Putting the "Bi" in Robin - Tim Drake Pride Special #1

[icon_uk]

This special consists of reprints of the Batman: Urban Legends stories where Tim finally realises he's not exactly straight and accepts Bernard's invitation to go out on a date, as well as a new story, which includes Young Justice and Spoiler.


The Young Justice part is cute, but not wholly relevant, though it does mention that Kon and Steph talk now. (Which should worry the HELL out of Tim I feel as the mischief those two could get up to beggars belief) but he has other things on his mind, but Steph and Cass both show up to help YJ, so it's even more awkward

You see Tim has been sort of avoiding Steph of late, and not really talked to her about what's been going on in his life.I mean she knows he's dating a boy now, but they've not discussed it as they might have dicussed things back in the day.

So, after defeating a ghost elephant, as you do, they finally talk about the elephant in the room (I won't belabour the pun)



I think this is the first definite statement of Tim's orientation being bi/pan rather than gay. I think I'd assumed that was the case, but nice to have it confirmed.



Steph being happy that Tim is happy with Bernard is lovely, but I suspect he might regret it, since the stories she can tell Bernard about dating Time are probably going to be the cause of MUCH embarassment!

Comments

[janegray]

This is what I wanted. An on-page clear and direct confirmation that Tim truly loved Steph.

[nyadnar17]

It amazing how many "coming out stories" seem to miss that part is important.

[freezer]

Amen. *COUGH*willow*COUGH*

[icon_uk]

Willow and Oz do discuss how much they meant to each other in "New Moon Rising"

WILLOW: I missed you, Oz. I wrote you so many letters... but I didn't have any place to send them, you know? .. I couldn't live like that.

OZ: It was stupid to think that you'd just be... waiting.

WILLOW: I was waiting. I feel like some part of me will always be waiting for you. Like if I'm old and blue-haired, and I turn the corner in Istanbul and there you are, I won't be surprised. Because... you're with me, you know?

OZ: I know. But now is not that time, I guess.

WILLOW:(shakes her head) No.

Not a great episode on many levels, but I did like that they both part knowing what they had was special and real just, no longer something she is looking for, but Oz will always be a part of her life.

[blues32]

"You're real"? I do hope he was joking. Did he really think that Tim just made up a girlfriend? Does Tim seem like that much of a loser?

[icon_uk]

Yeah, I'm taking that as teasing.

[shakalooloo]

Well, if someone told you about an old girlfriend who was a rooftop-swinging vigilante, you might think they're making stuff up!

[zachbeacon]

I assume he didn't disclose that.

But "she has a supervillain dad who was technically in the Justice League" is a matter of public record and it would sound made-up anywhere but Gotham.

[zachbeacon]

Honestly, given how much he used to separate Robin from Tim*, I could totally see people assuming that his rarely-seen girlfriend is a fiction. Especially people who know he was bi and either in the closet or in denial.

*Aside from outliers like when Alfred quit working for Bruce and became a regular in Tim's comic.

[leahandillyana]

Bernard is a paper puppet without a personality who will be forgotten as soon as the bi Robin hype fades. They are not even trying to tell a proper story fleshing out him as a character, the way they did with Jay over at Superman. Jay is a good character (even if the romance feels rushed), Bernard is less of a character than he was in Robin in the 00s.

[nyadnar17]

Well yeah.

He's Tim Drake's "girlfriend" as far as story telling purposes go. But a lot of characters we appreciate today basically started out life as paper cutouts.

I overtime his characterization will get fleshed out more, but right now his purpose is too look pretty, provide Tim with dating angst, and eventually get kidnapped.

[beyondthefringe]

But he was ALREADY kidnapped.
And Tim angsted about telling Stephanie.
And he looks pretty.
So... 3/3 comic book love interest achieved.

[icon_uk]

I mean, he can be kidnapped again... maybe with his boyfriend as a bondage... I mean BONDING exercise!

[thezmage]

I might be interested in seeing a story like that...

[icon_uk]

Indeed, the potential hijinks inherent in a trained escape artist not being able to tip his hand too much in case his boyfriend starts to suspect could be delightful!

[lego_joker]

This makes him different from 99% of superhero characters because…?

(The really funny thing is, that description applies to Tim himself pretty well, at least in comparison to the other members of the Batfam. There’s a reason he’s usually the first casualty whenever the reboot/adaptation people are looking to trim the fat.)

