#and trying to find the tim drake comic titled 'identity crisis' because the OTHER tim drake comic titled 'identity crisis'

[silverwhittlingknife]

anyway did you all know that back in the day tim had a horrible nightmare in which he peeled off his own face and it was a mask the whole time? it's true

[zahri-melitor]

The Many Post-Crisis Christmases of Tim Drake

Yes, everyone gets a few Holiday issues over the years, but Tim’s got his own special levels of trauma associated with the holiday.

A round up of every time Tim appears in comics about Christmas, sorted by year:

1990: Identity Crisis - Batman #455-457 aka Janet Drake’s funeral. Janet is buried on Christmas Eve. Jack’s still in a coma. Tim is living with Bruce at this point. Tim spends a lot of this storyline having nightmares and worrying by Jason’s memorial case. At the very end, Bruce and Alfred give Tim his personal Robin costume and Tim goes out officially as Robin for the first time.

1996: Holiday Bash I – “Just Another Night” it’s just a small mention here, but given future events it’s worth noting. Tim leaves a Christmas card for Alfred, and Jack takes Tim to the Caribbean for the holidays. Very in line with Tim’s behaviour during this period, where he’s noted for giving Babs thank you notes.

1998: Holiday Bash III – “Alone for the Holidays” aka the single point in canon that supports Neglected Sad Boi Tim Drake. Tim is, as the title implies, alone for the holidays and moping about it. Jack and Dana are trapped in Chicago because the airport is closed due to snow (Why Jack and Dana are in Chicago is left to the reader). Babs and Dick call Tim over to the Clock Tower for a Loners Christmas Party. It will never not be funny to me that Alfred and Harold are at this Loners Party, but Bruce isn’t. Only a TRUE committed loner misses the family loners Christmas party.

1999: Endgame, No Man’s Land (LotDK #126, Batman #574, ‘Tec #741). If you are unfamiliar with this classic story, Joker kidnaps 36 babies on Christmas Eve in No Man’s Land and threatens to blow them all up. Tim gets called away from Christmas dinner with Jack (as a note, Tim’s outside NML at the dinner, then immediately dives inside for this. Never bother trying to make sense of how often Tim got in and out of Gotham during NML) and is helping track down the babies. It’s…traumatic for everyone involved.

2001: Young Justice #40. The Night Before Doomsday. This is the story where Santa dies and Young Justice find themselves having to deliver all the presents on his behalf.

2006: Slayride, ‘Tec #826. Tim is running away from a group of drug dealers and is offered a ride by a passing car. The car is driven by Joker. Tim gets tied up with Christmas lights and eventually distracts him via an argument with Joker about the Marx Brothers.

2008: “It’s a Wonderful Night” and “The Night Before Christmas”, DCU Holiday Special #1 2008. Two reminders that Tim has a hard time at Christmas in one!

“It’s a Wonderful Night” is a tear jerker where Dick goes looking for Tim to deliver a Christmas present. He finds him at a cinema watching a showing of It’s a Wonderful Life. Captain Boomerang Jnr is also there. Tim and Owen bond over their dead dads both liking the movie (which…given their dads killed each other, is a thing) and Dick gives Tim his old Robin costume. You WILL cry.

“The Night Before Christmas” is a Titans story, particularly notable as far as Tim goes in that Tim and Cassie talk about how the holidays remind Tim of the people he’s lost (and look, for perfectly good reasons, given the above).

[timtimmersdrake]

A Red Robin Netflix Show Pitch

So I saw a post earlier and my mind ran away from me. I just don’t understand why Warner Brothers won’t do something with my boy. SO I outlined the whole thing for them, because I studied this in school and just spent half the year living and working next to the warner Brother lot. And maybe if someone else does the work they will finally do something.

So here it all is, under a cut of course because it so lonnnggg:

Working Title: Red Robin

Type: 30 Minute Television Drama, Multi-Season (Aiming for around 50 Episodes)

Style: Animation

Network: Netflix

Based on the Red Robin Comics of 2009 (Pre-52)

Series Summary: In the aftermath of the universe-shattering events known as the Final Crisis, Gotham City’s Dark Knight is presumed dead. After assuming the identity of Red Robin, former sidekick Tim Drake sets out to become his own hero without the shadow of the Bat to guide him.

