So the other day I was reminded again of the rather bizarre choice made in the Arkham Knight game, which chose to include a relationship between Barbara Gordon and Tim Drake. And while I actually don't mind it in the context of THAT GAME SERIES specifically (Tim is quite a bit older, I'd say early to mid twenties, and we see in flashbacks that the two actually worked as Robin and Batgirl at about the same time) It's got me thinking about some of the rather bizarre pair ups in the Bat-family, both in and out of canon (Bruce Timm's fascination with Bruce/Barbara is more than a little squicky, and I KNOW several members share the same opinion) and I was just curious what everyone else's favorite bizarre pairings were involving members of the Bat-family
That said, just as a ground rule before things get going... Yes, the whole Dick/Barbara vs Dick/Koriand'r debate is probably inevitable, but I'd prefer it if we kept focus there at an absolute minimum. Frankly, that debate is tired, and I'd rather focus on the bizarre pairings here than ones which are pretty standard.
I'm an old romantic, so I've always been fond of seeing beloved characters paired up in nice ways, but the one that bothers me the most, that I find quite honestly unforgivable, is Bruce/Babs. It's a teacher/student relationship flat out the gate, and that is wildly uncool for a host of reasons. Add to the age difference and the fact that he's a surrogate father to her in many ways, and it gets even worse. That relationships is one of the few character interpretations that Timm and Co. just got completely and totally wrong.
For me, there is only one really perfect relationship for broth Bruce and Babs, and that's Bats/Catwoman and Batgirl/Robin (Dick). I don't have a huge problem with the Nightwing/Starfire relationship in the NTT because that feels like such a different world to me. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, I'd always be pulling for Dick and Barbara.
Obviously,Batman and Dick Grayson,age 12.
I like Dick/Barbara. I think they make a very endearing couple, though I can live with Dick/Kory in a Teen Titans story.
Yeah, Bruce/Barbara probably shouldn't be a thing outside of fanfic. Though admittedly, that prologue in Killing Joke pretty was much was Bruce Timm's Bruce/Barbara fanfic.
I'd be all for Tim and Steph. Specifically Pre-New 52.
Bruce and Selina (ideally folowing a similar path as their pre crisis Earth 2 counterparts. Also bring back Helena Kyle, and reveal she is earth 1 Helena Wayne. Bonus points if one year year younger than Damian and taller)
Dick... yeah this one is hard... both Kory and Babs make perfect sense here... and without pre crisis Kara there is no other person that feels this right for Babs. Of course... could always go for a polyamory relationship, but I dont think Kory and Babs would get along...
Tim and Steph without a shadow of a doubt there... however Steph and Cassandra also make lots of sense together.
And finally, Kate and Rene. They always had great chemistry together and compliment each other quite nicely. Now dont get me started on [expletive deleted] erasure and how writers ignored more than 20 years of Maggie Sawyer living together with Daily Star top reporter, Toby Raines (they were even shown together in TAS!!!)