# Why always Robin? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-books-manga\ **Created:** [May 8, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767 "2023-05-08T20:21:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/1 "2023-05-08T20:21:56Z")
Is there an in-world reason all of Dick Grayson’s successors accept being called Robin? Why didn’t Jason, Tim, or Damien say “Sure Bruce, I’ll fight crime with you, but if I’m going to be named after a bird it’s going to be something cool like Falcon, not some dumb songbird that goes tweet tweet.” ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/2 "2023-05-08T20:26:44Z")
They considered a badge of honor? And more of a transferable title than a name? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/3 "2023-05-08T20:31:51Z")
Batman is NOT going to be overshadowed by an assistant with a cooler name. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/4 "2023-05-08T20:37:26Z")
Robin did change his _nom de héro_ to Nightwing. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/5 "2023-05-08T20:38:51Z")
Well, Dick Grayson did, when he ceased being Robin. The OP’s asking about Grayson’s successors to the role as Batman’s sidekick. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/6 "2023-05-08T21:36:13Z")
Because the brand is “Batman and Robin”. I mean, who the fuck are “Batman and Falcon”? ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/7 "2023-05-08T21:40:27Z")
Also, “Falcon” is easily turned into something like “you Falcon idiot!” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/8 "2023-05-08T21:42:06Z")
Not to mention being the pre-existing name for a superhero for the other major comic company. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/9 "2023-05-08T22:31:14Z")
Sure, branding is important, but sometimes you’ve got to update your brand name and logo to stay current. _Batman and Barn Owl_ would make a bad-ass crime-fighting duo. _Batman and Sea Cucumber_…not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/10 "2023-05-08T22:32:19Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > _Batman and Sea Cucumber_…not so much. But Aquaman and Sea Cucumber…watch out! ---
**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/11 "2023-05-08T22:35:56Z")
Tim did go by Red Robin for awhile. I’ve always kind of thought of the time working with Batman as the Robin years, and they only “earn” their own hero name after they’ve spent enough time being tortured by Bruce. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/12 "2023-05-08T22:37:16Z")
True, Sea Cucumber could help Aquaman escape precarious situations by eviscerating his intestines…but, I’m not so sure that would make good cinema. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/13 "2023-05-08T22:59:19Z")
I’d just suspect they aren’t in the position to make that demand. Dick was an established fighter who goes off to work for himself, so he can change his name. But, if you want to work with Batman, it seems you have to be Robin. I could see Damian complaining about the name, though. At least, based on the _Battle of the Super Sons_ movie. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/14 "2023-05-08T23:01:36Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > _Batman and Barn Owl_ would make a bad-ass crime-fighting duo. Who? . ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/15 "2023-05-08T23:01:49Z")
I’d just like to note for the record that Robin was _not_ originally named after the bird, but rather in honor of one Robin of Locksley, an early proponent of the redistribution of capital - which in retrospect, makes his association with a certain billionaire playboy somewhat ironic. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/16 "2023-05-08T23:02:42Z")
_Batman and Blue-Footed Booby_ has a nice ring to it, while sticking to the avian theme. And, for reasons I can’t quite comprehend, it has a somewhat titillating vibe to it. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47774/32.png) [@epbrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/17 "2023-05-08T23:07:11Z")
The role each of them signed up to fill is Batman’s sidekick “Robin.” If they don’t want the role, they can go do their own thing in their own costume - it’s what Batgirl did. Jason and Tim (and later Carrie Kelly) were looking for that specific job. The only person I can see considering a new name would be Damien, and he’d have gone an entirely different route if he had. As he grew to admire Nightwing/Dick Grayson, he became more disposed to being Robin. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/18 "2023-05-08T23:14:22Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > but rather in honor of one Robin of Locksley, Hence the Olde English way his name was spelled out in the titles. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/19 "2023-05-08T23:21:52Z")
In grittier, more cynical versions of the property, the answer is something like “because they’re nameless and faceless, existing only to sacrifice and eventually be killed or crippled in service to a mad vigilante.” ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2023, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767/20 "2023-05-08T23:38:18Z")
It’s marginally less obvious when Bruce Wayne gets a new “ward” but Batman still has a masked kid named Robin. If _new kid_ turned up the same time as _new sidekick_ the cover story gets _really_ weak. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-always-robin/983767.md?page=2)