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Tim Drake Reading Order (Robin III, Red Robin)

Tim Drake (Robin) Reading-Order

Following Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, Timothy Jackson Drake joined the Batfamily as the third Robin. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Pat Broderick, he first appeared in Batman #436 in August 1989. In the storyline Batman: A Lonely Place of Dying, he introduces himself to Dick Grayson and is convinced that ‘Batman needs Robin’.

With his great detective skills and genius-level intellect, Tim Drake discovered the real identities of Batman and the original Robin (although I don’t think you need to be Sherlock Holmes to arrive at this conclusion!). As Dick refuses to become Robin again, Tim is the perfect young boy to take up the mantle and become the third Robin. Although Batman makes him undergo a rigorous training programme for his own safety (to avoid history repeating itself), Tim Drake obviously rises to the challenge.

Recognised as the most intellectually gifted of the Robins, he speaks several languages, excels in computer science and has extensive knowledge of other scientific fields, including biology, engineering and genetics. He is also the most calculating of all the Robins in combat and, of course, a great martial artist.

You can find out all this and much more about Tim Drake in our complete reading order. This covers everything from his introduction to the Batman universe and his time with Young Justice and the Teen Titans to his Red Robin years and all his adventures up to the present day.

Your Complete Tim Drake Reading Order

For those ready to experience the full journey issue-by-issue, our Tim Drake reading order below follows every defining case, personal loss, and turning point in the third Robin’s life, and the best way to read them, thanks to the collected editions.

  1. Robin: Tim Drake by Chuck Dixon (with Young Justice) [1989-2002]
  2. Robin: The Later Years (with Teen Titans) [2002-2011]
  3. Red Robin: Tim Drake [2009-2011]
  4. Tim Drake: The New 52 era (with Teen Titans) [2011–2016]
  5. Tim Drake: Rebirth (with Young Justice) [2016-2021]
  6. Tim Drake: Robin in Infinite Frontier/Dawn of DC [2021-2024]
  7. Tim Drake: All In [2024-Present]

Robin Letter Icon Reading Order Damian Wayne

I. Robin: Tim Drake by Chuck Dixon (with Young Justice)

Tim Darke made his first appearance in Batman #436, an issue part of the ‘Batman: Year Three’ storyline. Not long after his debut, his origins were explored in the classic ‘A Lonely Place of Dying’ (Batman #440-442), a story that functions as a follow-up to ‘A Death in the Family’ (#426-429). Although Tim does not appear in Death in the Family, we still recommend reading it. It’s a Batman classic that marks the end of Jason Todd as Robin, and provides a better understanding of where Batman stands when Tim enters the scene, explaining some of his choices.

Those two stories were reprinted together a few years back in a Deluxe Edition:

It was decided that the character should be developed slowly, so he was not put into the costume immediately. Batman provided Tim Drake with a brand new Robin costume in 1991 (in Robin #1), under Chuck Dixon’s pen, and would go on patrol for the first time as Robin in ‘Debut’ (Batman #465), a story written by Alan Grant.

At the same time that Tim appeared in the main Batman titles, he also starred in two other miniseries, Robin II: The Joker’s Wild and Robin III: Cry of the Huntress, both of which were also written by Dixon. Their success would lead DC Comics to launch an ongoing Robin series, still with Chuck Dixon at the helm, depicting Tim Drake’s adolescent solo adventures for the next 15 years.

More than half of those Robin issues were written by Chuck Dixon (#1-100, #170-174). He was followed by Jon Lewis (#100-120), Bill Willingham (#121–147), Adam Beechen (#148-153), Fabian Nicieza (#175-183), and others. Tom Grummett, Phil Jimenez, Mike Wieringo, Staz Johnson, Pete Woods, Damion Scott, Scott McDaniel, Freddie Williams II are among the artists who worked on the title.

