Why John Blake Should Be Terry McGinnis, Not Robin *Possible Spoilers*

Why John Blake Should Be Terry McGinnis, Not Robin *Possible Spoilers*

Click the jump to read why I think John Blake should have been revealed as Terry McGinnis instead of Robin.

Editorial Opinion
By Hybrid0027 - Aug 03, 2012 09:08 PM EST
Filed Under: The Dark Knight Rises

Hello CBM users, Hybrid here with another written editorial. This editorial is about something that's been bothering me since I saw The Dark Knight Rises, specifically John Blake's first name being Robin. I greatly disliked that and believe it should have been Terry John Blake, Terrence John Blake, or maybe have McGinnis be his mom's maiden name....and here's why

1) It Would Connect With The Dark Knight More:
When John Blake revealed his father was shot, sending him to a home for boys, they could have made the Joker (or his thugs) responsible for the murder, similar to the original story. This could then give Blake a true thirst for ridding Gotham of criminals like Bruce has and also give an example of the effects of Joker's activities in The Dark Knight, besides the Dent Act.



2) It Fits The Character of John Blake More:
During The Dark Knight Rises, Blake was shown to be a hothead, deeply caring for others (like the orphan), and a street-brawler level combatant. Those 2 qualities fit Terry McGinnis very well, especially before he became Batman.



3) It Would Truly Continue The Legend Of Batman:
At the end of The Dark Knight Rises, we saw the bat-signal fixed, the people's faith in Batman restored, Bruce telling Blake Batman could be anyone, Blake finding the batcave, etc. By having Blake really be Robin, Nolan really limits Blake to become Robin or Nightwing. Having Terry though, fits in smoothly and also allows for more bat-gadgets and other supplies/tools to be shown from WayneTech R&D, like maybe a new high-tech batsuit?



Sidenote: The symbol that kid drew in The Dark Knight Rises looked similar to Terry's batsymbol, or maybe I'm looking too much into it.



Thanks for reading my article, please check out my previous editorial, How Fox Could Make A Fantastic Four Film Franchise at the link below:
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/Hybrid0027/news/?a=65089

I hope you all liked my article, comment below with your thoughts, I love feedback! Also Check out CBVS #12 (Iron Man VS Cyborg)!
Comic book VS #12 (Iron Man VS Cyborg):


Thanks for watching and please check out my youtube channel!

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LP4
LP4 - 8/3/2012, 9:40 PM
No. Robin was a nice ending salute for the trilogy. No matter what people's feelings may be regarding Robin, no one can deny deep down inside that Batman truly needs a Robin. It was good the way they handled Blake. He was a clever combination of Dick, Jason and Tim to become a totally new and original "Robin"
felixxx
felixxx - 8/3/2012, 9:46 PM
Great point man. It didn’t make since to me to introduce "Robin" at the end of the series. You can’t create Robin with out Batman. Robins a support character for Batman. With out some special training from Batman, he would get his ass whooped all the time. On top of that, how in the hell is he going to afford all the gadgets and shit with out Bruce Wayne’s HUGE bank account. Really dig the Batman Beyond, think it could make a good movie if done right.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 8/3/2012, 11:05 PM
LP4 would agree if Nolan had made Gordon Robin/Batman.

I didn't hate it really. I thought it was a bit strange to try and introduce a composite original character to the cowl when it's pretty much guaranteed JGL will return as Robin John Blake. I actually would REALLY like to see Joseph Gordon Levitt play Jason Todd or Dick Grayson - I feel both characters would be well within his grasp.

What I did get annoyed with real fast is the "hothead" crap Foley keeps branding him with, as if that's some kind of an insult, or that he's actually acting unreasonable or dare I say... hotheaded. When someone assigns a character a pejorative, have it make sense at the very least. Same with "Harvey Two-Face" - thrown in there simply to turn to the audience and say: "hey look, see? Two-Face!" ...we don't see any duplicity from Harvey before his psychotic breakdown.
SoFresh
SoFresh - 8/3/2012, 11:16 PM
Why the [frick] do you whrite that shit in your title and then tell people to be cautious of spoiler, [frick]ing asshole Ihope you´re run over by a car.
SoFresh
SoFresh - 8/3/2012, 11:42 PM
@Hybrid0027
The only prick here is the one who wrote this article, the movie doesn´t come out at the same time everywhere.
LP4
LP4 - 8/4/2012, 12:25 AM
@Hybrid- I agree with G3n3r4lzZoD9 actually. Putting the actual spoiler, THEN putting the *spoiler warning* after the fact, is...well...not right. There are still many who have not seen this film.

