whothefuckistimdrake

[whothefuckistimdrake]

hey would you mind if other people joined you in making blogs about who the heck x character is? like same format with counters?

Of course I wouldn’t mind! If anything it’s great for people to sit down and read a lot of consecutive canon material (and then distribute canon findings). This fandom has a lot of issues with fanon bleeding into where it shouldn’t, so by all means go for it. 

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Should there be a counter for him being forgetful, or neglectful/uninterested in his personal/civilian life?

I have a counter that relates to disinterest in school, but I assume you mean stuff to do with friends. I’ll make a note of it!

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Shouldn't you make a counter for Tim being disobedient/reckless? Since that trait is usually only attributed to Jason, but Tim is also doing a lot of reckless stuff in his early adventures.

You make a good point! I’ve gone and added a counter for it.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Robin: Cry of the Huntress (1992)

Batman and Robin are dealing with some sort of upheaval in the underworld, of which Black Mask seems to be responsible. As the dynamic duo busts a gang’s operation, another faction comes and shoots the place out. Bruce gets spooked regarding Tim’s safety.

Batmentor: 12

Meanwhile Huntress is spying on some mob dealings. She breaks into one of their rooms to get a case from the exchange.

The next day Tim is at school in all his 90s hair glory.

This is not the last time Tim will forget Ives’ birthday. Anyway Tim has fun at the party but it takes place in Odessa, the Gotham’s Russian neighborhood, and he happens to pass by a mugging. It ends before he can intervene but he helps in the aftermath.

Good Birb: 4

Smooth. Tim returns to the party and then home, where he intends to set out for the cave. His dad stops him.

Yikes.

Out of the Nest: 2

This is a counter I’ve decided to introduce that will count the times Mr. Drake tries to be the more involved father that Tim is a bit past wanting.

Tim goes to Ariana’s place in time to see the gang members returning to wreck it. He jumps into the fray, hoping word doesn’t get back to Batman.

Kamikaze Dive: 4

Another retroactive counter by request to note the times that Tim does something reckless or behind Batman’s back.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Action Comics #683 (1992)

So for some reason Superman happens to fight the horrors of the night whenever Robin cameos with him? Because last time it was vampires, now it’s werewolves.

This even gets referenced.

Also, either Tim is lying or Gotham City not only has its own holidays, but it has holidays that get you out of school/work. That’s amazing and I want to know what they are. What local festivities does Gotham city partake in that actually warrant shutting down federal institutions. I’m fascinated.

So they talk a bit about the concept of vigilantes who turn to killing in their work, which is. Interesting.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Detective Comics #653 (1992)

So we missed part one of this story because Tim wasn’t in it, and jump in directly as Batman and Huntress are running from the police. I guess they’re going after some political ppl with diplomatic immunity. Batman meets with Gordon and Huntress does some research on the country involved.

This is probably my poor history knowledge shining through but I had no idea medieval knights were skilled in gunmanship.

Tim makes his appearance by helping Batman look up the bad guys.

Batmentor: 11

Bruce clearly cares about sheltering Tim from perspectives that could be a bad influence on him. Whether he’s right to do this is another matter though.

Also this isn’t really important but, Bruce. Your carseats have bat ears? REALLY? How does anyone take this man seriously.

Batmentor: 12

I’m going to give that a point for being a thing that transcends this issue; Tim does comment repeatedly across issues that he can’t drive because of his age.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Detective Comics #651 (1992)

We open on Harvey Bullock running away from people trying to kill him, as is his weekly custom.

Harvey manages to get away and fires up the Bat-Signal. 

Helplful! Bullock leaves files for Batman and Robin to look through.

That’s the last of Tim for this issue but the reveal of who is trying to kill Bullock is amazing.

I feel like murderous landlords is one of those things that are totally normal to Gothamites, but sound rightfully deranged to literally anyone else.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Detective Comics #650 (1992)

It’s a day off at Batcave, with Tim watching cheesy television.

