DC Comics is home to some of the most magnificent comic book characters of all time. 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 as Robin. There have been several Robins in the DC universe, some shining examples of what heroes should be and others who fell short. It takes commitment, bravery, and a strong will to be a Robin, and not all are always up to the task.

Updated November 2, 2023, by Ben Painter: Throughout the years of DC Comics, many heroes have donned the guise of Robin, The Boy Wonder. Casual fans may know of the main four: Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damien Wayne. But even in the mainline DC continuity, there are more Robins than just the famous four. That is not even touching on Robin's from Elseworld stories and different multiverses. These are the best Robins that DC Comics have produced, and when they debuted in the DC universe.

20 Lance Bruner

First Appearance: The Brave and the Bold #83 (May 1969)

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 money as 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.

19 Bruce Wayne

First Appearance: Detective Comics #27 (May 1939)

Yes, it is that one. One story back in 1955 that 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.

18 Talon (Owlman's Robin)

First Appearance: Teen Titans Vol 3 #38 (September 2006)

Talon is not the namesake character that is a member of the Court of Owls; rather this Talon was 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.

17 Robin John Blake

First Appearance: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Christopher Nolan's take on the Batman universe was a much more grounded and realistic interpretation, so there is no surprise that Batman did not use a child sidekick in his crime fighting endeavors.

Robin was introduced in The Dark Knight Rises through detective John Blake, who aided the Batman throughout the movie. The Caped Crusader gifed Blake with his Batcave, seemingly handing over the mantle. At the end of the film, it was revealed that Blake's first name was Robin, a nod to the famous sidekick. It is a shame that fans may never see Robin John Blake in action.

16 Clark Wayne

First Appearance: Superman & Batman: Generations #3 (March 1999)

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 thought crime alongside this universe's Batman. Although Kryptonian, Clark did not have the powers of his father, which seems like a wasted opportunity to have a superpowered boy wonder.

15 Robin Redblade

First Appearance: Detective Comics Annual #7 (June 1994)

He was the Robin of Captain Leatherwing, captain of the Flying Fox. This tale in the 90s brought a 17th century pirate, swashbuckling twist on the characters of the DC Universe. Batman becomes Captain Leatherwing batting arms against the 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 of this universe include Captain Felina (Catwoman), Admiral Cobblepot (the Penguin) and Alfredo (err...Alfred).

14 Stephanie Brown

First Appearance: Detective Comics #647 (June 1992)

To say Stephanie Brown has a complicated DC Comics history is an understatement. She was a down-on-her-luck teen in Gotham City with a supervillain father: Cluemaster. Stephanie adopted her own vigilante persona as the Spoiler, which led her into a romantic situation with Tim Drake. Through a series of events, Batman would take Stephanie under his wing, and partner with her as the fourth Robin when Tim Drake was forced to retire.

Unfortunately, Stephanie’s time with the world's greatest detective was short-lived, as she disobeyed a direct order and was fired. Stephanie’s issue with Batman went even further when she took it upon herself to enact one of Batman’s plans to wipe out crime in Gotham. This wound up getting her brutally injured, and placed countless lives in danger.

13 Tom Wayne

First Appearance: Robin 3000 #1 (January 1993)

Tom Wayne is not one of the most popular Robins, but he is the Robin of the future, residing in the thirty-first century as a partner to Bruce Wayne XX. During this time, the Wayne family has returned to its former glory and are brilliant scientists and philanthropists that have elevated Gotham back to its glory days.

Tom Wayne is a brilliant member of the Wayne family, andexcels at engineering and acrobatics. He and Batman take on an alien race called the Skulp who seek to dominate the world. In a dire fight, the current Batman lost his life. Tom lost his hand and now leads a rebel group against the sinister aliens.

12 Robin, The Toy Wonder

First Appearance: Young Justice #1000000 (November 1998)

Set in the DC One Million universe, this Robin is the sidekick of Batman. In this world in the 853rd century, the plant Pluto is a giant prison overseen by this version of Batman.

