While Damian Wayne is the deadliest Robin of them all, he finally embraces the secret superpower that comes with being a Boy Wonder.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Robin #11, on sale now from DC Comics.
Of all the heroes in the DC Universe to don the mantle of Robin, Damian Wayne has had the most morally compromising upbringing of them all, being raised by Talia al Ghul and the League of Assassins to become the ultimate killer. Damian largely rejected this in favor of becoming a less than lethal sidekick to his father Batman, but his abrasive nature and willingness to kill have put him and Bruce Wayne at odds multiple times in their superhero careers. Fortunately, Damian’s time in a high-stakes martial arts tournament pitting him against the League of Lazarus has led him to gradually discover a hidden superpower of all Robins, setting him on a potential path towards redemption.
Robin #11 (by Joshua Williamson, Gleb Melkinov, Luis Guerrero, and ALW’s Troy Peteri) had Robin form his own team of teenage heroes to take on Master Dusk and dismantle the League of Lazarus, an organization so insidious that even Talia is scared by them. Though Damian has experience working as part of a team, both among the Bat-Family and as an occasional member of the Teen Titans; leading this team is no easy feat as some of the individuals on this impromptu ensemble are just as deadly as Damian is. And yet, through the Robin legacy of being able to foster trust and teamwork, this group is successful, with only the League of Shadows remaining in operation.
The most notable Boy Wonder to use his experiences as Robin, and later, Nightwing, towards uniting young heroes together is Dick Grayson. A founding member of the Teen Titans, Dick has served as the emotional backbone for much of the DCU superhero community. He has mentored members of the Bat-Family and future generations of Titans, including through his school the Teen Titans Academy. Recently, Dick has taken a direct mentor role for Jon Kent who has followed in his father’s footsteps to become the DCU’s new Superman, providing much-appreciated wisdom and understanding.
Dick, of course, isn’t the only Robin to help bring their fellow heroes together across the superhero mantle’s history. Tim Drake has led iterations of both the Teen Titans and Young Justice, forming an especially close friendship with Conner Kent and Bart Allen across his own heroic career. Jason Todd, while not much of a team player for years including during his time as Robin, eventually warmed up to learn how to play well with others. Jason’s redemption was largely informed by him becoming the leader of teams like the Outlaws and Task Force Z while eventually becoming a prominent part of the Bat-Family once again.
Damian still very much operates under what he thinks is right, which has repeatedly led him to butt heads with his father and the Bat-Family, but his heart is generally in the right place even if his methodology occasionally suggests otherwise. Talia is surprised to learn that Damian is forming friendships with the superhero community but the Boy Wonder has finally emerged from his status as a surly loner to begrudgingly accepting the value of friendship that has come so naturally to the Robins before him. Damian may have a ways to go before getting back on Batman’s good side and being fully welcomed back into the fold but he has made a major step towards being the team player any good Robin is destined to be.
About The Author
For all the latest Comics News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
