anyone here not like Robin

[NYCT]

I'm a huge Batman fan, but somehow I find myself disliking Robin. I know you probably think in order to like Batman you have to like his sidekick, but I like the Batman without him. Anyone feel the same?

[literally exaggerated]

There have been some great Robin stories, and I enjoy Robin as a character, but I agree, in general I prefer reading about Batman acting alone.

[Agentum]

Well i'm not that intrested in the Robin of today really, i think kid sidekicks has been played out, Batman doesn't need som bright colored kid to hang out with anymore.

But i understand why Robin came to be, the readers was kids and needed a character to identify themselves with.

But i can know that "Robin" no matter who he is is a big character, very known even outside of comicfans (even that most don't know that this is acually the 3rd Robin).

I hated the second brat Robin, i can't stand that type of characters, even if they tried to make him intresting he sounded and looked like a brat:D

[shaunyc56]

I like having both, and they're are both options available to you. Sometimes I do want to see the hardcore loner Bat, and sometimes I like to see the cerebral detective and his partner.

[TheTen-EyedMan]

Robin has always been the dark to Batman's light....

Uh, scratch that....reverse it.

[colossus34]

Batman without Robin is Sherlock Holmes without Watson...its boring and hard to associate with a dark, lonely, emotionally repressed person who speaks very little. Add Robin to the mix and you get an automatic voice for the audience and force Batman to have to care for someone else and explain what he's doing. HE REALLY HAS TO BE THERE!

[curefreak]

ive never ever been a fan of robin and most of the time he ruins batmans image especially in expanded media like tvs and movies.
i dont think batman needs to attract kiddies and id like to think that kids can relate to batman when hes dark.

[NYCT]

ive never ever been a fan of robin and most of the time he ruins batmans image especially in expanded media like tvs and movies.
i dont think batman needs to attract kiddies and id like to think that kids can relate to batman when hes dark.

exactly! That's what I was trying to explain when I started the thread.

[Gary Joyce]

I like Robin when written correctly (i guess thats true of all characters really) but it does really irritate me sometimes when i'll reading Batman and basically seeing Tim act like the senior partner.

But thats a minor gripe i have , other then that i have no problems with the character no matter who is Robin (the exception being spoiler but thats a whole other issue)

I like to see Batman with Robin but i prefer Bats fighting alone as evidenced in my favourite Batman stories of all time

Year One , Dark Knight Returns , Killing Joke , Arkham Asylum , Long Halloween

Of those five robin only shows up in DKR.But doesnt change my opinion of the characterand i still get happy when they team up together it just feels right.

[The Batman]

i don't dislike Robin, though at times i've found myself not liking the way the character's been included into stories, but generally speaking i prefer to read about Batman working solo.

[Choppa]

I'm not a fan, but I think some good stories can come out of having him around.

[trickster]

For a guy who's supposed to be a psychotic loner having a partner is absurd. Especially one like Tim Drake, who at first just had no way to relate to him, having a family and all. Other guys would have been playing GTA or Counterstrike, not looking to become Batman's sidekick. For me that's stretching it. I can buy to a degree his partnership with Gordon, but Robin? For a guy who values human life, he sure has no problems putting a kid in danger.
And somehow it just seems ridiculous to me: "Lookout, it's Batman! And... some kid with no pants??" Kinda hard to keep an ambiguous demon image when you're running around with a kid dressed in semaphore colors.
OTOH, I really like Robin being a part of the Titans. A member that's smarter than the others, good at strategies and planning.

[Armless Penguin]

For a guy who values human life, he sure has no problems putting a kid in danger.

Did you miss Tim Drake's whole origin story?

Anyhow, yes, I like Robin. He's decent and interesting enough as a Bat-sidekick, being representative of a different side of his mentor, the more human Bruce Wayne as opposed to the vigilante Batman. Still it's solo and especially on teams where he really shines.

[Gargus]

Robin is a cool part time sidekick. He has his uses but I dont want robin to be fulltime all the time with batman. Even in batman the animated series I liked it better when it was just batsy by himself, he works best on his own I think.

