50 Greatest Super Heroes In Comic Book History

12. Robin

(Write-up by Eric Chrisman, Caped Crusades Editor)

Robin is often seen as the butt of jokes in Batman, but in reality, Robin is just as necessary to Batman as Batman is to Gotham. The world always needs a Batman, so it follows that a Robin is needed as well.

Regardless of the version, the Boy Wonder actually fills several roles. First and foremost, Robin is Batman’s connection to his humanity. Nobody has a connection to Batman like the various Robins have had. We’ve seen this repeatedly, as when Batman works solo for long periods of time, he often becomes more withdrawn and reckless with no one to look after and mentor.

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The mentoring leads into the second role, someone to be the next Batman. The Dark Knight is human; he ages, he even dies sometimes. He’s well aware he needs someone to take up the mantle, but Batman obviously needs someone he trusts implicitly to take over. That kind of trust takes years to build, especially with someone like Batman, and that’s where Robin comes in. Granted, most Robins haven’t gone on to become Batman, but they have become great protectors of their own cities and great heroes in their own right.

But Robin is also us. As kids, we’d do just about anything to fight alongside Batman, possibly eventually be Batman. That’s what Robin represents: the part of all of us that looks up to Batman as the ultimate hero.

For more Robin news, rumors and opinion, visit Caped Crusades.

Next: No. 11: You called down the thunder ...