My dream Batman canon issue: ALL the four Batboys (Dick, Jason, Tim, Damian) and Cass coming out of their respective bedrooms at the Manor in their sleep civvies, woken by the scent of Alfred’s cooking; each getting to the kitchen in his/her own Extra way, playfully but competitively shoving each other out of the way; Tim breaking off from the chaos to open the door, high-fiving/fist-bumping Duke and Luke as they file in; Babs arriving two minutes later, on the phone with Steph, telling the latter to come ASAP (breakfast is almost served); Kate coming in much later, amused by the loud morning chatter, nodding at Bruce, who’s seated at a kitchen stool, patting Titus on the head while Alfred the cat purrs on his lap.
I dunno. Something incredibly MUNDANE like this when Tim comes back. We already had Batburger, and that was lovely. Just… It would be great if they were ALL there.
Selina coming in through a second story window; Basil catching up with Cass and Harper, telling them how Jean-Paul’s meditating on a mountain somewhere so he can’t make it, while Alfred mops up his clay trail. Maybe Clark and Lois (literally) flying in to drop Jon off for a sleepover with Damian.
Dick was an average student who seemed more enthusiastic to go on patrol with Batman and Superman. He tried university for a while.
Jason took his studies seriously. He was the top student in class (with the report card to prove it)!
Tim naturally has superior intellect, but is often distracted by his dedication to vigilante work (thus, not a “model” student). He has plans to go to college.
Damian was pressured to excel at everything. He received incredibly expensive and topnotch homeschooling from a very young age (with a curriculum probably too tedious even for most adults).
Dick has years of experience; a positive role model; a good listener; selfless and sincere; treats his team as family…
** has led the Teen Titans, Titans, and Outsiders (to a certain degree, even the JLA)
Tim is very loyal, firm in his decisions, and brilliant at strategizing; encouraging; owns up to his mistakes…
** has led the Teen Titans
Jason is willing to go “above and beyond” for a teammate in need; gives “outcasts” the benefit of the doubt; makes tough calls at a second’s notice; prefers to tell it like it is…
** is leading the Red Hood and the Outlaws
And, Damian, is very confident, focused, and protective; a commanding presence; will stand his ground to the (literal) death; not easily impressed, intimidated, or swayed.
** is (self-imposingly) leading the Teen Titans
(Don’t even get me started on their father…)
If the Batboys had entrance music when they entered a battlefield…
DICK’s would be “Death of a Bachelor” by Panic! At the Disco…
JASON’s, “Heathens” by twenty one pilots…
TIM’s, “Basketcase” by Green Day…
And, DAMIAN’s, “The Imperial March” by John Williams.
I don’t know about you guys, but Batfamily-wise, the New 52’s “Batman and Robin Eternal” is just a gift that keeps on giving.
Be forewarned: this is going to be long and panel-heavy. I want to highlight precious, character-revealing moments from the series, and there are a lot. Thus, panels won’t be arranged chronologically, but thematically.
Most of it will be focused on Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne, though. But, story-wise, Cassandra Cain (then Orphan) and Harper Row (Bluebird) play central roles. Barbara Gordon (as Batgirl), Stephanie Brown (as Spoiler), Duke Thomas (then a “Robin”), Jim Gordon (then “Batman” in a mech suit), and Azrael, as well as others Batfrenemies, make appearances, too. So, yeah. Definitely a Batfamily affair.
I love this series. By writing this, I’m going through it for the second time.
Just like in the “Robin War” story arc, we see that Bruce manages to unite his family even in his absence. (Sure, they sometimes do so out of begrudging respect, but they really do love him!)
A little backstory (and SPOILERS):
Throughout the series, the present is juxtaposed with the past.
“No more secrets. No more lies.”
The story revolves around a villain that Bruce Wayne first encountered in his early years as Batman, way back when his Robin was still an enthusiastic, fresh-faced Dick. Simply referred to as “Mother”, her goal is to produce “perfect” children. Believing that overcoming intense personal trauma is the key to pushing a child towards his or her full potential, she targets children, murders their parents, then takes them under her wing. With the help of brainwashing (and Scarecrow’s fear toxin), she molds them into human weapons intent on pleasing her. Rich and powerful clients in search of ideal children avail of her, um, services.
To investigate deeper, Bruce posed as a potential client and pretended to be dissatisfied with his ward.
While Robin continued to fight alongside Batman on a daily basis, Bruce purposefully left Dick in the dark about Mother.
Later on, we find out why: dealing with Mother revealed some truths that Bruce was ashamed to face. Perhaps he was no different from Mother? That he’d been using the death of Dick’s parents to mold him into Robin? Did he really want to replace Dick?
Take a gander at a very handsome younger Bruce Wayne undercover as… himself.
