While Batman put each robin During training, Dick Grayson’s first night as Robin was so impressive that it earned him the role and proved that he will always be Batman’s greatest sidekick. Although Batman still put him through training, it honestly doesn’t seem like it was necessary – unlike the other Robins.
The Stunning First Screening of Dick Grayson’s Robin Takes Place at the Iconic Batman: Dark Victory #13 by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. While Batman is fighting crime, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Solomon Grundy, Poison Ivy, and the Joker find their way to the Batcave. The group is completely unaware of what they almost found and never realizes thanks to the intervention of Dick Grayson.
Seeing the group of supervillains approaching the Batcave, Dick immediately springs into action. On his first night as Robin, Dick Grayson ends up having to fight some of Batman’s most powerful villains, and he does so with minimal training. Although Batman arrives soon after, Dick still manages to hold off the criminals up to that point, and he is the one who ends up taking down the Joker and saving Batman’s life.
Dick Grayson’s first time as Wonder Boy was much more difficult than any other Robin
Batman: Dark Victory #13 by Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale, Gregory Wright, Richard Starkings and Heroic Age.
Batman subjects each Robin to a test called the Gauntlet, which involves Robin being dropped in a random part of Gotham and surviving for twelve hours without being caught by Batman as he hunts them. The Gauntlet is the toughest challenge Batman faces, and every Robin has tried it, including Dick Grayson. But comparing each Robin’s first nights, it really shows that Dick didn’t need to accept the Gauntlet or possibly even train. While other Robins face supervillains in their first fights, none come close to Dick’s level of competence.
For a new look at Batman and Robin’s early days together, check out Batman and Robin: Year One #1 by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee, available now from DC Comics.
In Batman #410 by Max Allan Collins and Dave Cockrum, Jason Todd is introduced as Robin after six months of intense Batman training. The first supervillain he faces is none other than Two-Face. After Two-Face takes a hostage, Jason convinces Two-Face to let the hostage go and take him. It’s a great move by Jason, and Jason quickly escapes the hostage situation soon after, but Two-Face ends up getting away. Despite Jason’s big moment, it took Batman and Jason a few more tries before they finally caught Two-Face.
The other Robins struggled to keep up with their initial outings
Batman #410 by Max Allan Collins, Dave Cockrum, Mike DeCarlo, Adrienne Roy, Todd Klein and John Costanza
Robin’s third outing was much the same, as Tim Drake also faced Two-Face in the pages of Batman #442 by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez. In this story, Tim Drake desperately tries to convince Batman that he still needs a Robin after Jason Todd’s death. Tim goes so far as to wear a Robin costume to prove his point, culminating in Tim fighting Two-Face, and him almost getting killed. THE the only reason Tim survives is because of Alfred’s interferenceas he rescues the boy. Together, they defeat Two-Face.
Damian Wayne is one of the only examples of Robin taking on the role fully trained, but it still doesn’t save him from Batman’s most dangerous villains. On Grant Morrison’s run BatmanDamian Wayne is tricked and captured by the Joker. The other Robins’ failures put into perspective just how talented Dick Grayson really was as a young man. On his first night as Robin, Dick managed to face off against Two-Face, the Joker, Mr. Freeze, and Poison Ivy. Meanwhile, all the other Robins only fought the Joker or Two-Face. Of everything from Batman fellows, Dick Grayson really was the best robin.
Batman: Dark Victory #13, Batman #410, and Batman #442 are all available now from DC Comics!