Dick Grayson
Richard John 'Dick' Grayson was Batman's first sidekick, the original Robin, before becoming Nightwing and even taking on the mantle of Batman when Bruce was thought to be dead, but once again becoming Nightwing after the events of Flashpoint. He was created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger and illustrator Jerry Robinson, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940.
Throughout Dick's adolescence, Batman and Robin were inseparable. However, as Dick grey older and spent more time as the leader of the Teen Titans, de decided to take on the identity of Nightwing to assert his independence. His Nightwing persona was created by writer Mary Wolfman and artist George Perez, and first appeared in Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (July 1984). As Nightwing, Dick led the Teen Titans and later the Outsiders.
Dick Grayson has been played by Burt Ward (in the 1960s TV series and movie) and Chris O'Donnell in the 1995 'Batman Forever'. Dick is also appears in the animated Batman movies 'Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero' (1998) and 'Batman: Under The Red Hood' (2010).
After the events of Batman R.I.P., Dick has moved operations to Gotham to protect the city after Bruce's apparent death in Final Crisis. Despite Bruce's will wanting him not to succeed him permanently as Batman, the chaos in Gotham following Batman's disappearance prompts Dick to take up his mentor's identity once again and turns to operating as the new Batman. His Nightwing mantel would be passed on to Chris Kent.
Jason Todd
Jason Todd first appeared in Batman #357 (1983). Though initially popular, following a revamping of his origin by Max Allan Collins, the Jason Todd version of Robin was not well-received by fans. fOR 1988's Batman: A Death in the Family storyline, DC Comics held a telephone poll to determine whether or not the character would die at the hands of the joker, Batman's arch nemesis. The character was killed off by a vote of 5343-5271. Subsequent Batman stories dealt with Batman's guilt over not being able to prevent Jason's death. However, in 2005's story arc 'Under The Hood' the character was resurrected, eventually becoming the second Red Hood and assuming a new role as an antihero who resembles Batman in many ways, except with a willingness to use lethal force and weapons.
Tim Drake (sometimes known as Tim Wayne) was little more than a toddler when he attended the circus with his parents. In order to ease his wife's concerns that the circus might frighten Tim, Jack Drake asked to take a picture with the Flying Graysons, who were the starring act. It was here that Tim first met Dick Grayson, who offered Tim special attention, and even promised to dedicate his performance to the toddler. Soon after, Tim and his family bore witness to the murder of Dick's parents. As his parents rushed him out of the circus tent, Tim managed to catch sight of the mysterious Batman consoling Dick. Feeling sorry for Dick, Jack and Janet sent hom a copy of the photo they had taken prior to the murder.
A few years later at the age of nine, Tim saw footage of Batman and Robin apprehending the Penguin. Robin performed a quadruple somersault, a rare manoeuvre that only Dick Grayson was Robin and that of course Wayne was Batman. Tim continued to follow the adventures of the Dynamic Duo, as well as Grayson's becoming Nightwing and Jason Todd succeeding him as Robin. After Jason's death, Tim began to take notice of a drastic and almost psychological change in Batman's behaviour, in which he became convince that Batman needed a Robin to maintain his sanity.
When Nightwing left the Titans for a short time in order to find himself, Tim followed him and after helping Dick solve a mystery at Haly's Circus, was able to convince Dick that Batman needed Robin more. Dick ignored these pleads and raced off to help his mentor, only for Dick and Bruce to be captured by Two-Face.
Realising that his idols were in danger, Tim donned the costume of Robin, at only thirteen years old and with the help of Alfred Pennyworth, was able to rescue them. Batman, although extremely reluctant, accepted Tim as the new Robin on a trial basis after being convinced by the boy, as well as Dick and Alfred. He was trained over several months, first by Alfred, then Batman, and finally Nightwing before ever being allowed to wear the costume again or go into the field. Tim distinguished himself from Jason Todd by being far more reserved in temperament and from Dick Grayson by being more of a detective and less of a great acrobat. Whereas Dick had been brought up from a very early age to be an acrobat, Tim had to work hard for it. He proved himself more than capable of holding his own in a fight though. However, Batman did have strict orders with Tim; whenever he came across a known killer (such as the Joker and Two-Face) he was supposed to withdraw and summon help.
Tom Drake appears in the movie " Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker' and in this movie he is captured and experimented on by The Joker and Harley Quinn. They turn him into a mini-Joker. Batman and Batgirl arrive to save Tim, resulting in Tim killing The Joker. It took years of therapy and surgery to make Tim himself again. When Terry McGinnis takes over as Batman, The Joker returns, and he and Bruce find out that The Joker had transfered his consciousness onto a microchip and installed it in Tim's brain when he had captured him as a child, turning him into The Joker in his adult years. Obviously there are other story lines that have Tim grow up to become Red Robin.
Stephanie Brown
Stephanie Brown, Tim Drake's girlfriend and the costumed adventurer previously known as the Spoiler, volunteered for the role of Robin upon Tim's resignation. Batman fired the girl Wonder for not obeying his orders to the letter on two separate occasions. Stephanie then stole one of Batman's incomplete plans to control Gotham crime and executed it. In order to prove her worthiness, Brown inadvertently set off a gang war on the streets of Gotham. While trying to help end the war, Brown was captured was tortured by the lunatic crime boss Black Mask. She managed to escape but died shortly after due to the severity of her injuries. Tim Drake keeps a memorial for her in his cave hideout underneath Titan Tower in San Francisco. She recently appears alive, stalking Tim since his return from traveling around the globe with his mentor, which led into the question of whether she truly died in the first place. It is later revealed that Dr. Leslie Thompkins had faked her death after the gang war in an effort to protect her. For years she operated on and off as The Spoiler, but it now Barbara Gordon's replacement as Batgirl. She has her own series as well as making appearances throughout the other various Batman and Batman spin-off series.
Damian Wayne
Damian Wayne is the child of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul and thus the grandson of Batman's villain Ra's al Ghul. The character was created by Grant Morrison, and first appeared in Batman #436 (1989). Having spent his gestation in a laboratory, Damian was raised by his mother until ten years of age, at which point she left him in the care of his father, who had not been aware of his son's existence until that point in time. Damian was violent and self-important, and was trained by the League of Assassins, learning to kill at a young age. After the events of Batman R.I.P. and Batman: Battle for the Cowl, Damian takes up the identity of Robin, becoming the fifth and current person to use the Boy Wonder's identity. He worked with Dick Grayson, who replaced Bruce as Batman for a certain time period. Morrison's Batman #666 (2007) depicts a future wherein Damian becomes Batman.
There we have it, all five of the Robins. Will there be many more in the future? Most definitely. After doing the research on these characters I have to say that my favourite Robin has to be either Dick Grayson or Tim Drake. They just seem like the most interesting characters.
Let me know what you think.
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