Caped crusaders Batman and Robin have been busy fighting crime together for years, but now the focus of the story has shifted to Robin’s private life as he explores his sexuality.

In the latest edition of DC comics’ series “Batman: Urban Legends”, character Tim Drake, who is the third version of Robin, is seen accepting an offer of a date from a male friend.

“There’s been conversations about whether or not he’s been queer-coded throughout time, and this just felt like the piece that was missing to understand Tim Drake’s story better,” writer Meghan Fitzmartin says.

Robin first appeared as Batman’s sidekick in 1940 and has since been featured in many comics depicting the DC Universe.

Fitzmartin says she is delighted that DC was happy to expand his personal story and that there is no label on his sexuality.

“I think for Tim, he’s still figuring it out, like, ‘Oh, this is something I didn’t expect and would like to investigate more’, because that’s who he is as a person.”

Fitzmartin says she did not realise what an impact this story would have, and hopes it raises awareness that “people exist who are questioning and queer and in various states of understanding their own sexuality”.