For several years, it has been clear that DC hasn’t quite known what to do with Tim Drake, a fact made especially apparent when they reverted him back to his Robin title. Now, the publisher is going all in on the decision to retire Tim Drake’s character after 37 years.
Batman #6 by Matt Fraction and Jorge Jiménez dropped an unexpected bombshell as Tim Drake officially retires from heroics, not just the Robin mantle.
No one saw this coming, as many fans had assumed Tim would be Batman’s main Robin in the series, especially given how the series was marketed, placing him front and center. This is a major change not only for the Dark Knight but also for the Bat-Family, who now lose one of their smartest and most iconic members. So why is Tim stepping away? For love, of course.
DC Officially & Indefinitely Shelves Tim Drake
Comic Page Comes From Matt Fraction’s Batman #6 (2026) – Art by Jorge Jiménez
Tim Drake came out as bisexual in August 2021 in the pages of Batman: Urban Legends #6, and has since been in a serious relationship with his boyfriend, Bernard Dowd, even though Dowd does not know Tim’s secret identity. As Tim expresses in Batman #6 (2026), his love for Bernard and his desire to stop keeping secrets is the driving force behind his decision to retire.
During a heartfelt conversation with Bruce, Tim tells him that he believes he has found love with Bernard and that lying about his identity is becoming increasingly difficult. He then says, “I think I need a break from this. From us.” In that moment, Bruce loses not just a Robin, but the Robin who mirrors him most closely and rivals him as the World’s Greatest Detective.
Bruce responds with understanding, telling Tim, “Tim Drake, you’re the bravest soul I’ve ever known. You can always come back. But I hope you never have to.” The two share an emotional embrace, one that fans can feel through the pages, leaving the lingering question: Is this the end of Tim Drake as a main character in DC’s narratives?
While it is refreshing to see DC finally pull Tim out of limbo, where his purpose in the broader narrative has been vague at best, this feels like the end of a fan-favorite character. Unlike his fellow Robins, Tim is not graduating to a new mantle, he is outright quitting, a decision even Batman hopes will be permanent for his third Robin.
Batman #6 from DC Comics is now available to read!
