Young Justice: The Secret 1998 meta [Robin’s interrogation]
Comic context: This is probably within their first year of becoming heroes + the first time Robin, Superboy, and Impulse all work together as a trio. Robin is trying to investigate why there government agents searching near Gotham and in doing so he bumps into Impulse and Superboy. They help the DEO (Department of Extra-normal Operations) to recapture an escaped creature. Turns out that the creature is actually a very sentient ghost girl. In order to protect her, they give back a decoy that is promptly destroyed by the DEO. They must lie to the DEO and their mentors to ensure the ghost girl’s freedom.
This is Robin focused. SB and Imp will have their own posts.
Tim’s already established himself in Gotham; hes got a rogues gallery, and he's working solo on a bunch of missions. He’s also gone through Azbats, Dickbats, The Clench, etc.
So despite being young, he's not green. It's kinda interesting to look at how he first appears/reacts to the interrogation during this early part in his career.
The first time Tim show up in the interrogation, he’s sat very level, back straight, but not uncomfortably so. He looks like he’s ready to give a clear, concise and detailed report of events. Which makes sense considering that, 1. He’s been taught by Batman, and 2. He’s been working on his own for a bit of time. He’s practised in these interrogations.
Still, he does show some hesitation when the story is demanded from him. With how serious his face is though, I think part of it is Tim’s need to be respectful. The other part I think might be apprehension.
[I do think it would be funny if Tim is also just outright judging them for the raised voices though.
Robin: um… why we yelling? Well, that’s one way to interrogate someone… okay, great job on being subtle…]
The boys’ head move quite frequently during these panels but it’s because the members are standing at different points around them. I'm pretty sure they're moving their heads to react at/answer questions to those who directed it to them.
It's interesting that Robin brings up the disease and virus comparison.
He wants them to know that he took AND is taking this seriously. He nearly died from The Clench and he helped Nightwing stop Ra’s from weaponizing it further than what The Order of St. Dumas was able to. It makes what he’s saying more credible and believable.
Even at this stage, Tim knows how to use his words to play on people impressions and assumptions.
The boys continue to tell their story, conveniently leaving out the middle bit where they discovered the volatile dangerous creature is actually this misty ghost girl with a tragic backstory + how they deceived the agents on the field into believing this creature was destroyed.
And now lies of omission and straight up lying are starting to muddle.
Robin has been serious and stone faced this entire time. His mouth stays the same but his eyes kind of take on this deer in headlights look. Which makes sense, considering this is what, like 2 years before his whole, "I lie to Batman," shtick.
And the JL is showing their interrogation tactics, the moment they had to lie, they had the member to ask them be beside them/behind them. It helps to reveal these little micro-expressions.
Everyone hear is gearing themselves up to lie. Robin's deer in headlights look has become more unsettled and apprehensive.
Look at him. He decides to go for nonchalant. Which does make sense? They asked him for his opinion. While he was recounting the events he was serious and stern faced. This answer makes it look like he hasn't considered that the creature could've survived the explosion. which is a good impression to leave in this situation if you're trying to cover up the truth.
I just thought this was interesting. He is lying in an interrogation setting to people he respects. Quite a lot of pressure. It shows that even this green, he's most comfortable with trying to manipulate people's impressions and assumptions about his falsehoods. I think this is a through line for him even until Red Robin 2009, which is pretty cool, since a lot of the things he gets away with are the result of people simply not noticing due to this image of trustworthiness in mind.
I'm sure he gets better at it, but here, this early in his career, he looks so uncomfortable having to lie straight up. It reminds me of that one comic panel where Bruce is like, "No, Tim has to say it to me. Because Jason and Damian will lie to my face and not blink." Could it be that Tim has never fully gotten over that deer in headlights look in the face of Batman? or is it more like: Tim has figured out what gives himself away in Batman's eyes and has started to use it against him.
Honestly I feel like it's both. Tim knows how to manipulate people's view of him… even this early on. So I wouldn't be surprised if he grows to purposefully use that wide eyed look to give someone the wrong impression.
I also think that If Tim hasn't prepped himself to lie to Batman then he has this deer in the headlights look, but if he has a moment to prepare himself then it is unfortunately extremely hard to know if he's being truthful.
Anyway Tim's relationship with being deceitful is fascinating.
