DC Reveals Batman Could Have Saved Robin’s Parents

Warning! Spoilers for Batman: Black and White #4 below!

DC Comics has revealed that one of Batman‘s biggest regrets may be the fact that he could have saved the original Robin‘s parents. Dick Grayson’s parents’ murder was a similar situation to what befell Bruce Wayne’s parents and Dick’s adoption by Bruce eventually led to him becoming the first Robin. However, a recent issue of Batman: Black and White has a story that shows Batman at the future crime scene much earlier than the Graysons’ deaths, investigating a different crime.

Dick Grayson’s origins began in Detective #38 (1940) where creators Bill Finger, Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson established him as the youngest member of the Flying Graysons alongside his parents John and Mary. The famous family of circus acrobats were the main attraction of Gotham’s C.C. Haly and Norton Bros. Circus, which was resisting the advances of gangster Tony Zucco, a gangster attempting to extort the circus in a protection racket. One night Dick overheard Zucco threaten Mr. Haly if he didn’t pay, and the following night he watched as his parents’ well-choreographed and rehearsed routine ended in tragedy when they plummeted to their deaths in front of a live audience. Although the stories vary due to changes to DC continuity, Dick would eventually run into Batman, who was investigating his parents’ murder. Their attempt to bring Zucco in fails when he dies of a heart attack, but Richard would begin a new life as Bruce Wayne would adopt him and train him further to become his new sidekick and partner, Robin.

In Batman: Black and White #4,  a story by writer Becky Cloonan and artist Terry Dodson has Commissioner Gordon call in the Dark Knight to investigate the death of a fortune teller at Haly’s Circus. The intimidating yet young vigilante questions various individuals working in the circus, which prompts him to question the very-alive Flying Graysons. While a young Richard watches, Batman’s question interrupt their rehearsal, causing Mary to fall with Batman catching her before she hits the ground. His questioning leads to Mr. Haly himself, who reveals that he had an argument with the victim earlier regarding his new business partner, Tony Zucco and that he fired her in a misguided attempt to protect her. Having deduced the death was a suicide, Batman reveals the truth to Gordon and simply moves on to the next case.

Batman’s failure here could be chalked up to inexperience as the story takes place when his relationship with Commissioner Gordon is still new and his methods are still developing. The story’s creators hint at both the future and also things that the modern Batman would have picked up on and followed through to the end. His questions to Mr. Haly reveal that he knows that his partnership with Zucco is illegal and will end badly, claiming that he has no other alternative. Batman has the opportunity to investigate that, uncover more of Zucco’s illegal activities, and bring him to justice, thus preventing him from orchestrating the events that killed Dick’s parents. However, the investigation goes nowhere beyond the case of the dead fortune teller, and Batman moves on to the next case, not understanding what his inability to look further will allow.

The narration at the beginning and end suggest that this is flashback remembered by a Bruce who understands his error and wishes it could have been different. This brings to mind Marvel’s Spider-Man and his regret about not stopping his Uncle Ben’s murder. As much as Batman’s legend says otherwise, he is a human being and capable of making mistakes. And perhaps this situation ended up making him better. Although it may be one of Bruce’s biggest regrets, his error would change him and DC Comics forever, for what is Batman without a Robin?

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