Is Batman's Robin just a glorified pet?

[Snarky]

I think about this crap way too much.  But is Robin an actual teammate, a sidekick, or really, for all intents and purposes, a late build epic pet?

[Aracknight]

A customizable sidekick pet would be dope af.  Especially if you were able to choose archetype/powersets etc.

[Luminara]

Which Robin?  There have been five (six if you consider The Dark Knight Returns to be canon).

 

I wouldn't categorize Tim Drake as a pet.  He displayed above average intellect, figuring out who Batman was; superior empathy for the Dark Knight, realizing that Batman needed a companion to keep him on an even keel; and proved that he had the skills necessary to fill that role.  This Robin was definitely a teammate, and a friend, not a sidekick or pet.

[Snarky]

Just now, Luminara said:

Which Robin?  There have been five (six if you consider The Dark Knight Returns to be canon).

 

I wouldn't categorize Tim Drake as a pet.  He displayed above average intellect, figuring out who Batman was; superior empathy for the Dark Knight, realizing that Batman needed a companion to keep him on an even keel; and proved that he had the skills necessary to fill that role.  This Robin was definitely a teammate, and a friend, not a sidekick or pet.

That was just the story arc to unlock him, after that he just showed up in combat and said "Holy greenhouse Batman, Poison Ivy pwnd U"  

[Sovera]

[Gulbasaur]

8 hours ago, Snarky said:

I think about this crap way too much.  But is Robin an actual teammate, a sidekick, or really, for all intents and purposes, a late build epic pet?

Hmm.

 

Dick completely outgrew his sidekick status. The Nightwing/Greyson stuff is really good. Supergroup mate you used to play with a lot but haven't seen for a while.

 

Jason went vigilante and is more a coalition mate. He's been in a different supergroup for a while.

 

Tim, I'd argue, doesn't have the same level of definition (his shtick is being clever and, formerly, being dead, and that's hard to write well). I'd argue that for a while he was actually a B-character in Steph's story arcs, but he is back now. 

 

Damian is either awful or fantastic, depending on the writer. Good day: sidekick. Bad day: Flambette

 

Steph, whose tenure as a Robin is somewhat debatable because continuity was all over the place even before the flashpoint/rebirth thing... barely even a mission escort at the moment.

 

Edited April 16, 2021 by Gulbasaur

[Andreah]

I'm pretty sure one got banned for being too underage.

[arcane]

I’m pretty sure Robin is just being powerleveled.

[Andreah]

2 minutes ago, arcane said:

I’m pretty sure Robin is just being powerleveled.

Maybe it's all an AE thing, that would more likely keep child protective services out of it.

[EmmySky]

Door sitter.

[BjorJlen]

   Good question @Snarky. As a comic buff of old, though mostly Marcel comics, there is only 2 Robins that I really cared about or liked.

 

   One was Damien who hands down was a good bit of fresh air for the Robin character, and totally cool too. I mean out of all the Robins who teamed with Batman, he is the only one who would tell Batman to go F-off and get away with it. Totally sidekick and partber material, not a pet in any way.

 

   And the second of course was the original, Dick Grayson. Great origin story that was sorta original at the time and similar to Batman's in a way (both being orphans). And him breaking away and coming out from under Batman's shadow to become Nightwing?

 

   Very cool as well. So absolutly ge was a sidekick that became a partner who grew into his own man/hero. Besides, he had a relationship with Starfire for petes sake. If that don't cry awesome, I don't what does. However, keep this in mind folks. He did start like this (i'll let a pucture(s) speak a thousand words)...

 

   It was a differant time back then lol...

 

 

[MTeague]

Starfire / Koriand'r may have considered him a pet.... of sorts....  he probably didn't mind, though. 

[Gulbasaur]

2 hours ago, EmmySky said:

Door sitter.

Sadly, this is what Batwoman must be doing because DC basically forgot she existed after a really strong launch into Rebirth. She's probably there with Renee Montoya and Midnighter (who's an affiliate of Dick Grayson, so sort of counts) and other DC/Extended Batfamily characters who have been given short runs but then sent back to whatever island they keep their "we'll give them their own publication, win an award for representation, then cancel it" characters (Lesbos, presumably). 

 

Seriously, the Batwoman and early Rebirth Detective Comics were excellent and the 2016 Midnighter and Apollo was one of the best short runs of in the past five years. It's like there's something connecting these characters that keeps them out of the main storylines recently. What could it be?

 

Grumbles in homosexual. 

[BjorJlen]

24 minutes ago, MTeague said:

Starfire / Koriand'r may have considered him a pet.... of sorts....  he probably didn't mind, though. 

 

   Of course not... Would you? 😁 Besides, he is probably used to it because of his early time with Batman. 🤗Pet indeed...

[Bug You 2]

He’s your main that your rerolling on the second account, the proceed to powerlevel. Then your son gets old enough to play so you give him the account. He instantly renames Robin to Nightwing and tries his best to copy your costume. Somehow he forgets the Cape. Since your starting a new account, you grab the Robin name again and roll up the same clone of your main again.

 

later you decide to make this your pvp character and make a pvp build on him, you do well for a while, but after a total and humiliating defeat you get so mad you strip the build and leave it empty on the account.

 

Later you reroll it on your third account (fourth really, since your son Got bored and is playing Fortnite) because your bored too and need something to powerlevel on your main.

Edited April 16, 2021 by Bug You 2

[Luminara]

20 minutes ago, Bug You 2 said:

Somehow he forgets the Cape.

 

[BjorJlen]

58 minutes ago, Bug You 2 said:

He’s your main that your rerolling on the second account, the proceed to powerlevel. Then your son gets old enough to play so you give him the account. He instantly renames Robin to Nightwing and tries his best to copy your costume. Somehow he forgets the Cape. Since your starting a new account, you grab the Robin name again and roll up the same clone of your main again.

 

later you decide to make this your pvp character and make a pvp build on him, you do well for a while, but after a total and humiliating defeat you get so mad you strip the build and leave it empty on the account.

 

Later you reroll it on your third account (fourth really, since your son Got bored and is playing Fortnite) because your bored too and need something to powerlevel on your main.

 

   Winning...! 😁

[Techwright]

Sure go ahead and pin the title of "pet" on Robin Damien.  It's practically the same as trying to put a sleigh bell pet collar on a raging honey badger.  

 

[BjorJlen]

9 minutes ago, Techwright said:

Sure go ahead and pin the title of "pet" on Robin Damien.  It's practically the same as trying to put a sleigh bell pet collar on a raging honey badger.  

 

 

   On steroids! lolol 😁

[honoroit]

 

[GM Aurarius]

There are a lot of entertaining musings here, please do keep them coming.

And in case anyone was wondering, I moved the topic to the most fitting section of the forums.

[Snarky]

...i literally never knew we had a comic culture board lolololol

[BjorJlen]

   Uhhh... Then how are you ever gonna get the forum explorer badge @Snarky?  😋 I mean we have them here right... right? (everyone looks at me weirdly as some shake their heads... lol). Snarky the Explorer to the rescue!!!

 

   Sorry Snarky... feeling a bit silly atm. And good morning to everyone. Happy Saturday! 😁