well this thread's turned out alright after all, there are some quality ideas in here.
That said, 20 pages in perhaps a gentle reminder might not be out of place
........
this topic is NOT about whether Robin SHOULD be introduced. We've gone over that many times and I've made a new thread to keep that stuff out of here.
if you really are against including Robin then please use this thread to explain how you'd make the best of the decision rather than just opposing it
So, the inclusion of The Vigilantes in TDK is a natural first step/exploration of the themes tied to Robin or any junior sidekick in general. The film is already confronting the issues head on. so after TDK I don't think the plausibility or the potential merit of involving Robin will be so laughable as it appears now.
Here's an outline of the basic elements I would include in a modern Robin, appearing in a new trilogy. A WIP checklist of fundamentals.
-
Tones of Jason Todd: arrogant, reckless, 'a danger if not harnessed for good'
-
A multidisciplinary circus background; acrobatics, exhibition/tournament combat, knife throwing, stunt riding. He's had a headstart on Bruce because he was raised as a circus all-rounder since birth. Physically gifted in the extreme and a fast learner of new physical skills.
-
Bruce is actively scouting for an understudy; through a Wayne Corp scholarship he discreetly manages several initiviatives to locate and train new talent, the Grayson Circus being but one of many. ASBR has this much correct; Bruce is nothing if not obssesivvly prepared, and this "I work alone" nonsense is outdated and inconsistent and eventually it just gets stale.
-
When Dick's parents are killed, Bruce KNOWS that from a shortlist of star candidates only Dick has the final and most crucial qualification for the job. Problem is he's young, ready before schedule so he'll need a to be taken in early and trained in secret preparation for a few years before making his debut. Too bad he's 17, stupid, vengeful and insubordinate.
-
Dick is NOT 'adopted'. He does not become a 'ward' to a vapid, selfish hedonistic 30yr old playboy, this is not 1939 and it does not make any sensel. Instead, Dick is put up in a Wayne-funded boarding school/sports training acedemy and Bruce pays him begrudging visits as conditions of the scholarship as well as Bruces new role as 'juvenile mentor', which incidentlly is earning him a nice boost in the media slash public opinion. Eventually Bruce and Dick form a genuine bond, partly because of shared history and circumstance, but mainly because Bruce knows
exactly what he's doing with this child. Bruce uses his boys toys for an initial advantage; cars, bikes, exotic weapons etc, and when Dick is oddly unimpressed by Bruce's disposable women and shallow lifestyle, they confirm to each other that there is a connection somewhere deeper and now it's time for the fake walls to come down. Eventually it's not so much father-son thing as it is a brother-to-brother, older role model or mentor type thing which eventually becomes master-to-student, captain-to-soldier, knight-to-squire. If you seriously think a confused 17yr old orphan cannot look up to a 30yr old veteran with genuine admiration, respect and obediance, then you've never worked in a
proffesional environment or SEEN A SINGLE MILITARY MOVIE. The old father-son dynamic is restrictive, naivly simplistic and so overdone it's become cheesy.
Combine the elements above with the themes and questions raised by the vigilantes in TDK...and you can see how the proccess behind 'Robin' actually begins to make alot of perfect sense. Moving on..
-
The costume should be fundamentally identical to Tim Drake's, just make it real, practical, flesh it out and add details and flourishes and it will look great in execution. The domino mask, flowing hair and bright colours are absolutely critical to the visual translation of what the Robin represents. Fortunately when you're playing with Robin you're also playing with a considerably higher suspension of belief, particularily in regards to Batman Begins for example. It's supposed be fun, it's a classic look and it deserves to be permitted and updated with respect.
-
Batman glides; Robin uses free frunning and an 'aerial motorbike'. this differentiates Robin from Batman, builds on his circus background and urban environments and looks cool in action sequences.
-
Robin carries a quarterstaff, nunchuks, throwing knives and a non-lethal rifle which makes him look a boy scout or a young Daniel Boone when he's aiming it at buildings. Robin's main strengths are his balls, his emotional maturity and his acrobatics; he hasn't had the extensive combat training Batman has so the weapons help substitute. He has a parachute in his back and a flare device in his cape used for blinding & confusing or creating a diversion that allows Batman to do his thing. Robin's main weaknesses are in logic and investigation. This is what Batman must concentrate his teaching on, it is the hardest to learn. Patience, theory, mental rigour and acuity.
To the public eye, Robin dazzles; he needs to look emboldening, chivalrous, exotic and commanding. The embroidered costume, the colours, the faint shimmerring light coming off him (from the flare cape) are all a part of that. He's a herald to the bogeyman and the public face of the dynamic duo; you always know that The Bat is lurking somewhere close behind him, that's why crooks fear and respect him and why citizens LOVE him.
