WHY ROBIN? (WHY NOT?)

ROBIN...Batman's sidekick, the Boy
Wonder. 1/2 of the Caped Crusaders. Part
of the Dynamic Duo. Hard to believe he's been around almost half a century, isn't it?
I was fifteen, and heavily into reading comic books, but I never really cared much for any of the Batman stories. No particular reason, I just never got into them, and I'd never seen the TV show. I heard it was dumb and took everyone's word for it.
It was, of course, playing on one of our local access stations and I was doing something that required background noise (Those of you who can't concentrate in complete silence know what I'm talking about!). So I kept the show on. I was alone. Nobody had to know I was watching this silly show.

Then something happened that changed my life forever...I started watching it. Started taking it seriously.
I immediately focused on Robin, and I chalk that up to teenage hormones. Burt Ward had a very nice physique, especially when you put him next to Adam West. There's something about the suit in the TV show that's so much better than in any of the movies. But that's another page.
I remember the episode well. It was the one where Batman & Robin are foiled by the Joker's utility belt (See the Episode Guide) and are held captive as he prepares to unmask them on national television. I was mesmerized.
Here was every cliffhanger ending to every comic book I'd read, in live action! I felt a tingling sensation come over my body, and I knew something had changed in me. This wasn't like watching Lynda and Debra on Wonder Woman...for some reason, this was different. I vowed to be back every episode. Same bat-time. Same bat channel.

My newfound fascination grew into the comic books. Suddenly I was pouring through old issues, buying new ones, following the whole Robin legacy through Dick, Jason, Tim, and even Carrie Kelley (from the Dark Knight Returns). I pictured myself in her place, helping Batman wage war on crime. Fighting the bad guys and occasionally getting caught ourselves. I'd always been into the idea of superheroes, but suddenly I found myself focusing on one. The fantasy is part simple fandom, part sexual desire, and finally, simple fun!

ME, AND WHAT I'M ABOUT             

ROBIN'S COSTUME:                           
THE TV SHOW:
ROBINS THROUGHOUT HISTORY
LINKS                                                                      EMAIL