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One 12 months on Tim Drake’s birthday, Batman did the worst factor {that a} mentor might do to his sidekick: he made Robin unable to belief himself.
Whereas coaching the third Robin, Tim Drake, Batman proved precisely why he is not match for parenting or mentoring kids. Whereas some might argue that the demise of Jason Todd was his largest mistake, Batman’s continued mistreatment of Robins exemplifies his true priorities.
Batman’s failures in parenting can typically be chalked as much as his personal lack of stability rising up. As a mentor, he’s forgetful at finest and ruthless at worst. Batman has made dozens of guarantees through the years following occasions he vows “By no means once more” to, however his lack of emotional consciousness typically places his Robins in danger. This involves a head with a specific “coaching train” he duties Tim Drake with—on his birthday of all days.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
The coaching train that nearly makes Tim Drake stop Robin for good takes place in Robin #116-120 by Jon Lewis, Pete Woods, and Andrew Pepoy. On Tim’s sixteenth birthday, he receives a present from a mysterious stranger—a field that may’t be opened. Initially believing it’s a bomb, Tim’s first intuition is to get it as removed from his household as potential. This highlights the tragic psychological well being actuality of being Robin: even on his birthday, Tim can by no means take a day without work. When the field lastly does open, it reveals a holographic video of Alfred from the apocalyptic close to future, explaining that somebody near him will betray him and that it’s as much as Tim to forestall these occasions from unfolding. This places an awesome quantity of stress on Tim, resulting in him to distrust everybody: Batman, Batgirl, Spoiler, even Nightwing. He spends a number of days and nights spying on his allies, ready for certainly one of them to slide up.
Batman Pushes His Robins To Be Like Him
Ultimately, Robin discovers that Bruce himself is behind all of it and offers Batman a well-deserved chewing out for deceiving him. Unperturbed, Batman congratulates Tim on passing the “check.” On account of this expertise, Robin hardly is aware of who or what to belief. When Tim Drake calls out Batman for setting him up, Bruce corrects him: “Coaching, Robin… Not a setup, not a trick… it was all a part of the module.” As Robin questions what his actuality has been for the previous ten days, Batman admonishes somewhat than apologizes, mentioning all the issues that would’ve “simply” been debunked. Having had sufficient, Tim quits on the spot.
Batman Solely Cares About The Mission, Not His Household
Sadly, the longer he considers it, the extra Tim realizes that quitting Robin means quitting crucial relationships in his life: an older brother in Dick, a father determine in Bruce, mainly all his hero associates. He’ll haven’t any purpose to see them out of costume. So, ultimately, Tim “sees purpose” and dons the Robin costume as soon as extra. What’s worse is that Batman expects it and when Tim tells Bruce he received’t even ask for an apology, he responds, “I hope not.” It’s tales like this that showcase the extra abusive elements of Batman, manipulating his sidekicks to the purpose that even when he hurts them essentially the most, they maintain returning to his facet.
This methodology of “coaching” doesn’t develop Tim’s abilities of detection like Bruce believes it does. As an alternative, it acts as a set off for Tim’s already harmful ranges of paranoia and exhibits Bruce’s lack of regard for the psychological stability of his younger sidekicks. Even when Tim is conscious of Bruce’s abusive conduct, he is aware of that Batman has made his life higher. And as a consequence of Batman’s coaching, Tim is the proper Robin—one who turns into extra like Batman each day.
Whereas Batman would be the World’s Best Detective, his detection of feelings is significantly poor. Relatively than supporting his sidekicks and naturally encouraging them to develop their strengths, Batman resorts to manipulation techniques that solely drive his Robins additional away.