This article is about the third and current Robin. For the previous Robins, see Nightwing and Jason Todd.
Robin (real name Tim Drake) is the third and current Robin. Between 2015 and 2018, he was a member of the Team, but he resigned and began operating under a new, covert team under the command of Batman. On February 24, 2019, he rejoined the Team. As of 2020, he is a member of the Outsiders.
In many ways, Tim Drake's personality is similar to his predecessor, Dick Grayson: he is determined to succeed in missions and is willing to take risks to do so. However, Tim takes his heroism far more seriously than Dick and does not have the natural confidence that Dick did, despite his natural affinity for leadership.[8]
Physical appearance[]
Robin is a young man with a lean build and short black hair. Robin's attire is similar yet distinguished from the first Robin's, in that he wears a red and black suit with three yellow rectangular fasteners on the front and a stylized yellow "R" symbol on the left side of his chest that acts as a holographic communication projector. Where the first Robin suit had short sleeves, the current suit covers Robin's entire arm and has stealth-tech capabilities. He also wears black gloves and cape, black on the outside and yellow on the inside, with a jagged pattern at the end. He covers his eyes with a black domino mask. When out of costume, he wears black sunglasses and a green jacket.
By 2018, Robin's suit has been updated considerably but largely maintains the same design, albeit with more black in its color scheme. The new suit lacks the yellow fasteners, while the gloves and shoes are now red and black. His cape is also now equipped with a hood.
Unlike Nightwing, Robin employs an extending and electrically charged fighting staff.[4]
History[]
2015[]
Tim Drake became Robin in early 2015,[9] after the death of Jason Todd.[10]
Robin was in the Mission Room with the Team. He waited for Zatanna and Rocket to congratulate Nightwing on his birthday, and then informed him he had to go to Gotham to work with Batman.[12]
In a strange apartment–half comfortable, modern living space and half medieval torture chamber–Batman and Robin listened to Red Tornado's update on the crises at Metropolis and the Moon. Robin asked if they should head for Metropolis, but Batman told him there was nothing they could do there that wasn't already being done.[13]
Robin arrived at the Cave, and reported to Nightwing that Clayface was safely back in his Arkham cell. Nightwing praised the young hero, but before Robin could explain that his role was limited, Captain Atom notified the Team that the United Nations was under attack.[4]
Nightwing assigned Robin, Lagoon Boy, and Blue Beetle to Gamma Squad for a mission to track down Kroloteans in New Orleans, and Robin was made mission leader. Robin was doubtful of Nightwing's choice, as he'd never led a squad before, but Dick justified his decision, as it gave Robin a good opportunity to learn. Robin was ordered to take no unnecessary risks, and left.[4]
Gamma squad then arrived in New Orleans finding no trouble on the surface. They went underwater and discovered the main base of the Kroloteans. They hid themselves and contacted Mal Duncan, but the squad was detected. They fought off the aliens, and with Blue Beetle's help they found the hostages. The hostages only recognized Robin, but Lagoon Boy managed to break the cage. They escaped before the self-destruct order, that was issued by the fleeing Kroloteans, caused the base to explode. Outside they were met by the Justice League and the Team.[4]
Robin, Batgirl and Nightwing joined Batman to Malina Island to investigate and stop the Kroloteans. They were Gamma Squad, primarily concerned with taking down armed guards, while the others moved on gathering intelligence and infiltrating from below.
Robin used his bō to incapacitate the Manta Troopers, and when Batman called it, he retreated back to the Bio-Ship because the island was about to explode.[14]
Robin bade a farewell to Batman, who joined the other Leaguers on a mission to Rimbor to stand trial for the crimes they committed when they were under the Light's mind control.[14]
Robin was present when Batgirl presented Doctor Fate with recordings of an ancient temple she and other Team members had found in Bialya. Fate translated the hieroglyphics, revealing an ancient ritual to cleanse a scarab. While Fate and Zatanna began the months long preparations to perform the ritual, Batgirl and Robin began to look into the history of the Scarab and Blue Beetle, starting with hacking into the computer files of the late Ted Kord.[15]
Robin and Beast Boy checked up on Nightwing, who was working on the translation of the Krolotean intel from Malina Island. Their conversation was cut short when the computer detected an energy impulse.
In a ball of lightning, a small pod arrived in the Mission Room, and a boy jumped out. Beast Boy quipped that this was the impulse they detected, and as a response, the boy took Impulse as his name. Robin and the others saw him run off; Nightwing sent the two junior members after him.
Robin found traces of him in the kitchen, but Impulse evaded Robin's bō like a limbo. Robin was foiled when papers blew in his face, obscuring his view of where the boy went next.