Although as much as I like him on his own I do like him in like JLA also. Something about him being bit snobbish and annoyed he has to explain things to other super heroes that I enjoy very much. I like the whole "just get out of my way and let me take care of it" thing he does and the attitude of, you may be the man of steel but Ill still kick your ass.

But robin works well in small doses. They play off eachother well when written right. Robin does the non essential talking and is trying for attention while batman just stands there being the center of attention.

[Violently Apathetic]

I like Robin better than Batman, so...uh...yeah. I mean ALL the Robins too. If it wasn't for the supporting cast I'd have NO interest in Batman whatsoever. Though I can understand how people would think having a brightly clad kid hanging around Batman all the time kind of undermines the 'creature of the night' thing.

[Damo]

I'm not like Robin at all. *Nods.*

[Eliseu Gouveia]

I liked the early Tim, the one who figured Batman´s identity far more than Batman himself.

I´ve only liked Dick Grayson´s Robin in two separate occasions:

1) in the Teen Titans back in the George Perez days.

2) In an issue WAAAY back, when Batman´s wanted by the cops and gets injured and Robin has to wear the Batman mantle to foil some criminal who´s playing mind games with the mayor.

[Eliseu Gouveia]

I'm not like Robin at all. *Nods.*

LOL

Nicely crafted. ^_^

[The_Main_Event]

I don't like Robin at all. I don't like the idea of sidekicks for one and Robin just never appealed to me in any way. I don't really think Batman needs Robin anyways.

[meethraa]

I only really liked Robin on Geoff Johns' Teen Titans (when I was reading the book).

[Gezora]

Batman doesn't need som bright colored kid to hang out with anymore.
There was a black Robin? Apparantly he was smart, too. Huh. I never knew.

Just kidding people :D .

[Goldenbane]

I have to say I'm with Violently Apathetic when it comes to Robin. I like the character more than Batman. I enjoy Batman...don't get me wrong...especially when he's written like the first 3 seasons of Batman: The Animated Series, but I hate it when he's so dark, snotty, and grim. I like the idea that there is a Robin to play off of for Batman...someone he can help and explain things to without feeling annoyed (ala JLA). You'll have to forgive me but sometimes the "NO ROBIN MORE DARKNESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Batman fans drive me up the wall. Any more dark, and we'll be reading The Punisher. Didn't they see how goofy "Mega dark Batman" was during the "Nightfall" stories? It was Azreal and not Bruce, but I can't see the difference if Bruce goes any darker. He just needs to have a Robin on hand occasionally.

[Xothermic]

I like Robin better than Batman, so...uh...yeah. I mean ALL the Robins too. If it wasn't for the supporting cast I'd have NO interest in Batman whatsoever. Though I can understand how people would think having a brightly clad kid hanging around Batman all the time kind of undermines the 'creature of the night' thing.

Cool. I thought I was the only one who preferred Robin(Tim Drake) to Batman. It's good to know I'm not alone. I'd also have no interest in Batman either.

[Project 22]

There was a black Robin? Apparantly he was smart, too. Huh. I never knew.

Just kidding people :D .

Wow...that was amazing.:D

Honestly, I don´t like the idea of Robin, one point being the name. It really isn´t exactly intimidating, maybe they should change the name to Sitting Duck, because at least then some danger would be implied.

I also hate the costume, even now, because it screams stupidity. Why would someone wear a costume that screams, ¨Shoot at me, please.¨

But as an idea, the character who brings Batman back to the real world is incredibly important. I honestly think that he would eventually become everything he set out to destroy if not for those who have chosen to stand by his side, but this includes Alfred, Nightwing, Spoiler, Batgirl, and yes, even Azrael and Huntress. If he didn´t have such a great supporting cast, Batman would spiral down into a pit of oblivion that he couldn´t escape.

Robin is important to the character, just as Clark´s parents are important to him. Like Batman, Superman also would have major mental problems if he didn´t have the right people supporting him.