Seasons Breakdown:

Season One: Red Robin: The Grail

Episodes: 5 or 6 (potential for more, if some storylines are decided to be more developed)

In the aftermath of the Battle for the Cowl, Dick Grayson has emerged as the new Batman – taking Bruce’s son Damian Wayne as his new Robin. Leaving Tim to discover who he is, Tim discovers clues pointing towards the unbelievable, Bruce Wayne, the Batman, is still alive. Taking the mantle of Red Robin and a decidedly darker persona, Tim sets out on a dangerous quest to prove that he is right tangling with the world’s deadliest assassins and their leader, Ra’s al Ghul.

Season Two: Red Robin: Collision

Episodes: 7 or 8 (Again potential to more)

Continuing his search for the original Batman, lost to time, Tim Drake finds himself joining the side of the Demon Head and works with Ra’s al Ghul as a new Assassin group arises: The Council of Spiders. Determined to take on both groups, Tim takes on the nearly impossible task of fighting them from the inside all whilst trying to keep his newly found acquaintance Tam Fox alive.

Season Three: Red Robin: The Hit List

Episodes: 4 or 5

Beginning to establish himself as a self-appointed vigilante Red Robin, Tim Drake begins his life as a Bat that’s no longer Robin. Establishing himself a hit list of his top targets he finds himself facing his own rogue gallery…one that may include the new Robin.

Season Four: Red Robin: Seven Days of Death

Episodes: 8 or 9

When Red Robin and his friends are trapped in the unknown world of the Unternet by the Calculator's fail-safe program, its Batman and Robin to the rescue – but which Batman and Robin is it? Tim is determined to destroy the villains' communications grid – but may hurt his allies in the process. 

Season Five: Red Robin: Finale (?)

Episodes: 5 or 6

Established as Red Robin, Tim starts to fight more personal battles that come his way. Ra’s al Ghul returns desperate for an heir provided by Tim Drake himself. Captain Boomerang, the man who’s killed his father has finally been released from prison and taking on a new assassin organization may result in only one solution, Red Robin’s death.

 Season One Cast:

 Series Regulars:

Tim Drake – Former partner to the Dark Knight, Tim branches out to be Red Robin. Lead.

Ra’s al Ghul – The head of the League of Assassins. Primary Antagonist. Lead.

Prudence (“Pru”) – Assassin in the League assigned to Tim’s side by Ra’s. Lead.

Z – Another assassin assigned by the league to follow Tim by Ra’s. Lead.

 Series Guest Stars:

Dick Grayson – The first Robin to Batman and former Nightwing, Dick takes on the Batman’s mantle and expresses concern over Tim’s health.

Tam Fox – Daughter of Lucius Fox intent on finding Tim, little does she know she will be brought along for the ride.  

Stephanie Brown – Currently as Spoiler, Tim’s former love interest and badass crime fighter.

Cassie Sandsmark – Current Wonder Girl, another former love interest to Tim who is concerned for his well being now that many of his friends have recently died.

Alfred Pennyworth – Loyal butler to the Wayne family.

Lucius Fox – Current CEO of Wayne Enterprises.

Jason Todd – In a flash back to Battle of the Cowl, Jason’s fight for the role of Batman.

 Because I know people will bug me so here are other details on cast:

Damian Wayne – Recurring Season 2, Lead in Season 3

Tam – Season regular in Season 2 and 4

Stephanie Brown – Recurring in Season 1 and 2

Ra’s al Ghul – Lead in Season 1, 2 and 5

Kon and Titans – Recurring in Season 2 and 4

Cass Cain – Lead in Season 5

 Now Jason isn’t in this show much because I was thinking it would be really cool to have him in his own show with the Outlaws. And do a crossover episode ;)

 Other storylines that the show can dive into:

Blackest Night storyline for Tim where he sees his dead parents

Origin Episode that tells the story of how he became Robin

An of his Teen Titan runs could be made into filler episodes

The return of Bruce Wayne of course

Branch out more on the Azreal Judgement of Gotham storyline

Episodes on A Death of the Family story arc

Cass Cain centered episode

Damian and Tim centered episode post season 3

Other things of note:

Animation style would ideally be similar to Young Justice and the DC Universe animation movies like Batman vs Robin and Batman: Bad Blood. However, I think it would be brillant to have his dialogue show up similiar to the new Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse. His inner monologue is just to good to leave out.

I’m to lazy to write chaacter development per season, but I feel like that’s pretty self explanatory. 

Of course Marcus To would need to be a consultant, that’s a given.

Seaons would probably come out twice a year, I feel like the Voltron release dates are a good outline to follow.(Not that this is anything like Voltron)

Last but not least a DC Comics logo with Red Robin theme to start each episode because damn it my boy deserves to be recognized like the other heroes.

And that’s all I got for the moment because I had no intention of doing any of this and suddenly here I am.

