TheBatmanfranchise has produced some of DC’s most iconic characters, including a whole flock ofRobinsthat have earned the respect of their fellow heroes. Chief among them is Tim Drake, detective extraordinaire and hyper-intelligent Boy Wonder. Tim’s introduction nearly botched the character, though, as fans were introduced to a character with an entirely different name.
Way back inBatman #441, by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Jim Aparo, Tim and Dick Grayson are discussing exactly how Tim figured outBatman and Robin’sidentities. It’s a monumental moment showcasing a lot of the third Boy Wonder’s best qualities, but in the original printing, it also came with a surprise.
Dick refers to Tim as “Jeff”,revealing the character’s original name before it was dropped in favor of Tim Drake. One slip-up from editing gives fans a glimpse at the Robin that almost was. Fortunately, Wolfman thought better of it and dropped Jeff in favor of Timothy Drake, aiding in his journey to becoming the beloved character he grew into.
Batman Fans Narrowly Avoided Jeff the Robin
There’s no use in pretending that ‘Tim’ is an exciting name, but it’s difficult to picture him as anyone besides Timothy, the kid who followed in Dick Grayson and Jason Todd’s footsteps. Admittedly, if fans never knew any better, there would’ve been no choice except to accept Jeff Drake as intended, but it would’ve been an ill-advised move.
When Tim came into the picture, Batman was fresh offJason Todd’s death. With “Jay” being a common nickname for the second Robin, introducing another one-syllable name starting with the same letter would’ve been an unfortunate choice. Even if audiences were able to keep the two separated, Batman was still grieving, and that wouldn’t have made it easier.
Although Tim became ahugely successful Robin, so much so that he struggles to leave the mantle behind, making him too similar to Jason in his early days wouldn’t have been a great move. He needed to be his own person from the start, and having a unique name (at least among his fellow Robins) was a necessary step.
Tim Drake is an Excellent Robin Under Any Name
Although the name Jeff was scrapped, and the mistake was corrected in subsequent printings, it still offers a small glimpse into a sort of alternate Batman timeline that will never exist. One thing is certain: if the third Robin had been Jeff, instead, he would’ve still gone on to become a detective talented enough to rival Bruce Wayne in skill.
A name doesn’t make Tim Drake who he is. His quick mind and skill with everything from tech to combat shape him into a beloved vigilante, whether he’s at Batman’s side or off protecting the world with his Teen Titans. A few letters wouldn’t have changed that, but there’s still a chance it could’ve affected audience perception.
Ultimately, it’s difficult to think of Robin #3 as anyone other than Timothy Jackson Drake. He’s been a staple in Gotham for decades, and the entire Bat Family is better for having him.Batmanalmost had Jeff as his thirdRobin, but even a plain name wouldn’t have stopped him from being one of the greatest of all time.