Those issues are right now being reprinted by the publisher in their Compendium Collection:

  • Robin: Tim Drake Compendium Book One
    collects Batman #455-457, #465-469, #480, Detective Comics #618-621, Robin (1991) #1-5, Robin II: The Joker’s Wild! #1-4, Robin III: Cry of the Huntress #1–6, Robin (1993) #1-5, Robin ANNUAL #1-2, Superman (1987) #70, Superman: The Man of Steel #14, and stories from Batman 80-Page Giant #2 and Showcase ’93 #1-6, #11-12.

    • Those issues were previously collected in:
      Robin Vol. 1: Reborn (Batman #455-457, Detective Comics #618-621, and Robin #1-5)
      Robin Vol. 2: Triumphant (Batman #465, 467-469, Robin II #1-4, and Robin III #1-6)
      Robin Vol. 3: Solo (Robin #1–5, Robin Annual #1–2 and material from Showcase ’93 #5–6, #11–12)
    • The ongoing Robin series was launched during the Knightfall event. Issues #1-2, 7-9 and 11-14 have also been reprinted in the Knightfall Omnibuses.
  • Robin: Tim Drake Compendium Two [2026]
    Collects Robin #6­-30; Robin Annual #3–4; Azrael: Agent of the Bat #15-16; Batman: Shadow of the Bat #48-49; Detective Comics #685-686, #695-696; Catwoman #25, #31-32; Green Arrow #105; Showcase ’94 #5-6; The Batman Chronicles #2, #4.

While the Compendium line has started reprinting uncollected materials, the collection is ongoing and incomplete.

Young Justice Logo (Reading Order)

This is roughly where Young Justice (1998-2003) was launched. As the Teen Titans have grown up and changed their name to the Titans, the Young Justice team became the group of teenage superheroes. Written by Peter David and illustrated by Todd Nauck, it featured Robin, Superboy, Wonder Girl, Impulse and Red Tornado. You can start reading Young Justice from this point, but it’s not compulsory — although It is a very popular series:

  • Young Justice Book One
    Collects Young Justice #1–7, #1,000,000, JLA: World Without Grown-ups #1–2, Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1, Young Justice: The Secret #1, Young Justice: Secret Files #1.
  • Young Justice Book Two
    Collects Young Justice #8–17, Young Justice 80-Page Giant #1, Young Justice in No Man’s Land #1, Supergirl #36–37; bonus material from Young Justice Secret Files #1.
Tim Drake in Young Justice in No Man’s Land #1
    • Robin (vol.4) #54, #67, #68-73 are part of the Batman: No Man’s Land storyline (see the full reading order for more information) and are collected in:
    • Batman: No Man’s Land Vol. 2
      Collects Batman: Legends Of The Dark Knight #119-121, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #87 And 88, Batman #567 And 568, Detective Comics #734 And 735, Young Justice In No Man’s Land #1, Robin #67, Azrael: Agent Of The Bat #56, Batman Chronicles #17, Nightwing #35-37, Catwoman #72-74.
    • Batman: No Man’s Land Vol. 3
      Collects Batman #569-71, Detective Comics #736-738, Azrael: Agent Of The Bat #58, Batman: Legends Of The Dark Knight #122-124, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #90-92, Robin #68-72, Batman: No Man’s Land Secret Files #1.
    • Batman: No Man’s Land Vol. 4
      Collects Batman Chronicles #18, Batman #572-574, Detective Comics #739-741, Batman: Legends Of The Dark Knight #125-126, Robin #73, Batman: Shadow Of The Bat #93-94, Azrael: Agent Of The Bat #59-61, Catwoman #75-77, Nightwing #38-39, Batman: No Man’s Land #0.
    • Robin (vol.4) #86 is part of Batman: Officer Down.
    • Robin (vol.4) #95 is part of Joker: Last Laugh.
    • Robin (vol.4) #98-99 are part of Bruce Wayne: Murderer?/Fugitive
    • Robin (vol.4) #100 is Chuck Dixon’s final issue on the title, co-written by Jon Lewis. Lewis became the main writer for the next 20 issues.

