Tim Drake facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Tim Drake
Tim Drake on the cover of Robin: A Hero Reborn trade paperback (January 1991). Art by Brian Bolland.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	As Tim Drake: Batman #436 (August 1989) As Robin: Batman #442 (December 1989) As Red Robin: Red Robin #1 (August 2009)
Created by	Marv Wolfman (writer) Pat Broderick (artist)
In-story information
Full name	Timothy Jackson Drake
Species	Human
Team affiliations	Batman family Teen Titans Young Justice Batman Incorporated Justice League
Partnerships	Batman Spoiler/Batgirl Superboy (Conner Kent) Wonder Girl Kid Flash Static Batgirl/Black Bat Sparrow Blue Beetle
Notable aliases	Robin Red Robin Batman Drake
Abilities	Genius-level intellect Expert martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant Highly skilled acrobat and gymnast Master detective Master strategist, tactician, and field commander Proficient in utilizing high-tech equipment and weapons

Timothy Jackson "Tim" Drake is a young superhero who appears in American comic books from DC Comics. He is often seen working alongside the famous hero, Batman. Tim was created by Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick. He first appeared in Batman #436 in August 1989. He became the third person to take on the role of Batman's crime-fighting partner, Robin. Later, in 2009, Tim changed his superhero name to Red Robin. In 2019, he returned to being Robin and for a short time used the name "Drake."

When Tim was a little boy, he was at the circus the night Dick Grayson's parents passed away. Years later, Tim was smart enough to figure out that Bruce Wayne was Batman and Dick Grayson was the original Robin. After the second Robin, Jason Todd, passed away, Batman became very sad and reckless. Tim believed that "Batman needs a Robin" and tried to convince Dick Grayson to return to the role. When Dick refused, Tim was chosen to become the third Robin. He even got a brand new costume designed by Neal Adams.

Tim is known for his excellent detective skills, which are very similar to Batman's. He became the leader of the Teen Titans and later led his own team, Young Justice. Other heroes, like Stephanie Brown and Batman's son, Damian Wayne, also took on the Robin role while Tim was Red Robin. Tim is also good friends with Superboy.

Tim Drake is a popular character and has appeared in many cartoons, TV shows, and video games. These include Young Justice and the Batman: Arkham video game series.

Tim Drake's Story in Comics

How Tim Drake Became a Hero

Tim Drake was created to become the new Robin after the previous one, Jason Todd, passed away. His first appearance was in 1989. Writers Marv Wolfman and Pat Broderick introduced him. Tim's full origin story was told in a crossover comic called Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying. In this story, Tim met Dick Grayson and showed off his amazing detective skills.

Dick Grayson and Batman's butler, Alfred Pennyworth, supported Tim's idea to become Batman's new partner. Batman wanted to make sure Tim was ready. He gave Tim intense training that was much more thorough than what previous Robins received. For his first year, Tim mostly helped Batman from the Batcave and was not yet a superhero in the field.

Marv Wolfman wanted Tim to be different from the other Robins. He made Tim very intelligent and gave him a strong sense of justice. Tim also had a loving family, which was different from Batman's own story.

Tim's Early Adventures as Robin

The stories featuring Tim Drake, written by Alan Grant and drawn by Norm Breyfogle, became very popular. The new Batman and Robin team went on their first official mission together. Writers like Alan Grant and Chuck Dixon showed Tim as a relatable teenager. He faced challenges like family disagreements and figuring out who he was.

Tim's mother passed away, and his father became unable to move. This was a difficult time for Tim. He helped Batman in a fight against the Scarecrow. After these events, Batman officially made Tim the third Robin when he was fourteen years old.

Robin's Own Series and Team-Ups

Tim Drake's adventures as Robin continued in his own comic book series. He also joined other young heroes in teams like Young Justice and Teen Titans. He often appeared in other DC comics too.

Robin became close friends with another young hero named Stephanie Brown, also known as Spoiler. For a short time, when Tim's father found out he was Robin, Tim stepped away from the role. Stephanie then became Robin for a brief period.

After his father passed away and Stephanie was thought to have passed away, Tim moved to another city called Blüdhaven. He wanted to get away from the sad memories in Gotham City. He also wanted to be near his stepmother, who was recovering in a clinic.

Tim later changed his Robin costume to a red and black design. These colors were a tribute to his friend Superboy, who had passed away.

Becoming Red Robin

When Bruce Wayne seemed to pass away, Dick Grayson took over as Batman. Dick decided that Tim was his equal, not his sidekick. So, Dick gave the Robin role to Damian Wayne, Batman's son. Tim believed that Bruce was still alive. He then took on the new name of Red Robin and left Gotham City to search for Bruce around the world.