[bodie_3_7_ci5]

I loathe Robin. I know it's harsh, but I can never get into the character. I have tried on many occasions to give Robin a go, but I just don't like anything about him. In my opinion, Batman is a loner and Batman having a sidekick is a contradiction to this. This is not the only reason I dislike Robin, I also can't relate to any of his characteristics.

[Mia]

For a guy who's supposed to be a psychotic loner having a partner is absurd. Especially one like Tim Drake, who at first just had no way to relate to him, having a family and all. Other guys would have been playing GTA or Counterstrike, not looking to become Batman's sidekick. For me that's stretching it. I can buy to a degree his partnership with Gordon, but Robin? For a guy who values human life, he sure has no problems putting a kid in danger.
And somehow it just seems ridiculous to me: "Lookout, it's Batman! And... some kid with no pants??" Kinda hard to keep an ambiguous demon image when you're running around with a kid dressed in semaphore colors.
OTOH, I really like Robin being a part of the Titans. A member that's smarter than the others, good at strategies and planning.


This sums it up nicely. The notion of a loner and introvert like Batman wanting a teenage brat hanging around him is absurd.

The only time I have ever been able to tolerate Robin, was when Dick Grayson was still in college.

I also disagree with Batman needing Robin in order to be more light. What for? There's no emotional bond there.
It would make more sense for Bruce to get married and have her change him.

[Forsaken_One]

The whole idea of someone dressing up like a giant bat to face off against people is absurd. I'm good to roll with the punches and enjoy some Robin as well as Batman.

[Mia]

The whole idea of someone dressing up like a giant bat to face off against people is absurd. I'm good to roll with the punches and enjoy some Robin as well as Batman.


But Batman dresses up as giant bat in order to achieve his aims that he wouldn't be able to had he simply worn civilian clothes (see Batman:Mask of the Phantasm).

[Francis]

I think that the Batman stories need a Robin much of the time. Or at least someone to keep him from being relentlessly gloomy and psychotic. I don't like the idea of Robin living at the manor but think that a reasonably perky and talkative Robin/Spoiler/Batgirl (and much I like Cassandra Cain, she doesn't qualify here) for Batman to take under his wing (if only to try to prevent a premature death) is necessary. In some stories, Selena can fill this role - some sort of light and amusement in the story. What I can't stand is Robin being mini-Batman.

[Forsaken_One]

But Batman dresses up as giant bat in order to achieve his aims that he wouldn't be able to had he simply worn civilian clothes (see Batman:Mask of the Phantasm).
That was sarcasm, right? It's hard to tell with just having text there. Ah well, I'll assume for my own sake that you were indeed being sarcastic and that's a cutting retort to those who take the idea of an obsessed m(b)illionaire dressed up in a cape and tights making hardened criminals fearful to be realistic but mock the idea of a pre-teen to twenty-something dressed in a cape and tights based on either their age or the colors of their tights and capes.

[OverMaster]

The only Robin I've ever really liked is Carrie from TDKR.

With all other Robins, it seems like they only can fall in one of two ways:

1) Make him too Mary Sueish and uber to excuse how can Batman keep him around with a clean conscience, or

2) Make him 'Robin, the Boy Hostage'.

[trickster]

That was sarcasm, right? It's hard to tell with just having text there. Ah well, I'll assume for my own sake that you were indeed being sarcastic and that's a cutting retort to those who take the idea of an obsessed m(b)illionaire dressed up in a cape and tights making hardened criminals fearful to be realistic but mock the idea of a pre-teen to twenty-something dressed in a cape and tights based on either their age or the colors of their tights and capes.

Again with the tights crap. They're only drawn as tights because drawing armor is too intricate, and fanboys are used to Batman's pyjamas and seeing ripped muscles (which it has to be said, no matter how ripped they would be they couldn't stand out like that). Now for a guy with one of the highest IQs on the planet, how he could possibly think that having a kid as a sidekick, (and dressed in juvenile colors no less) can project a fearsome image, is beyond me. Unless he's, you know, retarded.

[literally exaggerated]

yeah, Robin has never been dealt with effectively, as far as I'm aware, as regards Batman's "grim creature of the night" image. He's supposed to be terrifying, half rumor half legend, some dark monster of the night summoned by the symbol of a bat in the sky. Kinda ruins the image if he's got a 13 year old in panties and tights bouncing around.

