume to combat Jason Todd, who is dressed in an armoured Batman costume and murdering criminals (and anyone who gets in his way). During the fight, Jason demands that Tim join him as his Robin. When Tim refuses, Jason ends up stabbing him with a batarang, disabling him, and leaving him for dead. Tim survives thanks to the reinforced armor of the Batman suit, and a special breathing technique Bruce taught him that slowed his heart-rate and blood loss. He is eventually rescued from Jason's self-destructing lair by Damian Wayne.^[5]

As Red Robin

Following the Battle for the Cowl storyline, the character takes on the costumed identity of Red Robin. In a new series with the same title, the character is seen questing around the world looking for Bruce Wayne, who he believes is still alive. Tim cuts himself off from the rest of the Bat-Family, who all believe he is having issue letting go of his mentor. Tim is also seen as Red Robin during the Blackest Night ^[6]having been summoned back by Batman when both their parents are resurrected. Tim also appears as a guest in Superman titles, "Adventure Comics" and in a World's Finest mini-series.

Skills and abilities

Tim Wayne possesses the normal human strength of a teenager who regularly engages in intensive physical exercise. Before becoming Robin, Tim has already engaged himself in martial arts and acrobatics, and Batman and other instructors across the world have trained him further on those disciplines along others such as forensics, criminology, stealth, disguise, and escapology.

His naturally high intellect allows him to excel in computer science and as a skilled detective. His intellect is apparently so impressive that Batman has claimed to Alfred that Tim is potentially smarter than he is. His ability to deduce the secret identities of superheroes on his own has been used to underscore his skill. Among the identities used in this way are the Batman, both of his predecessors as Robin, the Huntress, Impulse, Captain Marvel and even the Flash, after Wally West's secret identity was wiped from the minds of the world by Hal Jordan using the powers as The Spectre. Furthermore, Tim apparently has a firm grasp of assorted scientific techniques, including biology, engineering, and genetics, which he has been shown to use in his attempts at re-cloning Superboy. Tim, much like Dick Grayson, is also a clever and experienced strategist with impressive leadership skills, having served as leader to the Teen Titans, Young Justice, and even being placed in charge of the rescue efforts of Blüdhaven by Superman, following the attack made by Deathstroke and his fellow villains.

Appearance

Tim Wayne's original costume was different from that of his predecessors to give him a measure of increased protection. It included an armored tunic, a cape that is black on the outside and yellow on the inside, and green leggings. Other details include an armored gorget, jika-tabi style boots, an emergency "R" shuriken on his chest in addition to the traditional batarangs, and a collapsible bo staff as primary weapon (later outfitted to produce an electromagnetic pulse to shock enemies).

Following Infinite Crisis, Tim changed his costume to a black and red color scheme. These updates include long sleeves, the elimination of the green color scheme from the costume (in favor of yellow and black), the addition of scallops to his gloves and cape and a utility belt. In certain artists' interpretations, the stylized "R" on Robin's chest has been replaced with a more traditional one.

The Red Robin costume consists of a long-sleeved red shirt or tunic, along with black boots, tights, gloves, and a black cape and cowl. It also includes a black-and-gold utility belt with other utility storage devices (similar in appearance) crossing over the chest in an "X" shape, meeting at a circular Red Robin insignia. Aside from the trademark bo staff, grapnel guns, and a customized red motorcycle for transportation, Tim also uses throwing discs (similar to batarangs, but circular and adorned with the Red Robin insignia), the latter also used by the previous wearers of the Red Robin costume.

Collected editions

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In 1993, a few years after his debut as Robin, DC launched a monthly solo series featuring Tim Wayne's adventures as Robin, with Batman appearing as a supporting character. The series ended in February 2009 with issue #183 following the events of Batman: RIP and Final Crisis. He has also starred in some miniseries and one-shots. This material has been collected as follows:

In other media

The second episode of the short-lived Birds of Prey television series, "Slick", mentions Drake in passing. While explaining the idea of their responsibilities to Helena Kyle, Barbara Gordon is asked to remember how she learned to be a crime fighter: "Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Jason Todd, even you. It's more than a tradition, it's a legacy."

Tim appeared as Robin in LEGO Batman video game, wearing his first Robin outfit. ^[7] and in Art Asylum's short-lived C3 series.

The prequel comic book for the video game Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe shows that Tim was one of the many characters killed by the violent merger of the two earths prior to the beginning of the game. His costume is also shown on display in the Batcave stage.

Tim Drake (as Robin) is set to appear in the upcoming MMORPG DC Universe Online.

DC Animated Universe

Tim Drake as Robin in The New Batman Adventures.

The New Batman Adventures

Tim Drake as Robin appears regularly in the animated series The New Batman Adventures, voiced by Mathew Valencia. Tim's background and personality are almost identical to the DC Universe Jason Todd's, who never appeared in the cartoons, but had a more violent history as a child than Dick Grayson. The Batman Adventures: The Lost Years, a canon comic book mini-series, further details how Tim became the second Robin in The New Batman Adventures.

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

The animated Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker shows Tim 50 years older, an electronics engineer who is bitter about his days as Robin and angry at Bruce. In a flashback sequence he is revealed to be responsible for the Joker's death, after the Joker had kidnapped and tortured the boy. In the present time of the film, it is revealed that the Joker had imprinted his DNA into Tim before his death, allowing his consciousness to be transferred into Tim's mind and possess him, though the new Batman Terry McGinnis manages to defeat the Joker once and for all and save Tim. At the end of the film, he and Bruce reconcile.

Mathew Valencia reprised his role as Robin in the flashback sequence, while the older Tim is voiced by Academy Award-nominee Dean Stockwell. Tim's laughing "Joker Jr." persona is voiced by casting director Andrea Romano.

Justice League

When Justice League was pitched to Kids' WB, before it was ultimately broadcast on Cartoon Network, the line-up originally included three younger members (the network prefers kids to have a prominent role). The members would have been Robin, Impulse, and an original character described as a "teenage female version of Cyborg". The promo is viewable on the Justice League Season 1 set, Disc 4.

Tim appears as part of the alternate Batman's resistance against Vandal Savage in the Justice League episode "The Savage Time" (Part 1). He also attends Superman's funeral in "Hereafter" . As Robin, Tim helped the Justice League against Felix Faust in the comic book Justice League Adventures #33.

Other appearances

Eli Marienthal voices Tim Drake/Robin in the animated movie, Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman.

Tim Drake appeared as Robin in two episodes of Static Shock. The first episode was "The Big Leagues", where Batman and Robin team up with Static to stop The Joker. Robin's other appearance was in "Future Shock". He was portrayed by Eli Marienthal in the first, and by Shane Sweet in the second. Though Robin didn't appear in the episode "Hard as Nails", Batman mentioned to Static that Robin was with the Teen Titans, though this lineup is not the same team featured in the TV series.

Tim Drake (as Robin) appears in the video game based on The New Batman Adventures, Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu.

Footnotes

See also

Alternate versions of Robin

External links

• DC Comics - Robin
• Titans Tower Biography
• Tim Drake's Bibliography
• Robin: Boy Wonder fansite
• Podcast interview with Robin comics artist Freddie Williams II