For over 35 years, Tim Drake’sRobinhas kept the superstitious and cowardly lot of Gotham City in check. And withTim’s upcoming Robin redesign, his signature weapon will also be getting a makeover, one that’s never been seen before in DC Comics continuity.
Making his in-costume debut as Batman’s latest sidekick in 1990’sBatman #457,Tim Drake’s Robinhas been redesigned multiple times over the years. And in September’sBatman #1by Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez, the character is going to receive yet another updated look, complete witha fresh red-colored bo staff that fits Tim’s new suit aesthetics perfectly.
Tim Drake’s Robin Gets A New Red Bo Staff in His Redesign
A set of threads recently teased by the superstar artist ofBatman #1, Jorge Jiménez, this new Robin costume ditches the green color of its predecessors but keeps the red, black, and yellow hues the character is known for, giving Tim a more modern and form-fitting look.
Also slightly altering Tim’s “R” logo and his high-collared cape design, Jiménez nailswhat makes a Robin costume greatwhile adhering to what worked before. Making sure to keep Tim’s signature staff as well as his gadget-packed utility belt, fans will notice that, for the first time in DC Comics history, Robin’s weapon of choice is a shade of crimson.
Shown in Jiménez’s teaser illustrations, Tim can make his bo staff more compact to store it around the back of his utility belt. It looks as if Jiménez has also designed the staff to be about the same size as Tim’s previous ones, perhaps a bit slimmer in comparison.
Though this red-tinged staff is new, Timhasused different colored weapons before, with black and grey/silver staffs being the norm for years. Additionally, Tim has used a brown staff or two, but mostly only for training purposes. Finally, Tim has also used a green staff, but this color is rarely seen, if at all, outside official canon.
Robin’s Matching Costume and Weapon Colors Have Precedent in DC Comics
Synonymous with Tim’s superhero persona in the years since its debut, Tim’s bo staff finally turning red seems like a no-brainer, as the color has always been part of Robin’s costume, stretching back to the character’s inception when Dick Grayson held the mantle.
And much like how Dick, in hisrole as Nightwing, uses a set of blue escrima sticks that mimic his costume’s cerulean color scheme, Tim has finally adopted a fashion trend that he should have set himself years ago, or at the very least jumped on when he went by theRedRobin alias.
While Tim getting yet another new Robin suit is par for the course for the character, he’s never had a red-tinted bo staff to match his costume before, making this subtle bo staff redesign feel like a true part of Tim’s superhero identity rather than some random color swap that makes him look cool.
The debut of Tim’s new Robin costume will be well worth the wait, especially now that he’ll be using a more stylish version of his signature weapon that his suit is finally doing justice by. Robin has never had a crimson-colored bo staff before in comics, and as most fans will surely agree, it’s about time he did.
Batman #1will be available on June 13, 2025 from DC Comics.