Young Justice Logo (Reading Order)

Young Justice Part. 2. Those issues take place post-No Man’s Land to Hush or during Robin #60-120.

All those issues have also been reprinted in the Young Justice Omnibus Vol. 1 and Young Justice Omnibus Vol. 2 [2026]

Robin Letter Icon Reading Order Damian Wayne

II. Robin: The Later Years (with Teen Titans)

After the Young Justice disbanded, Tim Drake was recruited to become part of a new formation of Teen Titans, alongside his friends Superboy, Wonder Girl, and Impulse. A new generation of young heroes emerged under Geoff Johns’ pen.

  • Teen Titans by Geoff Johns Compendium One [2026]
    Collects Beast Boy #1-4, Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1-3, Teen Titans/Outsiders: Secret Files #1, Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1/2 and #1-28, Teen Titans/Legion Special #1, Outsiders (vol. 3) #24-25, DC Special: Return of Donna Troy #1, Supergirl (vol. 5) #2, and a story from Legends of the DC Universe 80-Page Giant #1.

During his time as a Teen Titan, Tim Drake’s solo series continues. Bill Willingham, creator of Fables, took over for a short stint on the title (Robin #126-128) during which Stephanie became Robin. This is when the infamous War Games happened, an event that has consequences for Tim and the rest of the Batfamily.

  • If you want to follow a closer chronological order between Robin and Teen Titans, start with Teen Titans #1-12.
  • Robin: Unmasked!
    Collects Robin (vol. 4) #121–125.
  • You can read Teen Titans #13-14 here.
  • Batman: War Games Book One
    Collects Batgirl #53, #55, Batman #631, Batman: The 12-Cent Adventure, Batman Legends Of The Dark Knight #182, Batman Gotham Knights #56, Catwoman #34, Detective Comics #790-797, Nightwing #96, Robin #126-129, and Solo #10.
  • Batman: War Games Book Two
    Collects Batgirl #56-57, Batman #632-634,642-644, Batman Legends Of The Dark Knight #183-184, Batman Gotham Knights #57-58, Batman Secret Files And Origins Allies 2005, Batman Secret Files And Origins Villains 2005, Catwoman #35-36, Detective Comics #798-800, #809-810, Nightwing #97-98, And Robin #130-131.
  • Teen Titans #15-19
  • Identity Crisis
    Collects Identity Crisis #1-7.
  • Robin/Batgirl: Fresh Blood
    Collects Robin (vol. 4) #132–133; Batgirl (vol. 2) #58–59
  • A little break with Teen Titans #20-23
  • Robin: To Kill a Bird
    Collects Robin (vol. 4) #134–139
  • Robin: Days of Fire and Madness
    Collects Robin (vol. 4) #140–145
  • Catch up with Teen Titans #24-28 before the event!

Infinite Crisis Logo Reading Order

Infinite Crisis! OMAC robots are rampaging, magic is dying, villains are uniting, and a war is raging in space. And in the middle of it all, a critical moment has divided Earth’s three greatest heroes: Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman. This is the Infinite Crisis event written by Geoff Johns. The writer naturally put the Titans front and center during this event that will lead to a tragedy… For the full story, check out our Infinite Crisis reading order

Robin #149

One Year Later! A Year has passed since the events of Infinite Crisis (check out 52 to know more about this missing year), when Batman and Robin returned to Gotham. The Dynamic Duo is at its best, and Tim even accepts Bruce’s offer to adopt him. Tim also takes the lead of the newest iteration of the Teen Titans.

Batman Logo (pré New 52)Grant Morrison’s run on Batman begins here. He introduced Damian Wayne, son of Bruce Wayne, who challenges Tim for the title of Robin. The two of them cannot stand each other and will fight on more than one occasion. Tim also catches the attention of Ra’s al Ghul and is put through various trials in the story ‘The Resurrection of Ra’s al Ghul’.

