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Me: *saw someone said they loved my art*

Me: *dies*

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Man I think there are two Great Tragedies of Tim Drake, and the second is how hard fandom refuses to engage with the first in favor of their own made-up fanon version of angst. There's plenty of angst in the actual text!

Like the thing about Tim -- actual, pre-Robin, training-to-be-Robin, start-of-his-Robin-run Tim -- is that he sets out on his vigilante journey with two things literally no other batfam member has had before. Tim is normal, and he is happy.

Early Tim, you'll hear a lot in some circles, is meant to be a bland self-insert: look at this kid, he's a Batman fan, just like you! Only he's got more money AND more freedom than you, which means that he gets to have the coolest hobby ever, and when Batman gets in trouble this kid can actually help him out. So cool!

Dick, Jason, Cass, Damian -- they all come to vigilantehood after backgrounds that're various levels of implausible, tragic, and traumatizing. Batman, and their ability to don a cape beside him, rescues them. Their lives get better when they put the uniform on.

Tim's doesn't. Through coincidence or fate or force of plot, Tim agrees to be Robin and his life immediately gets worse. Tim's mom (who canonically loves him and he loves dearly, who's gone more than maybe she should be but a good mom when she's there) dies. Tim's dad's in a coma. Tim's life is upended.

Tim gets strangled by Azbats. Tim almost dies of the Clench. Tim gets all the typical vigilante/sidekick suffering stuff. Tim gets fucked with and fucked over by an increasingly paranoid Bruce.

Tim tries to leave to go back to his normal civilian life but he can't any more, because he is the Normal One, he's been the Normal One for so long that he's missed how much he's changed until he has to fit all of himself inside one single box of normalcy. He tries to leave and it follows him. It haunts him. It stalks him. It kills his friend. It kills his girlfriend. It kills his dad.

(That's the Tim that Jason runs into in Titan's Tower, for fucksake. The orphan living alone in Bludhaven, who's been Robin for years, who left it and then came back because nobody else could live up to him, who's been taking care of himself for ages. The one with half his life and identity pinned not on being granted the opportunity to playact as impostor-syndrome Robin -- that's Tim of two or three or four years ago, just starting out, before he started accumulating loss -- but on being Robin, and being damn fucking good at it. Jason thinks Tim stole his job. Tim thinks he's been doing this goddamn job for four years and if one more person tells him that it's not his, he's going to show them why he doesn't need to turn into Gun Batman to be scary.)

His best friend dies. His other best friend dies. 16- to 17-year-old Tim McFucking Loses It, even before Bruce also dies and pushes him right over the edge, but the tragedy of the Red Robin run isn't just Tim's general sense of self-worth and belief in his ability to be loved. It's stepping back, looking at it in context, and realizing that this was all preventable.

Dick Grayson was never going to be normal, before or after his parents died. Jason was never going to be fine. Cass was doomed long before Bruce ever got to her. But Tim chose this shit. Twelve years old, looking at Batman, too smart for his own damn good but in a way that never once stopped him from making friends and fitting in just fine before -- Tim chose. And he kept choosing, until long after it stopped actually being a choice, until it became all he had, all he had left. Tim made himself into the sort of creature of power and grief that most of his teammates and family had no choice but to be.

What a cool story. (What a very Barbara Gordon story, but that's a conversation for another day.) What a goddamn shame fandom would rather give him the UwU Tragic Backstory and comically terrible parents than tell it.

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Biodiversity can be achieved through executive dysfunction!

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True

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Red Hood in Position

Based on this post

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Okay actually you know what I'm gonna make my own post about this.

Jason's primary goal in UTRH was not for Bruce to kill the Joker, it was about Bruce choosing Jason's wellbeing over the Joker. I don't think Jason ever expected Bruce to actually headshot the Joker. He's not stupid - he knows Bruce doesn't like guns, and he knows Bruce doesn't kill.* But Jason needed to get closure of some kind, and he wanted his dad to prove that Jason still had some kind of meaning to him, hence why the other option was for Bruce to kill him. If he wasn't going to choose Jason, if Jason was no longer his son, Jason would rather die than live with that choice.

Is it selfish to ask his dad to kill him if he doesn't want the Joker dead? Sure. I guess. It is more of a direct ask for Bruce to kill someone so like. Make of that what you will. But is it selfish to ask Bruce to stand aside and literally do nothing while Jason deals with it? I don't think so, and I don't think it was an unprecedented ask!