By the time Robin made it back to the Mission Room, Nightwing had captured the speedster. Robin and Beast Boy heard him out, but did not believe his "future tourist" explanation. Impulse tried to convince him by revealing the secret identities of everyone in the room, something that caused Robin to consider the story.
When Mal arrived at the Cave, Impulse took the opportunity to escape. Robin and Nightwing doubted if Beast Boy could keep up with him.[1]
Mount Justice February 28, post-13:03EST
After Impulse had stopped Neutron's rampage, he claimed he was ready to go back to his own time. Robin watched as Impulse got back in the time machine, but it didn't work.[1]
In the Cave's grotto, Robin, Gar, Jaime, and Bart were looking at the holographic statue of fallen member Artemis. Robin also beheld the hologram of his late predecessor.[7]
Alpha Squad, consisting of Barbara, Tim and Bumblebee, observed Tigress and a squad of Manta Troopers as they prepared to put some teenagers, held in a pen, into containment pods. Tim and Barbara quietly jumped into the pen, assuring the captives they were there to help. One girl was uncertain they could be trusted, until she saw Bumblebee fly into Tim's jacket. The captives were placed into pods and Tigress ordered the Manta Troopers to load them aboard the Manta-Flyer.
By allowing themselves to be captured, Tim and Barbara could inform the others about the inside of the base. Barbara informed M'gann of their findings. They were moved to a research wing, where he and the others had been left unattended. Nightwing ordered Alpha and M'gann to move now.
Alpha lead the captives to the docking bay, and helped them aboard the Bio-Ship. A strong Reach enforcer, dubbed "Black Beetle" by Wonder Girl, arrived and locked the bay, leaving him with Barbara, Lagoon Boy, Superboy, Wonder Girl, Bumblebee, Shimmer and one of the abducted teens. The Team members were unsuccessful in fighting Black Beetle, with Barbara and Tim unable to subdue the Reach agent when they tried to taser him. Tim was pinned to a wall by a staple.
When only Batgirl was left on her feet against the Black Beetle, Blue Beetle arrived and opened the bay doors. Barbara, Beast Boy and Impulse got everyone else aboard. Blue Beetle held off the Reach enforcer.
The Team made a clean getaway after Lagoon Boy picked up Blue Beetle, and returned to the coast.[17]
Nightwing needed a squad to investigate LexCorp Farms, a joint LexCorp/Reach venture, and chose Robin as leader. Robin seemed hesitant at first but agreed. Nightwing assigned Blue Beetle, Impulse and Arsenal to the squad as well.[18]
Undercover, Alpha Squad took a guided tour of LexCorp Farms. As Sharon Vance showed visitors around, she directed them to a table where people could sample produce. Robin took a tomato and slipped it into a plastic bag. Arsenal then drew Robin's attention to a tank and pipes filled with a colored liquid. Robin asked Vance about it and she told him it was "water, nutrients and a little Reach/LexCorp love." As Vance continued the tour, Robin told the other Alpha Squad members it was time for a bathroom break.[18]
With the hydroponic dome empty, Robin ordered Alpha Squad to exit the bathroom and switch to stealth mode. He then used a device to hack the security cameras so the heroes could not be detected. The squad slipped into the basement of the dome and came upon a laboratory and assembly line. Beetle's Scarab translated the Reach scientist's words, revealing an additive the Reach was using. Beetle identified the vat that contained the additive and Robin slipped away to get a sample.
As the squad got out of the basement, Robin noted they had to get past just two guards and the locked door, but then Arsenal told him to "wait for it" and an explosion went off, triggering an alarm. Robin asked why Arsenal would blow up the lab and Arsenal said he wouldn't let the Reach poison everyone, plus he wanted to humiliate Lex Luthor.
As Robin tried hacking the security system to open the door, he reprimanded Arsenal for his actions, but then Black Beetle appeared, forcing Alpha Squad to deal with him. As Arsenal's laser had the most effect on Black Beetle, Robin ordered Arsenal to continue his assault. He then provided a means of escape by placing explosive batarangs on the wall, and sent Impulse to scout ahead. They escaped through a cornfield.
When the squad reached the other side, Robin suggested doubling back to lose Black Beetle for good, but Black Beetle caught up with them. Another Beetle then appeared, apparently trapping the heroes, but then this individual attacked Black Beetle. Robin observed the new individual, wearing green armor similar to that of Black and Blue Beetle, as he shape-shifted, believing the individual could be a Martian. His belief was confirmed when the warrior spoke to the squad telepathically. Robin dubbed him the "Green Beetle of Mars".