I appreciate that giving him a "Watson" if you will, someone who isn't as smart as he is and thus allows for full explanations that he would otherwise never give, is a good idea, but that Watson character doesn't need to accompany him on missions.

If Robin exists at all, he should be a support character and protege. Someone being groomed to take over when Batman stops, and who can man the computer and help out around the cave and do surveilance type stuff.

[boy wonder]

I personally am a fan of the Robin character, but when I think about it, I believe it's kind of a personal idea of Robin that I like, and not any interpretation that's really ever happened in the comics.

I personally see the character as someone who doesn't want to strike fear into the hearts of criminals, but to inspire hope in the hearts of innocents.

Anyway, I would thouroughly enjoy a Batman series that treats the character more like Sherlock Holmes. Make him less physical and more cerebral, instead of some thug in a cape with gadgets.

[curefreak]

the only time that i can recall that robin was actually usefull for anything was during the one year later when batman and robin split up to take on ivy.

[Mia]

That was sarcasm, right? It's hard to tell with just having text there. Ah well, I'll assume for my own sake that you were indeed being sarcastic and that's a cutting retort to those who take the idea of an obsessed m(b)illionaire dressed up in a cape and tights making hardened criminals fearful to be realistic.


I haven't a clue what you're talking about. But no I was not being sarcastic. Go watch 'Mask of the Phatasm' and it explains why Bruce dresses up as a Bat to take on hardened criminals. It's even touched on in Batman Begins.




but mock the idea of a pre-teen to twenty-something dressed in a cape and tights based on either their age or the colors of their tights and capes.


No one is mocking or disputing Robin's costume. What people have a problem with. Is the notion that a serious hardened man like Bruce Wayne would want to spend time hanging out with a teenage boy and putting him in harms way.

[literally exaggerated]

I'm mocking and disputing Robin's costume. It instantly and totally undermines the aura of fear and mystery Batman seeks to cultivate.

[avro_arrow]

But Batman dresses up as giant bat in order to achieve his aims that he wouldn't be able to had he simply worn civilian clothes (see Batman:Mask of the Phantasm).


Maybe he's just a nine year old inside and wants someone to play with him.:D

Seriously Mask of the Phangasm is amazing.

Just wanted to say that.

[Apprentice]

I never liked any of the Robins. But I like Nightwing.:)

[Puffy Fugu]

Hmmm...I think it's Bat's suporting cast that makes him a more interesting character- they bring out his humanity. IMO ,Robin is needed for that purpose. Otherwise Batman becomes tiresome as the untrusting, unloving, psychotic loner.

[King Krypton]

Bob Kane and Bill Finger believed Robin was necessary to flesh Batman out as a character and make him more multi-faceted, as well as provide someone Batman could interact with. They created the characters, and if they felt Robin bettered the strip, then he does. End of discussion. Even Batman's own creators realized a completely solo Batman was going to be a creative dead end, and they didn't have the "Batman must be just as dark and evil as his enemies" hangup the post-Miller fanboys/fangirls have. Even DC's writers have come out and stated that Robin has to be there to bring balance to Batman, as have the animated series guys. I'd say they know more than the few, the loud, and the ignorant who think Robin's some kind of blight preventing Batman from swan-diving into the dark side.

And as far as I'm concerned, the only true Robin is and always will be Dick Grayson. I can take or leave Tim, had no use for Jason, and hate Carrie Kelly with every fiber of my being. Dick Grayson is Robin, and he has to be there. Otherwise Batman's a cardboard cutout. We've already had that kind of Batman beginning with Miller, and I don't want to see it back. I want the fully rounded Batman we had before Miller, and Robin's a part of that Batman. Thankfully, that's what we've got now, and I hope it sticks.

[Aldrius]

I'm not much of a Robin fan.