*Because Bruce has attempted to kill before, including in Jason's presence, and allowed others to kill with his blessing

Detective Comics #570: The Joker brainwashes Selina to be evil again. Jason stops Bruce from killing him, and Bruce notably says "he took her from me" (aka something Jason famously says in UTRH)

Batman #425: José Garzonas sets a trap for Batman and Robin due to Jason's (intentional or unintentional) involvement in the death of his son, Felipe. Bruce indirectly but intentionally kills three people in this issue, and he tells Jason outright that fathers avenge their sons.

Batman #429: Bruce intentionally goes after the Joker with the intent to kill him, and only delays that until Joker loses his diplomatic immunity. He does not attempt to save him, only asks Clark to find the body.

Detective Comics #741: After the Joker kills Sarah Essen, Bruce tells Jim Gordon to take the shot and he won't stop him.

(These are just what I remember off the top of my head; I know there are more, I just don't remember issue numbers rn)

"Joker's Last Laugh #6," the people cry, "what about Joker's Last Laugh #6?"

In Joker's Last Laugh #6, Dick beats the Joker to death and Bruce resuscitates him. But that was not about Bruce's refusal to kill or let his allies kill - it was about protecting Dick. Dick, who rather famously does not handle having blood on his hands very well even when it's not actually his fault (see Nightwing #93 and the fallout from that for proof of how poorly Dick copes with his perceived guilt).

If it were anyone but Dick, I genuinely believe that Bruce would have left it. Helena was there. Dinah was around. If one of them had taken out the Joker, I think Bruce would have let it lie. Helena and Dinah are not Bruce's kids, and they both have killed before. It's not their first choice, but they have in fact killed and are willing to do so again. Bruce bringing back the Joker wasn't about keeping him alive, it was about protecting Dick's mental health (and he uh. kinda failed at that anyway. Good try though 👍)

So how on earth is UTRH an unreasonable ask? Jason says "let me kill him, or do it yourself, or kill me," and really, there's no reason Bruce should have stopped him. This is more direct and personal than either Bruce's attempt in 'tec #570 or the opening he gives Gordon in 'tec #741. This is Jason asking for Bruce to live up to the standard Bruce himself set in Batman #425. Jason doesn’t have Dick's problem with killing, he's killed several times and he's more than willing to do this. His first option, Jason killing the Joker, asks nothing of Bruce. Bruce literally had to do nothing in UTRH, and Jason would have counted that as a win. Probably. We'll never know for sure, because for whatever reason, Judd Winick decided that in this scenario, Bruce's best move was to throw a batarang through Jason's neck.

So no, UTRH is not Jason being a hypocrite who claims to want to protect people from the Joker but really just wants validation (I mean, he does want validation, and he does want the Joker dead to protect people, but that's not the point). UTRH is Jason asking Bruce for less than the bare minimum that Bruce established when Jason was Robin, and Bruce failing to allow even that. UTRH is Jason desperately screaming for Bruce to prove that he cares even a little bit about him, and Bruce trying to duck out at every opportunity. UTRH is about a kid, 17 or 18, maybe 19 at best, asking his dad to love him and getting a knife to the neck for his trouble.

No wonder Jason goes on a full villain arc after this - I would too.

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happy wavewave wednesday!! 🌊🌊

shockwave learns a new greeting 🐱💙💜

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So I'm someone who started out reading dc fanfic but is now starting to get into actual source material.

I just watched Under the Red Hood and holy crap Jason gets mischaracterized so much in fandom. Like I know a lot of people have talked about this already but whatever.

Jason, so often is described in fanfic as impulsive or emotional, as someone who "thinks with his fists" rather than his head, when that couldn't be further from the truth.

In UtRH, this guy is able to manipulate so many key players into ending up exactly where he wants him, and yet people are still think he's one of the dumber members of the batfamily.

TL;DR - jason is way smarter than the fandom gives him credit for. I'm definitely not the first to say this, but it's not said enough.

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His eyes glowing in the darkness under his hood has to be one of my favourite things, even though this suit isn’t my favourite.

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Jason Attacking Tim at Titans Tower

Fanon vs Canon

We've all seen the versions in fanfiction but I'm not so sure everyone's seen the original so if you're one of those batfam fans who doesn't want to read the comics (regardless of reasons) but you are curious about how it actually went this is for you.

What I'm addressing:

What does Jason actually say to Tim during the attack?

Did Jason drug all the other Titans?

Did Jason really wear a Robin costume?

Did Jason slit Tim's throat or call him replacement?

Did Jason actually break Tim's bo staff?

