10 Factors That Give Batman The Best Extended Comics Universe
2. Robin
Undoubtedly the most important member of the Bat-Family is Robin, The Boy Wonder. The name Robin has become synonymous with Batman, and rightfully so. Robin, in his various forms, brings so much to Batman stories, often being used to explore the contrasting personalities of the heroes and also the father-son dynamic that is often at play. Unfortunately, there seems to be something of a stigma attached to Robin from the mainstream media, mostly to do with people's perception being that of Burt Ward in pixie boots in the 1960's TV show. Christian Bale was reportedly dead set against Robin being introduced into the Christopher Nolan films, for example, and we feel this does a tremendous disservice to a top-tier character in comics. Dick Grayson was the first Robin, a character who contradicts Bruce Wayne in many ways, but also shares a number of similarities in their skilled and driven natures. Dick's parents died in front of his eyes, similarly to Bruce's, but he has never let that tragedy define him in quite the same way as Bruce. In many ways, Bruce has never and can never get over that fateful night in crime alley, but Dick has found a way to carry his pain but channel it into something positive. Perhaps it's due to his circus acrobat background, but he is generally a lighter character, who bounces well off Bruce's darkness. Jason Todd and Tim Drake were the next two Robin's, and couldn't be more different. Jason was an arrogant, loose cannon who fans never took to, and so was killed off in the Death In The Family storyline in 1988. He has since been resurrected and now operates as Red Hood, a more violent and merciless vigilante than Batman. Tim Drake was a much more popular Robin, a super-intelligent teenager who deduced Batman's secret identity himself and approached the Dark Knight in order to be trained and fight by his side. Drake is now known as Red Robin in the current continuity and continues to team with Batman on occasion. Damian Wayne was the latest Robin, and was perhaps the most compelling new character created at DC in the 2000's. We say 'was' because Damian is currently dead (although with a storyline having recently started named 'Robin Rises', we reckon he might be making a reappearance soon enough). Damian is Batman's biological son, who was raised by his mother Talia al Ghul, his grandfather Ras al Ghul and the League Of Assassins. He rejected his upbringing and chose to join his father as Robin and fight the good fight, despite being, effectively, a ten year old trained killer. It is obvious that the name Robin has a storied history all of it's own and adds in innumerable ways to the greatness of the Bat-universe.