I like Jason and to a lesser extent Tim as characters. (I don't know much about Steph.) But the idea behind side-kicks is one I can't stand. Especially in Batman: The Animated Series, Robin comes across as completely unecessary... because Batman is a bit more of a ranged character in that show. He doesn't need a bright little kid to balance him out, because he's not that dark. (Compared to like... Frank Miller's Batman.)

Plus, he's got Alfred. And Alfred lightens the mood well enough...

Having said that, in the comics 'the Batfamily' comes across alot better.

Even DC's writers have come out and stated that Robin has to be there to bring balance to Batman, as have the animated series guys.

Radomski and Timm have both mentioned being against the idea of Robin... (Not sure about Timm.)

He's not necessary. Batman has many other characters to balance him out, he's got Commisioner Gordon, Leslie, Alfred...

[curefreak]

Bob Kane and Bill Finger believed Robin was necessary to flesh Batman out as a character and make him more multi-faceted, as well as provide someone Batman could interact with. They created the characters, and if they felt Robin bettered the strip, then he does. End of discussion. Even Batman's own creators realized a completely solo Batman was going to be a creative dead end, and they didn't have the "Batman must be just as dark and evil as his enemies" hangup the post-Miller fanboys/fangirls have. Even DC's writers have come out and stated that Robin has to be there to bring balance to Batman, as have the animated series guys. I'd say they know more than the few, the loud, and the ignorant who think Robin's some kind of blight preventing Batman from swan-diving into the dark side.

And as far as I'm concerned, the only true Robin is and always will be Dick Grayson. I can take or leave Tim, had no use for Jason, and hate Carrie Kelly with every fiber of my being. Dick Grayson is Robin, and he has to be there. Otherwise Batman's a cardboard cutout. We've already had that kind of Batman beginning with Miller, and I don't want to see it back. I want the fully rounded Batman we had before Miller, and Robin's a part of that Batman. Thankfully, that's what we've got now, and I hope it sticks.ive never heard that what i have heard is robin was created to have soemone that boys could look up to and relate.

[Sizzle]

Robin is what got me into comics. Sure, I had GI Joe, Transformers, and some others as a kid, but Batman #457 was my first issue as a real comic reader.

I think DC kind of overshot the mark with Tim in some ways. He can certainly stand on his own with his own title and a prominent role in the Titans. Which somewhat makes him being the sidekick to Batman hard to portray.

However, I like character when he is fleshed out more. Tim Drake seems to have taken a back seat to Robin. I enjoyed Dixon's early characterization of him as the cool guy who hung out with the nerds.

[Effect]

I do have somewhat a dislike for Robin but it's mainly due to not seeing acting within his designed role. That is being a partner for Batman. I don't see the point of him having a solo title to be honest. Him being apart of a team makes sense but there comes a point to where I'd like Robin to be a kid or stay a kid. It makes Batman's world less dark I think and brings some innocent to it.

So while I'd have like Dick to become an adult Robin (suit similar to Batman alal the movies minus the nipples) I can see the need for him becoming Nightwing and passing on the title to Jason Todd and then it being picked up by Tim Drake since I doubt DC would allow for there to be an adult Robin. Yet Tim acts to much like Batman for my taste and Robin shouldn't act like that I feel.

So DC in part has done certain things. They've kept Robin young by having different people be the character yet at the same time they don't keep the spirit of the character by having him as dark and as brooding as Batman to much of the time. This I dislike and part of why I don't like Robin to much, at least in the comics. He's become mini-Batman in a lot of cases and tend to be Robin in name only I think. Now I could be wrong but that's how I feel.

[the film freak]

I like Robin but he's got to be a tough character to write. It's kind of hard to justify this little kid wearing a cape a leotard getting shot at without making Batman seem like a creep or a sadist (unless you're Frank Miller and your whole point is to make Batman a creep and a sadist). At same time he works best when he's a kid and not a college age guy because the whole point of Robin is to make Batman seem bigger then life.

It's probably best not to overthink it.

[Hellcow]

Don't like Robin at all. Just seems like a really stupid idea to begin with.

