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Redbird (comics)

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Redbird
File:Robin-Redbird.jpg
The Redbird in Teen Titans vol. 2, #4 (Jan. 1997)
Art by Dan Jurgens
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceBatman Incorporated #3
In story information
Element of stories featuringRobin

The Redbird is the fictional car driven by the superhero Robin in American comic books published by DC Comics. The Redbird is a red car attributed to the third person to take up the Robin identity, Tim Drake. The look of the Redbird has varied over time, reflecting the trends of car designs throughout the years.

Automobile

The Redbird is a camouflaged sport coupé with many of the armaments of the Batmobile. Additionally, there are exterior sliding bulletproof conversion panels, enabling it to be driven by Tim Drake as an inconspicuous car when he is not in costume as Robin.

When Drake was sent away to boarding school, following the quake known as the Gotham Cataclysm, he was forced to give up the Redbird by 'selling' it to a disguised Alfred. While at boarding school he developed an advanced skateboard he called the "Redboard". More recently he utilizes a modified 491cc, liquid-cooled "motocross" Batcycle for his transportation needs.

When Tim Drake moved back to Gotham, this time as the adopted son of Bruce Wayne, the Redbird was restored to him, but was badly damaged during an ambush. Robin takes into consideration the idea to scrap it and build something scarier to drive. [1]

His resolution doesn't seem to come to a pass, as the Batcave still holds one or more Redbirds in storage along with other Batmobiles,[2] and only a few days later Tim Drake is shown driving a new or a refurbished Redbird, identical to the previous one [3]

Motorcycle (Batman & Robin)

File:Redbird (Batman & Robin).jpg
The Redbird from the film Batman & Robin.

In the 1997 live-action film Batman & Robin, the Redbird was a motorcycle instead of an automobile.

As with the Batmobile, this particular Redbird was a ground-up build, utilizing fiberglass and carbon fiber.[4] The company TFX developed the Redbird on a Honda off-road motorcycle.

The Redbird has two drive nozzles, which allows the vehicle to rise. This is dependent on the speed when taking off, making the Redbird airborne for 20 seconds or longer. There's a central computer on the tank that supplies an LCD announcement containing additional information for the driver. Additionally, the Redbird has small burls to the tire, which can be driven out very fast, in order to increase the road grip. Also, it features a grappling hook, which is attached in the front fender over the tire. In the film, Batman has an override program capable of controlling the Redbird from the Batmobile. He uses it in order to shut the Redbird down when Robin tries to make a life-threatening jump between buildings.

R-Cycle (Teen Titans)

In the animated TV Series Teen Titans, Robin (Dick Grayson) frequently uses a red motorcycle called the R-Cycle.

References

  1. ^ Robin #174 (2008)
  2. ^ Batman #677 (2008)
  3. ^ Robin/Spoiler Special #01 (2008)
  4. ^ "Batman & Robin - Gadgets - Redbird". Batmanytb.com. 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2010-09-30.