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It may seem bizarre that at one point in time, Batman’s sidekick Robin would date a character who would later become Robin herself. I am talking about Tim Drake and Stephanie Brown’s relationship, a seemingly unlikely union. One character is portrayed as a hero and the other is seen somewhat as a villain who goes by the name Spoiler. This is why seeing these two together is not only an interesting glance at teenage love, but a sweet and entertaining story arc as well. Since first meeting in Detective Comics 648, we can examine the journey that these two have taken.
The bulk of their Relationship takes place in the comic series Robin from 1993. A good starting point is issue 54, where Tim is trying to visit his girlfriend Ariana Dzerchenko. A massive quake in Gotham City had forced both Ariana and Stephanie Brown to take refuge in a high school gym. Seeing the two of them together reminds Tim that while Ariana had been absent from his life while away at school, there had been romantic tension building between him and Stephanie. He knew that he couldn’t keep the charade up for long, and had to tell her the truth. In issue 56, Tim tells her that while he liked teaming up as Robin and Spoiler, to have her be a part of his personal life would create a problem, since he has to guard his and Batman’s identity and secrets. To his surprise, Stephanie tells him that she is okay sharing just one corner of his life.
This is where their relationship accelerates. After embracing in a kiss, Robin realizes that his dilemma continues and has to break up with Ariana. While in The Batcave, Bruce’s butler Alfred belittles Tim for writing a note for Ariana with the intent to break up with her. When he meets with her face to face, he is surprised that she already had the intention of ending their relationship. In issue 57, Tim and Stephanie decide to go to a movie theater for their first date. Since everyone there is dressed up in science fiction costumes, Robin and Spoiler blend right in with their outfits. After the movie, the two of them get some pizza along with the rest of the movie crowd.
Just when things seemed to be getting better for The Boy Wonder, their relationship takes a turn for the worst in the most absurd way. At the end of issue 57, Spoiler reveals that she is pregnant. No, seriously. And not from Robin, but from her old boyfriend. (This is explained in the following comic issue, when Stephanie points out that her and Tim had only kissed, making it clear that they were never in a physical relationship.) What’s even more crazy is that she asks Tim to come to a birthing class with her. Astoundingly, Tim puts on a disguise and shows up at her front door to take her to class. Talk about cleaning up someone else’s garbage.
So that’s the gist of their relationship. A few issues later, Tim leaves Gotham City for Keystone City. He says his goodbyes to Stephanie. The real tragedy of this entire thing is that he was going to break up with his girlfriend Ariana in favor of Spoiler, who was secretly pregnant. Finding issues of 1993’s Robin is pretty easy and cheap, so be sure to grab a few (Affiliate Link).
Problems with Superheroes Dating
The clash of egos may be one of the most obvious difficulties. Superheroes are famous for their incredible powers and immense victories over evil forces. They gain their reputation through excellent control of crimes and guards to individuals by stopping corruption in societies (a famous example is Batman). But what happens when two superheroes meet with equally strong strength? Will they be able to forget about their ego and be in a good partnership, or will their personal battles get in the way of their job, preventing them from saving the day?
Similarly, intrinsic differences between two heroes might present an obstacle in the formation of their relationship. Superheroes hail from diverse cultures, have different thought processes, and varied principles. As a result, this could cause disagreements not only in their everyday lives but also during the pursuit of justice against villains. Thus, it becomes important to understand each other’s opinions and consider them while working in unison or collaboration.
An additional challenge of their relationship might be that it gives a sense of injustice in the world of superheroes. If two superheroes were dating, other superheroes might see them as one unbeatable team while feeling they are inadequate or overshadowed. Also, this could create friction among the superhero community that may act as a barrier to their cohesiveness and prevent them from working together harmoniously.
It is beyond question that the repercussions of two superheroes being in a relationship would be immense and would undoubtedly change the world. It is imperative to consider the possible conflicts that might occur and nip them in the bud before they become major issues. The significance of understanding and mutual consent can’t be undermined in such a situation.