Stephanie Was Robin - Tumblr Posts

That’s okay, I didn’t need my heart today

Robin (1993) #127

Do you prefer Steph as Spoiler, Robin or Batgirl? (I like all three but in a pinch I think I like her as Spoiler the most)

This got very long! Sorry, but apparently Tumblr, being a functional website, won’t let me put this under a cut!

So like, in terms of my all-time favorite Steph characterization, I prefer her as Spoiler. My favorite Steph ever, of all time, is, without a doubt, Steph as Spoiler, as seen in Cass’s initial run as Batgirl. It’s home to some of the best moments of characterization, the foundation of her friendship with Cass, and just fundamentally broadened Steph’s character and rounded her out, more than her role in Robin ever managed to do, imo. 

(Batgirl #20 - a classic)

Although, that being said, her Robin appearances in that run gave some stunning moments too. So maybe I should just give full credit to this creative team. 

(Batgirl #53)

However, in terms of what I, if suddenly given control of a Stephanie Brown comic book, would write her as? And what I’d love to see more of her as?

Robin, hands down. 

Steph just makes sense as a Robin. She’s deeply connected with Gotham City, her relationship with Bruce was turbulent and complicated. She has thematic similarities to Jason and Dick in turn, and, on the few occasions that she and Bruce were allowed to get along, they had a solid partnership. 

(Batman: Gotham Knights #22 - insert that Adele gif here, please and thank you)

Steph and Bruce’s dynamic is under-explored and fascinating to me. Their push and pull of her looking up to him and being infuriated by him, him wanting to protect her by forcing her out of the game as part of his misguided grief for Jason (which is part of why I struggle with their dynamic in the Nu52, because so much of Bruce and Steph’s classic relationship was defined by Bruce’s grief) and his occasional recognition of her talents and wanting to foster them, could have been a truly fascinating Batman and Robin dynamic. 

(Robin #92 - so much goddamn potential here, UGH)

Bruce finds himself unexpectedly being able to confide in Steph about things that he’s reluctant to talk about with the others. The two of them are virtually the opposites in terms of a lot of things, but both of them are drawn to Gotham as an idea, as something that needs protecting. Unlike pretty much every other member of the “core” Bat Fam, Steph and Bruce have never really been affiliated with any other city, and Steph hasn’t even been affiliated with another team. It’s not too far of a stretch to imagine that the two of them could bond over this, and their different perspectives on the city. 

As Robin, Bruce was finally helping Steph full time; he was, as he said, teaching her. He was fostering her skills and talents, and helping her develop fully as a crime fighter. But as he was doing so, it highlighted Steph’s flaws as a character. Her anger, her self-righteousness, and her sheer stubbornness. It was a strong parallel to late-era (and post-retcon) Jason as Robin, but here, we managed to get glimpses of Bruce’s development, and how he and Steph could grow together. 

(Detective Comics #796 - the fact that this was technically published AFTER Steph did get fired only makes me more bitter)

But of course, no one was willing to give this relationship (or Stephanie) a chance. Steph was Robin for three issues of the classic Robin comic (with additional appearances in Batgirl and Detective Comics, including some that were printed after that last issue of Robin, because comics!). From her initial appearance as Robin in #126 (May 2004), to her final appearance in #128 (July 2004), we had Stephanie Brown as Robin for three months. It’s ludicrously underwhelming, especially given the amount of potential that Steph and Bruce had. 

(Robin #128 - presented without comment and a lifetime of bitterness)

I genuinely believe that Steph’s dynamic with Bruce, connections with Gotham, and overall personality could have made her one of the best Robins, and that being Robin could have opened up some great opportunities for her character. Steph, unlike the rest of the Robins, never really got a chance to spread her wings and grow into the role, which is a damn shame, because I genuinely believe that she could have been great. 

And so, if push comes to shove, I’d definitely go for her as Robin, although I do love her as Spoiler and Batgirl. 

THIS!

Robins and Gotham Villains

What if the Robins are each experts on particular Gotham villains? Like Jason was Robin when this villain first showed up or was most active. And Damian was Robin when that villain did. And Tim those villains and Dick these ones. And whenever Bruce fights that particular villain again he tries to partner up with that particular Robin/ex-robin because they know the villain best and can help fight him? And that Robin takes anything that villain does so personally, and feels like they have to take him down? Which Robins would are assigned to which villains?

Sort of based on villain introductions timeline, something like:

Dick: Court of Owls, Scarecrow, Penguin, The Riddler, Mad Hatter, Deadshot, Deathstroke, Firefly, Calendar Man, Dr. Freeze, Simon Hurt, Manbat, Crazy Quilt

Jason: Poison Ivy, League of Assassins , Falcone Crime Family, Black Mask, Ratcatcher, Ventriloquist/Scarface, Deacon Blackfire, Hush, Crazy Quilt, Manbat, Penguin, Two-Face

Tim: Victor Zsasz, Poison Ivy, Bane, Tallyman, Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, Professor Hugo Strange, Anarky, Hush, Cluemaster, Two-Face, Ventriloquist/Scarface

Damian: NoBody, League of Assassins/Leviathan, Court of Owls, Professor Pyg, Simon Hurt, Terminus, Deacon Blackfire

And don’t yell at me about the Batgirls. The Batgirls have their villains too. Batman’s got a Batgirl and Robin for every villain. Like Steph always gets to be on cases with Cluemaster, not that he could stop her.