Issue 102 - Tim Drake

Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get Counseling

We go back to the Robin well, this time for Tim Drake! Just because he may be the smartest Robin doesn't make him the best - find out why!

SHOW NOTES:

• Intro
• • Shoutout to To Know Her is to Fear Her, the Spider-Woman podcast - cohosted by Rey from ITK
  • Reminder of TeePublic sale
• Background (02:48)

• • Tim Drake created by Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick in Batman #436 (August 1989)
  • The third Robin, young Tim Drake visited the circus the night the Graysons were killed - later deduced Batman & Robin’s identities, and decided to teach himself martial arts to follow in their footsteps
  • Offered himself to Dick Grayson as a new Robin following the death of Jason Todd - Bruce initially hesitant, but puts Tim through rigorous training before giving him the costume
  • When Bruce retires after Knightfall, Tim works alongside Jean-Paul Valley, but distrusts him and his methods, and helps Bruce reclaim the Batman mantle
  • Began dating Stephanie Brown (Spoiler), and then forced to retire from being Robin after his father discovered his secret
  • After Stephanie and his father were both killed, he moved to Bludhaven to get away from Gotham
  • Battled both a resurrected Jason Todd and Damian Wayne for the Robin title
  • When Bruce “dies” and Dick takes over, he makes Damian the new Robin, so Tim becomes Red Robin and looks for Bruce - when Bruce returns, Tim takes over the Teen Titans
  • New 52 - backstory rewritten - he’s a young hacker who draws the wrath of the Penguin, so his family goes into witness protection, and he’s taken under Bruce Wayne’s tutelage, where he becomes Red Robin out of respect for the dead Jason Todd - once again serves as leader of the Titans
  • Rebirth - retcons to original backstory
• Issues (6:26)
  • Being “self-taught” in any area leads to unknown pitfalls
  • Loss of multiple fathers (13:08)
  • Sole dissenter against Bruce’s death - loyalty vs. what’s “right” (22:36)
• Break (34:11)
  • Plugs for Into the Knight, Sips Suds & Smokes, and Gail Simone
• Treatment (35:58)
  • In-universe - Shadow Alfred, learn from him on how to serve while remaining humble
  • Out of universe - Big Brother/Big Sister mentor type programs to help adolescents (39:33)
• Skit (46:44)
• Ending (53:14)
  • Recommended reading: Robin, the Chuck Dixon run - any point of the series works
  • Next episodes: Luke Cage, Clones
  • Plugs for social

References:

• Ra’s al Ghul episode - Anthony
• Jason Todd episode - Anthony
• Dick Grayson episode - Anthony
• Azrael episode - Anthony
• Damian Wayne episode - Anthony
• Alfred episode - Anthony (39:17)

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