The Biggest Lie About Batman & Robin is Finally Settled By DC

It’s well-known that Batman needs a Robin, and now it’s time DC finally decides whether Robin needs a Batman. As a key part of the Batman mythos, Robin has been a fan-favorite character for decades. Dick Grayson describes Robin as “the light in the darkness that brings Batman back before he goes too far.” Batman’s bond with each Robin are some of DC’s strongest, but how do they compare to the relationships between Robins?

DC’s Robins delves into what it means to be a Robin, bringing together five former Robins: Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephanie Brown, and Damian Wayne. Jenny Wren, a new antagonist claiming to be the first Robin, crafts a revenge plot against Batman using technology belonging to Cormac Dodge. After an encounter with the former sidekicks of major villains such as Joker and Poison Ivy, the Robins realize Tim Drake has been kidnapped. Using their collective detective skills, Batman’s former protégés work together to solve a case that’s a personal attack to the Robin mantle.

In Robins #5, the Robins enter a simulation created by Cormac Dodge. Each Robin lives out what they view as an idealized life: one where they didn’t meet Batman. However, after reaching the end of their respective narratives, they realize that without Batman, something was missing. Stephanie, as leader of the Titans, pushes her team away from the Justice League, leading to a fight they lose. Damian seeks enlightenment in a monastery, but his anger forces him to leave his brothers and return to his grandfather. Jason becomes a race car driver, using his winnings to support a rehab center dedicated to his mother. Eventually, he can’t keep up with the clinic’s demands for money and resorts to stealing cars. As a Spyral agent, Dick loses himself. With no clear rules, he can’t trust himself. As the Robins reflect on the simulation, Dick realizes: “We all fell. We aren’t just there to catch Batman before he falls. He catches us.” However, Jason corrects him, pointing out that the true reason they fell was, “Because [they] weren’t there for each other.”

Not only did Batman create Robin; he created a support network—a family. Robins don’t just need Batman; they need each other. When one bird falls from the nest, another is always ready to swoop in and save them, reminding them of their cause. Whenever they attempt to go their separate ways, the Robins lack discipline and purpose. As odd as Batman’s fight for justice can be, it gives every Robin a reason to keep going and it gives them a family to lean on. When he’s not around, his Robins need to be there for each other.

With their newfound knowledge, the Robins are prepared to face Jenny Wren’s ‘Gauntlet Zero’. They’ve passed their first test, but there’s one more Robin in need of support—Tim Drake. Hopefully, Drake’s hacking abilities will come in handy when the Robins begin the Gauntlet. The only way the Robins can succeed is together, as the family Batman wanted them to be.

About The Author