100 Greatest Superhero Stories Ever
By Steve Lam
Screen Capture from Batman: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 33: “Robin’s Reckoning: Part II”
#64. Batman: The Animated Series Season 1, Episode 32–33: “Robin’s Reckoning”
Medium
Animated Television Series
Release Dates
February 7, 1993 (“Robin’s Reckoning: Part I”)
February 14, 1993 (“Robin’s Reckoning: Part II”)
Credits
Director: Dick Sebast
Writers: Randy Rogel, Laren Bright, Alan Burnett
Cast: Kevin Conroy as Bruce Wayne / Batman, Loren Lester as Dick Grayson / Robin, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Alfred Pennyworth, Bob Hastings as Commissioner James Gordon, Paul Eiding as Ferris Dolan, Eugene Roche as Arnold Stromwell, Joey Simmrin as Dick Grayson—Age 10, Thomas F. Wilson as Anthony “Tony” Zucco / John Grayson, Diane Pershing as Mary Grayson, Ed Gilbert as Jack Haley, Lionel Mark Smith as Bus Driver
The Reason It’s Great
Never has Robin’s origin story been handled with this much skill and emotional gravitas. As an overall show, Batman: The Animated Series is one of the best out there—but “Robin’s Reckoning” takes it one notch higher. Told in a flashback manner using the story’s current investigation as queues, the two-part episode is a deep exploration of partnerships and familial loss.
After Batman and Robin rescue an architect from the mob, they learn that the individual pulling the strings is Tony Zuocco—the man who murdered Dick Grayson’s parents when he was a child. Because Batman wanted to keep this investigation from Robin, the latter becomes angered and vows revenge for his parents’ murders.
Batman finally tracks Zuocco to the pier, but is injured when he falls through the ceiling. Zuocco’s men go after Batman, but he’s able to use his cunning and take them out one by one. The fight leaves Batman weak, giving Zuocco the upper hand.
Just as Zuocco is about kill Batman, Robin rushes in with his motorcycle and grabs Zuocco. Batman implores Robin not to kill Zuocco. When Robin realizes that Batman had gone through the same thing with his own parents, he lets Zuocco live, handing him over to the authorities.
This story went on to garner an Emmy for Batman: The Animated Series. With high-octane action and heavy emotions, “Robin’s Reckoning” is a story that will give any live-action drama a run for its money. It’s one of the best offerings in the Batman mythos.