Robin III Part 22: Batman #457 (December, 1990)

Tim gets a new name...and a new look...as the new Robin.

I have this issue in the Robin: A Hero Reborn Trade Paperback.

Tim leaves the cab he took from Wayne Manor (in Batman #456) at an abandoned chemical factory and sees the Batmobile deserted. He works his way inside the building and finds Batman hanging upside-down at Scarecrow’s mercy, but gets distracted enough to have some fear gas thrown at him - making him relive his parents’ ordeal with the Obeah Man. Tim tries to fight it but is helpless…until his visions of both Dick and Jason as Robin appear. They convince Tim to fight the gas, which he does, and knocks Scarecrow into his own chemicals.

He leaves the scene before the police arrive, convinced he’ll never get to become Robin, and once everyone else has left Batman calls to Tim, who stayed near the Batmobile to talk.

Tim admits outright that he disobeyed Batman’s order to stay in the cave, and explained his reasons for doing so. Bruce listens, and tells him that heroes sometimes break the rules and acknowledges the fact that he’d be dead if Tim hadn’t helped.

Back at the cave, they talk about the history of Robin’s suit and the weight it carries. Bruce tells Tim that he’d never expect the boy to carry that responsibility and hands him a box.

Tim leaves, only to return wearing a brand new suit…as the new Robin.

Notes of Interest:

1) This takes place immediately after Batman #456.

2) Tim faces Scarecrow and (unofficially) meets Vicki Vale for the first time in this issue.

3) Batman thanks Tim for saving his life, and calls him Robin for the first time.

4) This is also the first time we see the new Robin costume…with pants.

WTF? Moment: Neal Adams had a hand in designing Tim’s new outfit, and I love how it looks. It shows that this is not “you’re older brother’s Robin”, but a new guy for a new era. In fact, at the back of Robin: A Hero Reborn there’s a schematic of the suit by none other than Eliot R. Brown – who did unbelievable work on both the Original and Deluxe Editions of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe.

WTF? Moment #2: Tim respects Robin (and the suit) so much that he went out to help Batman wearing regular clothes and a ski mask so he wouldn’t disgrace it if he failed. How awesome is that?

WTF? Moment #3: Sure, the return of the “vision-quest Robins” was a bit much, but writer Alan Grant didn’t have them simply make Tim’s fear go away. They helped him face his fears and act despite them.

WTF? Moment #4: I also liked how Tim used his head to get past Scarecrow’s guards. He fought two of them, and only one had to be knocked out.