Premise: Robin is the name of several fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics . The character 's first incarnation , Dick Grayson , debuted in Detective Comics # 38 ( April 1940 ) . The early adventures of Robin included Star Spangled Comics # 65 -- 130 ( 1947 -- 1952 ) , which was the character 's first solo feature . Robin made regular appearances in Batman related comic books and other DC Comics publications from 1940 through the early 1980s until the character set aside the Robin identity and became the independent superhero Nightwing . This Robin made regular appearances in Batman related comic books until 1988 , when the character was murdered by the Joker in the storyline `` A Death in the Family '' ( 1989 ) .
Hypothesis: Robin appeared in comic books published by DC Comics.
Label: ENTAILMENT