Summary
DC Comicsis home to some of the most magnificent comic book characters ever. Within the ranks of the DC universe are the likes of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, to name a few. For over seventy-five years, the caped heroes of DC Comics have lined colorful pages and gone on exciting adventures, picking up dozens of new heroes along the way.
In Batman’s wing of the comic book universe, he and a team of vigilantes serve Gotham City, dishing out hard justice to the criminal underbelly. Some members of this team serve as The Dark Knight’s sidekicks, known asRobin. There have been several Robins in the DC universe, some shining examples of what heroes should be and others who fall short. It takes commitment, bravery, and a strong will to be a Robin, and not all are always up to the task.
Updated June 09, 2025 by Ben Painter:Batman & Robin is perhaps the most iconic partnership in media history, parodied and copied throughout various forms of movies, TV shows, and comic books.
Robin is the loyal sidekick to Batman. The first one, Dick Grayson, was simply a drop in the ocean of all the different iterations of the Boy Wonder in the decades that the character has been on the page and screen. This update adds even more Robins to the list, including some even the most dedicated fans won’t have heard of.
28Boyd The Robin Wonder
Just One Appearance And Little Is Known About Him
In the wacky world of Earth-C-Minus, the characters of the DC universe are replaced with animals; Batman becomes Batmouse, Superman becomes Super-Squirrel, and Robin becomes Boyd, the Robin Wonder.
Not much is known about this version of the character, but in the universe of the Just’a Lotta Animals, he becomes an actual bird, using his regular counterpart’s namesake.His mortal enemy is the Porker, and Batmouse and his avian ward appear to have had many animal-themed battles with him over the years. Due to the underutilization of this character, there is no justification for ranking him any higher.
27Robert Chang
A Single Issue Robin
Batman: Digital Justiceis a one-shot series set in the 21st century, which follows on from the mainline Batman continuity. The Batman of this universe is James Gordon II, who was inspired to become Batman after seeing his grandfather’s (James Gordon) newspaper clippings of The Dark Knight.
He was joined by Robert Chang, a former street punk who became an informant for the police, using his hoverboard to aid in his crime-fighting. Both Batman and Robin take on this universe’s Joker, which is a computer virus, created by the man himself to continue his reign of terror after he is gone. Chang has not appeared since this issue, so he can’t be awarded with a high ranking.
A Forgettable Robin Who Lasted One Issue
This one is for the most hardcore of fans, as Lance Bruner only appeared in comics in May 1969. After his father died, Bruce Wayne decided to adopt Bruner. (Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?). However, despite his best efforts, Batman could not set the troubled Bruner on the right path.
Bruner made a deal with the international criminal Grantland Stark to monitor Batman and Robin in exchange for moneyas a revenge plot on Bruce. When the Dynamic Duo tried to apprehend this criminal, Robin was shot. Thus, Bruner donned a Robin outfit and saw the error of his ways. Upon trying to defeat the villain, Bruner was himself shot and died as a result of his injuries. His stint as the Boy Wonder was short-lived, and he was eventually erased from continuity during one of many DC continuity re-writes.
25Rickart Graustark
The Robin Of Earth-37
This version of the character was born as Rickart Graustark, a former acrobat who left the circus and changed his name to Richard Grayson. Sound familiar? Instead of being the partner to Batman, Robin aids Batgirl in her protection of Gotham City.
He lasted just three issues of the Thrillkiller series, being killed by the Joker, an act which would inspire Bruce Wayne to take up the mantle of Batman. In this universe, he is a detective whose parents were killed by his servants, thus leading him to pursue a career in law enforcement.
The Mainstream Batman’s Former Attire Before Being Written Out Of Continuity
Yes, it is that one. One story back in 1955 explained that when Bruce Wayne was younger, he was actually Robin, even donning a similar costume to the one that his Robin, Dick Grayson, wore.
Much like Dick Grayson did with Bruce Wayne, a young Bruce followed in the footsteps of a police detective known as Harvey Harris, who trained him in the ways of sleuthing, setting Wayne on his course to be Batman. Of course, this has been written out of continuity now. Batman was never Robin in today’s iteration of the character.
Owlman’s Robin Who Proved Himself In Joining The Teen Titans
Talon is not the namesake character that is a member of the Court of Owls; rather, this Talon is the sidekick of Owlman. Owlman, also known as Thomas Wayne Jr, was Batman’s evil counterpart from Earth-3 who was a member of the twisted Crime Syndicate.
Owlman had his own companion to assist in his evil schemes.This wasn’t Robin, but Talon. Not much is known about the character, as he has only had a few appearances in comics. What fans do know is that he entered a relationship with Duela Dent, the daughter of the Jokester the hero version of the Joker in Earth 3. This led to Talon leaving as Owlman’s partner, and he even had a stint as a member of the Teen Titans in the mainline DC universe.
22Robin John Blake
A Great Character But Being A Robin Is A Stretch
Christopher Nolan’s take on the Batman universe was a much more grounded and realistic interpretation, so it is no surprise that Batman did not use a child sidekick in his crime-fighting endeavors.
Robin was introduced inThe Dark Knight Risesby Detective John Blake, who aided Batman throughout the movie. The Caped Crusader gifted Blake with his Batcave, seemingly handing over the mantle. At the end of the film, it is revealed that Blake’s first name is Robin, a nod to the famous sidekick. It is a shame that fans may never see Robin John Blake in action as this universe’s hero.
A Super Powered Robin Is An Awesome Concept, But An Underused Character
This version of Robin is from Earth-3839, a world where heroes such as Batman and Superman were the heroes of the 40s. They were then replaced by younger versions in this sliding timeline set in the 90s.
Clark Wayne is the son of Superman, who was adopted by Bruce Wayne Jr. and raised as a Wayne. In a tale as old as time, Clark donned the Robin costume and fought crime alongside this universe’s Batman. Although Kryptonian, Clark did not have the powers of his father, which seemed like a wasted opportunity to have a superpowered boy wonder.
20Robin
A Stan Lee Robin Deserves Some Love, But Strayed Far From The Source Material
In the Early 2000s,Marvel Comics pioneer Stan Leetook his turn to reimagine some characters of the DC Comics in a series of one-shot specials known as Just Imagine. Robin was one of the characters to receive this treatment.
In this tale, Robin as he is solely known, was left at the doorstep of an orphanage and came under the control of a powerful man with mind control powers, Reverend Darrk. He takes a life of crime and, after an encounter with Batman, who tries to convince him he is being used, joins the Justice League. However, he was still working for Darrk all along and betrayed them, eventually becoming Hawkman. A very different retelling of the classic Robin story.
A Pirate Robin Deserves A Lot Of Plaudits
He was the Robin of Captain Leatherwing, captain of the Flying Fox. This tale in the 90s brought a 17th-century pirate, swashbuckling twist to the characters of the DC Universe. Batman becomes Captain Leatherwing, batting arms against the evil pirate the Laughing Man.
Robin Redblade appeared in just two issues of the Elseworlds story, but it is safe to say that a sword-wielding, pirate Robin is a cool concept and one that should be explored further. Other characters in this universe include Captain Felina (Catwoman), Admiral Cobblepot (the Penguin), and Alfredo (err…Alfred).