[trickster]

http://www.file-portal.net/ga09p01.jpg

[curefreak]

http://www.file-portal.net/ga09p01.jpg
lol that was classic really liked the artwork too and obviously the writing wow is this outsiders or teen titans?

[trickster]

No that's from Green Arrow vol 3 #9, after he's resurrected.

[Xero Kaiser]

I don't think about Robin much. You almost never see the two of them together anyway. Shouldn't a sidekick be...like....around?

[matrix]

you know ii did until the emoness creeped into his life. i understand that the death of his dad and friends can caused this but the latest robin pretty much killed it for me. (robin 152)

[trickster]

I don't think about Robin much. You almost never see the two of them together anyway. Shouldn't a sidekick be...like....around?

He's not always around because now and then Batman will tell him to stay at the mansion because "this villain is dangerous and you can't handle it". Well gee, then why dress him in Ronald McDonald colors to fight crime in the first place, mr. "I love kids"?

[Effect]

http://www.file-portal.net/ga09p01.jpg

That was pretty good. The whole scene just flowed really well. :)

[Tequilamokinbrd]

I've had an idea for Robin for years that could IMHO even make the short shorts and pixie boots work. And when my dream comes true and I get to write Batman, this shall be my take.



I figure that just as Batman has always blurred the line as far as who or what he really is, making people think he's a monster or a least has powers, etc., The same line could be blurred for Robin.

When you look at the Original Robin costume, he looks like he could be a fairy(no jokes) or an elf or something, I'd play that up, have Robin use a ton of flashbangs and smokebombs to distract people and make them think that he, like Batman, is some type of magical creature.


This concept could be reinforced by the fact that, to the general public, it seems like Robin's been around 15 years old for the past 10-12 years.


I could see the thugs talking now


"I heard you guys just talking about the Bat, I always wondered what was up wit the little kid he has with him"

"I'm tellin ya man, they're both magic or somethin, when Robin put me away 6 years ago, I figured him to be around 14 or 15, so that'd make him early 20's right? did the kid we saw tonight look like early 20's? He's gotta be an elf or somethin', who'd bring a 12 year old to a gunfight unless bullets don't hurt 'em?"

[Kara Zor El]

I put up with Robin. Sometimes you grow to like those you put up with.

[NenaBoneta]

I am not to much of a fan for robin neather,but i do however like when dick grayson(robin) turns into night wing,when hes night wing I think his out fit looks more cooler and he kicks more butt,and hes more Independent.So i like night wing is better than Robin

[Alan2099]

I like Robin, but not as a solo act. He needs to be there with batman or as a member of a team.

I also think Batman works better with a sidekick. It makes him seem more human. As for all the stuff about, it not being realistic enough, just remember, you're readign a comic about a millionaire running around the rooftops in tights. Just relax and have fun with it.

[BeastieRunner]

I think it would be interesting to show Batman and Robin age more and as Robin gets older, he becomes the better fighter and Batman uses his brains and detective skills more.

That would be an interesting take.

[curefreak]

I think it would be interesting to show Batman and Robin age more and as Robin gets older, he becomes the better fighter and Batman uses his brains and detective skills more.

That would be an interesting take.
its called batman beyond and it was good:D

[Damo]

Batman usually for just Batman, Robin usually for just Robin, Detective Comics and LEgends of the Dark Knight for most of their team ups.
That's my take on how the books should be structured. Take it for what you will.

[BeastieRunner]

its called batman beyond and it was good:D

I didn't think so. But yeah that sort of is what I was talking about but with Batman still there on cases/patrols/etc. I'm looking at him being the brains and scaring the crap out of people while Robin does the grunt work. I really don't want to see Batman hanging out in a cave every book and doing nothing.

[curefreak]

I didn't think so. But yeah that sort of is what I was talking about but with Batman still there on cases/patrols/etc. I'm looking at him being the brains and scaring the crap out of people while Robin does the grunt work. I really don't want to see Batman hanging out in a cave every book and doing nothing.
but he was doing something he was helping!

[Micro]

I kinda liked Robin around Knightfall, and in Batman: The animated series. And I like the character of Nightwing. But other than that, I can't think of too many times I liked him as a character.