How Old is Tim Drake?

A QUESTION OF AGE: Modern Age Tim Drake

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We’ve already established that DC writers and editors built a different Modern Age timeline than mine. To briefly recap, two major differences in my timeline include: Dick starting as Robin in Year Five instead of Year Three due to my strict (more literal) reading of Long Halloween and Dark Victory; and treatment of Zero Hour as a soft reboot (as opposed to a hard reboot). As a result, some of the age references in the comics don’t always jibe with my timeline, which is 23 years long (as opposed to DC’s 15-year-long timeline). I’ve retconned Modern Age Tim Drake debuting as Robin a bit younger based upon the aforementioned timeline differences and a stricter (more literal) reading of the overall passage of time in the DCU, following Tim’s first appearance onward. (The latter is our topic of discussion here.) Bear in mind, I’m not trying to define or redefine Batman character ages willy-nilly—I’m simply attempting to construct and/or suggest a detailed, unambiguous canon. And like I’ve always said, this is technically an impossible task. We can’t inject realism (in the form of perfect continuity and age restraints) into a science-fiction unreality that ignores conventional passage of time. But we can have fun trying. Let’s begin by examining Tim’s history as depicted by DC editors and writers on their mega-compressed 15-year chronology.

We first see Modern Age Tim Drake chronologically through flashback in Batman #436 where he appears as a seven-year-old that witnesses the deaths of the Flying Graysons at the circus. Tim’s next appearance is his debut in Batman #440-441 (1989) where he is 13-years-old. He meets Batman and Nightwing and becomes the new Robin. Tim is still mentioned as being 13 (going on 14) and is shown to be starting high school in Batman #448 (1990). In Robin II: Joker’s Wild #1 (1991) and Batman #471 (1991), the implication is that Tim has turned 14. Robin III: Cry of the Huntress #5 (1993) implies that Tim is still 14. In Robin Vol. 2 #1 (1993), a “Knightquest” tie-in, Tim gets his driver’s license early (at age 14) due to the fact that he needs to be able to drive his father around. In Robin Vol. 2 storylines by 1994, we are told Tim is in 10th grade. By Robin Vol. 2 circa 1996, Tim is still in 10th grade. Tim is 14 nearing 15 in Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1 (1998). Tim is confirmed to still be in 10th grade in Robin Vol. 2 #75 (2000). Tim is confirmed to be 15 in Robin Vol. 2 #80 (2000). In “Bruce Wayne: Murderer” (specifically Batgirl #24, 2002), Oracle tells us that Tim is 15. Tim celebrates his Sweet 16 in Robin Vol. 2 #116 (2003). Tim is said to be 16 when Spoiler “dies” (as referenced in Detective Comics #810 and Batman Allies Secret Files #1). In Identity Crisis #5 (2004) and Robin Vol. 2 #136 (2005), Tim is still 16. Tim is said to be “under 18” in Robin Vol. 2 #142 (2005). 52 (2006-2007) takes place and functions as a literal calendar year, so Tim must age to 17 during this arc. Tim is still said to be “under 18” in Robin Vol. 2 #179 (2008). By the time Tim becomes Red Robin, he is still 17, but soon to be 18. Red Robin #17 (2011) and Red Robin #25 (2011) both say Tim is a senior in high school and 17. Flashpoint happens before Tim reaches the age of 18.

To recap the above in terms of publication years, Tim is 14 from 1991-1998, 15 from 1998-2002, 16 from 2002-2006, and 17 from 2006-2011. There is a very long stretch where Tim stays 14, but this could easily be connected to the fact that Zero Hour is right smack dab in the middle of the range. According to numerous sources in the Comic Book Resources forums, DC editors wanted to age certain characters using a rough formula of four years of written material equaling one actual chronological year. For Tim’s 15 and 16, this four-years-of-publication-as-one-year-of-aging rule seems to apply. With that same logic applied moving onward, Tim should have turned 18 before Flashpoint, but it seems that DC editors (maybe with knowledge of the impending reboot) simply decided to keep him at 17 until the end.