Was Tim crying or scared?

Did Jason write a message on the wall in Tim's blood?

Did Jason's eyes glow green?/Did he follow pit rage mechanics?

Panels and details below. This is a LONG one.

What did Jason actually say to Tim during the attack?

Dialogue in fanfiction during the Titans Tower attack varies based on what kind of fic you're reading but usually its either 'time to clip Replacement's wings' if its staying a beatdown whump 'or oh no precious lil bby why is no one watching you' if its an accidental child acquisition. Not judging either option, but this ain't about them its about the real shit.

Look at these opening lines:

Hey, Tim. I was here first.You're the Red Hood. You've been cleaning up Gotham the easy way. Easy? What do you know about easy, Tim? You had a father that looked after you. You went to a private school, right? You slept in a bed. I slept on the streets, I lived in the alleyways in Gotham. Trying to survive. Until Bruce took me in. I trained as hard as I could. I did whatever he asked. . . at least at first. But it didn't matter. They said I wasn't tough enough to be robin. But today, they say you are. Show me, Tim. Show me what you have that I didn't.

Jason really puts himself out there in all of his dialogue in this encounter, the struggle of having to fight for anything and everything he got in life, even the things that came to everyone else for free, and then being told he wasn't even good enough for the things he fought for.

There's a trope in fanfics that if Jason knew Tim stalked Batman and forced his way into being Robin that it would change how Jason felt about the situation but that's even addressed in this comic:

You were a kid, worried about how Batman was spiraling down into darkness. You spent weeks tracking the dark knight. Solving a mystery no one else could. You discovered who he was behind that mask. Millionaire Bruce Wayne. You were so pleased with yourself, I'm sure that you forgot who you were really dealing with. I know Bruce Wayne. And let me tell you, Tim if someone was trying to find out who Batman really was. If someone was stalking him for weeks. He'd know about it. You can't be that good. I am. He let you find him. And I bet he said the same thing to you as he did to me, didn't he? That you had a talent to make a difference in Gotham. That he needed someone he could trust in war on crime. That you were one of a kind. The light to his darkness. Robin, the Boy Wonder.

Tim saying 'I am' is really such a moment that doesn't come through in text because he is right that he really did do that but I also completely understand why Jason wouldn't believe it.

TBH my favorite part is how done Tim honestly sounds with Jason thoughout all his trauma dumping. Like imagine a grown man who used to work the same part time job as you breaking into your house, dressing up in your work uniform, ranting about how much the job ruined his life while he beats your ass??? God, and he probably had to write a fucking report about it after. RIP Timmy.

What do you want? Do you want to be Robin again? Is that it? You... want to take it away from me? Why in the hell would I ever want that? Don't you get it? When I died no one cared! No one remembered me. Are you completely insane? No one could forget you. I've spent my entire career wearing this mask under your shadow. I had to convince Batman to let me try this. All because he'll never stop blaming himself for what happened to you. You ask me, that's the only reason he hasn't taken you down. He's holding back. But me? No freakin' way. That's the Robin I wanted to see. Still. You do realize the whole idea of training a teenager to fight against something he'll never eradicate is a mistake. It didn't even surprise anyone when I died. When I failed. I failed-- but I'm still beating you. Do you think you're that good now?! Do you really, Tim? Yes.

Tim bashing Jason across the face as he says 'no freakin' way'? *chefs kiss*

Jason drugging the other Titans to knock them out?

Little bit true, Kory was actually just already away from the tower and BB and Cyborg were about to bounce because of the drama going on with Donna's return but Jason like super tazes them and then drugs Raven who he thought already went through enough shit without him knocking her out violently.

Note: Jason says in the text here that he never rolled with Cyborg or BB but like he actually did in some comics so?? The continuity is lie I guess idk.

Did he show up in Red Hood gear or a Robin costume?

Both tbh but he spent most of the time in the Robin costume but bro actually made a stripper rip away version of his Red Hood gear so he could dramatically reveal the Robin costume underneath. I can't believe no one ever includes that in their fics its so fucking funny.

Does he call Tim 'replacement' or slit his throat?

No, this came from a Batman comic with Hush not Teen Titans. That incident takes place in a graveyard not Titans Tower and he calls Tim pretender not replacement.

Does Jason break Tim's staff?