Black Beetle managed to trap Green Beetle with fire, forcing Alpha Team to take action. Robin sent Arsenal and Blue Beetle to distract Black Beetle while Impulse helped Green Beetle. He then took a shot on him as well, damaging Black Beetle's plasma cannon with a batarang. A combined effort from Blue Beetle and Green Beetle eventually brought Black Beetle down.
The squad rendezvoused with Nightwing and Superboy in Jonathan Kent's barn. Robin informed Nightwing of their results, and gave him the additive he procured. Though he initially wanted to admonish Arsenal for his rash behavior, he decided not to.[18]
Robin was part of Delta Squad during the mission to stop Mongul's assault on Earth. He piloted the camouflaged Bio-Ship, which provided cover fire for Captain Atom, Captain Marvel and Green Beetle as they attacked the Warworld's surface.[20]
The Warworld May 26, post-12:40UTC
Once Mongul was defeated, Robin and Batgirl docked the Bio-Ship and rendezvoused with the rest of the Team. After briefly celebrating their victory, Blue Beetle attacked the others. Robin dodged his first attack, and unsuccessfully attempted to knock the Warworld's key out of his grasp with a birdarang. Arsenal then opened an airlock. In the chaos, Beetle was able to knock out Robin and several others as he closed the lock.[20] Robin was stored in a stasis cell aboard the vessel, together with captured members from the Team.[21]
Once freed from his cell, Robin retreated to the Bio-Ship with the rest of the Team.[21]
Blüdhaven May 30, 06:21EDT
Robin and the rest of the Team returned to the warehouse. After Nightwing turned on a news report about Blue Beetle, Robin remarked that it was good press for a traitor.[15]
As Zatanna was preparing for a ritual to help free Blue Beetle from the Reach's control, and Green Beetle battled Team members, Robin, Beast Boy and Wonder Girl intervened. Robin attacked Green Beetle with a flying kick and said that Green would thank them later. The Team members were able to keep Green at bay long enough for Zatanna to complete the ritual, freeing both Blue and Green Beetle's scarabs from Reach control.
On the way back from Bialya, everyone explained to Blue Beetle what had happened. After discussing the ancient ritual Zatanna used to free the Scarab of Reach control, Robin and Batgirl explained how they hacked the files Ted Kord had kept, learned that the Scarab was originally discovered by archeologist Dan Garrett and how he used it to become the first Blue Beetle. They explained that, when Garrett passed away, he passed the Scarab on to Kord, who determined it was of alien origin, locked it away and became the second Blue Beetle, only without superpowers. They explained that Kord later tried to thwart an attempt by the Light to steal the Scarab and he was killed in the process.[15]
Along with Batgirl, Wonder Girl, and Bumblebee, Robin infested the science lab of the Reach flagship. The squad dispatched the Reach soldiers and scientists present with ease.[23]
When Magnetic Field Disruptors planted by the Reach threatened the Earth, Robin joined 39 other heroes of Earth in a briefing in Metropolis. The heroes would use a computer virus provided by Lex Luthor to safely disable the disruptors. The heroes were paired off with another into twenty squads: one member would run interference against weapons guarding the disruptors, allowing the other to get close enough to plant the virus. When Wonder Girl expressed her incredulity at their working with Lex Luthor, Robin told her it wasn't in Luthor's best interest for Earth to be destroyed; at any rate, they don't have any other alternative.[23]
Robin was assigned to Tau Squad, and worked alongside Wonder Girl.[24] Within thirty minutes, all squads had succeeded in their mission.[23]
Tim and Cassie welcomed Static to the Team, and inquired about the whereabouts of his former teammates. Unbeknownst to Static but noticed by Superboy, the pair were holding hands behind their backs. After Wally's death, they had become a couple. Aqualad summoned everyone to the mission room, where Batman informed the Team that they would now operate side by side with the Justice League from the Watchtower. Not because Mount Justice was destroyed, but because they earned the right to do so. Aqualad assigned Robin to Gamma Squad to investigate Batgirl's lead about the whereabouts of Vandal Savage.[23]
2018[]
In January,[27] Robin, along with the rest of the Bat family, intervened in the Joker's attack on the United Nations. They quietly defused Joker's bombs. When Joker realised he was beaten, he set off a smoke bomb and fled. Cassandra Wu-San, working on behalf of the League of Shadows, tried to assassinate Joker in the chaos, but was stopped by Batgirl, who was severely injured in the process. Robin helped to apprehend Joker.[28]
At some point, he joined with other leading members of the Justice League and the Team to form a secret group to oppose the Light. They plotted a breakaway from the League to form a new covert team which would secretly be coordinated with the League.[29]
