As you already know for those who’ve been kicking round right here for some time, or have seen an iota of promoting from DC Comics this yr, 2020 is Robin’s 80th Anniversary! Particularly, it’s the 80th anniversary of the debut of Dick Grayson, the primary Robin, however DC has taken the chance to have a good time the complete Robin legacy.
Shiri’s obtained a Robin rundown for you over right here, so I’m going to skip the biographical notes and get to what we’re actually right here for in the present day: making enjoyable of the poor sartorial selections of orphans. I’ll be not simply what every canonical Robin wore as Robin, however any costumes they might have donned earlier than and after their stint within the pixie boots. Strap in for one of the best and worst of each Robin’s costumes!
I’m inserting the unique Robin costume right here kind of as a management, as a result of I legitimately assume there isn’t a approach to assess it as a “good” or “unhealthy” costume 80 years later—we’re just too far faraway from the 1930s circus aesthetic it’s pulling from, or a time when little boys wore quick pants (though, um…not that quick) as a matter in fact. Plus, it’s too ingrained within the pop cultural consciousness. I imply, they have been questioning the appropriateness of these gams within the ’50s and making enjoyable of it within the ’60s—we’re effectively previous having the ability to apply any kind of semi-objective evaluation to it. It’s simply right here to remind us of what each Robin costume since has been in dialog with.
Dick Grayson
Worst Costumes
After he give up being Robin, Dick lastly had the possibility to decide on his personal clothes for the primary time in 44 years. He, um, perhaps ought to have known as Alfred for some recommendation:
Class ID: 1074
The Stack Publication
Signal as much as The Stack to obtain Guide Riot Comedian’s greatest posts, picked for you.
Thanks for signing up! Control your inbox.
By signing up you comply with our phrases of use
Oh, Richard, honey, no. He’s fortunate he’s so lovely as a result of it’s the one factor that’s permitting him to tug this off even a little bit (and it’s a little or no). I feel my favourite half is that as is typical for comics, it’s about 5 years out of style. Sorry, child, however disco was undoubtedly useless by this level.
Aspect be aware: I simply observed that the little yellow bits at his waist sort of appear to be eyes, like there’s a little bit face on his stomach/groin, and now I can’t look away. Assist.
You realize, I dislike his second Nightwing look considerably extra? At the least the primary one was playful. That is one way or the other overly busy however boring on the identical time, plus: mullet. It seems like an off-brand motion determine you’d purchase in a bodega three-pack in 1993 together with a miscolored Spider-Man and a Ninja Turtle.
However it’s nonetheless higher than no matter’s taking place right here, which apparently will probably be hitting the stands this June:
…Let’s transfer on.
Finest Costume
Can there be any doubt?
When Dick obtained it proper, he actually obtained it proper. The long-lasting look (particularly after he lower that rattling mullet off) is palms down the most effective superhero costumes ever. It’s the other of the “boring however busy” look above: it’s breathtakingly easy however nonetheless trendy. There’s nothing extraneous to get in the way in which of his acrobatics, and the pop of vibrant blue provides a crucial be aware of friendliness to the no-nonsense black. DC has been fussing with this costume for practically a decade now, however you’ll be able to’t enhance on perfection. Put him again within the finger stripes, guys.
Jason Todd
As Robin, Jason just about wore Dick’s outdated castoffs—like, I’m not truly positive Bruce washed them earlier than stuffing Jason into them. When Jason returned from the useless, he took on one other discarded identification: Pink Hood, a reputation previously utilized by the Joker, the person who murdered Jason. Since then, Jason has been outlined by “making an attempt means too exhausting whereas additionally insisting that he doesn’t care,” and his costume selections are completely a part of this pattern.
Worst Costumes
Jason Todd is the gritty unhealthy boy of the Batfamily who rides round on a motorbike (okay, all of them journey round on bikes) and makes use of weapons and stuff, so he typically rejects the standard trappings of superhero costumery in favor of tactical avenue gear. This white spandex + cape + extraordinarily goofy and uncomfortable-looking helmet are the precise reverse of Jason’s common disdain for superhero/villain pageantry. They’re not horrible on their very own, however they make zero sense for the character.
As soon as he’s out of the spandex, it’s principally cargo pants and kevlar plus a bizarre bike helmet, so whether or not or not the costume works is determined by whether or not Jason/the artist is, as talked about above, making an attempt means too exhausting.
Like: one way or the other placing facial expressions on a featureless helmet and likewise encasing his total physique in steel? With a jacket?
Going oh so very lumpy?
No matter is going on right here?
Finest Costume
There we go. Creepy featureless helmet, tactical gear that’s protecting however nonetheless potential to maneuver in, complete absence of ten thousand pointless pouches and buckles. I nearly imagine this can be a genuinely cool dude who doesn’t desperately crave approval from his household always! Virtually.
(Jason, depart Bizarro alone, he’s a delicate soul who simply desires to odor flowers and speak backwards.)
