Tim Drake’s Secret Identity Strategy: Beef, Memes, and a Denny’s Parking Lot
Tim Drake eventually realizes that the best way to protect a secret identity is simple:
You either love someone deeply or you absolutely cannot stand them.
No one suspects the vigilante if your civilian self is already emotionally compromised.
Now, Tim does have a crush on an actual person, which rules out the “hopelessly in love” method. So he chooses the only logical alternative.
He hates Robin.
Not in a subtle way. Not in a Bruce Wayne “we have unresolved exes energy” way. And not in a Clark Kent “I respectfully disagree with Superman’s methods” way, because Tim refuses to be boring or easy.
No—Tim Drake goes all in.
The Beef (Unexplained, Documented, and Extremely Online)
There is beef between Tim Drake and Robin.
No one knows why.
When asked, Tim only says:
“They know what they did.”
Robin’s response? Silence. Smug silence.
There are Twitter wars. Screenshots circulate. Gotham discourse is unbearable.
At some point, they are filmed fighting in a Denny’s parking lot.
Bets are placed.
Someone livestreams.
There is clear video evidence.
Tim Drake wins.
This is never explained.
It becomes a running Gotham meme.
Young Justice Discovers the Drama
Young Justice finds out about the Tim Drake vs. Robin situation.
They do not know Robin’s identity.
They do make fun of him relentlessly.
Robin responds by absolutely wrecking them in training.
Now they’re left wondering:
“Could Tim Drake kick our asses?”
They decide Tim Drake must be an up-and-coming rogue. They don’t know why Robin has been laughing nonstop for ten minutes.
Then they see a video of Tim Drake face-planting while skateboarding.
Concern evaporates.
They conclude Robin just really hates Tim Drake—and that the hatred is mutual.
They make their own memes.
Jason Todd Returns and Immediately Suffers
Jason comes back to life.
He sees the memes.
He is deeply confused.
Because if:
Bruce is Batman
Tim Drake (Bruce’s… son? Maybe? He has parents??) is not Robin
Then who replaced him?
And does that mean Bruce didn’t replace him?
This question haunts him.
Bruce Wayne Is Blissfully Unaware
Bruce Wayne has absolutely no idea any of this is happening.
Tim Drake is having the time of his life.
Martian Manhunter’s Problem
J’onn J’onzz is quietly questioning how he got blackmailed by a 15-year-old.
(He also thinks it’s hilarious.)
Tim Drake: undefeated. Robin: thriving. Gotham: confused. The secret identity: completely safe.