On a lighter note, I still think JGL could have made an awesome and intriguing Black Mask for the film, had Black Mask been chosen.
LP4
LP4 - 8/4/2012, 12:33 AM
@Tainted- "LP4 would agree if Nolan had made Gordon Robin/Batman"

I'm sorry...but WHAT?

lol
BarnaclePete
BarnaclePete - 8/4/2012, 5:18 AM
It wouldn't have made the movie any better if he was anyone but himself. If the Joker killed his father he wouldn't have gone to a boys home. Hes like 30 years old, he would have been an adult when Dark Knight happens. His parents died when he was a kid. He was a combo of Dick, Jason and Tim. He is fine just the way he is. The Robin reveal is such a minor thing. People are making a bigger deal out of it than it is.
BarnaclePete
BarnaclePete - 8/4/2012, 5:20 AM
@tainted . . . Harvey was called two face because he worked in internal affairs. He investigated cops. That's why they alled him two face. This s quite clear in the movie.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 8/4/2012, 5:56 AM
Typo there...
Meant to say:
"I thought it was a bit strange to try and introduce a composite original character to the cowl when it's pretty much guaranteed JGL WOULD NOT return as his Robin John Blake character."

BarnaclePete,
That is the inside story, the story within the story - better make sure you have your totem at the ready. For writing purposes, this was a shout-out to the comic book character's alias - Two-Face. If Roman Sionis had his background changed, and he was called "Roman Two-Face" by internal affairs... well, we would all be scratching our heads. They weren't going to call Harvey Dent "Two-Face" after he had his accident, so they just had to work it in there beforehand.
BarnaclePete
BarnaclePete - 8/4/2012, 6:01 AM
@tainted . . I don't get what your problem is. He's Two Face. He was saying that the nickname they hadn for him at GCPD is now reality. There is nothing wrong with how they worked it in. It was even referenced earlier in the movie when Harvey and Gordon met for the fist time. Also, they did show some duality to his personality and that he had a dark side when he tied up one of Jokers goons and was holding the gun to his head. That whole scene was done to show that he has that anger inside.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 8/4/2012, 6:37 AM
@BarnaclePete
Yes, he's CALLED Harvey-Two-Face.... but he's just Harvey with an extreme makeover. He doesn't talk to himself, doesn't commit crimes based on the number 2, doesn't work with (and therefore also against) the criminal element in a leadership capacity...

He is Harvey Dent. Go read the Long Halloween and Dark Victory and see if you can spot the difference between the duplicitous Dent from the books, and the angry Dent from the movie.

Two shots to the head, and if you asked me, it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
BarnaclePete
BarnaclePete - 8/4/2012, 6:50 AM
@tainted . . I've read those too and I could go on all day about how there are things on movies that aren't exactly like in the comics. Not just with those books or with Batman but with any character. In a movie you have to make choices. There was only so much time with himas Two Face. Things has to go. That's just the deal. He is a good representation of the character. Does he have every element from the comics? No. If he had a Oviedo to himself then yea, that stuff should be in it, but that's not the deal here. This is a different interpretation of the character in a limited time frame. They choose to focus on the coin, which was the exact right thing to do.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 8/4/2012, 7:29 AM
I can understand a minimalist interpretation, but giving him a Disney death before you can really explore his insanity? That shortens my patience.

Two-Face is my favorite Bat-villain.
BarnaclePete
BarnaclePete - 8/4/2012, 7:50 AM
You can always watch Batman Forever
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 8/4/2012, 8:14 AM
Or I can open up the aforementioned trades and read them. Doesn't help.
MrReese
MrReese - 8/4/2012, 8:25 AM
"I think the general public knows the Robin name much more, hence why they didn't even use Dick Grayson (my 12 yr old son knew of Robin but not his real name)"

^^ full of win. The movie is made 4 the GA as well.I have no idear why this keeps getting brought up or that bane is a lacky. -__- XD
MrReese
MrReese - 8/4/2012, 8:29 AM
He was Robin because thats the only most well known Batman sidekick.Pretty simple if u ask me.So the questioning is just funny IMO.& Bane has worked side by side with Talia & Ra's so again why this is questionable is amazing 2 me. haha XD
calin88
calin88 - 8/4/2012, 10:02 AM
I don't think Nolan and Co. even researched Batman Beyond so that Blake could be Terry
ThunderCougarFalconBird
ThunderCougarFalconBird - 8/4/2012, 10:06 AM
I'd agree with you if the series was to be continued. But as it's wrapped up I think it's just a little nod to the comic fans.

On the "spoiler" side of things, I understand your reason for putting up there and it is in the wrong place. But how long has this movie been out? Surely spoiler warnings are no longer needed! If a movie has been released people should expect any following article (after a week or so's grace) to discuss and mention details that have arisen from said film. I couldn't give a flying [frick] if it's not been released in some inbred state or third world country, once the majority of the world has had time and opportunity to see the movie, all spoilers are at the readers risk and common [frick]ing sense! But I guess you can't expect any common sense from someone who loves General Zod so much he can't even spell it without numbers and then takes his anger out on wishing emense pain on someone for not doing what he wants them to do!
gastitdk
gastitdk - 8/4/2012, 12:53 PM
Actually I see more Tim Drake elements in John Blake. In A Lonely Place OF Dying, Tim goes to Wayne Manor, confronts Dick and Alfred while Batman is after Two-Face, and tells him that he knew that Bruce was Batman and Dick was Robin, just like Blake in the movie goes to the Manor and tells Wayne that he knew all along that he was Batman.
whatnot
whatnot - 8/4/2012, 5:11 PM
this is why Nolan is an academy award winning writer and you're not.