[sebeth]

Titans Annual #1

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Spoilers Ahead…

Titans: Legacy by Dan Abnett & Minkyu Jung

Garth finds himself in a sprawling complex.  Garth’s shouting causes two Flashes to respond to him.  Aquaman is also on scene.  Garth drops into a half-bow and welcome Arthur with a “My lord”.

“Should I call you my ‘my lord’?”

“Stop it, Wal.”

Arthur’s all business about the situation.  He criticizes Garth for shouting: “Not too smart to draw attention to our…”

Nightwing interrupts with “I don’t know, sir.  It would have taken me ages to find you otherwise.”

Nightwing and Aquaman are stepping over each other to take control of the situation.  Garth jumps in to defend Nightwing.

“Flash, you and your protégé should –“

“You’re the leader suddenly?”

“I’m a founding member of the Justice League and King of Atlantis.  What’s your question exactly?”

“Nightwing is leader of the Titans – “

“No doubt.  Where is he King of, again?”

Nightwing interrupts the contest of wills to send the Flashes on recon.

Barry: “Sorry about Arthur’s ‘protégé’ remark, Wally.  I felt you wince.”

Garth’s new 52 relationship with Arthur seems to be strictly a subject to monarch type.  No foster parent influence here.  I’m halfway through the New 52 Aquaman series – the only reference to Garth has been a “purple-eyed boy” that Orm mentions.  I’m enjoying Garth’s ‘respectful but not afraid to stand up’ approach to Arthur.  

I can understand Arthur’s reluctance to defer leadership to Nightwing.  Has Aquaman even met Nightwing in the New 52?  Add in the fact that the Titans were “erased” from everyone’s memories by Mr. Twister and Arthur has no reference for this kid.

The group quickly come across Donna Troy and Wonder Woman.  Diana’s threatening Donna with her sword.

Diana is not having any of this: “I do not trust you.  I don’t know what you are.”

Honestly, Diana, I think we’ve all given up trying to explain Donna Troy after the Crisis on Infinite Earths FUBAR’d her.

Barry calls Diana out on her aggressive behavior.  Diana responds with “Can we trust each other?  If someone can abduct us, what else can they do?  Who else can they look like?  Are any of you really who you say you are?”

Enter Batman: “First intelligent thing anybody’s said.”

Diana’s more aggressive than I would expect but the others are spot on.  The Flashes are friendly, Arthur and Garth’s turbulent relationship continues, Nightwing plays peacekeeper, and Batman lurks from the shadows.

The Key observes all from the Monitors: “And you need the Key, don’t you, my strange friend?  You need me to let you out…I’ve selected these eight to work on…Eight of them, mentors and their pupils…I’ll need to stress them until they break…but they will break…And when they do, secrets will tumble out…And the energy released by that will open the door and set you free.”

Great plan but the tradition mentor/pupil role isn’t present in these relationships except for Batman and Nightwing.  Mr. Twister’s shenanigans make the Titans’ early adventures murky but I can’t see where Arthur and Garth would have a mentor/pupil style relationship.  More of a “I’m the King, do as I command” relationship. Donna’s a hot mess.  Diana’s early years are up in the air until Rucka’s Rebirth storyline is resolved.  Wally was evicted from the timeline until last year.  Dick’s the only one who has spent significant time with his mentor.

Batman orders the Flashes on a rapid perimeter search: “Flash? Rapid perimeter search.  Take your boy.  Halve the task”.

“Looks like the pecking order just changed.”

“Batman’s in the room, Wally.  The pecking order always changes.”

“Stop for a second. So far today you’ve been called my protégé and my boy.  I’m sorry the Justice League aren’t really used to you Titans being grown-up.”

“Nah, forget it.”

“No, it’s important. I don’t see it that way.  I’m a Flash.  You’re a Flash.  You’ve got nothing to prove in my eyes.  You’re not my protégé.”

“But I am your legacy.”

Barry is the best. The Flashes are among the sweetest of the DC heroes.  Maybe it’s a Speed Force thing?

The League isn’t that much more experienced in the New 52.  DC maintained that the New 52 debuted in Year 5 of the heroes’ lives. Dick was Nightwing by this point. Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne had been through the Robin role and settled into their traditional roles. Honestly, the League members debuted months before the Titans…not much room to claim superior experience.

Diana continues to be a bitch –

“Am I being punished for something?”

“Nothing.  We just can’t trust each other.  None of us can.”

“It’s more than that.”

“You’re reaching.”

