The DC Comics Relaunch New 52 has had several strong offerings. My faves include DC’s ex-Robins whose November 
offerings have revealed some interesting changes to the iconic originating Boy Wonders.
(This was in addition to a surprisingly fun non-New 52 Batman read as well this month featuring Robins from across time.)
Below, I spoil the New 52 changes I opened with, with pics from two of the DC Relaunch’s November titles.
I also contrast these changes with pics from the pre-Flashpoint DC Universe so you see where we’ve come from.
If you don’t want to be spoiled, don’t read on. :)
Otherwise, here we go…
Jason Todd / Red Hood / Robin II
On the left you have the old Robin costume of Jason Todd, Batman’s second sidekick. Jason debuted by trying to carjack the Batmobile. He was an angry boy who met an angry end, or so we thought, at the end of the Joker’s tire iron in the infamous “Death in the Family” story arc of the 1980s. This all happened pre-Flashpoint.
On the right you have the cherished childhood moment of Jason Todd, still Batman’s second Robin in the New 52, where the angry kid is not so angry being soothed by Bruce Wayne relaxing as Batman. You also get a great look at the new recrafted Robin costume sans chainmail underwear and Peter Pan boots. This scene from Red Hood and the Outlaws #3 by Scott Lobdell and Kenneth Rocafort was a pleasant surprise and a real f-u to the vocal internet minority that embraces kneejerk hatred for anything Lobdell touches in the DC Comics Relaunch.
Dick Grayson / Nightwing / Robin I
On the left you have the Flying Graysons made up of Dick Grayson and his parents. The elder Graysons died during a trapeze mishap leading to Dick Grayson becoming the ward of Bruce Wayne and joining him in his battle against crime as Robin to Bruce’s Batman.
You can see from the left that Dick’s first pre-Flashpoint Robin costume is modeled on his parents’ costumes.
On the right you have images from Kyle Higgins and Eddy Barrows’ New 52’s Nightwing #3. On the first image we see imagery of Dick’s parents in bluish costumes with his father’s costume, lapel and all, inspiring Dick’s first Nightwing costume (see opening image of this column for the pre-Flashpoint evolution of Dick’s costume including his leisure suit Nightwing costume that seems to still be “in” New 52 continuity).
The second image on the right seems to also show Dick, I think, in a Robin costume falling from a zip line. Now, I think that may be Dick during his tenure as Robin, but perhaps it is him in a Flying Grayson’s costume? The latter seems unlikely since that costume is such a departure from his parents’ blue threads. So, if in fact that is Dick Grayson-as-Robin’s new originating costume he has taken a page from Tim Drake’s pre-Flashpoint black and yellow cape get-up in the New 52. You’ll notice no short pants here either; some kind of gray trunks and matching boots now. Peter Pan has been exorcised from the New 52!
In any event, looks like Dick’s original Robin costume has be retailored and we also now know the origin or inspiration for Nightwing’s original lapeled costume. Project Runway DC Universe?
I’m loving the New 52, :) and particularly its ex-Robin books, even if Marv Wolfman and George Perez’s New Teen Titans run is no longer in continuity. :(
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