The Origin of Robin’s Most Ridiculous Disguise of All Time Actually Perfectly Represents Tim Drake

Warning! Contains spoilers for The Boy Wonder #3!

Summary

• Tim Drake’s Robin uses absurd disguises like Mister Sarcastic, learning from Batman’s Matches Malone persona.
• In
  The Boy Wonder
  #3, Tim infiltrates a party using his ability to mimic corrupt higher-ups.
• Tim’s dedication to Batman’s lessons makes him an effective Robin, surpassing Jason Todd and Dick Grayson.

Tim Drake’s Robin has had plenty of ridiculous disguises over the years, but they all stem from one essential lesson from Batman — including the notorious Mister Sarcastic. Batman has Matches Malone, of course, and Matches led to Tim coming up with an absolutely ridiculous persona of his own.

Tim Drake explains the origins of his various secret identities and disguises in The Boy Wonder #3 by Juni Ba. In this issue, Tim Drake and Damian Wayne infiltrate one of Oswald Cobblepot’s parties. There, Tim shows off an impressive ability to mingle with corrupt higher-ups, with Damian even believing Tim is just trying to benefit himself.

It’s later revealed that Tim had learned from Batman to become who criminals want him to be. Tim can easily slip into the personality of a selfish rich kid who only cares about benefiting himself, and this is far from the most absurd identity Tim has used in the past.

Robin’s Most Ridiculous Disguise Ever Is Totally Mister Sarcastic

Page from Young Justice #52 by Peter David, Todd Nauck, Lary Stucker, Tom McCraw, and Ken Lopez

During the events of Young Justice #52, the Young Justice team is running low on cash and, without any other option, they decide to star in a reality TV show. This prompts Tim Drake to create the new identity of Mister Sarcastic: an absurd persona who sports a bald head and tattooed arms, as well as a penchant for responding with large amounts of sarcasm. It’s not the best identity that anyone has ever come up with, but it demonstrates just how much Tim actually learned from Batman. More than any other Robin, Tim Drake truly took Batman’s lessons to heart — maybe even a little too much.

Neither Jason Todd nor Dick Grayson have alternate identities that they use, but Tim Drake has regularly demonstrated this skill.

Stopping criminals requires information, and sometimes the best way to get information from criminals is to present onself as one. Batman has had the Matches Malone identity for years, which he uses to talk with criminals directly. Batman’s Matches Malone identity is so important that it is a key point in his plan to remove crime from Gotham City once and for all, as seen in the Batman: War Games storyline. While there are plenty of other people who learned from Batman, neither Jason Todd nor Dick Grayson have alternate identities that they use, but Tim Drake has regularly demonstrated this skill.

Tim Drake’s Dedication to Batman’s Lessons Is Unparalleled

Is Tim Drake Batman’s Best Robin?

Batman has trained tons of different people over the years, but Tim Drake is one of the few who sought Batman out to specifically support his cause, leading to his taking on the Robin role. With that level of dedication, it’s no surprise that Tim would use the same tactics as Batman. Batman has created a few different personas over the years, such as Matches and arguably his Bruce Wayne persona, and Tim has followed suit with his own. Even though personalities like Mister Sarcastic are completely absurd, Tim Drake’s willingness to embrace such identities is what makes him an incredibly effective Robin and hero.

The Boy Wonder #3 is available now from DC Comics!