The Red Robin comic series showed Tim's journey to find proof that Bruce Wayne was alive. He faced dangerous assassins and even worked with Ra's al Ghul for a time. Tim eventually found proof that Bruce was alive but lost in time. He returned to Gotham City to stop Ra's al Ghul's plans to harm Batman's allies.

After Bruce Wayne returned, Tim helped him expand their mission globally with Batman, Inc.. Tim also led a new version of the Outsiders. He later rejoined the Teen Titans and became their leader.

Tim Drake in The New 52 Era

In September 2011, DC Comics restarted many of its comic book stories in a new timeline called The New 52. In this new story, Tim Drake's origin was changed. He was a talented athlete and computer genius who almost discovered Batman's secret identity.

When Tim tried to become Batman's partner but was turned down, he decided to get Batman's attention. He hacked into the Penguin's bank account and donated a lot of money. This put his family in danger, but Batman saved them. Tim's parents had to go into a witness protection program. They asked Bruce Wayne to take care of Tim. Tim was given the new name "Tim Drake" and became "Red Robin" out of respect for Jason Todd. He was also a founding member and leader of the Teen Titans.

Tim helped the Bat-family on a mission to Apokolips to get Damian's body back. He wore a costume similar to Damian's to honor him. When Damian was brought back to life, Tim welcomed him back to the Robin role.

Tim Drake in DC Rebirth

In the DC Rebirth stories, Tim Drake continued as Red Robin. He got a new Red Robin suit that looked similar to his first Robin costume but had two "R"s as his logo. His origin story also returned to the original version, where he discovered Batman and Robin's identities after Jason Todd's passing.

Tim was a key member of Batman and Batwoman's new team in Gotham. This team included Orphan, Spoiler, and Clayface. They worked together to fight a military group called the Colonists. Tim bravely made himself the target of dangerous drones to save innocent people.

It seemed like Tim passed away in this event, which saddened the Bat-family. However, he was actually teleported away by a mysterious figure named Mr. Oz and held prisoner. Tim eventually escaped and returned to Gotham, warning his friends about a future version of himself.

Later, Tim's memories of his old friends from Young Justice returned. This led him to Metropolis, where he reunited with Wonder Girl and Impulse. He also met new heroes like Teen Lantern and Jinny Hex. Together, they formed a new Young Justice team and traveled through different universes. During these adventures, Tim briefly used the name "Drake" before returning to his original Robin identity.

Recent Adventures (2021-Present)

After the Infinite Frontier stories, Tim's history as Batman's third partner was confirmed again. He continued his adventures as Robin, sometimes working on his own path away from Batman. He reconnected with a friend from high school, Bernard Dowd. Bernard was kidnapped, sending Tim on a rescue mission.

In his own series, Tim Drake: Robin, Tim lived on a houseboat and worked to create his own path. He was framed for a crime and investigated a series of mysterious events. He worked with Darcy Thomas/Sparrow and Detective Williams to find the real culprit. Tim faced a villain named Moriarty, who saw himself as Tim's enemy. Tim defeated Moriarty and saved Bernard. This series was recognized with a nomination for an award for its excellent storytelling.

Tim also continued to appear in the main Batman comics. He learned about Failsafe, a robot created by Zur-En-Arrh to stop Batman if he ever went too far. Tim helped Batman and the Bat-family in big battles, even traveling through different universes to rescue Batman. He helped Batman reconnect with his family and defeat Zur-En-Arrh. Bruce Wayne later built a new home for the Bat-family, called Pennyworth Manor, as a new base. In the 2025 Batman series, Tim Drake wore a new, angular red-and-yellow costume as Robin.

Tim Drake's Character

Tim Drake is known as a "self-made" hero. He chose to become Robin after Jason Todd's passing. He is admired for his kindness as a superhero. He also has a very sharp, analytical mind and is highly intelligent. His detective skills are often compared to Batman's.

Skills and Abilities

Tim Drake does not have superpowers. Instead, he relies on his physical abilities and advanced technology. As Robin, he trained with many experts, including Batman, Dick Grayson, and Lady Shiva. Because of this training, he is skilled in many martial arts, such as Aikido, Karate, Boxing, Judo, Kung Fu, Tai Chi, and Krav Maga. In fights, he often uses a bo staff. As Red Robin, his martial arts skills became even better.

Tim's intelligence is a key part of his character. He is considered a genius with a high IQ. This makes him an excellent detective, skilled in solving crimes and using forensic science. He is also very good with computers and hacking. Tim knows a lot about different sciences, like biology and engineering. He is a natural leader and has led several superhero teams. He can also speak several languages, including Cantonese, Russian, Spanish, and German.