While it’s clear that writers were utilizing the four-as-one formula for Tim’s age, it’s also true that many writers showed significantly more years’ worth of “in-story time” elapsing in the period spanning from Tim’s 16th birthday through Flashpoint (i.e. from 2002 to 2011). Writers detailed this passage of “in-story time” by scripting holidays, different seasons, topical events, asterisk notation, and more. Since both age and time (duration) use the exact same units of measurement, you can’t have one formula for age and a different formula for the passage of time. Yet the use of contradicting principles has occurred, forming a paradox. While DC’s timeline ostensibly works for Tim on a surface level, it only does so in a vacuum where few other characters exist and there is willful ignorance of the fact that seasons change, holidays come and go, and time literally passes over the years. As highlighted previously, Tim’s debut at 13 and end at 17 only works if we subscribe to a timeline where a mere four years pass between Tim’s debut and Flashpoint. Put another way: “The Death and Return of Superman,” “Knightfall,” “Cataclysm,” “No Man’s Land,” Identity Crisis, Infinite Crisis, Countdown, “Batman RIP,” Final Crisis, 52, Battle for the Cowl, every single JLA story, and every other non-Batman comic between 1989 and 2011, must happen in a measly four year span. Unless both Zero Hour and Infinite Crisis are hard reboots, this ain’t kosher.

Now let’s address my timeline. Obviously, Tim’s age must be rejiggered a bit to make sense on a 23-year-timeline (the Batman Chronology Project’s timeline) versus a 15-year-timeline (DC’s timeline). To account for the difference, we could retcon it so that Tim becomes Robin at age 8 instead of 13, but that seems far-fetched. Plus, if you went this route, it would completely erase the fact that Tim watched the Flying Graysons die. However, a more elegant solution, and the one I’ve taken on my Modern Age timeline, is retconning Tim’s debut as Robin to a month or two before Tim turns 11-years-old (in Bat Year 13). This allows for Tim’s 16th birthday to still take place where it originally was meant to (in Robin Vol. 2 #116, July, Bat Year 18), thus eliminating most inconsistencies regarding his age up to that point. After that, only very minor inconsistencies pop up every now and again throughout the comics—and most huge errors are eliminated (although we do have to reimagine Tim as being 2 instead of 7 when the Flying Graysons die). Even Tim being referred to as a minor in the Red Robin series is totally legitimate if we think of the term “minor” to mean “under 21.” On our 23-year-timeline, Tim is 20-years-old (with his 21st birthday happening in July of 2011) during the Red Robin series. Thus, by the time we reach Flashpoint, Tim has turned 21-years-old.

Another great reference to comic book character ages is Chris J Miller’s “Table of Birthdates” from his brilliant “Unauthorized Chronology of the DCU.” (Chris lists Tim’s age in 2011 at 22 because he has kept Tim’s Robin debut at age 13, hence the two year age difference compared to my chronology.)

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22 Responses to How Old is Tim Drake?

  1. Jemima Spill says:

    I am so glad that there are such thorough Batman fans out there as you!

  2. Foxskip says:

    I’ve been making my own DC/batfamily timeline & Tim really just made it impossible lmao :””)

  3. Jack James says:

    “Bruce Wayne – born in 1963
    Dick Grayson – born in 1981
    Jason Todd – born in 1985
    Cassandra Cain – born in 1987
    Tim Drake – born in 1990
    Damian Wayne – born in 1999”

    More dates to the list:
    Selina Kyle – born in 1969
    Barbara Gordon- born in 1977
    Helena Bertinelli – born in 1977
    Talia al Ghul: born between 1976 and 1979.

    I wonder if there’s any hint of Alfred’s and Gordon’s ages in the modern age.

  4. Jade Austin says:

    I made my own DC timeline and Tim and Damian specifically gave me conniptions, but I finally got things sorted. Nice job with this, tho I think I’ll be picturing my own timeline 😛

  5. Will says:

    Hey, Collin. I was attempting to create a timeline but I found the ages of the Robins to be completely jumbled. How may I fix this? I acknowledge that these ages and dates are rather flexible but I was just wondering if there is a simplified headcanon you follow. Also, I was wondering which year each person turns into their respective hero or villain role. Many thanks! Here’s my timeline.