Who will take the mantle of Bat? In the aftermath of Final Crisis, Gotham City is left without her protector, and someone has took take on the Cowl. Tim is not interested in the role but has his idea on who should become the new Batman.

Robin Letter Icon Reading Order Damian Wayne

III. Red Robin: Tim Drake

We enter the second part of Grant Morrison’s Batman Saga, or the Batman and Robin era, where Dick Grayson took the mantle of Batman and chose Damian as his Robin.

Hurt by Dick’s choice and convinced that Bruce is still alive, Tim Drake cut himself from the rest of the Bat-family and left Gotham to travel the globe looking for a dead man under the Red Robin mantle.

You can right now find this whole period collected in one Compendium, covering the whole Red Robin series, written by Christopher Yost (#1-12) and Fabian Nicieza (#13-26), and Tim’s other notable appearances during this era.

  • Red Robin: Tim Drake Compendium [2026]
    Collects in reading order Robin #175-183, Red Robin #1-26, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne #6, Blackest Night: Batman #1-3, Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Batman and Robin #1, Bruce Wayne: The Road Home: Red Robin #1, World’s Finest #1, Adventure Comics #3, Superman/Batman #62, Batgirl #8, Teen Titans #92, Batman #709, Gotham City Sirens #22, and a story from DCU Halloween Special ’09 #1

Tim rejoins the Teen Titans team in issue #92 (collected in the compendium), for one last story with the team before the cancellation of the title:

Robin Letter Icon Reading Order Damian Wayne

IV. Tim Drake: The New 52 era

Following the conclusion of Flashpoint, DC Comics rebooted its continuity with the New 52 initiative. Various changes were made to update the characters, and Tim Drake’s origin story was altered. He is still an athletic and popular teenage genius, but a lesser detective (he only comes close to discovering Batman’s identity, but doesn’t figure it out). He never took the mantle of Robin, preferring to be called Red Robin out of respect for his presumed-dead predecessor.

He is also considered to be one of the Teen Titans’ founding members and leaders. For most of this era, the character appears in the team’s comic book series written by Scott Lobdell and illustrated by Brett Booth, save for periods when he is involved in a Batman event.

It’s worth noting that the New 52 era can be considered optional for Tim as there is nothing really essential for his character’s development happening.

Batman Logo (pré New 52)Morrison’s Saga concludes here, with Batman Incorporated (you can read the whole arc in one sitting), and has a major impact on the Bat-family once over. Tim has a supporting role as a member of the organization during the second Batman Inc. series but it is an optional read for the character.

This unpopular version of the Teen Titans is coming to an end with those last adventures.

Batman Eternal Logo

Batman Eternal! This yearlong saga by Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, Kyle Higgins, and Tim Seeley takes place in the aftermath of Forever Evil (which mostly means Dick is absent). When a gang war breaks out, and new villains arise, it’s up to the Dark Knight, Batgirl, and more to turn the tide as best as they can–but will the GCPD be a help or a hindrance?

Tim plays a supporting role in this series, appearing in 24 out of 52 issues. While it is optional, if you like Stephanie Brown it is important as it introduces her in the 52 continuity.

To catch up with Damian’s story before the events of Robin War, read the Batman: Robin Rises storyline, in which Batman wages war against the forces of Apokolips over the fate of his son. Tim Drake is one of his allies in this fight, alongside Jason Todd and Batgirl.

Most importantly for Tim, he took on once again the role of leader for the Teen Titans, this time written by Will Pfeifer

Batman and Robin Eternal. The follow-up to Batman Eternal from Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV takes place in the aftermath of Batman, Vol. 7: Endgame. The former Robins must join forces to untangle a mystery that stretches back to the early days of the Dark Knight’s career. This time, this is Cassandra Cain (Orphan) who is reintroduced in the New 52 continuity.

All those issues have also been reprinted in Batman Eternal Omnibus and Batman & Robin Eternal Omnibus.

