Continuing a series that aims to debunk false preconceptions about the character. If Someone said.

He's a child abuser who likes to endanger kids and dress them up in shorts and pixie boots

Let's start with with the old Robin costumes, a poor fashion choice that was conceived in the forties, an era full of poor fashion choices by today's standards. In most modern iterations, outside of the ones that seek to pay homage to the classic costumes, Robin's attire has shed away from the shorts and pixie boots and has geared towards a more conventional costume. Now let's discuss the fact that Batman utilized young teenage sidekicks in bright colors in his war on crime. Firstly, you have to take into consideration the motivation of each Robin who made the conscious decision of joining Batman's war. It's not like Batman held auditions for kid sidekicks or anything, every Robin came into Batman's world because of a particular case. After Dick Grayson's parents were killed, Batman felt bad for the kid and decided to adopt him/make him his ward in order to spare him the same difficulties Bruce himself grew up with as a kid due to his own parents' murder. However. Dick's pain over his loss was too much, and he ended up repeatedly sneaking out of Wayne Manor in an attempt to catch his parents murderer. In the end, Dick's trauma was too much and was heading towards a destructive lifestyle anyway. Instead, as far as Batman was concerned, if Dick was going to face the dangers of the world, he might as well face them with training. But that wasn't enough for Dick. He saw Batman as some sort of inspiration and he insisted on being Batman's sidekick. In most iterations, Batman was against the idea of Dick becoming a crime fighter, but he had no choice in the matter for Dick's sake, and thus we have Robin. In a what-if story where Bruce never became Batman, Dick ended up killing Tony Zucco and was on his way to being executed. So, Batman gave Dick's life purpose and the proper training to survive in the world of Gotham. A case could be made that because of Batman's guidance, that's Nightwing ended up as one of the most well adjusted heroes in DC.

Let's move on to Jason Todd, who often seen as one of Batman's biggest failures. Jason was another street punk living on the streets who often got himself in trouble, and it's when he attempted to steal the tires of the Batmobile is when he met Batman. Now what some people think is that Batman immediately decided to recruit Jason because he missed the original Robin (who had quite around that time). It's actually more than that. You see, Batman did indeed take a liking to the kid and would often check up on him, even offered him to go to shelter homes. However, Gotham's corruption ran so deep that even orphanages and shelter homes were filled with gang seeking to turn young kids into thugs. As a matter of fact, Batman and Jason worked together to take down one such gang. However, Jason had nowhere to go but to continue living on the streets where eventually he'll either be a criminal or end up dead. Realizing the kid's bravery and potential, Bruce offers Jason a chance at a better life. Not only did Jason agree to live with Bruce, but he was the one who volunteered to be Robin because he wanted to rid Gotham of the crime that took away his father and almost did the same to him. And Jason as Robin worked for a while, however, he was reckless and had a knack of disobeying Bruce's orders, and it's act such as that that led Joker to kill him. Jason was violent, reckless and was possibly even a murderer (it was implied that he once killed a rapist who had immunity), so in the end it was Jason's own behavior that led him to his demise. Despite this, Batman still felt guilty towards this, and for a time refused to recruit any help. However, it was Tim Drake who entered Batman's life and basically forced his hand. When Tim came in after Jason's death, and despite the fact that he was living with rich loving parents, he insisted on being Robin because he saw as Batman vulnerable after Jason's death, and figured that Batman needs a Robin. Batman was against the idea, but Nightwing and Alfred vouched for the kid, so Bruce decided to give him one chance. If he could endure the training needed to be Robin then he's in. Robin passed with flying colors and became worthy. Despite this, during Tim's tenure as Robin, Batman was extremely careful with him, often making sure Tim never took any unnecessary chances the way Jason did.

And then there's Damian, who was screwed up way before he met his father and it could be argued that had he not become Robin, he would have become a deadlier villain than his grand-father, Ra's Al Ghul. He was trained to be a deadly assassin since was 3 as part of a sick plot by his mother Talia. Damian already had training which was put to use for a deadly purpose. As far as Batman was concerned, the only way to truly save this damaged kid is to put that training to better use and give him a better purpose, and though Damian didn't truly become Robin until Nightwing became Batman, it was clear that Batman was intending to do with Damian what Dick ended up doing with him, which was tempering the deadly assassin in him and transforming him into a hero, something Dick managed to accomplish, and something that Bruce is continuing to improve while also learning to become a better father himself.

As for the other sidekicks, Barbara Gordon became Batgirl without Batman's consent or permission, and for a time he made it his and Robin's mission to stop her. But seeing as she was stubborn, the only way to help her was to supply her with gear so that she wouldn't kill herself, and eventually she grew as a crime-fighter and became a worthy member of the bat-family.