Costumes

Tim Drake has worn several different costumes throughout his career:

Original Robin Costume: His first Robin costume had a red top, yellow belt, black boots, and green sleeves and pants. His cape was black on the outside and yellow inside. This costume was special because it had extra protection, like armor, and long boots. He carried special "R" shuriken and a collapsible bo staff as his main weapon.

Red and Black Robin Costume: After some major events, Tim changed his Robin costume to mostly red and black. This was to honor his friend Superboy. This costume had a red top, long sleeves, and pants, with a black and yellow cape. It also had a black mask, gloves, and boots.

Red Robin Costume: When Tim became Red Robin, his costume was a long-sleeved red tunic with black boots, tights, gloves, a cape, and a cowl. It also had a black-and-gold utility belt for his bo staff and throwing discs. Later, this costume was updated with spiked arm guards and a shorter tunic.

New 52 Red Robin Outfit: In The New 52 era, his Red Robin costume was a single red and black suit with belts on his waist and legs. He wore a black mask. This costume also featured rocket-powered wings, designed by Static, which allowed him to fly. He still used his bo staff.

DC Rebirth Red Robin Costume: In DC Rebirth, Tim's Red Robin costume was a tribute to his first Robin suit. It had a red top, yellow utility belt, black pants, and green sleeves and boots. His cape was black and yellow. This suit had two "R"s as its logo to show he was Red Robin, not just Robin. He continued to use his bo staff.

Young Justice Robin Costume: In the revived Young Justice series, Tim returned to being Robin. His new costume was similar to his Rebirth suit but with some changes. It had a red top, black pants that merged into split-toed boots with green highlights, and smaller arm guards with blades. His cape was black and gold. He went back to using his original single "R" logo and his bo staff.

Drake Identity: For a short time in Young Justice, Tim used the name Drake. He wore a capeless brown suit with black and gold accents. He later returned to his Robin costume.

2025 Batman Series Costume: In the 2025 Batman series, Tim Drake received a new, angular red-and-yellow costume. It did not have the prominent green color of other Robin costumes. The "R" logo was yellow and more angular. This costume was designed to match Batman's new suit in the same series.

Other Versions of Tim Drake

Tim Drake has appeared in many different stories and universes:

A future version of Tim Drake who became Batman appeared in Titans Tomorrow.
Another future version of Tim Drake who became Batman appeared in The New 52: Futures End.
In DCeased, a version of Tim Drake was infected by a dangerous virus and later passed away.

Tim Drake in Other Media

Television Shows

Tim Drake as Robin appeared in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU) shows like The New Batman Adventures and Superman: The Animated Series. He was voiced by Mathew Valencia.
He also made guest appearances in Static Shock.
Tim Drake as Robin is a main character in Young Justice, voiced by Cameron Bowen. He is a member of the Team and later joins Batman Inc. and the Outsiders.
He appeared in an episode of Teen Titans Go!.
Tim Drake appears in the live-action series Titans, played by Jay Lycurgo. He starts as a delivery boy who looks up to Batman. He eventually becomes the new Robin and joins the Titans.

Movies

The DCAU version of Tim Drake / Robin appeared in animated movies like Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman and Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker. In Return of the Joker, he was kidnapped and brainwashed by the Joker as a teenager. He later recovered and became a communications engineer.
Tim Drake as Red Robin appeared in the Batman Unlimited film series.
A young, alternate universe Tim Drake appeared in Batman: Gotham by Gaslight.
A Feudal Japan-inspired Red Robin appeared in Batman Ninja.
Tim Drake appeared in Batman: Death in the Family, where viewers could choose different outcomes for his story.
Tim Drake as Robin is set to appear in the animated adaptation of Batman: Knightfall.

Video Games

Tim Drake as Robin has been a playable character in games like Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu, DC Universe Online, Young Justice: Legacy, and Gotham Knights.
He also appeared in the mobile version of Injustice: Gods Among Us.
Tim Drake as Robin and Red Robin has been a playable character in the Lego Batman: The Videogame series.

Batman: Arkham Series

Tim Drake as Robin appears in the Batman: Arkham video game series. This version is a bit tougher than his comic book counterpart. He is also in a relationship with Barbara Gordon.

Robin first appeared in Batman: Arkham City and became a playable character in its extra content.
He also appeared in Batman: Arkham Knight as a character who could fight alongside Batman and was playable in challenge maps.

Collected Stories

Many of Tim Drake's adventures as Robin and Red Robin have been collected into special books. These collections allow readers to enjoy his stories from different comic series.