he pays homage to all incarnations of Robin by using the Robin name over Dick Grayson and makes Blake an amalgamation of the various characters. Robin has existed since 1940 (Terry McGinnis is introduced in the comics in 2010) - for anyone with a sense of comic history, you can't have Batman without Robin (duh) - and we did get Robin, just Nolan's version of Robin - a version, thankfully, w/o the Robin costume which makes little sense real-world application wise.

he also accomplishes what the comics could not. retire Bruce Wayne and make Robin his successor. why have a successor/apprentice in the 1st place if not to have him eventually take on the role?

Blake is not limited to being Robin/Nightwing - he is Robin already (that's the whole point of that being his name - duh). anyone can be Batman, even Robin (duh).

Joker? It's obvious that Nolan avoids even the mention of the name in respect to Heath Ledger - duh. Besides the point of Robin isn't to be invested the same way Bruce or Gordon are - it's to be what neither Bruce or Gordon could be after the events in "The Dark Knight." That was pretty much the only reason to have Blake and Gordon rehash those events and end it w/ Blake chastising them for the fabrication.
IronSpider101
IronSpider101 - 8/4/2012, 5:26 PM
Ugh.... for the love of shit, why is everybody being so dumb about this?

It's stupid, it's really stupid.

It was a wink. A small, little wink to the fans, at the end of the movie. This series will never be continued official, it's done, it's over. That was a little reference, that's it.

A hats off to the fanbase.

You're needlessly making this more than it is. You'll never see what happens to him, it's left open for you to decide. Other than that, it was just a small wink, JUST a wink. A tip of the hat to an iconic part of the mythos.
IronSpider101
IronSpider101 - 8/4/2012, 9:55 PM
@Hybrid0027

I understand that. I just think it's beyond ridiculous that people are analyzing this to such lengths. It was just a little wink, that's all. A little wink at the end for everyone aware of the character.

To have people go "Well he SHOULD'VE been this" or "No he's Nightwing! No he's Robin! No he's the new Batman!"


It's absolutely stupid. It was just a wink, we don't know what happens next, we never will, and we're not supposed to. It was just a little freakin' tip of the hat at the end of the movie. It's NOTHING it's NADDA. It's homage. WHY does it need to be discussed and criticised to such depth? "Oh, he SHOULD have been Terry McGinnis" Why? What purpose would that serve AT ALL? Would it change the movie at all? No. Are we getting a sequel that's an adaptation of Batman Beyond? No. Was this character even really Robin? No. Was it just a 5 second homage at the end of the movie that could've easily been cut out and not changed a damn thing? Yes.

It's a meaningless homage and it deserves no attention beyond what it was intended to have. Which is just a grin and an "Ooooh".
IronSpider101
IronSpider101 - 8/4/2012, 11:21 PM
No no, I'm not angry at you or anything. I'm not even angry.

I'm just expressing how absolutely ridiculous I think it is that people feel the need to delve into something so meaningless.

Although the guys at my theatre DID piss me off. The movie hadn't been over for three seconds, and they're off arguing about it. God damn it.
BizarroGrif
BizarroGrif - 8/5/2012, 5:54 AM
You realise your title is counter-productive yes?

Thank [frick] I've already seen it or I would be hunting you down.
NITRAMtheJudge
NITRAMtheJudge - 8/5/2012, 7:50 AM
Alright everyone tell me how long has this site been up and people are still complaining about the whole "spoilers thing." I mean really if you know this site by now, you know people are going to tell it all and more, end of story.

Now the whole JGL being Terry, it's not gone happen. And even if it does I hope it's done right. But as it clearly states in TDKR his name is Robin John Blake. Now none of us fans actually know if there is going to be a movie with JGL or not, we're just all speculating. Me personally I would love at least 2 films with JGL, hopefully as Nightwing or whatever they decide, but please make things believable.
FoxForce5
FoxForce5 - 8/5/2012, 12:50 PM
@Hybird0027: I actually agree pretty wholeheartedly with your article. I think Terry McGinnis would have worked quite nicely and been a much more cleaver nod to the audience than the Robin thing. Alternately, Jean-Paul Valley would have been great as well (especially since it would have tied better into the Bane story).

Then when "Blake" finds the Batcave, have Alfred waiting for him and tell him the if he's really going to do this, he'll need help.

Finally, we could have seen the last shot in the movie with the "Blake" character, on top of a building, wearing a more technological theamed bat suit with a voice over talking about how the Batman has become an idea, a symbol that no one can destroy.

END.

Just my thoughts on the subject. :-)
blvdnoise
blvdnoise - 8/6/2012, 1:54 PM
Said this immediately after the midnight release. If they don't lay this trilogy to rest, Beyond is definitely the way to go.
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