a disclaimer before you go on:i really honestly don’t like new-52 OR rebirth characterizations of tim (and a large number of others); the only thing i’m grateful for from the new52/rebirth era is them creating duke’s character LOL.plus i guess making tim canonically bi but any and all characters are already bi in my head so that’s kinda null. so duke is really it. all my dc fics take place pre-flashpoint—flashpoint being the event dc did to reset the universe and start new-52… which failed so badly they then rebooted to rebirth.tim in particular suffered in new-52, he was basically an oc, but then they rebooted to rebirth and allegedly restored everyone’s original origins which is great, but the state of characterizations now even with that is not at all to my liking…that’s a long-winded way of saying (and i just want to explain my reasoning) i am going to be giving pre-flashpoint recommendations because that is what i trust characterization-wise, and what i also think best shows tim's character.so if you're still with me... let's keep going.
this list is not at all exhaustive, and is what i consider to be a smaller, more palatable guide; this is intended to be an easier start to reading tim if longer guides scare you. each of these listed comics will be linked to a site you can read them from (and the next page will have the website i like to use directly listed as well).- tim’s first appearance is in a lonely place of dying in batman #440-442- robin: cry of the huntress, which is his and helena bertinelli aka huntress' first meeting- robin (1993), the behemoth that is his solo run; this is 186 total issues over 20 something years, and it is a lot. it is definitely one that can drag at times but ultimately, if you really truly want a total look into tim’s character, this is part of it.but if you don’t want to do that, and that is entirely understandable, i would recommend tim’s brentwood arc. this is fairly deep into it and skipping some stuff (like no man’s land) but is pretty iconic and enjoyable! (this is where skater!tim comes in!) his brentwood arc is in robin (1993) #74-#100.- batman: prodigal- batman: contagion- bruce wayne: murderer?/fugitive, also batfam-y focused but i like the drama here, as well as the lens in which tim and dick (and babs and others) view bruce/batman with; murderer? here and then fugitive (sometimes compiled separately, sometimes together; here it is separate)- young justice (1998), this one is team-focused with him, wonder girl/cassie sandsmark, impulse/bart allen, superboy/kon/connor kent, and more. this is probably the most fun to read here, and is 55 total issues.if you want to cut it down even more, i’d recommend:- a lonely place of dying- robin: cry of the huntress- tim’s brentwood arc; robin (1993) #74-#100- young justice (1998)- and likely batman: prodigal and batman: contagionand there is red robin (2009), which... i think sits well when you have context of him previously as robin. on its own, i would personally say it is not great, or at least it is not representative of who he is as a character in Total. he's going through a lot at that point, and even more, he is honestly going through negative character development at that point. which is still important development, don't get me wrong, but to me, it is very much negative character development compared to him when he was robin and just starting out, and again, not representative of him. so i'd only recommend it after getting context through robin (1993) and other robin era runs.lastly, you will be jumping around a bit and some things might be confusing, but i think that’s just an occupational hazard of reading comics unfortunately. even with my prior readings, there were times i was confused LOL the medium comics are in can be a bit tricky at times, but it is ultimately fun!on the next page, i'll link the site i was using, as well as other helpful resources.
i read my comics on readallcomics.com. this is the most non-sketchy comic site i use and know.i would recommend finding an adblocker for both your phone/tablet/laptop/chosen device of reading as well. i use adblock pro for my phone and ipad, then a ublock origin extension on chrome on my laptop.finally, i will link a reading guide that i think is very reliable, so if you finish what i recommended, or simply want more options, i got you. fair warning, though, it’s very long, but don’t be afraid of the length. it’s like that because it goes in for all of the batfam but you can just scroll and find tim’s stuff.even still, the blogger’s recs for him are a lot more lengthy and also go more in-depth into the choices (like the section breaking down robin (1993) might be worth looking at). but she also includes some rebirth stuff for tim that i have not read; that blogger is pretty trustworthy as far as recs for characterization goes so its likely worth it, i just prefer the older stuff and can't speak on it.this is the reading guide.there is one final disclaimer, but this is more personal; while reading, if you ever find yourself annoyed with tim, that's normal and understandable. encouraged even. 5/10 times reading for him, i am annoyed. his main writer, dixon, had an issue with misogyny and racism that leaked into tim's foundation and so, tim and his treatment of girls/women can also be annoying (as well as the portrayal of the ladies in his solo, none of which is their fault but truly the writer and misogyny; i'm never so annoyed at them and more annoyed because i know the way they're being written is because of The Misogyny); in general, the politics of his era are more than questionable, and greater dc has an issue with this too (certainly misogyny and racism).don't get me wrong, i am fascinated by tim's character, but i do think it is important to discuss and confront some of the issues he has. super into that, actually.in any case, good luck, and i hope you enjoy!