Cassie Cain basically became Batgirl the moment she tried to take a bullet intended for Jim Gordon. Also, during the time, No Man's Land was taking place. and Gotham needed as many heroes as it needs, and since Cassie already had the training, Batman offered her the chance of not only finding a new purpose and helping the city, but also in an attempt to prove to her father, Master Assassin David Cain, that he is nothing like him.

Spoiler is a case where, like Barbara, she became a vigilante without Bruce's consent, and Bruce did try to help her, but she was stubborn and often made poor choices that put her at odds with both Batman and Robin. Even when she became Robin, during Batman's attempt to make her a better crime fighter, when she endangered herself and disobeyed Batman's order, Batman fired her to protect her, so in an attempt to regain Batman's trust, he cause War Games and got herself killed. It's her own reckless behavior and foolish attempts at gaining Batman's respect that caused her own downfall.

So overall. all of these sidekicks have made their own choices at joining Batman's war, so it's hardly Batman's fault if they end up getting endangered when they refuse Batman's direct orders, but Batman still carries the guilt anyway. Batman doesn't get his kicks by watching teens endanger themselves. As a matter of fact, Batman has pushed away his friends in an attempt to protect them, as he has repeatedly told them that his war is his alone, but they just wouldn't listen. All he wants to do is prevent others from suffering the way he has by providing them a better purpose, and for all of them, Batman's guidance has helped tremendously.

Nicely written

He may not be a child abuser but this does not absolve him of the fact that he is a irresponsible parent/guardian. He still deliberately chooses to take his underage wards into combat which should count as child endangerment.

Children aren't mature enough to make decisions like this

smh

@the_kidd: Yeah totally, instead of leaving the poor boys to rot on the streets, he actually helped them by giving them a better life than they could ever dream of, in addition to giving them the best training and education possible. Yeah completely irresponsible of him *roll eyes*

Also, let's not forget that Batman himself had a crappy childhood, what's with him losing his parents (in front of him no less) and being consumed by the thoughts of revenge for most of his early years, so you can't expect him to raise a normal kid. However, all of the Robins are not normal, and most of them had tragic childhoods similar to Batman himself, and he helped them the same way he helped himself, by training and focusing their anger and utilizing that for good. Batman did what any other human would've done in his place and circumstances.

@enzo991: Okay. I never said he was a horrible parent just a bit irresponsible.

So he is helping them by encouraging them to part take in dangerous and possibly self destructive actives? How about getting them into counselling to deal with their issues and maybe a sport to work of their anger. Why would Batman want these kids to interact with the perverse and other scum of humanity. Like you said with the education/skill/resources he is giving them, they could make a positive impact on Gotham in other ways.

Yes I could see it. Jason sitting there with the counselor, talking about his feelings... because you know, if we know one thing about the Robins they would just listen to Batman when he tells them to "go see a counselor". I wouldn't be surprised if they just punched the psychiatrist and ran out the window. A kid who just lost his parents, the last thing he'll do is play sports or interact with other children. Not saying that training them to be Robin was the best course of action, but given the circumstances, anything other than that, Dick or Jason would have gone out and gotten themselves shot by some random mugger. Remember, Bruce actually tried to help them outside of turning them into Robin. They are the ones who forced Bruce's hand

And in that previous scan you showed, wasn't that Lady Shiva? Honestly she's not one to judge. Trained as an assassin from a young age and her daughter was intended to be a more brutal assassin. I wouldn't exactly trust her view of the world.

You know that people who use the child abuser thing are trolls most of the time right?

Also there was better ways to help them, that allowing children getting into action with rapist, killers and tons of things.

Also if they are his family, he is putting them in risk.

@anjales: No, that was a scan of Cassandra after she turned evil.

The child abuse issue, like with many others that are thrown at Batman, needs to be used for any other superhero with a child/teen sidekick.

At the end of the day we all know why these kids are out fighting criminals with their mentors, and it has nothing to do with their mentors wanting them to be hurt. It's because its a comic book, plain and simple.

That tells you all you need to know. I rest my case.

Nice writing

I can understand taking them in. I can understand training them to help relieve anger and to help focus them, but letting them fight crime...? It would be safer to live on the streets then to PURPOSELY have them chase after insane villians.

@midnightknight: I don't think training was enough to help them relieve their anger. The crime fighting part relieved their anger.

Dick wanted to kill Zucco. Bruce showed him another way to channel his anger. Due this he turned into a happy man. Happier than even bruce because he had alfred, barbara and bruce. Bruce had no one. He had alfred and then bruce went traveling the world. Neither Dick, jason or barbara did that. Bruce trained with the best, he is the best. He knows if he is dead all are dead. They all decided their own. Without Bruce, Barbara would be dead, dick would be dead, damian would stay dead. Bruce is the man and they are all a bunch of ungrateful little kids. But bruce loves them. He loves them all this is why he lied to them.