Batman Could Only Ever Be Replaced By This DC Hero
Over the years, Batman has built a team of helpers and field agents affectionally known as the “Bat Family” to assist him in keeping Gotham safe from the clowns (both literal and figurative) that threaten the city on a regular basis. And while most of them would make a worthy “emergency Batman” should the need arise, only one of Batman’s proteges has what it takes to pick up the mantle of the Dark Knight when he finally takes a permanent dirt nap. The only worthy successor to the pointy-eared cowl is none other than Tim Drake, AKA Red Robin, AKA Robin #3.
Only one of Batman’s proteges has what it takes to pick up the mantle of the Dark Knight and that is Tim Drake, AKA Red Robin.
First and foremost, Batman’s successor should be a Robin. With most of them being his honorary children—and one being his actual flesh and blood offspring—the Robins are the natural successors to the title of Caped Crusader. Other members of the Bat Family are either too undisciplined to be Batman, like Harley Quinn or Clown Killer, or just don’t fit the mold, like Clayface.
That just leaves the four main DC continuity Robins. Technically, Stephanie Brown was also Robin for a time after giving up her Spoiler persona, but she was never a great fit in the role and is much better in her current role, sharing the moniker Batgirl with Cassandra Cain. So four contenders, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, but only one—Tim Drake—is truly worthy to continue on the Batman identity.
First off, we have Dick Grayson, the greatest natural acrobat in the DC universe. Dick certainly has the physical chops to replace his adopted father, and he’s also the Robin with the most experience. There’s just one problem: he doesn’t want to be Batman.
There was a period before DC’s current continuity when Dick Grayson did adopt the Batman persona for a stretch while Bruce Wayne was displaced in time. He did fine in the role, but thanks to his sense of humor and generally lighter tone than Batman, he just wasn’t a perfect fit.
Dick Grayson can’t put the “Dark” in Dark Knight, and that’s ok. Grayson worked hard to establish himself as the solo vigilante Nightwing and, barring another emergency, has no desire to fill Bat-Dad’s shoes.
While it’s true that Drake lacks Damian’s combat skills, Jason’s killer instinct, and Dick’s natural acrobatic ability, he makes up for all of it by excelling in one crucial area: his detective skills.
Next, we have Jason Todd, the Robin who has gone through the most trauma during his tenure as a crime fighter. Getting beaten to death with a crowbar courtesy of the Joker tends to give a person a rather dour outlook on life. If Dick Grayson inherited Batman’s agility, then Jason Todd represents Bruce Wayne’s dark side, his brutality when it comes to dealing with crime.
Jason Todd, in his Red Hood persona, is the only member of the Bat Family to use guns—a practice strictly frowned upon by Batman. That alone should disqualify him from taking over as Batman should Bruce Wayne croak. Despite his penchant for firearms, Todd isn’t even the biggest edge lord in the running…
That would be lil’ Damian Wayne. If anyone is least suited for the job of Batman, it’s Bruce Wayne’s own flesh and blood demon-spawn. Damian is a murderer.
He was trained by the League of Assasins to be a brutal killer, and he carries a sword, which is admittedly badass but kind of breaks Batman’s rules against decapitating opponents. Damian Wayne is a full-on psychopath and should never be given the Batman cowl, even as a joke.
Tim Drake is the only Robin capable of mimicking Batman’s ability to anticipate what’s going to happen before it happens and make contingency plans based on every possible outcome.
This leads us to Batman’s true successor, Tim Drake. While it’s true that Drake lacks Damian’s combat skills, Jason’s killer instinct, and Dick’s natural acrobatic ability, he makes up for all of it by excelling in one crucial area: his detective skills.
While it often gets downplayed in the movies and on TV, Batman is the world’s greatest detective with a mind that only Tim Drake can match. Drake has such a gifted intellect and such high powers of deduction that he is the only Robin to figure out that Batman is Bruce Wayne before getting the job! Drake was able to deduce the secret identities of other heroes as well, including the Huntress, Shazam!, and even the Flash.
Tim Drake is the only Robin capable of mimicking Batman’s ability to anticipate what’s going to happen before it happens and make contingency plans based on every possible outcome. He’s a master of forensics, criminology, and escapology on par with Batman himself and, perhaps more importantly, was the first Robin to demand pants!
For all those reasons, and too many others to list here, the one truly worthy successor to the mantle of the Bat is Timothy Jackson Drake.