    1963 born (February)
    1971 parents die (Autumn)
    1981 leaves to train
    1988 returns to Gotham
    1989 becomes Batman (April)
    1992 adopts 12yo Dick
    1994 adopts 12yo Jason
    1998 Jason dies at 16 & Dick becomes Nightwing
    2002 Tim becomes Robin
    2011 Bruce is 48 (August/Flashpoint)
    2015 Bruce is now 52 (New 52)

    Bruce Wayne born 1963
    Selina Kyle born 1969
    Talia al Ghul born 1976-1979
    Barbara Gordon born 1977
    Helena Bertinelli born 1977
    Dick Grayson born 1981
    Jason Todd born 1985
    Cassandra Cain born 1987
    Tim Drake born 1990
    Damian Wayne born 1999

    • Hi Will. I have teenage Bruce leaving earlier (by forging documents) to train at age 14 in 1977. And I have Bruce returning and becoming Batman both in 1989. And I have Dick born in 1981, which places his adoption by Bruce (at age 12) in 1994. (Dick turns 13 in 1994.) I have Jason being adopted by Bruce in 1998 (also at age 12, going on 13). Dick becomes Nightwing around the same time Jason debuts, around 1998. I have Jason dying in 2000, age 14/15. Tim becomes Robin in 2001 at age 11. By the end of the Modern Age, Bruce is 48 (in 2011).

      Selina and Bruce both don their costumes in 1989. Dick becomes Robin in 1994. Babs becomes Batgirl in 1995. Helena becomes Huntress in 1998. Jason becomes Robin in 1998. Tim becomes Robin in 2001. Cassie becomes Batgirl in 2004. Damian becomes Robin in 2010.

  6. Asger Bugge says:

    I think it’s unwise to retcon stuff this much. Tim has always been thirteen when he became Robin. Dick has always been 18 when he quit. If a story came out and legit said he was ten when he became Robin sure but that’s never happened. It ends up making the entire thing so disingenuous of you. I respect the hell out of you trying to put everything in this chronology but you make so much stuff up that I can’t say this makes any sense whatsoever.

    • Hi Asger, having a bad day, are we? Tim’s age is a tough nut to crack, which is why this addendum to the Modern Age timeline exists. (Admittedly, I do think, now re-glancing at this article, that it is a tad out of date and needs some editing, which I will definitely do—so thanks for brining it to my attention.) My timeline, for reasons explained throughout the site (and above), is longer than DC’s ultra-compressed timeline—by about seven to eight years. A lot of that discrepancy has to do with how I view Zero Hour and how I read seminal stories like Long Halloween and Dark Victory, but that’s a topic for another discussion (and is also discussed throughout the site). Because of the these differences, which are based on a logical straightforward reading of the comics, Tim’s age—along with some other character ages—becomes problematic.

      If you don’t subscribe to the logic or methodology surrounding my Modern Age timeline-building (which in and of itself is based upon Chris Miller’s Unauthorized DCU Chronology), then you aren’t going to subscribe to any of my age rationales. And that’s cool. Personal headcanon is personal headcanon.

      • I’ve re-ordered some of these articles and edited some to better explain my methodology. The age-changing is only necessary because my timeline is 23 years long where as DC’s seems to be 15 years long. With that discrepancy in lengths, the ages have to shift accordingly. It’s as simple as that. Again, though, and I can’t stress this enough—everyone interprets the comics differently. That’s how canon works. So, feel free to regard or disregard what I’ve done here, but I think I’ve backed it up with a lot of research and well-though-out explanation. If I haven’t convinced you, it’s no big deal. Happy to chat about it more, if you’d like. Every conversation I have about this always leads to some epiphany or change on the site, so thanks for that provocation.

  7. dan says:

    i’m about two years too late on reading this, but it really helped me with my understanding of everyone’s ages. thanks for putting in this much effort!

  8. Nicole says:

    Thank you so much for doing so much work to put this site together! The problem of ages was driving me insane and this gives me an already well thought out and put together solution for my madness!

  9. Kayla says:

    I’m just now starting to get into all this stuff and I was wondering why Cass is younger than Jason in your timeline? I always see everyone commenting that she’s a bit older then him. Was that a personal choice, or is there an argument behind it?

    • Hi Kayla, Cassie debuts at age sixteen as per NML, so her birthday in 2004 (Batgirl #37) must be her 19th. Either way that puts her birth year in 1988. I think a lot of the confusion comes from Detective Comics #790, which specifically places Jason’s bday on August 16, 1989. However Detective Comics #790 must take place before the events of “Hush Part 2” (in which Batman discovers that Jason’s corpse is missing). Therefore, the “August 16th” date mentioned in the story has to be incorrect. Likewise, the mention of it being Jason’s 18th birthday must also be incorrect. Overall, I’ve taken the references to Jason’s age in Detective Comics #790 as non-canon, as have other comic book scholars, notably Chris Miller.