“We haven’t been close in years.  I shouldn’t have let that happen, after all you and the Amazons did for me.  But I don’t understand why you’re so cold towards…”

“I’m not.  For all I know, everyone else in this room is an imposter.  Get over yourself.”

Nightwing’s trying for trust and teamwork but Batman has also hopped aboard the bitch train, repeating Diana’s “I don’t trust or know you” along with Arthur’s “do as I say” approach.

Congratulations to Barry for being the only actual adult on the Justice League.

Nightwing wisely ignores Batman’s PMSing and calls the group to order.  Dick observes: “Motive and identity of the culprit would just be speculation given what we have.  But someone intends to turn us against each other.”

NIghtwing also points out “Because whoever brought us here removed Wonder Woman’s lasso.  First thing I’d have reached for…They only want us to do one thing.”

Fight!  But Nightwing opts for the teamwork approach.  The Key, frustrated by all this cooperation, drops a Metallo reproduction on the heroes.  The group makes quick work of the wannabe Metallo.

The Flashes return, stumble over each other to announce their findings, and apologize to each other. Batman’s response: “Stop being cute”.

The Key’s continues to monologue: “That’s when I first recognized the potential power locked up in super-minds.  Power so profound it actually allowed me to access new universes.  And out there…that’s where I heard you calling…calling for help from behind the door that was shutting you out…”

Cyborg, Superman, Green Lanterns Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz, Lilith, and Arsenal are looking for their missing teammates.  It’s funny that Arsenal and Green Arrow weren’t taken by the Key.  Roy and Ollie actually have a past relationship in the DC Universe.  Those two would be the easiest to provoke into a fight.  I don’t think Green Arrow is a member of the League at the moment.

The captured heroes are fighting simulated Parademons.  By this point, Barry has had enough of Diana’s crap: “Don’t start with that again, Diana.  That we can’t trust each other.  That one of us is a ringer.”

Arthur questions Wally’s existence and is put in his place by Barry:  “…and I think you’d better watch what you’re implying, Arthur.” Yeah, you don’t mess with the Flash family.

The Titans and Leaguers go back and forth over the merits of friendship vs professional teamwork.

Donna calls Diana out:

“Go on.  Say it.  I know you’re thinking it.  It’s true, isn’t it?  We’re not close like the other six.  The way you reacted to me today…”

“It’s just a matter of trust.  Leave it alone.”

“I won’t.  The way you are with me, I’m hurt by it.”

Batman has been scanning the heroes with a device and it’s only showing seven organics: “One of isn’t human.  It’s Troy. Restrain her.”

Wonder Woman intervenes: “No!  Stop this! Get away from her!  This is Donna Troy.  And she’s not organic.  Not like the rest of us.  Not in a way that gadget would show.  I’m sorry. I didn’t want to say.  I didn’t want it to come out like this.  But it has to.  Before we turn on each other.  Donna Troy is not an organic human.  She was made whole, out of clay, by a magical process.  She was created as a weapon, a weapon forged to destroy me.  We prevented that destiny, and we gave her false memories so she could live a stable life. You were made to believe you were a human child, orphaned, rescued by me, raised by the Amazons.  This stopped you from becoming a weapon.  It allowed you to live as others live.  To become a hero.  A Titan.  I’m sorry.”

Was this from Meredith Finch’s Wonder Woman run?  Is this a new origin for Donna Troy?  Does Donna need another origin?  What is so wrong with the simple “orphaned girl raised by Amazons” angle?  Have we now established Diana was never made from clay? Are we stuck with the “daughter of Zeus” spin?

The Titans are comforting Donna.  Lilith pinpoints the heroes’ location from Donna’s distress.  The captured heroes burst into the Key’s control center at the same time the rest of the Titans and Justice League teleports in.  The Key decides retreat is the better part of valor.

Wonder Woman apologizes to Donna for keeping the truth from her.

The Key apologizes to the mysterious voice for failing him: “I’m sorry!  It wasn’t enough to free you!  I’m sorry!  I’m…Please, noo!  Aaaiieeeeee!”

“Who’s the menace behind the door?  Unlock the truth as Titans continues!”

What I Liked:

The Flashes – Barry and Wally show the rest of the group how heroes should behave.

What I Didn’t Like:

Heroes act like jerks toward each other for no reason.  So tired of this in comics.

Batman is a douchebag. Again!  

Wonder Woman’s behavior. Diana’s bitchy towards Donna because she’s lying to her?  Odd behavior for someone who carries a Lasso of Truth.

Donna’s new origin. Why? Writers keep throwing crap on Donna and hoping it sticks.  This may be carryover from the Wonder Woman title but Donna does not need any new additions to her history.  Go ahead, try and explain the history of Donna Troy to a casual fan.  I’ll be on the sidelines laughing as their head explodes.

