Robin III Part 1: Batman #436 (August, 1989)

A young boy named Tim gets his picture taken while visiting a circus…

I have this issue.

The Haly Circus comes to Gotham, and Tim’s parents ask The Flying Graysons to have a picture taken with their son. Tim attends the show, and witnesses Dick’s parents fall to their deaths. Batman appears, and Tim listens on as the Dark Knight promises the young Grayson that the person responsible will be caught.

Notes of Interest:

1) Tim is very young at this point and just starting to talk, but it’s clear he understands what’s going on.

2) This is the first time Tim sees Batman, and obviously the first time he meets Dick.

WTF? Moment: Without getting too much into it, because this is neither the time nor the place, the best DC Universe was the Post-Crisis DC Universe and Tim Drake proves it. Hands-down, he is one of the best DC characters ever created. He’s my favorite Robin…he’s the best Robin…and I can’t wait to go over his appearances in my collection. I love how this character is introduced. Unlike Elektra, who Frank Miller retconned into Matt Murdock’s past; Tim is retconned into Dick Grayson’s present through his Post-Crisis origin. Brilliant!