Tragically, no. The bo staff snap would have been iconic. Instead he just takes Tim's staff and beats Tim up with it and breaks stuff. BUT!! He uses it to bust a statue in the TITANS MEMORIAL ROOM which is a place in Titans Tower just for having statues of dead previous titans and Jason is rightfully pissed he didn't get one. Like Tim is correct in saying no one forgot him still but like I would be hurt too if all my friends made cool statues of friends that died and then just left my zombie ass out, like wtf.

Note: I am seriously losing my shit that I have never seen someone bring up the memorial room in a fanfic. That is so much angst material. 😭

Tim crying/ being scared?

Hell no. He's a fucking Robin you know he's being a sassy boy the whole time, even towards the end when he's about done he's still saying he's her and I love Tim for that.

Note: There are a few different times where Tim does a flippy Robin move and then Jason just fucking copies it like flexing that he can do it too, and its just so petty and stupid he's trying so hard to be better than an actual child. 💀I get why in the context of the situation but its still so ridiculous.

Message on the wall in Tim's blood?

TBH I really don't know for sure on this one?? Like its implied that he did but Tim isn't bleeding all that much throughout this beatdown and like we don't see Jason do it just the Titans reacting to seeing it after. It could be Tim's blood, it could be red paint, and it could even be that Jason packed an actual bucket of blood to bring with him to write a message with after he finished. TBH the world is your oyster on this one.

Note: If anyone can find another comic where this event was brought up where they actually clarify it was Tim's blood hmu and I'll update this but I couldn't find any.

Pit rage/ glowing green eyes?

Fanon only at this point in the comics. Jason is seems to be himself and even thinks Tim and his friends are pretty cool at the end, and he's just like reflecting on if he had good friends if he would have turned out better as he leaves.

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😚

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5A period, honey .

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i feel like we as a digital society have forgotten the important rules of the internet

Don't feed the trolls

Never give out personal information

Anonymity is the best defense

Don't click suspicious links

Don't click popups and ads

Just because it's written doesn't mean it's true

You are responsible for your own experience

There is porn of everything, act accordingly

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Everybody loooooook

BUG SHEET!!!! OF VARIOUS JAYYYYYYYYYY!!! BY THE INCREDIBLE @jejejijiju

Omg I am so so so insanely happy with these I mean LOOOK!!!! AT HIM!!!!

A lot of these are scenes from Eat Your Heart Out, and there are a couple from So Sweet Saluteth Me, Turn Your Back On Death, and Imprinting. The rest are from WIPs (I hope) lmao.

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I feel like with the new ~fandom drama~ or whatever going around, I should re-introduce my favorite theory of fandom, which I call the 1% Theory.

Basically, the 1% Theory dictates that in every fandom, on average, 1% of the fans will be a pure, unsalvageable tire fire. We’re talking the people who do physical harm over their fandom, who start riots, cannot be talked down. The sort of things public news stories are made of. We’re not talking necessarily bad fans here- we’re talking people who take this thing so seriously they are willing to start a goddamn fist fight over nothing. The worst of the worst.

The reason I bring this up is because the 1% Theory ties into an important visual of fandom knowledge- that bigger fandoms are always perceived as “worse”, and at a certain point, a fandom always gets big enough to “go bad”. Let me explain.

Say you have a small fandom, like 500 people- the 1% Theory says that out of those 500, only 5 of them will be absolute nutjobs. This is incredibly manageable- it’s five people. The fandom and world at large can easily shut them out, block them, ignore their ramblings. The fandom is a “nice place”.

Now say you have a medium sized fandom- say 100,000 people. Suddenly, the 1% Theory ups your level of calamity to a whopping 1000 people. That’s a lot. That’s a lot for anyone to manage. It is, by nature of fandom, impossible to “manage” because no one owns fan spaces. People start to get nervous. There’s still so much good, but oof, 1000 people.

Now say you have a truly massive fandom- I use Homestuck here because I know the figures. At it’s peak, Homestuck had approximately FIVE MILLION active fans around the globe.

By the 1% Theory, that’s 50,000 people. Fifty THOUSAND starting riots, blackmailing creators, contributing to the worst of the worst of things.

There’s a couple of important points to take away here, in my opinion.

1) The 1% will always be the loudest, because people are always looking for new drama to follow.

2) Ultimately, it is 1%. It is only 1%. I can’t promise the other 99% are perfect, loving angels, but the “terrible fandom” is still only 1% complete utter garbage.

3) No fandom should ever be judged by their 1%. Big fandoms always look worse, small fandoms always look better. It’s not a good metric.

So remember, if you’re ever feeling disheartened by your fandom’s activity- it’s just 1%, people. Do your part not to be a part of it.