Meanwhile Harold, the Batcave’s live-in tech support, starts looking into a cave expansion.

Eventually Harold falls down a chasm. Tim is still in the cave, looking up the mobster that the tv program is going on about. He learns the guy had a think for booby trapping his stuff, and wonders if the tv crew breaking into his bunker is in danger.

Tim races off to get to the tv crew before they crack the vault, just missing Ace as he comes in fetch help for Harold.

Eventually Harold does find his way, though.

Tim manages to save the tv guy from getting shot with what seemed to be an... arrow? The art wasn’t clear. Then he and Alfred get in the car, see Harold walking home and take him back with them.

School is for Squares: 5

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Do you think your already starting distaste for Tim might influence the way you view a lot of these issues? I mean you seem to really dislike him starting out:

Not really. I don’t have anything out for Tim, he’s not a person. It is simply the mission of this blog to think critically about what I’m reading, and the truth is that Tim has a very badly executed origin story that hinges on OOC writing, plot holes and a false premise. Subsequent comics haven’t tried to fix it, so these problems persist and undermine his character.

When Tim is well written and endearing, you bet I will make notes of that too.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

To the anon that just messaged me (the one I havent answered yet): who are you. I desperately want to have more conversations on this topic.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Batman #487 (1992)

“I’m fine” lol ok Bruce.

He goes to see the doctor the next day, who tells him there’s nothing physically wrong with him. lol, ok. Maybe he should see Leslie next time.

Bruce then does the responsible thing and starts lightening his load.

Even in regards to patrolling as Batman!

Batman Needs a Goldfish: 5

More proof that the ‘Batman needs a Robin’ argument is hollow nothingness to justify the executive decision that was getting a new Robin. Tim was supposedly brought in for Bruce’s stability, but when Bruce is clearly PTSD and taking actual healthy measures, Tim considers it an inconvenience.

Alfred spots that Bruce seems to be acting despondent and depressed, which should be a surprise to no one. Also don’t just throw your sandwich Tim, someone has to pick that up later.

Bruce eventually gets news that Morelli put a hit on Gordon, and rushes to save him, which seems to shock him out of his bad mood.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Batman #486 (1992)

Batman is still reeling from the “failure” Black Mask’s escape, working himself past his limits over it. His nose has been broken since the previous issue’s fight, and he won’t even bother fixing it despite the nonstop blood loss.

You’d think this would be the exact reason Tim “Batman needs a Robin” Drake is here. But he’s not.

Thicker than Water: 2

Batman Needs a Goldfish: 4

I am not thinking less of Tim for putting his dad first, quite the opposite! But I am noting how the whole ‘Batman needs a Robin’ schtick is built on telling and not showing. Never, not once, has Bruce benefitted from something only Tim could provide. There is zero evidence and continues to be zero evidence that Batman needs a Robin, and the idea that he would need a child to endanger themselves for the sake of his mental stability is a fucked up concept anyway.

All the while this fucking guy has been searching for Black Mask:

I’m speechless too.

We get some further evidence that Tim has no idea who Bruce is or what Bruce needs

Bruce fights the Metalhead weirdo in the graveyard, despite being frankly a little out of his mind with exertion, but eventually wins just as Tim and Alfred pull up.

The issue ends, though I am still desperate to know if this ridiculous villain design is gonna show up again.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Batman #485 (1992)

Lucius Fox is being held hostage by Black Mask, with Bruce undercover among Black Mask’s goons. Black Mask is declaring war on Bruce Wayne and Wayne Enterprises for buying out his company back in his origin story.

At the same time Tim is talking to the Commissioner. 

I know Tim is meant to be the eye-level character for the audience (asking questions readers might have), but why the hell does he not know who Lucius Fox is?

Meanwhile Bruce is undercover at a meeting, and this just intrigues me:

It’s 1992 and they’re hinting that Bruce is getting older, probably in his late 30s by now. Interesting.

