In the Batman universe, numerous characters have donned the Robin persona with varying levels of success. With each new portrayal, a unique interpretation of the heroic sidekick follows, usually accompanied by unforgettable new costumes and gear.
Thanks to the expansive multiverse and numerous divergent realities, fans of the Batman franchise get to see the iconic Robin character reimagined in creative and memorable ways throughout the series. As Robin evolves, so too does his costume to better suit the personality of its wearer. Regardless of which version of Batman's sidekick is a fans' favorite, these are the 10 best Robin costumes in the franchise.
10 Dick Grayson's Earth-22 Red Robin Costume In Kingdom Come
In the Kingdom Come miniseries, readers were introduced to the Earth-22 Dick Grayson, who reinvented the Robin persona, becoming Red Robin. In the story arc, Dick Grayson is middle-aged and has a wife and a daughter, Nightstar.
Although his new costume is more similar to Batman's, ironically, the Kingdom Come story arc follows Grayson as Superman's sidekick in the Justice League, rather than his usual pairing with the Dark Knight. His iconic cowl and more mature costume make Earth-22's Red Robin particularly memorable.
9 Damian Wayne's Altered Original Robin Outfit
Damian Wayne, the product of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul's romantic interludes, brings one of the most iconic interpretations of the Boy Wonder. Trained by the League of Assassins, Damian is notably more violent and skilled than some other Robins.
Interestingly, Damian Wayne actually used parts of the original Robin costume to make his own unique design. Although considering he was the fifth character in the DC Universe to portray Robin, he undoubtedly had plenty of source material to work with, resulting in a remarkable costume.
8 Robin's New Outfit After Returning to Gotham in One Year Later
In the year after the Infinite Crisis events, Batman and Robin (Tim Drake) return to Gotham One Year Later after a brief hiatus to investigate a murderous vigilante's alleged claims. Upon his return, Tim Drake also introduced a new Robin costume, eventually becoming the next Red Robin.
Tim's unique Robin costume brought a youthful and hopeful energy to his appearance, perhaps reflecting his desire to move on from his parent's death in Infinite Crisis and become Batman's next sidekick.
7 Stephanie Brown's Homemade Robin Costume
Stephanie Brown, the estranged daughter of Cluemaster, had a temporary yet undeniably memorable stint as the "Girl Wonder" in Robin Volume 2. After Tim Drake's father discovered his secret identity as Robin, Tim took a brief hiatus from the role, leaving the position vacant.
Stephanie Brown, who secretly helped Batman as "The Spoiler," took it upon herself to fill the position as Batman's next sidekick. After designing her own Robin costume and sneaking into the Batcave, Batman eventually agrees to train her and even provides an altered Robin costume of her own.
6 Original Detective Comics Robin
When it comes to discussing iconic Robin costumes, fans will always mention the original Detective Comics Robin, portrayed by Dick Grayson. Making his debut in Detective Comics "#38," the Boy Wonder dazzled readers with his bright red, green, and yellow costume, which greatly contrasted Batman's all-black outfit.
The original Robin and his first costume were also popularized by Burt Ward's unrivaled portrayal in the classic live-action Batman series. The first costume paved the way for countless new iterations to follow in its path.
5 Rickart Graustark's Robin in Earth-37
Earth-37, one of the many divergent realities in the Batman franchise, introduced a new Robin, portrayed by Rickart Graustark, who, oddly enough, eventually changed his name to Richard Grayson. The series also debuted a costume unlike any others previously seen in the franchise. Like the original Dick, Rickart was originally a performer in a circus who eventually leaves to fight crime.
Instead of teaming up with Batman in Earth-37, however, Rickart joins forces with a different wealthy socialite, who in this reality, is actually Barbara Gordon. The pair eventually form a romantic relationship as well, adding a unique twist to the Robin character.
4 Dick Grayson's Updated Costume From The New 52
In 2011, DC Comics rebooted most of its original franchises in a series called The New 52. With the updates came new and creative hero costumes, building upon and improving the already impressive source material. Dick Grayson's reimagined Robin costume was perhaps one of the most memorable improvements in the series.
Robin's outfit saw some welcome changes from its original, outdated version as part of the revamp. In addition to including some much-needed pants, the costume also featured more practical footgear and stylish colors.
3 Carrie Kelley's Youthful, Bespectacled Robin
Carrie Kelley made comic history in 1986 as the first female Robin. She made her iconic debut in the quintessential Dark Knight Returns comic, complete with futuristic glasses and steadfast devotion to crime-fighting.
Though the comic is considered non-canonical, Carrie Kelley's portrayal of an aged Batman's sidekick is widely considered one of the best. Although she's only 13 in the comic, Kelley demonstrates an unwavering determination to defend justice. After saving Batman, he agrees to work alongside Kelley as the new Robin.
2 Brenton Thwaites' Live-Action Robin in Titans
In the mid to late '90s, Robin made several live-action appearances on the silver screen in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin. However, the costume designers made some questionable choices, like inexplicable nipples and a metallic sheen that could blind anyone within a five-mile radius.
Fortunately, Robin has since been redeemed in more recent DC installments, like Titans, the live-action TV series from 2018. Brenton Thwaites' portrayal gave audiences the darker, grittier Dick Grayson they knew and loved from the comics while remaining faithful to the source material.
1 Tim Drake's Red Robin in Teen Titans
As part of DC's New 52 revamp, Teen Titans introduced a new timeline with an impressive Red Robin. In this version, Tim Drake is prolific with computers and even discovers Batman's true identity shortly after meeting him.
As Red Robin, Tim Drake becomes one of the Teen Titans' founding members and eventually becomes their leader. His new costume reflects his unique interpretation of the character and notably changed the classic "R" insignia to the Red Robin symbol.