The Best Robin Isn’t In Any Official DC Movie Or Show, See The Proof
Fan fiction offers exciting new takes on previously established characters and narratives, and it’s often so good that it sets up shop rent-free in our heads. The Grayson fan film from 2004 is, as it turns out, one such example, since it captures the passion and creativity of comic book enthusiasts and fans alike while portraying Robin in a much better way than any official DC movie or show. If you don’t believe us, watch it yourself.
Fans of the Batman comics and all possible adaptations across different media have seen a wide range of Robin interpretations, and each one brought something unique to the table. However, the Grayson fan film offers a unique rendition that many fans would argue outshines all previous and current iterations. This isn’t all that surprising, given Warner Bros.’s lack of creative vision for the character and the fact that most great Robin performances go to voice actors credited with animated iterations of the character.
Despite a limited budget, Fiorella managed to craft a visually compelling piece that rivals, and in some aspects, even surpasses the things we’ve seen in official DC movies.
In fact, the last time we had a good live-action version of Robin, the character was portrayed by Douglas Croft in 1949’s Batman. Well, the Grayson fan film changes that–the short video is actually a fan-made trailer that envisions a world where Batman was killed, and it’s up to Dick Grayson to don the mantle of Robin once again and avenge Batman’s mysterious demise. The short cinematic project was directed and co-written by John Fiorella and stands as a love letter to the DC Universe and Robin.
Just like with Batman: Dead End… the Grayson fan film had a fantastic reception among audiences, with fans praising the project for its originality, emotional depth, and a rather faithful representation of the comic book world.
The Grayson fan film showcases the maturity and depth of Robin that still haven’t been explored in live-action movies, where the character is reduced to a mere side-kick or worse—the comic relief. So, unlike the typical portrayal of Robin in mainstream releases, in the Grayson fan film, we are introduced us to a more seasoned and battle-hardened hero. This only partially captures his essence from the comics, where Dick Grayson becomes Nightwing.
Another aspect of the Grayson fan film that makes it stand out is its relatively high production value for a fan project. Despite a limited budget, Fiorella managed to craft a visually compelling piece that rivals, and in some aspects, even surpasses the things we’ve seen in official DC movies. Moreover, Grayson features a roster of DC characters who admittedly have been present in various live-action adaptations at the time but weren’t featured collectively in a single cinematic piece.
DC Comics prevented the trailer from being showcased at the 2004 San Diego Comic-Con, despite the massive publicity the Grayson fan film had generated.
Just like with Batman: Dead End, which is another fan project, the Grayson fan film had a fantastic reception among audiences, with fans praising the project for its originality, emotional depth, and a rather faithful representation of the comic book world. It now stands, along with the aforementioned fan project, as a testament to the fact that fan-made projects can easily match official productions in narrative quality while also offering a rather fresh take on the previously established heroes and their backstories.
Even more interesting is the fact that DC Comics prevented the trailer from being showcased at the 2004 San Diego Comic-Con, despite the massive publicity the Grayson fan film had generated. It’s sad that no one ever did anything with such a great idea. If you’re thinking Gotham Knights, no, that’s not it.
