'The Batman' Just Introduced Robin Right Under Our Noses

 

While not being officially affirmed by director Matt Reeves, who, in fact, denied it was his intention at all, Robin has ostensibly made his live-action, onscreen debut for the first time in 25 years in 2022's The Batman.

The iconic sidekick to Batman, Robin last made a cinematic appearance in Joel Schumacher's 1997 flop Batman & Robin. Equipped with all the right ingredients for a commercial and critical failure, including but not limited to built-in nipples on the costume, Batman & Robin turned out to be one of the worst Batman movies to date, second only to Adam West's 1966 film in box office terms. This failure symbolized the death of the cinematic Robin for decades, until potentially today.

Batman fans might point out, however, that a version of "Robin" appeared in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises and at least his costume in Zack Snyder's Batman v. Superman. But neither truly brought to the screen the darkly complex mentorship that is the relationship between the Dynamic Duo. Robin is the lead character in the TV show Titans as well but again, his recognizable colors and "R" logo have been shunned by the past few Batman filmmakers.

So are we finally going to see Robin on the big screen again? I actually think so.

Fans have already pointed out the possibility with the hints in the new film, and Matt Reeves's denial of this rumor could very well be a ploy to keep from spoiling a surprise in a sequel. The hints, after all, are a bit on-the-nose.

The first character to appear on screen in the film, for instance, is the son of Mayor Mitchell. Played by Archie Barnes, who is credited only as "Mitchell's son," the character dons a red costume and swings around a sword, characteristics featured prominently in many Robin iterations. The Riddler later murders the mayor in his misguided crusade to fight corruption, and the son is left fatherless. While it is a deviation from the comic-book origin of Robin, whose parents fell from sabotaged trapeze swings, both characters are left with murdered paternal figures, and Bruce Wayne/Batman is there both times showing sympathy. This sympathy, at least in the comics, is the seed that leads to Wayne's adoption of Dick Grayson/Robin and his subsequent training as protégé to the World's Greatest Detective. In The Batman, Wayne sees the child at the murder scene and later at the funeral, locking eyes with him in a moment of pained understanding. This could very well be that same sympathetic spark, as Bruce Wayne relives the death of his own parents.

In this same scene, the Riddler literally crashes the funeral as a car comes careening into the building. Wayne rushes to save the child, who was in the collision course. This, again, establishes a connection between Bruce and the fatherless son, who is literally given a second chance at life, and may figuratively, if Bruce does, in fact, adopt him in the sequel.

Finally, at the end of the film, when Batman collides with the Riddler's cult-like followers in the flooded auditorium where they attempt to assassinate mayor-elect Bella Reál, and explosives nearly crumble the entire building, the child, as well as Reál and many other citizens, are trapped beneath the rubble. Batman lights a flare and extends his hand to help them out. In an act of rescue and an attempt to redefine his image, Batman showcases hope to the people of Gotham. It's just a matter of whether they accept him as that symbol. The first to take his hand, and accept his status as Gotham's redeemer, is the child. The mayor-elect watches this occur. She is the second to take Batman's hand. So in a sense, both Bruce and the child serve as that symbol of hope to Gotham. The latter was merely the bridge between the two.

Flanked by the new mayor and Robin, Batman leads the people of Gotham out of the darkness.

The question at this point is: which Robin is this? Batman fans know that several characters have taken on the mantle of Robin in the comics, like Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne, among many others. So who is this? If, in fact, Reeves is telling the truth and did not intend for this character to be Robin, then nothing is yet set in stone. Therefore, the character ought to be Dick Grayson, the very first Robin. Given that Reeves's Batman is only in year two of his vigilante career, no other Robin has likely been established. Moreover, the origin almost mirrors that of Grayson's in the comics. So it only makes sense that it be him. While his last name is implied to be Mitchell, that idea can always be retconned. He could have been adopted or taken his mother's maiden name.

Either way, it would be nonsensical at this point not to pursue a Robin narrative.

Some have argued against this, however, and that the wish for the child to be Robin is just that -- wishful thinking. That fans are simply looking for easter eggs and sequel hints rather than narrative or thematic points. Reeves himself has stated that the boy is a reflection of Bruce when his parents died. But I think while that is very true -- that Bruce sees himself in the child -- Archie Barnes's role does not end there. In many ways, Robin is what Batman was -- helpless, orphaned, and traumatized. That is exactly why Bruce takes him under his wing. Pun intended.

It's about time Robin is given justice on the big screen. Take this opportunity to do it right, Reeves. Your Batman is riddled with potential.

Pun intended.