Caped Crusaders Batman and Robin have been busy fighting crime together for years, but now the focus of the story has shifted to Robin’s private life, as he explores his sexuality.
In the latest edition of DC Comics’ series Batman: Urban Legends, character Tim Drake, who is the third version of Robin, is seen accepting an offer of a date from a male friend.
“There’s been a bunch of conversations about whether or not he’s been queer-coded throughout time and this just felt like the piece that was missing to understand Tim Drake’s story better,” writer Meghan Fitzmartin said.
I think that for Tim, he’s still figuring it out ... like, ‘Oh, this is something that I didn’t expect and would like to investigate more’, because that’s who he is as a person.
— Meghan Fitzmartin
Known as the Boy Wonder, Robin first appeared as Batman’s sidekick in 1940, and since then he has been featured in many comics depicting the DC Universe.
Fitzmartin said she is delighted DC was happy to expand his personal story and that there is no label on his sexuality.
“I think that for Tim, he’s still figuring it out ... like, ‘Oh, this is something that I didn’t expect and would like to investigate more’, because that’s who he is as a person.”
Fitzmartin said she didn’t realise what an impact this storyline would have and hopes it raises awareness that “people exist who are questioning and queer and in various states of understanding their own sexuality”.
“I want people who maybe don’t have access to this type of content to feel seen and feel heard. And I also want those who maybe have never ... knowingly met a queer person before to ... see that Tim Drake exists,” she says.
— Reuters
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