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In the 1990s Robin series featuring Tim Drake, Robin had his own tricked-out car called the Redbird. The Redbird was an important plot device at the beginning of the book due to Robin having more autonomy from Batman than previous Robins. Tim Drake had to be more independent following the events of Knightfall, during which Bane broke Bruce Wayne’s back, putting him temporarily out of commission.
Robin started as a set of miniseries focusing on the early beginnings of Tim Drake’s Robin. Due to the popularity of the limited series, Robin became a monthly publication starting in 1993 and ran for 183 issues. Robin would be cancelled in 2009 due to Drake being forced out of the Robin role, but the character’s story was continued in the short Red Robin run. Red Robin would end due to the New 52, where Tim Drake’s character would be rewritten in the New 52’s Teen Titans. Robin was written by Chuck Dixon, known for his work on the Batman series and Marvel’s The Punisher.
Robin #1 dealt with the fallout of Knightfall in Gotham and the rise of Jean Paul Valley as the new Batman. Bruce Wayne, Alfred Pennyworth, and Robin’s father Jack Drake left Gotham for a period after Knightfall. During this time, Jean Paul Valley succeeded as Batman but excluded Robin from his crusade. Tim Drake was a Batman-less Robin, which lead to his own adventures. Drake earned a driver’s license, which prompted Bruce Way tone design a car for him: The Redbird.
The Redbird was a tricked out Batmobile for Tim Drake. It had a multitude of features and gadgets: street-cameo mode, remote control, electric shock, computer, and forensic analysis built in; tools typical for a standard Batmobile. The Redbird was a common appearance in Robin, and later on, the Redbird was redesigned to fit the 2000s period. The Redbird was a metaphor for the new freedom given to the Robin role. The role of Robin implied that they were always by Batman’s side. Tim Drake redefined what Robin could look like and stepped outside the sidekick role to take on more independent adventures/cases. The Redbird was a tool for that freedom.
The Redbird made an appearance in DC Comic’s Rebirth in Detective Comics #950, which is a perfect throwback for Tim Drake. The Redbird appearing in recent years is a touching tribute in the love letter to Robin that is James Tynions Vl’s Detective Comics run. True Tim Drake fans remember him cruising down the streets of Gotham in a sleek red sports car.