Duke Thomas: Better than Robin

Duke Thomas is the latest Batman protege to break out on his own. He's gone from Duke to Robin to Lark and now The Signal. While the name changes one thing remains constant, the hate for Duke Thomas is strong. It comes from just about every corner of the comic fandom. The main issue seems to be that Duke isn't Robin. Duke does not need to be Robin, he's something better than Robin.

Duke Thomas first encountered Batman as a child when he rescued him during Zero Year. The next time we saw Duke he was older and his family had been taken hostage by The Joker in Endgame. Joker was going to recreate the way Batman lost his family with Duke and his parents. Batman saved Duke but his parents were gassed and wandered off into the night insane. Duke then became Robin. He was not the only Robin but he led a group of Robins. Teenagers concerned about their city and dedicated to fighting crime. Afterwards he was taken in by Bruce Wayne and trained as Lark. Now he's the Signal.

That backstory alone disqualifies him from being Robin. You see, Duke has been intertwined in every major Bat-Family event for over four years. Anyone who has read them saw Duke becoming important a mile away. How did the Robins meet Batman? Bruce saw Dick's parents die and took him in that night. Jason tried to steal the wheels from the Batmobile and Bruce took him in that night. Tim figured out the secret identities of Batman and both Robins. Bruce took him in that night. Damian was dropped off on Bruce's doorstep. When Bruce returned from time traveling, he took Damian in.

Duke on the other hand earned his spot. He didn't wait on some tragedy to strike before becoming a hero. As a child he moved to rescue Batman without being prompted. As a teenager he moved to become Robin on his own, and when he found like minded individuals he led them. Unlike other Batman wards, Duke was cutting his teeth on his own long before Batman offered the chance to be a hero. He didn't start with Dick's acrobatic skill, Jason's street smarts, Tim's detective ability or Damian's training. But, over time he earned all of that long before Batman acknowledged him.

During We Are Robin he took the name of Robin, but he never needed it. Batman takes a Robin and molds them based on the skills they already exhibit. Duke never needed that. He knew his strengths and weaknesses. He worked on those long before Batman scooped him. The title of Robin is beneath him. When he started as Lark he may not have been as skilled as each of the Robins is now, but he was already more well rounded and advanced further than any of them when they started as Robin. Tim had never thrown a punch, Jason was clumsy, Damian was bloodthirsty and Dick thought it was all a new place to perform. Batman had to change the mindsets for each of them. When Duke put on the tights for the first time he already knew what being a hero was about.

A Robin is someone who is a blank slate. Duke was not a blank slate. He came in knowing the job with an extensive resume unlike Robins of the past. Duke does not need to take the name of Robin because he's beyond that now. He's been beyond that for a while now. Batman even told him so, he's not Robin he's something different.

Bruce also trained Duke different. He trained the Robins as sidekicks. They were there to complement his skills, not operate as individuals. They all went on to do so, but that was not the goal. Duke was trained as a partner, an equal, not as a sidekick. Why would Duke want to be a sidekick, he's essentially a full hero already. He's been trained by Dick, Tim, Jason and Damian. He's taken on The Court of Owls. He's formed and led his own team of heroes. He's been hunted by a corrupt government and walked away from an encounter with the Joker. Duke has long surpassed the requirements of Robin. It is only right he have his own name.

Then there's the people who claim Duke is forced diversity and a token in the Bat-Family. To those people I have but a single question. Where have you been since 2013? Duke was not thrust into the limelight so DC could yell "SURPRISE DIVERSITY." He's been a constant part of Batman stories for four years through New 52 and Rebirth. He was not just created to take the role of one your favorites. People complain about wanting new heroes and when they get them, they complain they were rushed. We had four years of building with Duke. There was no rush. People complain they want black heroes taking their own identities and not becoming legacy characters. Duke is The Signal, a name all his own, yet here we are with the complaints.

Duke Thomas does not need to be Robin. He's gone above and beyond those requirements. We as comic book fans can't ask for something new and different only to get upset every time we get it. He's not shackled by the chains of of a historic name or walking in the shadows of characters that have proven themselves already. As Signal, Duke is free to blaze a trail all his own. Duke Thomas isn't Robin, he'll never be Robin and that's okay, because he's better than Robin.

You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet. You can also check out his playthrough of Sleeping Dogs or Skyrim

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