Robin's Hilarious New Nickname Makes So Much More Sense Than "Boy Wonder"

Warning: SPOILERS for Harley Quinn #41

Summary Tim Drake earns a new moniker: the Dork Knight.

Tim Drake is recognized as Batman's smartest sidekick.

Despite some criticism, Tim Drake's intelligence remains a defining asset.

Nearly as iconic as his Dark Knight mentor, the third Robin, Tim Drake, has gone by many monikers throughout his heroic career. From Drake to Red Robin and, most frequently, the Boy Wonder, Batman’s third protégé has more than a few nicknames. But his newest nickname perfectly nails who he really is: the Dork Knight.

Harley Quinn #41 by Tini Howard and Sweeney Boo sees the titular Gotham City Siren forced to infiltrate the Bat-Family by the GCPD. Wearing a wire, Harley manages to track Robin, faking a fight to mask their conversation.

With Harley admitting he’s the smartest Robin, Tim immediately deduces that Harley is being used as a pawn and the duo manage to work out a plan of action with Quinn referring to her new partner as “Dork Knight.” And though this new nickname may not strike fear into criminals, it does nail exactly what Tim Drake is about.

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Robin Tim Drake Is the Ultimate "Dork Knight"

The Third Robin Is Often Considered Batman’s Smartest Sidekick

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In any identity, Tim Drake is one of the smartest members of the Bat-Family. Deducing the true identities of Batman and the previous two Robins as a child, Drake initially earned his place as the Boy Wonder through sheer intelligence and dedication alone. Clearly, even Harley Quinn recognizes Tim's station as the smartest of Batman’s brood and Robin’s near-instant understanding of Quinn’s own predicament only further cements his genius. But that doesn’t mean that everyone will take kindly to Robin’s new nickname.

Robin is one of the most important mantles in the DC Universe, and Tim Drake’s intelligence has more than earned him recognition as both a Boy Wonder and a Dork Knight.

In the eyes of many fans, the various Robins have become somewhat "flanderized" over the years to fit into a neat, familial dynamic. As a big part of that, Tim Drake is oftentimes pigeon-holed as simply being the “smart” Robin, frequently at the detriment of his fellow Robins’ own formidable intellects and his own character nuances that extend beyond his status as a genius. Even so, regardless of how exaggerated some may feel Robin’s mental prowess is, intelligence has always been one of Tim Drake’s defining assets, and his "Dork Knight" name perfectly encapsulates that.

Robin Is Well-Known for His Brains

Tim Drake Is Undoubtedly a Genius

Custom Image by Robert Wood

Robin is one of the most important mantles in the DC Universe, and Tim Drake’s intelligence has more than earned him recognition as both a Boy Wonder and a Dork Knight. While some fans may feel that his genius card is overplayed, it doesn’t change the fact that Drake has always been one of the Bat-Family’s most quick-witted warriors. And even if he never uses this name again, readers will always know Robin as the one true "Dork Knight."

Harley Quinn #41 is available now from DC Comics.