Red Robin

Seeing reports that showed Batman's grief was affecting his performance in the field, Tim approached Nightwing, hoping he'd return to being Batman's partner. When Dick refused, Tim went to Batman and volunteered to be the next Robin, but Batman would not put another youth in danger. But when Batman and Nightwing were trapped by Two-Face, Tim, with help from Alfred, donned a Robin costume and rescued them. Impressed with his skill and cool head–something Jason never had–Batman agreed to train Tim on a trial basis. Tim trained with Alfred, Batman, and Nightwing. During his training, Tim's parents were captured by a criminal, the Obeah Man, and held for ransom. Knowing they'd be killed anyway, Batman went to rescue them, but in the process, Tim's mother was killed, and his father was paralyzed.

After assisting in taking down the Scarecrow, Tim Drake was officially made the third Robin. He continued training, going abroad to work with specialists. While in Europe, he faced King Snake's drug ring and met Lady Shiva, considered by many the best martial artist in the world. She also trained Tim, helping him decide on a fighting staff as his weapon of choice. When Robin defeated King Snake but refused to kill him despite Shiva's urging, she branded him a disappointment. Tim returned to Gotham City, where he worked both with Batman and alone. He even faced and defeated The Joker, though the madman escaped. When Bane broke Batman's back, Tim witnessed how his replacement, Azrael, became increasingly unstable. He helped Batman return, defeat Azrael, and reclaim his mantle.

Tim began dating a girl from school, Ariana, and helped Stephanie Brown, aka Spoiler, the daughter of the criminal Cluemaster, escape her father's influence. Through rehab, Tim's father Jack gained the ability to walk with a cane. Tim's relationship with Ariana ended in part due to disapproval by her family, and he later began dating Stephanie. Tim's father decided they should move to Keystone City for a new start. Robin teamed with The Flash at times and also returned to Gotham City often. He joined Young Justice, a team that included young heroes such as Impulse and Wonder Girl. They later evolved into a new Teen Titans. Perhaps inevitably, Tim's father discovered he was Robin and demanded he quit or he would expose both his and Batman's identities. Reluctantly, Tim resigned as Robin.

Tim's girlfriend Stephanie briefly replaced him as Robin, creating tension between them. Batman later fired her for disobeying orders. When a gang war began, Tim stayed out of it, but after his friend was killed because he wasn't there, Tim returned as Robin. When he told his father, Jack admitted Tim was needed. Stephanie was apparently killed in the gang war, but her death was faked to give her a new start. Later, several heroes' identities were compromised, and Tim's father was murdered by Captain Boomerang. When Jason Todd, the second Robin, was resurrected as the Red Hood and sought revenge on the Bat-Family, he initially targeted Tim, the Robin who replaced him, for death. Though Jason defeated Tim, Tim earned Jason's respect, and Jason spared his life. Eventually, Jason gave up his grudge.

When Damian, Batman's son with Talia al Ghul, revealed his existence and demanded to become the new Robin, both Batman and Tim viewed him with suspicion. But realizing that it was important for Batman and his son to work things out, Tim ultimately took the name Red Robin. While at first Tim and Damian butted heads, they have become close, much like brothers. More recently, Tim came to the realization that he was bisexual and has had relationships with both men and women, including Tamara Fox, the daughter of Wayne Enterprises CEO Lucius Fox, and Bernard Dowd, a former childhood friend he became reacquainted with. Going out on his own as a hero, Red Robin has become the foremost criminologist among the Bat-Family other than Batman, and the only other one Ra's al Ghul calls "Detective".