batman needs a robin

Batman #2 - "Robin Rides The Black Mariah" (2025)

‘i began to speak, and a voice i didn’t recognize came out…i felt batman rising from deep within’ —from kevin conroy’s dc pride story, ‘finding batman’.

Covers for Tim Drake: Robin #4

Also typos warning because I suck at editing.

This issue contains a scene a lot of you have probably seen:

Before we get into this particular scene let’s talk some good ol’ context

The issue start with Jason hearing some screaming “NOOOOOO!” from a building. Instinctively Jason swings into the building to help.

Jason is attacked by Felipe Garzona (remember him he’s important). Batman ends up having to step in when the fight becomes two on one. Obviously the dynamic duo win.

Jason checks the bedroom to find an abused woman who i believe is implied to have been raped by Garzona. They take her to the police station.

Unfortunately Felipe says the woman, Gloria Stanson, came of her own volition and got her injuries by tripping.

It’s a he said she said situation and Felipe’s father is a diplomat giving Felipe “diplomatic immunity” according to Commissioner Gordon.

This terrifies Gloria and pisses off Jason.

Batman and Robin still have cause to investigate Felipe as he is likely involved with cocaine selling or something. However this is a watch from the sidelines type deal as to catch him in the act, which further frustrates Jason.

They do manage to catch Felipe, but he surrenders so Jason can’t attack him.

Felipe’s lawyer springs him from custody but he will still have to go back to his home country. Not without calling Gloria.

The dark knight and his boy wonder go to check up on Gloria. Unfortunately, they arrive too late.

Jason confronts Felipe on Felipe’s balcony.

We do not see Jason push Felipe or see Felipe fall. In fact this is the panel right before the fall:

So comes the question: did Felipe fall…or was he pushed.

Now, I personally find it more likely that Jason pushed him, but at the same time find it hard to believe Jason would deliberately kill someone (well at this point).

Anyway Jason denies this and tells Batman “I guess I spooked him. He slipped.” Before swinging off.

Why I bring up all this context is because it makes it easier to see how this happened. Ive often seen or heard people refer to this seen as proof the Jason was a bad person, a bad Robin, a bad guy. That this is proof of him being too angry.

To that I say “fuck you and the horse you rode in on.”

Let’s say Jason did push Felipe. I’m not condoning murder but saying Jason didn’t have reason or wasn’t even a bit justified is bull. The dude was an abusive scumbag who Jason personally saw act.

Also Jason is a kid. Even though Bruce acknowledged he was to emotionally invested in the case he let Jason come along anyway. So Jason not only saw this woman be abused and traumatized, he even found her body after she took her own life.

That would fuck up any adult let alone a kid.