Robin Letter Icon Reading Order Damian Wayne

V. Tim Drake: Rebirth (with Young Justice)

The DC Universe was soft-relaunched in 2026 in the Rebirth Initiative, reconnecting the past with the present. Tim Drake’s origin story reverts to that of the original universe, in which he discovers the identities of Batman and Robin after the death of Jason Todd, before becoming Robin and then adopting the Red Robin persona.

In this era, Tim plays a less visible role, finding himself at the centre of a mystery in Batman: Detective Comics (written by James Tynion IV and illustrated by Eddy Barrows and Álvaro Martínez), before joining the Young Justice for some adventures disconnected from the Batfamily.

Robin, Spoiler, Batwoman and Clayface in Detective Comics #936
James Tynion IV’s run on Detective Comics has been reprinted in Batman: The Rise and Fall of the Batmen Omnibus

Young Justice Logo (Reading Order)

At the end of Detective Comics #981, Tim Drake took the road, only to reappear later for the Young Justice relaunch, from Brian Michael Bendis (and David F. Walker later on), and artists Patrick Gleason, John Timms, and Scott Godlewski.

During that time, Tim made one of the dumbest decisions of his life by choosing to go by the alias Drake. Everyone thought it was a bad idea, and the alias was quickly dropped.

The Clown Prince of Crime and the Dark Knight go head-to-head before the conclusion of the Rebirth era in James Tynion’s Joker War Saga. Like other members of the family, Tim appears in this event, although he does not play an important role.

Then, this period was concluded with Dark Nights: Death Metal, which put an end to the Dark Multiverse Saga launched 5 year ago with the Dark Nights: Metal event. Tim only appears in group shots during this event.

In the aftermath, DC explored a possible future for its superheroes in Future State, and a version of Tim Drake headlined the limited series, Future State: Robin Eternal, collected in Future State: Dark Detective.
Robin Letter Icon Reading Order Damian Wayne

VI. Tim Drake: Robin in Infinite Frontier/Dawn of DC

Not a proper relaunch, Infinite Frontier is simply a follow-up to Rebirth and, really, everything that came before! The DC Universe has expanded into a larger ‘Omniverse’, a world where anything can be canon. It was quickly followed by the Dawn of DC initiative, a continuation of Infinite Frontier era. The continuity for Batman and his family during this time is often messy, and the two periods are intertwined and cannot be properly separated.

For Tim Drake, those years were mostly focused on his private life. This is during this time that the young man roke off with Stephanie off-panel, then came out as bisexual in Batman: Urban Legends #6. He also plays a part in Chip Zdarsky’s run on Batman — Tim is his favorite Robin.

The Batfamily has resolved its conflict just in time for Absolute Power! This event, orchestrated by Amanda Waller, brings this era to a close. With Failsafe and the Brainiac Queen on her side, Waller has stolen the powers of every metahuman on Earth, heroes and villains alike. But not all is lost, as the few standing are determined to fight back. Tim Drake leads a resistance group during this event, making his appearance in Absolute Power: Task Force Seven #4. However, that’s mostly it for the character.

Robin Letter Icon Reading Order Damian Wayne

VI. Tim Drake: All In

After Amanda Waller’s failed coup, the Justice League reformed with more ambitions, setting its base on a new Watchtower orbiting Earth and opening its ranks to every superhero on Earth. But Tim Drake’s future isn’t in superhero-ing activities, as the third Robin chose to step away from the mantle to pursue a normal life, a decision supported by Bruce Wayne, in Matt Fraction’s first arc on Batman.

Did we forget an important issue? Did we make a mistake? Let us know in the comments!

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2 thoughts on “Tim Drake Reading Order (Robin III, Red Robin)”

    1. Carole
      Reply

      Hey Sonya,

      I just made an update to include the new Compendium collecting his first adventures that coming out soon and I added several trades in the Infinite Frontier/Dawn of DC era.

      The Batman timeline is a total mess during this period, so I’m not totally sure that everything fits properly – and I haven’t read some titles. Hope it helps, and if I made a mistake and/or forgot anything, don’t hesitate to tell me!

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