[icon_uk]

Not helped by the genuinely godawful new origin they gave him in the New52 which every single writer promptly and completely ignored with a speed which would be unseemly if it weren't such a relief.

[nyadnar17]

Wait Tim's new origin is gone? Thats rad!

[leahandillyana]

Because usually those characters are not hyped for months without any substance to them. And while I find Tim to be the least interesting member of batfam, there's a depth to his character making him an actual person rather than just a prop.

[shakalooloo]

He wasn't hyped for months. The original issue where they hooked up was published with no great fanfare. This Pride special has merely grown out of the positive reaction to it.

In the coming months he may end up growing an extra dimensionality, but as these are still super-hero comicbooks, the crime-fightin' action is always going to claim more page real-estate than the romantic side.

[icon_uk]

DC have just announced "Tim Drake: Robin" coming in September, by Meghan Fitzmartin.

[zachbeacon]

How dare you! Bernard is one of the greats. He'll be remembered alongside such major relationships as that time Dick dated his landlord.

(If anything I think the Superman comics have the opposite problem. Jay is a solid character and Teen Jon seems to have lost a lot of the personality Kid Jon had. But maybe I'm just bitter that - after voicing a desire to "do more" Superlad has mostly waved protest signs and been significantly less effective at improving the world than his powerless mother.)

[icon_uk]

Agreed he's not the most dynamic as yet, but I'll cut Jon some slack because he's still very early in a public superhero career with the most high profile codename on the planet, and is still learning to cope with things like "How to deal with the trauma of people being blown up in front of you by Bendix"

[blues32]

Seriously, there are SO many things Jon could do that could help the Earth that are both more or less legal and don't involve waving a sign about. Clean trash out of the ocean! Put out wild fires all over the globe. Hell, go to the polar ice caps and put the old freeze breath to use. Jon is one of the most powerful beings on the planet, capable of moving at blind speeds, tolerate hostile conditions, and so on. If he's going to winge about it, he should do something productive to help.

[zachbeacon]

I know, right?

Putting aside how far to the left Siegel and Shuster’s Superman was compared to Jon “why didn’t you do more, dad?” Kent … remember that Alex Ross and Paul Dini OGN where Superman tries to feed everyone on Earth? Or those Dan Jurgens “Metropolis Mailbag" stories where we found out he responded to fan mail by using his powers to improve peoples’ lives?

Then there are all the powerful people who want Lois dead.

Sit down, Jon. You’re embarrassing yourself.

[iamrman]

Well, this was just lovely. I hope Steph and Bernard hang out more and Steph tells him all the embarrassing stories.

[forestcatdreams]

This is so adorable I'm melting! <3 <3

[zachbeacon]

Drawing Tim like he's in a BL manga sure is a choice.

Glad he's speaking to Steph again.

Honestly, Tim and Steph are right there with Dick and Babs for me. There might be other relationships. I might even like some of them. I still know the other relationships won't last. They're the default pairing for good reason.

[deepspaceartist]

100% agreed. I love Tim being bi, but no one will ever dethrone Steph as his top romantic relationship. It's like trying to put Clark with someone other than Lois, it can just never be the same.

[leahandillyana]

On the other hand, nearly every elseworld in existence breaks Lois and Clark in favour of Clark and Diana, with the only exeption turning Clark female and adding Lana to the relationship...

[zachbeacon]

So clearly we need more Elseworlds with the mermaid.

(Superman/Wonder Woman is almost as bad as Wolverine/Jean in terms of pairings I just don't get.)

[scorntx]

We need more Elseworlds where Superman dies and Diana and Lois start a relationship.

[zachbeacon]

I mean, they do both care a lot about the truth.

If Nu52 Lois hadn't died immediately in the Superwoman series, I could have seen her and Lana being a thing.

[arilou_skiff]

I mean, that's sorta the point of Elseworld's isn't it? To get a chance to get your crackships on.

[bradygirl_12]

Aww, this is sweet! 🥰

[kurenai_tenka]

Nice of them to clarify whether he was gay/bi.

That said.... Tim's 'I didn't just like you because of your gender' line... iiiis the implication that straight men are usually just like... 'ah yes, that sure is a woman!' (and visa versa) and that's the extent of their interest lol?