Remains To Be Seen:                                                                                                                                                                      

The mysterious man behind the door.  Any guesses? Superboy-Prime punching the walls of reality again?  Ozymandias? Doctor Manhattan?  The Anti-Monitor?  Trigon the Terrible?  Mr. Twister? The man is most likely tied into Rebirth so it’s not going to be resolved anytime soon.

[zahri-melitor]

DC Pride 2022:

I didn't particularly like the Damian and Jon story (not in the least because I generally don't get much from the way they're characterised in stories together), but it did crystallise a few things for me about why I find "it's a Pride parade!" stories so unutterably dull.

I'm not going to go into the 'is Pride a riot' debate that I know was everywhere when this issue came out, but I think the thing is...the art never actually LOOKS like a parade to me, as it doesn't hit the right notes.

Where are the Dykes on Bikes at the head of it. Where are the old people who founded this. The history OF the parade is encapsulated in the shape of the parade itself. It's always too young, too sanitised and too twee.

The Nubia and Io story just reminds me I really want to read all the Nubia stuff (I'll get there!)

Connor's story is that awkward line of 'we need you to come out' and 'coming out stories are so formulaic'. Connor, definitely throw that letter in the bin. You absolutely don't actually want to send a letter to your mother about the specific details of what you do and don't want to do with other people physically. The awkwardness in your memory of what you said will never ever go away.

Alysia Yeoh's story is clearly not contemporary (probably mid Batgirl 2016 I think?) because Babs isn't using the Clock Tower when this issue came out. It's...nice. Adult. Slightly tired.

The Jackson Hyde story is cute. I feel it's making Xebel a lot calmer and friendlier than it's usually portrayed but I haven't read enough Aquaman to be definite on that. Hang out with your boyfriend, Jackson!

The Jo Mullein story I need to come back to after I've actually read Far Sector but felt fun.

The Ray Terrill story...is extremely funny if you have actually read Ray and Dinah's 1990s interactions.

What's calculated to make Ray run off to help immediately? Dinah calling for back up!

Dinah. Dinah. Behaving like this is how you had that massive fight with Ollie where he thought you were cheating on him with Ray thirty years ago. (Do it again, it's very funny to me)

Ray: nobody has every shown me affection before Dinah: acts like a human being Ray: dedicates his entire diary to being aimed at Dinah

ANYWAY. Story is fine, the bonus by reading it through a 90s lens is amazing.

The Kate Kane story just being Jacob Kane being proud of Kate made me laugh (I don't actually think you're that supportive, Jacob, but I'm glad you think you are trying to be in your mind). On the other hand it's sweet to frame something through a proud parent.

Tim's story: I laughed realising they'd given this to Travis Moore. They clearly wanted it to be pretty. Nice that they went to Fair Day.

More seriously though: this is very in tune with Tim having other moments of self discovery (To the Father I Never Knew, the first Father's Day with Bruce). Very similar internal monologue.

As I say annually, the Harley/Ivy story is unnecessary. This should be in their own titles.

(Sorry Earth-11, I do not care about you)

And then we get to the only story in the ENTIRE ISSUE with any real grit to it (Kevin Conroy's autobiographical piece) and they slap an advisory warning on the front.

And look, I get why, but also it's so...hmm...we should be able to acknowledge more complicated stories and common narratives without having to warn people. We don't put warnings like that on the front of Lobo (well, aside from the comic being titled 'Lobo'). It should be possible to acknowledge the joys of identity while still reflecting on the past. It's not even anything more than a single slur a bunch of times plus period homophobia and the AIDS crisis. It's not shocking? or surprising? or unexpected?

DC Pride Tim Drake Special #1:

Okay so this is UL reprints plus one new story?

I think the most disappointing thing about the Steph story is that the characterisation doesn't really ring true to any of the characters involved? Steph is allowed to be jealous. Tim's allowed to be avoiding her and shouldn't be getting nagged by everyone to talk to her (especially given the preceding stories and the DC Pride story make it clear Tim and Bernard have been dating for months). It's a cute fantasy but it doesn't feel realistic for the failure points of the personalities of any of the characters involved (Tim, Steph, Conner or Bart), and Cass is once again just used as an adjunct to Steph, rather than someone who has her own independent relationship with Tim.

The art is cute, I even think Tim and Steph did need to clear the air on page, but...it could have used some more grit? Depth? Possibility of things going wrong or people feeling hurt? Less of an ideal fantasy that worked perfectly?