Batman: The Audio Adventures - The sad career of King Scimitar
I've mentioned more than once how much i adore this series, both the original audio series on HBO Max (for some reason), and the comic spin off.
It shows a gloriously warped version of Gotham City (constantly described by the narrator (news anchor Jack Ryder... though not his more colourful alter ego), in wonderful purple prose like "Gotham City... a flawless diamond, on a rattlesnakes back" or "Gotham City.. A dark syrup pouring slowly from cut crystal" and more you can read here.
Anyway, one of the comic spin offs includes a short story about a new guy in town... he has aspirations to criminal greatness and starts with a classic!
Except this is Gotham, where even the civilians are jaded beyond most people's comprehension The teller gives him the money more out of pity than anything and offers the same advice that the ladies of the chorus gave in the musical "Gypsy", namely that "You Gotta Get a Gimmick"
But a lot of the good themes are taken... and most of the bad ones
So, he works on a theme, developing his skill with swords (which he was already good at, but didn't expect to be relevant in a city awash with guns), until he comes... King Scimitar.
Still, Gotham is the definition of a "tough room" to impress and when his rising career DOES attract Batman's attention, the Caped Crusader is not remotely in awe...
Heh... "Robin Problem"
...and it does appear to be a term in common useage, as when King Scimitar then tries to upgrade his arsenal with a more potent blade...
I just love the idea that aspiring Bat-villain wannabes are "Robin problems" until they can actually prove themselves worthy of Batman's proper attention!
Oh and for context, this is the B:TAA Robin...
He's still a very capable fighter and all, but definitely one of the younger, smaller Boy Wonder's we've seen in adaptations.
