With Gotham Knights taking the world by storm, fans have had the chance to see beloved Batman heroes like Nightwing, Red Hood, and Batgirl taking on the role of keeping Gotham City safe. Yet it's also given the chance for fans to see another particularly underrated hero.Tim Drake, the genius Boy Wonder, took on the role of Robin after the death of Jason Todd. While he's often overlooked in favor of Dick Grayson or Damian Wayne in other media, Tim is a brilliant character in and of himself. It's why so many memes have been making memes that sum up Tim Drake perfectly.
Genuinely A Genius
Tim became Robin solely because he was a child with the mind of a detective. Having attended the circus performance where Dick Grayson's parents were murdered, he was able to isolate Dick's performance as Robin and identify that Bruce Wayne's ward was Robin.
The most intelligent member of the Bat-Family, Tim knows his way around an investigation, and he proved it by deducing Batman's true identity. Ever since Tim has been the man that DC's heroes go to whenever there's detective work to be completed.
Took After Batman
While Tim never actually planned to be Robin, he decided to take up the role as soon as he noticed how different Bruce was after the death of Jason Todd. He wasn't particularly interested in fighting criminals for a living, but he knew he needed to to get Batman back to being the hero of Gotham.
By the time Tim took up the mantle, Robin was a figure of light and hope for both Batman and Gotham. So he took up Batman's morals and stood beside him on the streets of the city. It was more proof of how much of an inspiration Batman was — and how much of an inspiration Tim could be someday.
Really Hates Damian
Tim Drake is a lot like Batman in many ways. Often profoundly suspicious of those around him, he likes to keep track of other heroes and come up with plans that can help him take those heroes down. Given his incredibly poor history with Batman's son, Damian, it's no shock that he has contingencies.
When the two first met, Damian outright tried to kill Tim, who had simply been confused about his arrival. Even when Tim tried to offer him a helping hand, the boy nearly killed him. Damian may be one of the most powerful members of the Bat-Family, but Tim is smarter.
Not DC's Favorite
While Tim has had consistent appearances and a long-running comic of his own, Tim is rarely actually given the chance to shine as Robin. Having been quickly replaced far too quickly by Damian, he's struggled to carve out a niche for himself ever since.
Because of that, he rarely appears as frequently as he did in the 90s and early 2000s. While Red Hood is known for his brutality, Damian for his backstory, and Dick for being the beloved Nightwing, Tim has nothing. Without even a definitive codename of his own, it's clear that DC just doesn't know what to do with Tim.
Came Out As Bisexual
A recent development for Tim Drake is that he finally had the chance to come out as bisexual in Batman: Urban Legend #6. Robin now represents the LGBTQ+ community, and he's finally been getting stories for himself, alongside his boyfriend, Bernard.
The two are the perfect DC characters for a romantic comedy, as their relationship is as funny as it is adorable. Often struggling to cope with balancing his life as Robin and his civilian identity as Tim Drake, Tim often finds himself dancing around Bernard to keep his secret safe.
His Coming Out Was Overshadowed By Superman
Of course, while coming out gave Tim new life in DC Comics, his announcement was quickly overlooked, thanks to the fact that Jon Kent came out around the same time. After all, Superman's son coming out is far more important to fans than one of many Robins doing the same.
So even when Tim finally gets the chance to shine, he still loses the chance to be a star himself. While Jon Kent is one of the nicest heroes that DC has to offer, Tim deserved a little more time in the limelight, and it was disappointing to fans that he lost attention so quickly.
Was Not The Third Robin
While Tim is one of the most important members of the Bat-Family, he wasn't the third Robin like most fans tend to think. The third Robin was a little-known character from an alternate universe who debuted in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.
The real third Robin, Carrie Kelley, was a lot like Tim. Still, it should be noticed that she was the third official Robin, while Tim was only the third in the mainline DC universe. Unfortunately for Carrie, Tim took up the role in reality and carved out a place for himself with pride.
Great Sense Of Humor
Like most Robins, Tim had a solid sense of humor that helped make him as interesting as he is. So whenever he gets the chance, he tries to drop an insult or two to help put Damian in his place. It's hilarious for audiences, even if it doesn't particularly jar Damian.
It's slightly awkward that Tim has a rivalry with a child, but it's also incredibly understandable that he does. Tim is only two years older than Damian, so it makes sense that he would despise the boy after nearly being killed by him. If anyone has the right, it's Tim.
Replaced Jason Todd
While Tim's purpose in replacing Jason was to bring light back to Batman's life, it was also completely infuriating for Jason, when he came back to life. After all, he'd been replaced almost as quickly as he went, which was utterly devastating for him, which is understandable.
Of course, Batman and Robin's relationship can be summed up as one of constant change. When one Robin leaves, another is always ready to take his place. Tim may have replaced Jason, but Tim was replaced in kind. It's just part of being Robin, and it's why Tim was not malicious for trying to take the mantle.
Rarely Doing Well
As much as Tim is a brilliant and lovable character, it should also be noted that he's rarely doing well in his personal life. Being Robin has ruined his life and made him increasingly paranoid and outright depressed. Unlike Damian or Dick, it's been a complete negative for him.
Still, given that Tim has saved countless lives as Robin, he struggles to accept any other role in life. Being Robin is a major part of who he is now, even if he never really wanted it.