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For other uses of Robin, see Robin (disambiguation).
For alternate versions of Robin, see Robin's Character Hub.

Richard John "Dick" Grayson was a former member of the Flying Graysons acrobatic act, vigilante known as Robin, and a former protégé of Batman. However, in 2000, while on a mission on behalf of his mentor, he was kidnapped, tortured and murdered by the Joker and Harley Quinn, who set him ablaze and defaced his suit, now kept in the Batcave.

Robin was avenged by Batman when the latter broke the Joker's teeth, permanently damaging his smile, and captured Harley for his murder.

Biography[]

Early life[]

Dick Grayson grew up in Haley's Circus, becoming a member of the Flying Graysons acrobatic act, along with his parents, John and Mary.[5]

Adopted by Bruce Wayne[]

However, one day, both of his parents were killed mid-act in fall before a packed crowd,[5] and the devastated Dick would be promptly adopted by Bruce Wayne. Grayson was later trained by Wayne to become the vigilante "Robin" and fight crime by his side as Batman,[6] forming "the Dynamic Duo."[7]

Death in the family[]

"By the way... who do you think screamed the loudest? The girl... or the boy?"
Joker to Batman[src]

However, in 2000[4], Robin was eventually murdered by the Joker and allegedly Harley Quinn[8][9] after Batman sent him on a mission.[6] The psychopathic duo graffitied on the Robin suit the sentence "HAHAHA JOKE'S ON YOU BATMAN" for the devastated Dark Knight to find.[10] In retaliation, Batman broke the Joker's teeth, causing him to use a metal grill and tattoo "damaged" on his forehead to remind Batman of when he lost control,[11] as well as get a tattoo on his right bicep depicting a dead robin pierced with an arrow.[8]

Legacy[]

Chase of Joker and Harley Quinn[]

"Joker took something important away from me. It's my turn."
Batman to Harley Quinn[src]

After the chase of Joker, Batman captured Harley Quinn and revealed to her that she was going to be jailed in Belle Reve due to the death of Robin.[9][12]

Batman's grief[]

Bruce stares up at the damaged Robin suit

Bruce looking at Robin's suit

"Batman wasn't always like that. Don't get me wrong... he was always tough. But over the years, he got harder. I mean, you figure he's seen some things."
Sal[src]

Richard was buried outside the Wayne Mausoleum, located near Wayne Manor.[4]

A devastated Batman kept Robin's old damaged suit in a glass case in the Batcave to serve as a reminder and fuel for his vigilante activities. Robin's death was also one of the major reasons for Bruce becoming more enraged, hardened and vengeful, and therefore inducing him to take a more hardcore approach in stopping crime.[10]

At some point, the orphan Jason Todd was known to have taken on the mantle of Robin, being known as the "second Robin", doing so in reaction to the murder of his adoptive parents at the hands of Killer Croc.[13]

Right before leaving for Lex Luthor's fundraiser (where he planned to acquire data on kryptonite), Bruce paused to look at Robin's suit, reminding himself of why he continues to do what he does, and how taking down Superman would avoid more potential losses.

When Bruce revealed to Alfred his intention to utilize the Kryptonite mineral to kill Superman, Alfred argued that Superman was not their enemy. In turn, Bruce posed a rhetorical question to Alfred about the number of good men left in Gotham after 20 years of fighting crime within its streets.[10]

Following the death of Superman, Robin's mentor began to unite the Justice League. He was referenced when Commissioner James Gordon said it was "good to see [Batman] playing well with others again."[6]

Robin toy - FotG

A plush Robin toy on display in Philadelphia

The orphan Freddy Freeman was a known fan of heroes, especially Batman. After his friend Billy Batson gained superpowers, Freddy drew a playful set of sketches depicting Batman putting on his tights inside his house. The drawing included a framed photo of Batman standing with a young costumed sidekick, possibly a reference to either the deceased Robin or his successor, Jason Todd.[14] Likewise, a pediatrician in Philadelphia would start using a Robin teddy bear for sections with his patients.[15]

Abilities[]

  • Peak human condition: As a former circus acrobat and vigilante, Grayson was in peak physical condition despite his young age due to his training with his family and Batman.
  • Master acrobat: Grayson was a highly skilled acrobat, being a former member of the famous Flying Graysons circus act.
  • Master martial artist: Grayson was trained by Batman, a master martial artist, in self-defense and hand-to-hand combat as well as weapons, namely his glaive.
  • Stick mastery: Grayson was highly skilled in using a stick, especially his own glaive.

Equipment[]

Batman looking at the robin suit

Robin's defiled suit on display in the Batcave

  • Robin Suit: Robin wore a suit that was most likely armored to protect from the criminals he fought. This suit was later damaged and vandalized by the Joker in the hopes of demoralizing Batman, but was kept as a reminder to never give up on fighting crime.
  • Glaive: Robin used a staff that was most likely used to attack and defend himself from the criminal he fought. It, along with the Robin suit, was kept as a memorial by Batman.

Relationships[]

Family[]

Allies[]

Enemies[]

Gallery[]

Behind the Scenes[]

  • Zack Snyder's son Eli Snyder was rumored to play Jason Todd aka Robin in a flashback during Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. This was later denied publicly by Snyder in an interview.
  • It was confirmed the Joker killed Robin in an interview with Zack Snyder.[16]
  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice costume designer Douglas J. Stewart posted a look at the dead Robin’s costume to his Instagram, and it confirmed a significant part regarding Robin’s death at the hands of Jared Leto’s Joker saying the following "A bit of detail on Robin’s gauntlet. He was brutally murdered and then set ablaze by the Joker. The story had to be told in the salvaged costume on display inside the Batcave. Aging and specialty distressing needs to tell these unscripted tales that support the main framework of the film. Here we had to create a Robin Suit in a matter of days. Using what we had and then figure out how to modify it all as well as building the support interior. It was a lot of fun."
  • Snyder revealed that the deceased Robin in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was intended to be Dick Grayson and not Jason Todd as in most incarnations.[2]
  • In Suicide Squad it is revealed that Harley Quinn was also involved in Robin's murder.[8]
    • This is despite the fact that it doesn't fit film director David Ayer's original timeline for the film, based on the fact that the Joker got his mouth grill because Batman destroyed his teeth following Grayson's murder, yet when Harley meets the Joker for the first time, he already has the grill.
    • This also doesn't fit Zack Snyder's timeline, who placed Robin's death at about the time Harley was 15 - at least five years before she could have met Joker in Suicide Squad. David Ayer has always made it clear it was his intention to follow Zack's timeline, whether the events had previously been on screen or not.
  • In December of 2020, Snyder revealed in an interview that he'd spoken with Jim Lee about a comic tie-in to Zack Snyder's Justice League in which we would see the Joker kill Robin and Batman enact vengeance on him for it.[17]
    • Scott Snyder was also offered a writing role for the project.
  • In March of 2021, Zack Snyder revealed that the suit was being added to the Warner Bros. Museum.

References[]

External Links[]

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