He created a robot Robin to aid him in taking care of the rogue criminals of Pluto, and that robot is programmed with the personality he had as a young boy. Just like Robin is to Batman in normal continuity, The Toy Wonder serves as a reminder for Batman to never stray from the path of justice. A robot Robin is an interesting concept, and one of the more outlandish versions of the red, yellow and green sidekick.

11 Jarro

First Appearance: Justice League Vol 4 #10 (December, 2018)

One of the most unique Robins ever, Jarro is a genetic offspring off the alien super villain Starro. Batman took the creatures (Starro in a jar; i.e., Jarro) back to the Batcave for further study.

Jarro grew attached to Bruce and looked to him as his father. Jarro even at one pointed donned the red and green attire of Robin, and dreams of becoming the greatest ever Robin. It is such a shame that fans don't see much of Jarro, as he only features in three different lines of comics. A wasted opportunity.

10 King Robin

First Appearance: Dark Nights: Death Metal #2 (September 2020)

King Robin is the Robin to the Batman Who Laughs, a twisted version of Bruce Wayne who became the Joker in Earth-22. King Robin was the leader of his group of Robins who were infected versions of the character.

King Robin is also a version of Bruce Wayne who killed his parents and blamed it on the mugger. He took the Robin guise as he heard the bird chirping, and it reminded him of a 'cheer,' which is what he felt when he murdered his parents. King Robin is certainly the evilest iteration of the character.

9 Damian Wayne

First Appearance: Batman #655 (September 2006)

Damian Wayne is the son of billionaire Bruce Wayne and the demon, Talia Al Ghul. Ffor the first ten years of Damian's life, his existence was kept a secret from Batman while he endured grueling training in the League of Assassins.

Once revealed, Damian joined his father and became his new Robin. Damian's upbringing made him ruthless and cold, completely indifferent to killing. On more than one occasion, he and his father butted heads when Damian criticized his father for pulling his punches and not eliminating threats. Damian and Batman remained at odds with each other, with Damian going out on his own more than once and disobeying his father.

8 Carrie Kelly

First Appearance: The Dark Knight Returns (1986)

​​​​​In Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns, Carrie Kelly earns the role of Robin after saving an aged and battle-worn Batman’s life. Carrie did not fall into this role by chance. She was inspired by Batman’s return, made her own Robin costume, and began searching the rooftops for him to help in his mission.

Carrie was a dependable and clever young girl, but was not much of a fighter and was not as skilled as some of the Dark Knight's previous proteges. Eventually, Carrie Kelly let go of the Robin title, but remained a loyal sidekick to Batman as Catgirl and later on as Batgirl.

7 Drake Winston

First Appearance: Batman '89 #1 (October 2021)

The Batman 89 universe that resides in the DC multiverse is inspired by the 1989 Tim Burton movie Batman starring Michael Keaton. In this universe, Batman patrols Gotham dishing out harsh justice. Drake Winston was a low-level vigilante who spent his days repairing cars and his nights skulking in the dark, protecting his neighborhood.

He and Batman would meet after Drake saved Harvey Dent from a burning building. Impressed by the Dark Knight's skills, Duke offered to be his partner, and the two now protect Gotham together as Batman and Robin.

6 Matt McGinnis

First Appearance: Batman Beyond Vol 5 #1 (August 2015)

In the year 2040, Bruce Wayne retired from being Batman and passed the mantle on to Terry McGinnis in the comic series Batman Beyond. Batman Beyond originally debuted as an animated television show, but became a permanent fixture in DC Comics, thanks to its overwhelming success.

Terry McGinnis initially donned the Batman title after stealing the suit from the Batcave. Still, with hard work and dedication, he earned Bruce Wayne's respect and began patrolling the city of Neo Gotham. Matt McGinnis is Terry’s brother, and has joined his brother as his Robin and remains a loyal partner of the new dynamic duo.

