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DC's Robin Tim Drake originally had a different name, but was only changed AFTER his debut to pay homage to Batman director Tim Burton

Tim Drake’s original name was Jeff, and one reference to the name was accidentally kept in one of his first Batman appearances

Tim Drake
Image credit: DC

Tim Drake has gone by many names over the years. He’s been Robin, Red Robin, Alvin Draper, and even the unfortunate superhero moniker…ugh…Drake. However, one name you might not be aware of is Jeff.

In 1989 when the Batman offices were developing the character, he was going to be called Jeff. According to Marv Wolfman, who helped create the character, the name was changed as a way to honor Batman director Tim Burton.

“I believe it was to give a nod to Tim Burton who was of course directing the movie,” Wolfman tells Popverse in an email. The writer also clarified that he likely still would’ve gone by the last name Drake.

The change happened late enough that Tim is mistakenly called Jeff in one panel of Batman #441 (which was fixed in reprints). DC addressed this error in the letter column for Batman #445.

“Actually, his real, full name is Timothy Jeff Drake. Not buying it, huh? Okay, it was a mistake. Actually (for real this time), for a while the new Robin’s civilian name WAS going to be Jeff, until we all changed our mind (not that we all share one mind…). Don’t you just love these behind-the-scenes secrets,” editor K.C. Carlson writes.

(For what it’s worth, Robin #167 would establish that Tim’s middle name was Jackson, not Jeff. Sorry Calrson!)

In a way, this makes Tim Drake’s name a fun Easter egg. The character is a loving tribute to Tim Burton, the man who brought Batman to theaters in 1989, the same year Tim made his debut. Looking at Tim Drake’s legacy, I couldn’t think of a better way to pay tribute to Burton.


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Joshua Lapin-Bertone

Joshua Lapin-Bertone: Joshua is a pop culture writer specializing in comic book media. His work has appeared on the official DC Comics website, the DC Universe subscription service, HBO Max promotional videos, the Batman Universe fansite, and more. In between traveling around the country to cover various comic conventions, Joshua resides in Florida where he binges superhero television and reads obscure comics from yesteryear.

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