Dick really did learn from the best.
*spoilers ahead*
In the “Robin War” story arc [see Grayson #15], in order to keep the We Are Robin gang (a group of young wannabe-Robins) safe from the now-“lawful” brutality and arrest of anyone associated in any way with the name, Dick, alongside his “brothers” (he actually calls Jason, Tim, and Damian that!), start to train the wannabes so that they would truly be Robins. Dick eventually sends them out on a mission, where the wannabes, along with the “original” Robins distributed among them, were caught by law enforcement and put behind bars. Towards the end of the issue, we learn that Dick planned for all of this to happen. Duke frustratedly points it out, telling Dick: “You manipulated us! Just to put us away! Tuck us in safe, like we were all your damn kids!”. To which Dick replies with that charming smirk of his: “Batman once said to me that being a Robin is about one thing. Family. And I take care of family.”
In Bruce’s “absence”, not unlike the aftermath of the “Battle for the Cowl” story arc, Dick steps up to fill his shoes once again. Not as Batman, but as leader and mentor. It seems to run in the Batblood, this leadership and mentoring thing. Jay, Timmy, Dami, and Duke, too, have each had their shots at leading a group, being the brains, not just the brawn. And the heart, too.
Now, we fastforward to Batman: Rebirth, with the “I Am Bane” story arc. I’m sure issue 16 gave most of us Batfam fans butterflies in the stomach, what with the Robins (sans Tim… shucks) being in all their obnoxious brotherly glory (to Duke’s somewhat-shock), at a Batburger joint no less. Bruce gets serious, though, as he firmly tells the boys to steer clear of Gotham while he handles Bane because he doesn’t want to lose anyone else in their family. As soon as he storms off, the boys voice out their plan to ignore that order. At the end of the issue, we see Dick, Jason, and Damian horrifically… incapacitated. Dead, even? Has Bane gotten to them already? *heart races*
We move onto issue 17, where we immediately find ourselves in the Fortress of Solitude. Supes arrives and is greeted by Bats, in his, ya know, own way. We collectively sigh in relief as we see the boys in individual glass cases, unconscious. Bats tells Supes that he can’t wake them up now, or it might be the last time he’ll be able to do that. Supes is basically babysitting his unconscious sons. Drastic, a horrific method in the real world, but given the Bat family’s need to constantly outdo each other in martyrdom, I guess this was the only way he could protect them.
So, yeah. Dick thinks ten steps ahead, probably because he’s seen how Bruce thinks twenty – even more – steps ahead. And when it comes to protecting their families, they tend to be a bit drastic about it.
I love the Robin War story arc, especially how it showcases the dynamics of the Robins, including Duke, and how they each uphold Bruce’s legacy in their own ways (since, ya know, he was still amnesiac at the time, blissfully unaware that he is the Batman).
I’m loving the “I Am Bane” story arc, too. There’s something… raw and primal about Batman and Bane’s dynamic. It’s not convoluted. Kind of strips them both to the basics. Great writing, great artwork. 10/10 for me right now.
Also, it’s clear that each of Bruce’s sons have shown great potential as leaders. Dick has proven himself over and over, leading the Teen Titans, Titans, The Outsiders, and at one point, the Justice League. Jay, Timmy, Dami, and Duke have been leaders in their own right, too. It’s in their Batblood, what with their dad being the epitome of a leader. 🙂
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