I know this is almost certainly bait
But just because I don’t trust comics fans to use their brains, let us compare Jason Todd and Tim Drake’s tenures as Robin. This is not a statement of quality, just a recitation of facts:
Robin from 1983 until 1988, five years in total. Keep in mind that the Jason portrayed from 1983 to July 1986 and the one from August 1986 to 1988 are separate characters with completely opposing characterizations.
Earth One Jason appeared as Robin in 73 stories, New Earth in 162 (according to LOCG).
Originally used Dick’s backstory (as a vehicle for comparison, Gerry Conway wasn’t an idiot and this was a considered choice).
Major stories featuring Jason as a main character are: For the Man Who Has Everything (Earth One), Legends (being generous), The Cult, and A Death in the Family (New Earth).
Used Dick’s costume unaltered.
Very briefly a reserve member of the Teen Titans.
Important connections include: Bruce, Alfred, Gordon, Leslie (debatable), Nocturna (Pre-Crisis), Selina (Pre-Crisis), Bullock (Pre-Crisis).
Robin from 1989 to 2009, then from 2019 to present. Roughly twenty-seven years when added up.
Approximately 1,153 Post-Crisis appearances as Robin (according to LOCG).
Has always used a backstory that involves Dick directly, but is completely different from the OG Boy Wonder’s.
Major stories featuring Tim as a main character: A Lonely Place of Dying, The Knightfall Saga, Contagion, Legacy, No Man’s Land, Joker: Last Laugh, Murderer Turned Fugitive, War Games, Battle for the Cowl. And those are just the Batman stories I can think of off the top of my head just after waking up.
Used a redesign of the Robin costume that is still the basis for adaptations to this day. And for anyone thinking “it’s just the pants,” no. It’s the color blocking, the symbol, the bo staff as a weapon, the cape with black on the outside and yellow inside. Plenty of Robin costumes bring in pants, but more use Tim’s specific design to do so.
Speaking of: first Robin to use a bo staff as a signature weapon.
Founding member of Young Justice, leader of the Teen Titans in the 2000s.
Important connections include: Bruce, Alfred, Dick, Gordon, Bullock, Helena, Jean-Paul, Barbara, Selina, Leslie, Stephanie, Cass, Kon, Bart, Cassie, Ted Kord, Connor Hawke, Lady Shiva. And those are just the major DC/Batman characters he has strong connections with! He has friendships with dozens of minor players and has crossed over with every character under the sun.
First Robin to have his own solo ongoing title, which lasted 183 issues.
Second only to Dick in appearances with Batman (remember, it’s Batman & Robin, the point is to put them together).
Also I’d dispute the phrasing of that tweet: Jason did not prove that Robin was a mantle that could be passed down. That was the reason they killed him! He was unpopular with the writers and older readership! If anything, he put the mantle in jeopardy because he didn’t work out. Marv Wolfman and Denny O’Neil said as much, hell, I think the introduction to the ADitF/ALPOD trade Wolfman says that outright.
Tim was designed to address all the problems readers/writers had with Jason, and prove that Robin was a viable concept going into the 90s. His origins and integration into the Batman Mythos was very carefully considered and methodically planned. Even when the first Robin mini was a smash hit, Dixon insisted they do two more before Tim was ready for an ongoing (and he was right about that). Given how popular he was, how much precedent he set, and how many great stories he was involved in, this was a resounding success.
This is not in any way to minimize Jason’s importance or say he is bad (I love Jason’s stories as Robin, especially in Barr & Davis’s ‘Tec!) but we need to be serious.
If we’re going to claim Jason revolutionized the mantle of Robin because he was the second person in the suit, then having the first solo, the redesigned costume still used today, a signature weapon subsumed by all others as well as founding a popular team, appearing in roughly 80% more comics, and being a main character during the most consequential years for the Batman franchise…like come on guys.
turnnoffyourmind
theartofmadeline
gummygunk
gracieabrams