5 Dexter Dent

First Appearance: Flashpoint Beyond #0 (June 2022)

In the recent Flashpoint Beyond series at DC Comics, the Flashpoint universe has been expanded, and Thomas Wayne as the Batman character has been explored further. In this world, Bruce Wayne was killed, and the rift he left behind forced his father to become Batman and his mother to become the Joker.

This darker version of Batman has his own protégé: Dexter Dent, son of Harvey and Gilda Dent, who was saved by Batman and the Joker after his mother tried to murder him. Dexter now serves as the loyal partner to Batman and has adopted his more merciless style of crime fighting well on his way to being one of the best Robins.

4 Duke Thomas (The Signal)

First Appearance: Batman Vol 2 #21 (August, 2013)

Although Duke Thomas has never fought crime under the alias of Robin, The Signal acts as the Robin to Batman in recent DC continuity. After his parents were killed by the Joker, he joined the We Are Robin movement and donned the iconic R logo.

Batman eventually took him under his wing, but he declined on becoming a Robin choosing to form his own identity, the Signal. This is a reference to his Metahuman ability of Photokinesis meaning he can manipulate, absorb, and redistribute both light and shadow. As a Robin-like character with powers, he is deserving of a high ranking.

3 Dick Grayson

First Appearance: Detective Comics #38 (April 1940)

Dick Grayson needs no introduction. As the first Robin, he set the standard for all who followed in his footsteps and became the partner of the world’s greatest detective. Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson shared traumatic childhoods that bonded them. When Bruce Wayne adopted the young ward after the death of his parents, he involved him in his vigilante mission to clean up Gotham City.

With Grayson’s history in gymnastics, he took to being the boy wonder naturally. He was fast, witty, and genuinely enjoyed making a difference. But as Grayson matured, he grew to disapprove of the ways Batman would operate, and the two split. Dick Grayson remains the strongest and most skilled Robin (proven in Battle for the Cowl), but he has grown so much as a character. He has become his own man, taking up the mantle of Nightwing to distance himself from Batman.

2 Jason Todd

First Appearance: Batman #357 (March 1983)

Jason Todd was the second Robin and perhaps the most tragic of proteges taken on by Batman. Jason would meet the caped crusader while trying to steal the wheels off of the Batmobile. Seeing the poor condition Jason was in, Bruce took in the young boy off the street and turned him into a crime fighter. Jason has a strong argument for being the best Robin, as almost no other Robin fell into the role as easily as he did. Jason ate, breathed, and slept being Robin. He enjoyed being a part of the team and beating criminals into the pavement.

Jason's great flaw was his over-confidence. Thinking too much of himself, he engaged the Joker on his own, which cost him his life. Years later, Batman’s greatest failure would return as one of his greatest nemeses, the Red Hood. Back from the dead, Jason Todd would carve a bloody path of vengeance, seeking retribution on Batman letting him die.

1 Tim Drake

First Appearance: Batman #436 (August 1989)

When Tim Drake discovered Batman's true identity on his own at age nine, he made a significant impact in the DC Universe that proved his skill as a detective. Tim Drake is the only Robin who applied for the role in an attempt to curb the violent streak The Dark Knight had been on since the death of Jason Todd. Drake had followed Batman’s vigilante career from the beginning and wanted nothing more than to be of service, and after some convincing, he earned the title and became the third Robin.

Tim Drake has been the most loyal and most talented Robin, rivaling Dick Grayson and proving more capable than Jason Todd. Tim Drake adopted Bruce Wayne's focus, determination, and fighting skill and became a somewhat mirror image of Batman himself. Out of all the accolades Tim Drake has accomplished as Robin, the single highest achievement is being dubbed the “Young Detective” by Ras Al Ghul himself during his time as Red Robin. Tim Drake has been by the Batman’s side in some of his most dangerous adventures and has remained an unwavering ally to him and the rest of the bat family.

More: The Batman: How Robin Could Be Essential To This Version Of The Dark Knight