https://www.dc.com/blog/2022/09/27/robin-refreshed-meghan-fitzmartin-on-tim-drakes-new-status-quoFitzgerald saying the right things... and some wrong things.
First, the right:
Tim has been living on a boat—he's got his own place. We've not seen a marina in Gotham, but it makes sense that there would be a marina because it's surrounded by water.
...
It was really fun when I was talking to my editor about coming up with this marina space. It's fun to explore a different part of Gotham with Tim and making this space his own.
Just like Buffy Season 11 moving to San Fran, I'm totally in support of moving into the future and carving a new era distinct from what came from before. Nostalgia is awesome sometimes, but the only way to keep something alive is to embrace change. Tim getting his own corner to operate in reflects Nightwing going to Bludhaven in the 90s. I approve.
Which version of Tim’s backstory are we using? The New 52 established that his parents were alive in the witness protection program, but it seems like we’re going back to him being an orphan. What’s the status of Tim’s parents?
They're not alive. We have enough history with the parents. They are no longer with us, and he is adopted by Bruce. That is the timeline at present.
FUCK YES
Undo that garbage shit Scott Lobdell introduced and bring us back to pre-New 52 canon. Hopefully that dumbass idea that "Drake" is just an assumed fake last name because he's in witness protection has been thrown in the trash compactor as well.
YESWe’re not doing the drama of “you left our date to fight crime” or other stuff we see from teenage heroes?
Exactly! We're not doing that. I think Bernard is a very understanding person who is like, "This is fine, whatever, I trust you, I love you, whatever this is, I'm fine with it." I think Tim is more like, "WHAT?! What does that mean? Does he hate me?" And Bernard is like, "At no point did I say any of those words."
This is totally refreshing and I love to see it. Moving on past cliche is a good intention.
You mentioned new enemies. What kind of enemies are we talking about?
Tim Drake at his core is a detective. Every detective needs a Moriarty. I think that's sort of what we're going for right now.
This would be amazing. Pre-New 52 was setting up Anarky III (or possibly Ra's Al Ghul, although he'd never be "demoted" by DC brass away from Bruce IMO) as that role, but I honestly would love someone new, someone interesting, someone with a cool gimmick. Someone that's the opposite to Tim.
What are the dynamics of sharing the Robin name with Damian?
Damian is living his best life. Well, it's not his best life. He's living his life right now and it is a disaster in a different way than Tim's is a disaster. I think that's part of the question that Tim is currently facing—he's the Robin who's held the title for the longest, so what does that mean for him? What are the next steps for him? Are there next steps for him? Should he stay or should he go, like the way that the song goes?
It is a question I think that he is having to face with himself. And that's part of the identity search that I think he's going through. Now that I have realized these pieces of who I am, how do I move forward? What do I do now? I think that is the core of this particular run of Tim Drake. I have some ideas on where I want to take it, but ultimately, I'm very feelings-led and I'm very Tim-led. And so, part of that is just feeling out what Tim wants and how he's going to get there.
STRONG hints of Tim finally graduating from Robin (in the new continuity) and assuming a new identity of his own creation. As long as it's better than that brown shitstain "Drake" shit that Bendis introduced before it was killed for being stupid five seconds later, I'm all for it.
OK, and now the bad:
Tim WOULD live on a boat.
I know, it's actually kind of perfect. This is sort of pulled from life because sometimes I live on a boat.
"Write what you know" but I worry Meghan is doing a self-insert expy at times.
Going through his appearances during the Bill Willingham Robin run, I was surprised to see all the hints to Bernard’s sexuality…
Like I said, there's so much that you can go back to and go, "Oh, okay, that's why."
…like in Robin #122 Bernard threatens to sneak into Tim’s room at night to bound and gag him.
He was in a pain cult...so I mean...
Continuity!
This is just weird and creepy. Wtf.
How does Bernard fit into this new present, and what kind of relationship will he and Tim have?
I mean, every hero needs a damsel and Bernard is a perfect damsel. I definitely want to have Bernard around. I think it's important for him to be around.
I was hoping we'd moved past the "damsel" cliche for the most part. There's no reason Bernard can't be an interesting character on his own and not just a walking character growth contrivance.
During the DC Pride: Tim Drake Special #1 there is a moment where Tim and Conner Kent are holding hands. So, the question is, are you trying to electrocute Twitter?
(laughs) I mean, who doesn't love setting a fire under Twitter? That's definitely something that I've heard about and am aware of and it will be more of a discussion point in later issues of certain comic brands that are happening right now.
Ugh, Twitter pandering. 🙄
