Summary
- Duke Thomas’ armored Robin suit in
Futures End
steals the show with a full-body design and Batmobile-style vehicle. - Duke stands apart from other Gotham defenders as Robin, bringing a unique look with full armor and yellow glasses.
- In a world where Bruce doesn’t trust Duke to be the new Robin, Duke’s suit proves to be protective and successful, defying Batman’s doubts.
Robin is a DC staple character, yet the look for this iconic role changes each time the mantle is passed to someone new. Every Robin iteration comes with a certain calling card, whether it’s Dick Grayson’s original and iconic bright colors or Damian Wayne’s darker, full-body look. Duke Thomas’ Futures End Robin look officially steals the show, however, as he is upgraded to full armor and a vehicle to match.
Batman and Robin: Futures End #1 by Ray Fawkes, Dustin Nguyen, John Kalisz, and Taylor Esposito kicks off with Duke Thomas — in a world where he doesn’t suit up as the Signal — in his full Robin regalia, rounding up some Gotham goons before questioning why Batman has him running around Gotham instead of acting as his partner. It’s later revealed that Damian Wayne, the previous Robin, was killed in action years earlier.
Duke acts as Damian’s replacement, but Bruce doesn’t want him to meet the same fate as his son. Duke’s Robin design was created with protection in mind, though, and he’s nearly as armored as Batman.
One Bat-Family Member Finally Gets a Happy Ending With Their Parent
Unlike Batman, Gotham hero the Signal is finally (and happily) reuniting with his mother, who was once a victim of the Joker’s poisonous gas.
Duke Thomas Made Robin His Own with a Unique Suit
Duke Stands Apart Among Gotham’s Defenders
The Robin title has been passed down several times (by choice, circumstance, or force), and Duke stepped into the role following tragedy in the Futures End timeline. Yet he treated the Robin role seriously from the start, and that comes through in the look he crafted. The famous Robin colors — red, green, and yellow — are all present, but he’s fully armored from the neck down and sports yellow glasses. The most unique feature is the heavily armored motorcycle, styled in the same Robin green, giving him a more Batmobile-esque mode of travel. It’s a distinctive, cool spin on a classic vehicle and color combo.
Batman and Robin: Futures End #1
was published in September 2014 as part of the line-wide
Futures End
initiative, which affected a number of different DC titles and characters.
Futures End is hardly Duke Thomas’ first stab at being a Gotham hero. In other timelines — including main continuity — he created a whole new role for himself as the Signal and holds the unique place of being one of the few metahumans allowed in the city (and the only one in the Bat-Family). As a metahuman with photokinesis, he’s able to absorb and manipulate light in various ways, and his Signal costume reflects that with its blend of yellow and black. Hints of the design come through in the Futures End’s Robin look, too, and both are stand-out costumes for the fan-favorite character.
Duke’s Robin Is a Grab for Batman’s Trust
And He’s Proof that Bruce’s Distrust Doesn’t Help
The central conflict between Batman and Robin in Futures End is a lack of trust, though it comes from a place of concern. Bruce doesn’t want Duke killed like the previous Robin, Damian, but it means relegating his “partner” to the sidelines and sending him around Gotham to clean up small messes. It’s fairly standard Batman behavior, yet Duke’s Robin design is proof that it’s misguided and unnecessary. His suit helps stave off the fire Bruce feared would kill him, and he ends up helping take him down successfully. The Futures End armored Robin suit and accompanying Robin-Cycle designed for Duke Thomas is the sidekick’s best look yet.
Batman & Robin: Futures End #1 is available now from DC Comics.
