Batman and Robin.
No matter what the Joker declared in Death of the Family, the Dark Knight needs his extended family and a partner in his war on crime.
A new Robin is inevitable but who will be Batman’s new sidekick?
Just when you thought you knew where the Robin Rises story was taking us, a new contender enters the arena this week in Batman and Robin: Futures End.
Let’s rundown the possible contenders:
Harper Row. The tough teen from the Narrows who helped Batman escape the Court of Owls will become a costumed crime fighter named Bluebird as seen in Batman #28 and in upcoming issues of Batman Eternal.
Harper became an instant fan-favorite. Batman made a powerful impression on her after he saved her brother from a gay bashing. Harper’s skills as a electrical engineer, street smarts after growing up in the Narrows and determination make her the most likely candidate to become Batman’s next sidekick. Harper’s popularity and unique style could make her a star in her own series. By the end of Batman Eternal, DC may be launching a Bluebird solo?
Anna Aguila. The orphan stunt biker who seemed to have “wings to help her fly” in the Icarus arc of Detective Comics rode off into the sunset after taking revenge on her mother’s killer. She’s the longshot.
Damian Wayne. Batman is about to invade Apokolips to recover his son’s body and will attempt to use the strange science of Darkseid’s realm to resurrect Damian. When it comes down to it – can Bruce really play God and bring his son back from the dead? If this Robin Rises – will Damian be the same kid redeemed by his father, the child twisted by his mother Talia Al Ghul, a blank slate or something different and very dangerous?
Carrie Kelly. The 13-year-old Robin from The Dark Knight Returns was from a possible future. In The New 52 Batman and Robin we learned Carrie was Damian’s tutor and connected with Alfred but seems to have faded from the front burner for now. Carrie is another long shot but I hope Peter Tomasi brings her back to the series.
The Endgame Mystery Man Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s next Batman arc is still a mystery but preview art revealed the Dark Knight fighting with Bluebird and a mystery man. No official word but some speculate Harper’s brother Cullen could follow his sister’s inspiration and suit up to fight with Batman.
Stephanie Brown. Before The New 52 Brown (aka The Spoiler) was a fan-favorite Batgirl and even Robin for a brief time. In Batman #28 (the same future issue that introduced Bluebird) Brown was revealed to be a prisoner of Selena Kyle. This week in Batman Eternal #24 Brown finally evolved to teen on the run from murderous father to costumed crusader known as The Spoiler.
Duke Thomas. The young boy we met in Zero Year was all grown up and suited up as an armored, motorcycle riding Robin in Batman and Robin: Futures End this week. All the Futures End stories are set five year from now in a possible future.
Enter the Clone: Ra’s Al Ghul has a the clones and a Lazarus Pit. Could Ra’s execute his revenge by giving Bruce a new version of his son again? What if Ra’s twisted the knife even more by creating a daughter in the image of his deadly daughter and Bruce’s twisted lost lover Talia?
Someone Else?
This roundup of possible Robins could be grounded altogether. Cassandra Cain and Tiffany Fox just made their debuts in the League of Batgirls, the Batgirl Futures End set five years from now. The Bat-writers may have someone else in mind to fly as Batman’s sidekick.
Who do you think should be the next Robin? Send us a comment below or join the conversation on Twitter.
By Editor