One of the most powerful characters in comics today is Batman. He has maintained this status for 60 years primarily because of two reasons. The first is because Batman has such neat gadgets; is fearless and is the ultimate natural, i.e., non-superpowered, human. The other reason for his popularity is his believability (within the realm of suspension of disbelief). When a child watches his parents gunned down in front of his eyes, he/she is emotionally scarred (this is logical). When that child has more money than should be legal, possesses an obsessive personality and has a penchant for bats, you get Batman. This is absolutely believable within the universe of superhero comics. If Bruce Wayne was merely a rich guy with nothing better to do with his time or money, so decided to become Batman, he would have been a good comic book character who would quickly become flat and predictable. Fortunately for the character and the readers, Batman possesses a personality which breathes life into him. His traumatic beginnings coupled with the appearance of Robin has facilitated the extra dimensions of Batman's character.
Robin is normally understood as playing a number of critical roles within the Batman universe. The remainder of this article will look into the various ways Robin (both as a vehicle for the writers and as a necessary part of Bruce Wayne's "Batman" persona), has helped in the believable evolution of Batman.
Writers have used Robin over the years for two primary reasons. First, to keep Batman from becoming too morose. Robin is Batman's mood relief. The Boy-Wonder adds a spark of life and color to the world of Bruce Wayne the same way banjo music lifts the spirits for the rest of us. We may not see a smile creep across Batman's grim face, but somewhere in his heart he knows he is a little better off for knowing Robin. This thread of light within Bruce Wayne enables the writers to explore various aspects of Bruce/Batman's life, i.e., relationships with various women, etc.
The second reason writers like Robin is that he is someone to whom Batman can explain the situation and his plans. This idea has been used for centuries, most notably by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes." Batman can map out his ingenious plan to Robin while the reader quietly listens in. Additionally, Robin asks the questions which are also may be on the mind of the reader. His questions enable the writers to more fully explain the technical and difficult aspects of the case in a more natural dialog.
Batman/Bruce Wayne needs Robin for more important reasons than do the writers. First, by having Robin as a partner, Batman has someone over which to watch. This duty results in Batman constructing his plans with more safety valves and conservation than if he were solo. Many readers glimpsed into a world sans a Boy Wonder (see the post-Jason Todd bat-comics), and saw a more risk-taking and violent Batman.
Another critical need that Robin, or actually Dick Grayson, Jason Todd and Tim Drake, fills is that of being a somewhat normal person in the dark and gothic life of Batman. Whereas Wally West (a.k.a. The Flash), has his girlfriend (or is it wife?), Linda Park as his grounding wire, Batman has his Boys-Wonder. None of the boys can be considered truly "normal" in the strictest sense of the word, but at least they are in waving distance. This link with normalcy has through the years kept Batman from making "Bruce Wayne" a complete mask. His daytime outings with the boys allowed him to experience a slight taste of being in the father figure role.
The final, and most important role Robin plays in his relationship with Batman is that he represents a young Bruce Wayne who is able to do something about the criminal element. The most vivid feeling that Bruce retains about the night his parents were murdered was that he was helpless. Since he was helpless he blames himself for letting his parents die. Bruce dealt with this trauma in two ways. First, by donning the mantel of the bat, and fighting crime on the very streets were his parents were killed. Second, and probably sub-consciously, he repeatedly enlists the aid of young boys to help him in his fight against injustice. Robin is the means for Batman to live out the qualities of a strong child. Batman can now by watching Robin, imagine himself as a capable young boy protecting the victims of murders and thugs. While he can't be his now dead parents' savior, he can at least taste its essence through Robin.
Time stands still for no man, even in the comics. As Dick Grayson grew up he was unable to continue to fulfill his role as a young boy fighting thieves and murders. He continues his crusade, but now as a young man, not a boy. His maturation led to the difficulties and eventual separation between Bruce and Dick. Jason Todd and Batman didn't have the same relationship as did Bruce and Dick because Jason started a little older and more street wise. Tim Drake portrays the very youth which Bruce needs. Tim is young, smart and can take care of himself. Eventually Tim may grow out of the Robin role, and Batman will fill the role with someone else. On the other hand, Bruce may have healed enough where he will eventually won't require a symbol of a strong young boy.
Currently, Gotham City is in great need of a savior, and Batman is just that person. Batman is becoming his own Robin in that he is the strong (young) man who is keeping the death of a city at bay. Many things are happening within Batman's psyche; and we will have to wait to see how he deals with it. In conclusion, it is because of the believable and logical situations that readers are loyal to Batman. We aren't tired of suspending our disbelief for a good cause.