#god I am trying to write fic and you have me going doolally over issue numbers and volumes

[incoherentbabblings]

What are some TimSteph comics you would recommend to check out their relationship and have some nice moments between them?

Oh! Of course. A rec list. I can totally do one of those. Poorly.

So, this is heavily biased towards the good times, arcs and runs I like and such, and is focused around issues where they are together in one fashion or another. This isn't an overview of their whole relationship and is biased and sometimes missing contextual arc issues either side. The thing is... I can't... face... re-reading 30 years worth of comics right now...

So, fast track TimSteph - here's the issues that make Abbie go brrrrrrrrrrrrr.

Early Days

Detective Comics Vol 1 #648: The Great Bricking

Robin Vol 4 #5: First Kiss (of dubious consent good job Tim you're as bad as each other)

Robin Vol 4 #16: Banter and more kisses - "Do I have to remind you that a warehouse full of killers is looking for us right now?" "Isn't it romantic?" "Not exactly." - but also Steph holding Tim's cheek, the first of many cradlings these two get up to, and the delightfully messy line "I see that your girlfriend must be a real jerk if she's running on you," pick me pick me pick me /j

Robin Vol 4 #44: By far their most romantically framed kiss pre actually getting together. Tim keeps trying to draw a distinction between Spoiler and Steph and Tim and Robin and Steph just doesn't get it. They're the same person? This will... crop up a lot. It's a thing. That I'm too invested in.

Robin Vol 4 #54: "Bad case of the Stephs" and the kissing on the cheek and "Big brave superhero." UwU

Robin Vol 4 #56: Tim's disease is declared terminal, and they get together. "This is what I've wanted. Even if I didn't know for sure until right now."

Pre-War Games

Robin Vo 4 #57: Date night and uh-oh someone's preggers. #57-#65 is the pregnancy arc in full, and contains a lot of very sincere and quiet conversations between the two on rooftops and kitchen tables. Includes Steph's first use of the 'L' word.

Robin Vol 4 #74 and #75: The start of the Brentwood Arc. Steph is beginning to become anxious about Tim's secrets.

Robin Vol 4 #92: Bruce, having been a tattle-tale let Stephanie know Tim Drake's secret identity. More importantly, it's the first time Tim uses the 'L' word.

Robin Vol 4 #100: The start of Lewis' run. I'd say read the entire 20 issue run but it is really lacking in the plot department, so for TimSteph specific moments, look to #100, #101, #103, #104 (the first time he says 'I love you' to just Steph), #107, #109, #111 (the piano issue), #116, #119, #120. The last issue of Lewis' run reiterates the 'Steph can't tell the difference between Tim and Robin' theme.

Robin Vol 4 #124: Banter alone puts this on the list. 'My dearest dove'

War Games

...No

But if you really really want to. Batman Vol 1 633 and 634. Steph asks after Tim on her deathbed, being reassured by Bruce that he adores her, and Tim being told that she is dead.

Return to Flashpoint

Robin Vol 4 #174: 'I'm not dead smooches babyyyyyyy'

Robin/Spoiler Special: Stephanie compares Tim to Dexter (the serial killer????) and says 'we have our kind of fun' and I spend inordinate numbers of hours thinking about it.

Gotham Gazette: Batman Dead and Gotham Gazette: Batman Alive?: Time for that juicy angst whilst still touching each other far too intimatelyyyyyy. Yes I skipped all of FabNic's Robin run whataboutit?

Red Robin Vol 1 #2: ANGST

Batgirl Vol 3 #8 and Red Robin Vol 1 #10-12: Angst, but with hope that things will improve. The almost kiss. The apology. The waiting by the bedside only to yell at him about the engagement. Oh yes. That's the stuff right there.

Red Robin Vol 1 #15: Legitimately only for Tim letting his hormones get the better of him for a moment.

Convergence: Batgirl #1 and #2: The technical end of the Pre-Flashpoint versions of these characters, though this has been undone with recent Crisis events. They get back together in time for the world to maybe end, chosing each other as who they want to go out with. Wooft.

New 52 and Rebirth

It's my jam

Batman Eternal #52: A new first meeting. Siginificantly less violent than the first time around.

Detective Comics #935: Oh wait they're together again? Oh wait they live together? Oh wait they're having sex? Oh my. Okay on a more serious note you know my brand you know I'm blooming obsessed with their relationship during this run, but specific issues to point out just for moments of them will be #939, #940, #963, #969, #970, #979, #981. Oh what's that? Steph doesn't care about what Tim calls himself? Where have I heard that before?

Detective Comics Vol 1 #1000: Can we make out just a little?

Young Justice #5: Pink kisses and dear Bendis I am sorry if ever doubted you. Wish you'd have more of a plot but hey. Other issues worth reading are #8-10, #14 and 15, and finally #18.

Detective Comics Vol 1 #1027: Real true love is when you investigate gruesome murders with your partner for date night. Thanks Bendis.

Eh voilà! C'est fini.

For now...

Argh, I'l include Robin Eternal #1 and #2 as well. They're very soft on each other in that book, despite being broken up. Steph's a giant weak point for Tim, which his drugged up brain hallucinatory Batman takes advantage of.

Yeah, that's definitely it. These issues don't cover everything, but they are the ones that have impacted my viewing and understanding of their relationship the most.