Character Corner: Robins Part 1 – Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, the Heir and the Prodigal
Kriss and Dpalm are back with another Character Corner episode. This time its Part 1 of a two part series on the Robins. We’ve covered most of the Robins already in previous episodes like Batman's Rogue Gallery, Tim Drake, all the Batgirl episodes and our three part Batman series. But we’ve never really dug deep into each of the Robins and gone into their differences and how they tell the larger story of Batman.
We’re starting with Dick Grayson and Jason Todd not just because chronologically they were the first two robins but also because they represent the larger issues we’ve seen with Batman & DC Comics when they get translated to movies and TV. Everyone knows Dick Grayson is the first Robin but the reality is, by the time most of us were reading comics and aware of Batman, Grayson was far removed from being Robin. Same could be said for Jason Todd. Jason was first introduced in 1983 and was killed off in 1988. The first two Robins came and went before most people today were even 10. And that’s where we see DC getting into trouble. The mantle of Robin is almost just as important and divisive as Batman. There isn't another sidekick character in which you have 4-5 drastically different character holding the title and all of them are just about important. Dick, Jason, Tim/Stephanie and Damien.
We’re gonna go through each Robin and talk not just about some of their key issues but really dive into how they’re different from each other, and the role they play in Bruce/Batman’s life. First up...the heir & the prodigal son: Richard & Jason.
Key Issues:
- First Appearances
- Detective Comics #38 - First appearance of Dick Grayson/Robin
- Tales of the Teen Titans #44 - First appearance of Dick Grayson as Nightwing
- Batman #357 - First appearance of Jason Todd (Pre-Crisis)
- Batman #366 - First appearance of Jason Todd as Robin (Pre-Crisis)
- First Appearances
- Early Years
- Batman Year 3
- Batman #436 - 439
- Batman Year 3
- Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet - Dick's final test from Batman
- Robin Year 1 - Chuck Dixen and goes really well with his Batgirl Year One book
- Dark Victory - Sequel to The Long Halloween and retells the origin of Dick Grayson
- Early Years
- Enter Jason Todd
- Batman #408 - First appearance of Post-Crisis Jason Todd
- Batman #410 - Post-Crisis Todd's first appearance as Robin
- New Teen Titans vol 2 #20
- Batman #416 - Jason & Dick meet for the first time; Bruce admits to why he replaced Grayson
- Enter Jason Todd
- Death of Jason Todd
- Batman #422
- Batman #424 - Does Jason kill Garzonas or not?
- Batman #426 - 429 - Death in the Family
- Death of Jason Todd
- Batman Prodigal
- Batman #512
- Shadow of the Bat #32
- Detective Comics #679
- Robin Vol 4 #11
- Batman #513
- Shadow of the Bat #33
- Detective Comics #680
- Robin Vol 4 #12
- Batman #514
- Shadow of the Bat #34
- Detective Comics #681
- Robin Vol 4 #13
- Batman Prodigal
- Nightwing series
- Return of Jason Todd
- Battle for the Cowl
- Batman & Robin
- Grayson
- Red Hood and the Outlaws (Rebirth)
Other Batman Related Episodes:
- Batgirl
- Barbara Gordan and Stephanie Brown: https://www.mtrnetwork.net/character-corner/dc/batgirl-barbara-gordon-stephanie-brown-character-corner/
- Cassandra Cain & Kate Kane: https://www.mtrnetwork.net/character-corner/dc/heir-bat-cassandra-cain-kate-kane/
- Batgirl
- Batman
- Batman
- Teen Titans Part 1: https://www.mtrnetwork.net/character-corner/dc/teen-titans-part-1-teen-titans-vs-deathstroke/
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