Within the DC Comics continuity, there have been a great many people who have used the alias of Robin. Fans love to debate which Robin has done the best job. There were two Robins that were adapted to the Batman: The Animated Series television show.
The first Robin, Dick Grayson, was introduced onto the show as a college student. After a mysterious falling out with Batman, he was replaced by the show's version of Tim Drake. Despite there being a comic book character with the same name, this Tim Drake is often considered to be more like Jason Todd. Dick and Tim both used the Robin moniker and seemed to be a great help to Batman, but which was the better version on the show?
10 Tim Drake: More Willing To Go All-In On The Superhero Life
Batman spent his life completely dedicated to being a hero. Dick Grayson didn't make the same choice. Dick built a life outside of being Robin, choosing to go to college and deciding to forge an identity that wasn't entirely dedicated to superhero work.
Since he was only a child, Tim was better able to dedicate his whole life to being a hero. Tim could dedicate himself to his training and education as a hero. Since he was so young, he was more likely to model his behavior after his father figure.
9 Dick Grayson: Capable Of More Adult Thinking
Dick was introduced as a college student. Since he was already close to adulthood, he was capable of more mature thinking, which served him well as he dealt with and fought against psychotic villains.
Tim was just a child when he was forced to face off against these same villains. Dick was better capable of understanding the complex motivations of the people he had to fight. He was better able to think his way through the difficult situations he would have to face as a hero.
8 Tim Drake: More Trainable & Moldable
Tim Drake might not have had Dick's experience or athleticism, but he could still be taught and molded. The intense training and steep learning regiment is better for someone who starts young, as children are typically better at learning than adults.
As a child, he still has the flexibility required to do some of the gymnastics Robin is required to do. By the time Dick was introduced, he was already an adult and couldn't be as effectively trained.
7 Dick Grayson: Pre-Existing Athleticism
Before joining Batman, Dick was physically fit. He had been a member of the circus and was a trained acrobat. With a little bit of combat training, Dick seemed to be able to adjust well to becoming a superhero.
Dick's past experiences would help him adjust better to the life of a superhero. He gained a lot of fighting experience during his tenure as Robin. He was already primed to go solo by the time he struck out on his own and became Nightwing. With Tim, Batman was going to have to do all of the training, including just the basic athleticism.
6 Tim Drake: Still Believes In Batman
Batman had never explained to Tim why Dick had decided to retire from the superhero life. When Tim first met Nightwing, he begged the former Robin to tell him what caused the fallout between Dick and Bruce.
Dick went on to explain that he felt Batman had become too cruel. Dick, one of the closest people to Batman, had lost sight of what the hero truly stood for and misunderstood his intentions. Tim still believed that Batman was a hero and capable of doing good, while Dick had given up on Batman and what he stood for.
5 Dick Grayson: Better At Handling The Darkness
Batman Begins reveals the horrible truth about what ultimately happened to Tim Drake. The Joker had captured him and tortured the poor boy. It was clear at that moment Tim was in over his head.
It always felt like Dick was better at handling the darkness that surrounded him. The way Tim's life as a superhero ended seems to imply that Batman should have just left him alone. On the other hand, Dick was able to handle everything that came his way.
4 Tim Drake: Never "Outgrew" Being Robin
After Dick Grayson grew up, he decided to retire as Robin. He decided to become his own hero, renaming himself Nightwing. Tim Drake never made a similar decision. Tim decided to retain his position as Robin until he was forced into retirement.
The comic book version of Tim followed a similar path. Tim was always incredibly loyal and dedicated to his role as Robin. He wanted to retain that title, no matter what. In the show, Tim was only ever Robin and didn't see it as something to outgrow or graduate from like Dick did.
3 Dick Grayson: Has A Moral Compass
The Tim Drake in the comics had a similar background to Bruce Wayne, having been raised by a wealthy Gotham family. In the show, Tim had a vastly different life, needing to steal to have enough food to eat— which, again, made him more like the comic version of Jason Todd.
B:TAS's version of Tim seemed to have a more amoral approach to life, a "do whatever it takes no matter the cost" attitude. Dick was more steadfast in his values as a hero, and his moral compass would serve him well in his line of work.
2 Tim Drake: Never Questions Batman's Orders
Tim's young age makes him more susceptible to relying on the adults around him. He would be better at taking orders when compared to an adult Dick Grayson. While he will eventually grow up, he is a child in TAS.
His childish nature makes him better capable of following Batman and his orders without question. His ability to do what he's told without pushing back or rebelling makes him a better sidekick than the older Dick Grayson.
1 Dick Grayson: Still The Quintessential Robin (& Sidekick In General)
When most people think of comic book sidekicks, they think of Dick Grayson. He is the very definition of what a sidekick should be. In his early introduction in the comics, he was the perfect ally as he worked alongside Batman.
His longevity in the comics has made fans incredibly loyal to him. He was already famous by the time he was introduced in B:TAS. Being the quintessential version of Robin makes him the best candidate for the job.
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