Robin led his squad, consisting of Arrowette, Orphan and Spoiler, in following Mad Hatter. It soon became apparent that they were in fact following Clayface impersonating Hatter. They fought Clayface, with spoiler placing a liquid tracker on him during the battle, then followd him to Hatter's hideout. The squad attempted to apprehend Hatter, but had to battle Clayface. Hatter set a self-destruct and escaped with Shade. The squad evacuated the building, but not before Robin grabbed one of the control devices Hatter had been using on Clayface and Shade. Clayface was caught in the explosion but began to piece himself back together. Later, Robin and Batman had Clayface trapped in a container, and Robin used the control device to order Clayface to forever act under his own free will.[29]
Robin attended a meeting of the group leaders to discuss the Outsiders's first mission in Brooklyn, Maine.[32]
Late in the year, Robin salvaged MONQIs and a Professor Ivo android from one of Ivo's abandoned bases. He repaired them for use in an operation to lead the Outsiders into destroying one of LexCorp's secret robot factories.[33]
Robin attended a meeting of the team leaders to brief Wonder Woman on their operation to maneuver the Outsiders into destroying a Spider Botfactory in Dublin. Robin had remotely controlled the MONQIs used in the operation. Wonder Woman's objections to the group creating "fake news" were met with silence from Robin and the others.[33]
On January 21, Batman and Robin were busy in Africa.[34]
Tim attended Dick's bedside, while the latter suffereed the aftereffects of exposure to Gretchen Goode's X-Pit. Bruce called him and the other group leaders aside to talk, prompting Jefferson to realise that they had been secretly coordinating their teams all along. Tim was later chastened by Gar, who was angry at how the Outsider's had been manipulated. Tim had no words when Gar observed that this would likely be the end of his relationship with Cassie. Later, when Helga Jace's betrayal was revealed, Tim watched helplessly with the others as Jefferson stormed out.[35]
Tim and Cassie broke up.[37] Sometime in 2019,[38] Tim left the Team and joined the Outsiders, after remembering how the original Robin used to be a public hero and felt it was time to make him public again.[39][40]
2020[]
On February 24,[41] Robin went on a mission with the Outsiders against the Cult of the Kobra. Robin subdued a number of cultists, and the squad was successful in capturing Kobra and preventing the terrorists from sending a signal to brainwash people into joining the cult.[39]
Once Henchy stepped outside, Robin descended upon him. Henchy ran, but was corraled by El Dorado, before Robin tied him up with a rope batarang. Looker then read his mind. After getting intel on his (lack of) involvement in Count Vertigo's recent escape, he was released. Robin then reported back to Wonder Girl.
Later, Nightwing contacted Robin and Oracle for help identifying the source of robots involved in Perdita Vladek's abduction. Robin identified proprietary technology in the robots also found in Spider Bots, suggesting Lex Luthor was behind it.[44]
Robin took part in a conference call updating Wonder Girl and Beast Boy on the investiagtion into Perdita's abduction, including a lead on a LexCorp Robotics factory.[45]
Powers and abilities[]
Abilities[]
Investigation: Having been trained by Batman, Robin is a skilled detective; Bart said he would pick up on all the clues at a crime scene.[46] He obtained samples of an additive from LexCorp Farms.[18] He quickly deduced that Clayface was impersonating the Mad Hatter.[29]
Leadership: Robin is a natural leader.[10]Nightwing chose him as the leader of Gamma Squad[4] and Alpha Squad.[18] He led Batman's team on a mission on at least one occasion.[29]
Holographic computer:[13]A standard piece of equipment used by all young heroes under Batman's tutelage,[48] Robin has a holographic communication device built into the "R" insignia on his chest.[4]
Tim is the new Robin, and Dick's successor as Batman's protégé. Tim looks up to him as his hero and big brother. Dick tries to be a good role model and give Tim the chance to prove himself and go beyond his normal comfort zones, such as putting him in a leadership position.[4]
Wonder Girl and Robin became a couple shortly after the Reach invasion concluded. Wally West's death was the catalyst in giving Wonder Girl the courage to kiss him.[23]
In 2018, they are still together but with his decision to leave the Team and join Batman's team, their relationship has become rather strained.[30]
In the comics, Tim Drake is the third Robin, after Dick Grayson and Jason Todd. He was a founding member of Young Justice, and a former member of the Teen Titans. In the post-Flashpoint New 52 comics continuity, Tim Drake (as Red Robin) is a founding member of the Teen Titans.
In the comics, Tim originally wore a costume with green and red. The New Batman Adventures omitted the green, giving him a red and black suit. This was eventually adopted in the comics after Infinite Crisis. Tim changed it in honor of Superboy, who had fallen during the event, as red and black were his colors.
This is his second animated appearance. He previously appeared in the DCAU (The New Batman Adventures, Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, Static Shock, Justice League and Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman).
