Midnight's Detective
Companions
Robin
Bill Finger wanted to introduce another character into the Batman comics. “Batman didn’t have anyone to talk to, and it got a little tiresome always having him thinking”. Since the superheroes being created at the time were adults, a kid crusader would really stand out and attract yet another audience of young males. It not only added a layer of empathy to the Caped Crusader's character, but also a vulnerability to him. It gave him something to lose.
Robin became his sidekick, who has been portrayed by the following characters since 1940;
Dick Grayson
Bruce Wayne met and consolled Dick Grayson after attending the circus where the young boy and his parents were performing. He was orphaned after his parents were killed following a dispute involving the circus earlier that evening. Batman cared for and trained Grayson carefully so he would learn how to develop the skills and training required to be his trusted sidekick Robin, asking him to swear to an oath to join in the Dark Knight’s crusade. After many years as his sidekick, he changed his name to Nightwing and became leader of Young Justice and Teen Titans. Jason Todd After Dick had left, Batman met young delinquent Jason Todd trying to steal the tires from the Batmobile. After months of training, Todd became the second Robin and partner to the Dark Knight. Previously thought to have been orphaned, Todd secretly travelled to Africa after discovering that his long-lost mother may have been alive. They both fell into the hands of the Joker, and Jason bravely shielded his mother from high-explosive charges. She survived long enough to tell Batman his partner had died a hero. Todd was killed off after a telephone poll was taken. The results came in at 5343 to 5271. In 2005 however, during the Under the Hood story arc, he was resurrected and became antihero Red Hood. |
Tim Drake
Drake referred to himself as the Red Robin out of respect to Todd. As a toddler, he had witnessed the death of Dick's parents while attending the circus with his parents. The last image he saw before they hurried him out was Batman comforting young Grayson. He was forced to leave his position for a while due to his father's feelings about him as Robin. He came to the conclusion that Wayne and Grayson were in fact Batman and Robin, and after Grayson left and Todd died he realised that Batman needed a companion for his own sanity. Stephanie Brown Brown developed a romantic relationship with Tim Drake, and soon became the first female Robin in mainstream comics as he had resigned from being Robin for a time. She had been killed by Black Mask, though later Damian Wayne The role passed down to the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul in the late 2000s, who was ten years old at the time. He became Robin when Grayson took over as Batman, and Drake left to find Batman. The character was killed off in Batman Incorporated 2013 when trying to save his father from his mother. |
Bluebird
Harper Row, also known under the codename Bluebird, debuted in 2014. She was the first of Batman’s companions willing and able to use firearms.
Row grew up in Gotham with her younger brother Cullen, under the care of their abusive father. After receiving emancipation, they cut off contact with their dad and lived in the narrows. Cullen has a crush on former Robin, Tim Drake. Unfortunately, he was bullied frequently due to his homosexuality.
One day they were confronted by a large group of bullies. They were saved by Batman, who also threatens the group further if they won't leave the Row siblings alone. Not only were they both awestruck, but Harper later became a valuable sidekick to Batman.
Her first appearance in the comics was in Batman #7 of the New 52, in which she saves a near-dead Batman from icy waters by making a makeshift jump-start.
Harper Row, also known under the codename Bluebird, debuted in 2014. She was the first of Batman’s companions willing and able to use firearms.
Row grew up in Gotham with her younger brother Cullen, under the care of their abusive father. After receiving emancipation, they cut off contact with their dad and lived in the narrows. Cullen has a crush on former Robin, Tim Drake. Unfortunately, he was bullied frequently due to his homosexuality.
One day they were confronted by a large group of bullies. They were saved by Batman, who also threatens the group further if they won't leave the Row siblings alone. Not only were they both awestruck, but Harper later became a valuable sidekick to Batman.
Her first appearance in the comics was in Batman #7 of the New 52, in which she saves a near-dead Batman from icy waters by making a makeshift jump-start.