Anyway Black Mask is starting to get suspicious of undercover!Bruce, but Bruce carried on regardless. He meets with Gordon, and it becomes clear that his fiancee really do not approve of Batman. It’s in turn starting to make Gordon question his stance on vigilantes.

Batman goes and dismisses Tim, revealing that Tim does do Robin work on school nights, unlike Jason.

Tim meets back up with Bruce in the morning, looking like the richest whitest boy I’ve ever seen since that issue where he was playing country club tennis.

That evening Black Mask interrogates Lucius about the security of Wayne Manor, and when things threaten to get too violent Bruce blows his cover. He gets Lucius out of the building but is determined to go back in and finish off Black Mask.

Get with it, Roman. Everyone knows that Bruce Wayne and Batman are in love.

So most of Black Mask’s men get captured, but the Black Mask they grab is revealed to have been a decoy and Roman is still at large.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Batman #484 (1992)

The story begins with a building that Bruce owns (an upscale jeweler’s, because the Waynes own fucking everything in Gotham I guess) being attacked by masked arsonists, but not robbed. 

Seeing his ex makes Bruce feel a little bad about his whole double life thing, but then we cut away to Black Mask and his False Face Society, which is operating out of a mausoleum. Humble beginnings for our future crime lord, I see.

Then the Bat-Signal goes up.

I’m glad Bruce taught Tim how to strike the perfect pose whilst grappling.

So Bruce exposits to Tim about who Roman Sionis is, because Jason was the Robin of Black Mask’s origin story. Then the two of them manage to track down and take out some of Black Mask’s men, just before we get some ridiculously bad art.

The issue ends on the reveal that Fox has been abducted by Black Mask.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Robin Annual Vol 2 #1 (1992)

We begin with Anarky scaling a building and breaking into some artist guy’s penthouse. The artist is named Pantalone, which is as unimportant as it is absurd. Anyway, Anarky attacks him with a stun rod and -

I literally can’t with this kid.

Robin arrives and frees the artist before taking off after Anarky. Apparently the black diamonds contain Eclipso’s essence, so Batman sent him to retrieve them. And then this embarrassing display happens.

Okay I’m sorry, but this is where I had to stop and not only create a new counter, but retroactively go back and tally previous issues (told you I would explain it later).

Dodo Bird: 4

Named for a creature that is helpless and also extinct, this counts the times Tim is kind of a weenie. Not when he gets beat up, but when he is beat up by someone who should be his combative inferior.

It’s a smoke bomb, Tim. Not gas, not a flash grenade, smoke! You work with these, how can they render you useless!? And then Anarky, untrained 14 year old, bumps past you (putting himself in arm’s reach) before he walks, not runs, away.

Anarky gives a black diamond to a homeless man, creating a beast that Robin destroys with a solar flashlight. Tim then does the responsible thing and calls Batman, who sends him to investigate Anarky’s place at the delinquent center. 

He finds Anarky’s computer and uses his keen investigative and hacking skills to access the files.

Inspiring. Truly he is the Smart Robin™.

Tim doesn’t actually find anything on the computer though, and in the meantime Anarky makes demands of the mayor before destroying a bridge. Tim is sent to investigate Anarky’s old neighborhood and finds his lair where fortunately, the evil scheme is literally spelled out.

Tim goes (by himself, because Batman’s communication is down for no reason given except to contrive Tim being alone) and attacks Anarky, causing the diamond to get dropped and possess a civilian. Eventually he defeats the resulting monster with a solar-powered car and captures Anarky for the police.

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Is there gonna be a fuckboy counter?

Yes

[whothefuckistimdrake]

Counter Roundup #3

Ambiguous Disorder: 6

Baby Detective: 12

Batman Needs A Goldfish: 3

Batmentor: 10

Boy Wonderbread: 3

Career Aptitude Mess: 2

Ghost of Failures Past: 3

Good Birb: 7

Loneliest Rich Boy: 6

Not My Robin: 3

Nerdbird: 2

School is for Squares: 4

Stalkerazzi: 7

Sue Syndrome: 1

Thicker than Water: 1