Tim Drake
Worst Costumes
Ohhhh Tim. Talking of “making an attempt too exhausting.” Ever since Damian took over as Robin and Tim obtained bumped to Pink Robin, he’s been…let’s say overcompensating. His New 52 look was notably, um, selection:
We’ve obtained double criss-cross straps! We’ve obtained bicep garters! We’ve obtained large feathery wings which, I’m sorry, don’t will let you fly it doesn’t matter what Greek mythology would possibly inform you. Each ingredient of this costume appears extra arbitrarily positioned than the final. Is his emblem on the facet of his shoulder? Is his belt buckle over his hip? Are these wheels in the midst of his boots???
His newest look, this inexplicably brown quantity, is best however baffling. Tim, stealing Wolverine’s rejected outfits is just not a accountable use of pan-dimensional journey!
(Is that this Tim’s first look and not using a cape? That’s weirding me out.)
Finest Costumes
It’s unhappy to me that Tim has regarded so unhealthy for thus lengthy as a result of his unique Robin costume was completely flawless:
I imply, that is taking that dorky, dated unique Robin look (sorry OG Robin look, I like you however for sentimental causes solely) and making it cool for the primary time in historical past. It’s not simply the pants, though the pants are clearly essential. It’s the lengthy, heavy black cape with the yellow lining; it’s the good particulars just like the textured sleeves and gloves and the split-toed boots. Very similar to the traditional Nightwing costume manages to be completely easy with out being boring, Tim’s unique costume is complicated with out being busy.
And Tim has one other nice look in his closet!
I’ve largely caught to the comics for this retrospective as a result of animation, motion pictures, and video video games means opening up so many cans of Batworms, and a large number of these costumes are simply riffs on comics originals. However this look was created for Tim’s introduction to Batman: The Animated Sequence, and it’s chic. Eradicating the cool-toned inexperienced provides Tim a sharper shade story in step with the edgier look of the later seasons, however the quick cape and sleeves retain that essential youthful high quality. They later tried to reverse engineer this costume onto Comics Tim, however with out that very clear, crisp BTAS look it by no means actually labored.
Stephanie Brown
Worst Costume
I’d say that Steph has constantly had one of the best style of all of the Robins. I imply, sure, admittedly I’m a shameless Stephanie Brown stan, however my woman has style. Even her very ’90s unique Spoiler costume was fairly modern, even with the requisite on-trend thigh garter and bandolier.
However Tim isn’t the one one who’s had a tough time of it within the present Younger Justice collection:
To be truthful, that is an alternate universe Steph—the Batwoman of Earth-Three—but when Tim can get credit score for an animated look, Steph can get dinged for an alternate universe one. That is simply baffling. Why the cowl neck? Why the goggles? Why the implausibly vertical hair? Simply, no.
Finest Costumes
Sure, that is simply Tim’s costume with a miniskirt. Sure, it’s gendered and impractical to provide the woman Robin a miniskirt and an enormous bouffant of grabbable hair. I don’t care. This look has made my coronary heart sing because the second I noticed it on the stands, and it’s my listing. Rock on together with your fabulous self, Stephanie.
Steph’s Batgirl costume fantastically marries her traditional eggplant hue with the equally purple Batgirl custom (keep in mind Yvonne Craig?). The textured ribbing on the edges neatly incorporates the athletic gear pattern of a decade in the past with out drowning in it like so many costumes of the period did, making the general costume look structured and wearable. Solely #seems from Ms. Stephanie Brown, thanks very a lot.
Damian Wayne
Worst Costume
Damian has solely been round for 14 years, which is principally a picosecond in comics time (keep in mind, we’re celebrating Dick’s 80th birthday!), and he hasn’t actually experimented a lot sartorially in that point. Except for a particularly temporary and aesthetically unnoteworthy stint as “Redbird,” the 2 seems beneath are just about the sum complete of his style historical past. Fortunately for my functions, one is nice and one’s an actual stinker.
Right here’s the stinker:
Bruce has a prophetic dream that Damian will develop as much as gown like this and it convinces him that his life’s work has been in useless, and you already know what, truthful. “What if spandex but additionally trenchcoat?” was not a query I wanted answered, however right here we’re. That skirt seems not possible to maneuver in, that collar eliminates all peripheral imaginative and prescient, and I can’t assist considering that the entire thing makes faint squeaking noises when he strikes due to all of the layers of bizarre rubbery cloth. No, baby.
Finest Costume
Damian’s Robin costumes have all principally been variations on this with the tunic shorter or longer and the equipment tweaked. And it’s nice. Like Tim’s earlier than it, it makes the Robin costume cool whereas additionally personalizing it to the wearer. The cloak nods to Damian’s coaching as an murderer, the sharp edges match his spiky little persona, and the kneepads are frankly simply lovable. Security first once you’re stopping simply in need of fulfilling your childhood programming to homicide everybody who threatens your path to world domination!
That is solely a sampling of the various, many alternative costumes these 5 characters have worn over the many years—I haven’t even touched on the retconned New 52 Robin costumes for the primary three, which: woof. Fortunately these youngsters have all chosen Bruce Wayne as a task mannequin, so we all know they’ve horrible judgment and will probably be donning atrocious seems for years to come back. Which Robin costumes are your favorites, and which actually, actually aren’t? Tell us on social!