      Based upon other items like Detective #571 and Batman #408-409, which get referenced again and again in other comics, Jason’s birthday must be in a range of 1985 to 1987, not 1989.

      Of course, this is all up to personal headcanon. I can say with certainty that Jason is definitively older than Cassie in the New 52 and in the current Infinite Frontier canon. But in the Modern Age, it all depends on which references you choose to take as gospel. Hope that makes sense!

      • Kayla says:

        It makes sense for the most part! But just for a bit more clarification, is the “August 16” date specifically invalid because Detective Comics #790 said that it took place on Jason’s birthday? Like, theoretically, could that still be the day he was born, regardless of the year, if the events of the story took place on a different day?

        Gee, I hope that makes sense. But, thank you so much for taking the time to answer! What you’ve done here is nothing short of amazing!

        • Thanks, Kayla! Sorry, worded that a bit strangely. Jason’s birthday can definitely be (and is) August 16. As far as I know, there is no other specific reference to the actual month and day of his birth, so August 16 it is. It’s only the year that is in question. Hope that makes sense!

  10. NK says:

    Where is Tim said to be 17 before 52? I haven’t found him being called 17 until after the one year timeskip, which would check out with him turning 16 beforehand, though it still wouldn’t work with your literal as-time-passes timeline.
    Looking only at when Tim’s age is mentioned or implied directly, these are the references I can remember:
    Tim is 13 in Batman #441, page 5 (Nov 1989)
    Tim is still 13 in Batman #448, page 20 (Jun 1990).
    Tim is starting high school and is two years short of getting his driver’s license in Robin II: Joker’s Wild #1 (Dec 1991), which takes place concurrently with Batman #471 since Tim mentions Bruce is in Brazil. The implication is he’s 14.
    Tim says next year he can get a learner’s permit in Robin III: Cry of the Huntress #5, page 9 (Feb 1993).
    Tim is 14 nearing 15 in Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1 (Dec 1998), which takes place soon before No Man’s Land since Tim mentions the quake and it’s after Robin #58 because Stephanie Brown is visibly pregnant. Sidenote, the 80-Page Giant says Steph was 15 when she became Spoiler and Robin #59 has her still being 15. Despite this, she can’t be too much older than Tim because they were both 16 when she died (Detective Comics #810; Batman Allies Secret Files #1).
    Tim is confirmed to be under the age of 16 in Robin Vol. 2 #80 (Sep 2000) which aligns with his 16th birthday not being until later. Tim is a sophomore at this time according to Robin #75, so it matches he’s presumably 15 to confirm he did turn 15 during NML.
    Tim is 15 in Batgirl Vol. 1 #24 (Mar 2002) which is in the beginning of Bruce Wayne: Murderer?
    Tim turns 16 on July 19th in Robin Vol. 2 #116 (Sep 2003).
    Tim is still 16 in Identity Crisis #5 (Dec 2004).
    One of the army folks refers to Tim as being under 18 in Robin #142 (Nov 2005).
    Tim is under 18 in Robin #179 (Dec 2008).
    Tim would be in his senior year of high school (except he dropped out) as stated in Red Robin #17 (Jan 2011), which aligns with him being 17.
    Tim is 17 in Red Robin #25 (Sep 2011).

    That’s without going into the time passing, of course. But now I’m wondering if there’s another reference right before 52/the OYL timeskip that I’ve missed? Where is he said to be 17 before 52?

    • Hi NK! These age sections are well over a decade old (with some updates here and there), so I had to scour my old notes. There’s nothing specific that mentions Tim as being seventeen-years-old prior to 52, so far as I can find, so thank you for bringing that error to my attention. The idea, at least for my version of things, is that Tim’s 16th birthday is in July of Year 18 (Robin Vol. 2 #116), meaning that he turns 17 in July of Year 19, so by the time 52 begins in mid Year 20, he’d have to be 17 (going on 18). I do love the exact list of Tim’s age mentions that you’ve provided here, and I should probably include something akin to it on the site. The Tim and Bruce age sections here might serve my site better as footnotes in general, or something attached elsewhere. I’ll comb through these entries and see if they can’t be better edited. Thanks a million for this comment!

      Suffice to say, the gist of this section is to show that DC (at least starting after Zero Hour) seemed to utilize a four-year-publication-as-one-year-character-aging rule for Tim—more or less. Whereas, I don’t use that rule because it doesn’t jibe with seasonality, topicality, editorial notation, other characters in general, etc.

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