But before Batman could shut down Mother’s twisted operation, he “died” and came back amnseic – but not without leaving a trail leading to Mother behind (in true Batman fashion).
At present day, when parents turn up dead and children become orphaned, a mysterious vigilante (okay, it’s Cass!) leaves Dick a digital device containing Bruce’s confession to him and the file on the Mother case.
“I’m not the man you think I am. I failed you. I failed all of you.”
And so, he enlists the help of his brothers to investigate and hunt down this “Mother”.
MORE, MORE, MORE UNDER THE CUT:
So, let’s start with the eldest, the original, the legendary Dick Grayson, our beacon for all things Robin.
In spite of all the masks Dick has worn over the years – Nightwing, Batman, Agent 37 – he never forgets his superhero roots. He’s still Robin at his core.
So much so that even while wearing his Spyral uniform, he prioritizes Batman’s mission….
… and calls on the best. Back-up. Ever. (Who we’ll be discussing later on.)
He takes charge of the mission at the get-go, and his brothers know better than to argue with that. They respect his seniority and trust in his leadership (and for good reason).
Nearing the climax of the story, he delegates tasks to the rest of the Batfamily, then takes on the most dangerous one on his own. Not out of bravado, mind you. It’s just the selflessness that comes in the Dick Grayson package. This is also personal to him, after all. An unfinished mission from both his and Bruce’s past that’s come back to haunt all of them.
A gazillion miles away, all alone, and he still manages to mother-hen everyone else.
And in the final showdown, when Mother tries to turn him against Batman – tries to convince him that Batman failed the Robins – he doesn’t sway. In spite of the secrets that Bruce kept from him, he still trusts in his former mentor’s intentions.
(Of all of Bruce’s children, I do think Dick understands him the best. Over 75 years of partnership? Come on.)
As for Dick calling for back-up…
There’s our “reformed” Jason, who’s clearly enjoying being part of the Batfamily again…
… even to the point of abiding by Batman’s “rules”. It’s been so painful watching him fight his way in, then out of, and then in the family again, that it’s such a breath of fresh air seeing him… back home.
He provides a lot of the levity in the series by way of self-deprecation and playful banter with both heroes and villains.
He’s our resident street-smart former “street rat”. (A lot more sophisticated now, though.)
He’s matured quite a bit, too. Biting his tongue, holding back his punches. Using his own past failures to encourage others (like a brainwashed Harper trying to kill Cass).
I can’t help but think that, for better or worse, Jason being portrayed as the venomous – villainous, even – antihero in the past makes all of his moments in this series (heck, even in DC’s “Rebirth”) much sweeter.
(I mean, if all his monstrous transgressions are still canon in this timeline, then he truly does have a lot to make up for. Maximum security jail time in the real world, really.)
Then, there’s Tim. When did our self-conscious, sleep-deprived Timmy get this confident? This… manly?
With Batman out of commission, he’s currently the “World’s Greatest Detective”, expediting missions through brilliant strategies and A+ geekiness.
He’s still a teenager, though (and apparently has to remind Jason of it).
He’s still cool, still calculating. But, somehow, more sure of himself, I guess?
Let’s take a few moments to appreciate the partnership between Jason and Tim in this series…
… and we’ll see how much good comes out of two brothers outgrowing their resentment towards each other.
They go on assignment to Egypt in search of answers from the Order of St. Dumas. While Tim poses as an acolyte, Jason is subdued by its members and infected with a bioprogramming virus they created called “Ichthys”.
Whammied, Jason dreams of his final moments with the Joker. But, this time, instead of being defenseless, he turns into a Red Hood-like version of Robin and mercilessly beats the villain up.
However, as Jason overcomes his most traumatic experience, he also loses himself to the virus (as Mother intended). Tim quickly realizes this and forms an alliance with a disgruntled Azrael (who just found out he’s been betrayed by his own order) and…
“And your not just the man under the red hood. You’re a Robin.”
Oh, and this one right here!
Speaking of banter in the middle of a life-and-death situation… we weren’t gonna leave Dick out of it, were we?
The ladies have them, too!
Last, and certainly the tiniest but not the least, our egotistical li’l darling Damian.
Although his superiority complex is perfectly intact, he’s become more cooperative, more willing to concede to his brothers (just not, you know, out loud), for the sake of the mission.
In some ways, he just might be the most grown-up of them all. (Perhaps it has something to do with his recent accomplishment of the “Year of Blood”?) When his brothers start giving in to helplessness, he calls them out and reminds them of the legacy that he’s inherited.
Now, I think it’s important to discuss these parallels because they sort of address a polarizing issue.
“We chose to be a family.”
Jason sees the Robins as Batman’s army-turned-family…
… but Dick sees it very differently…
… and so does Bruce.
Oh, wait, do you remember this scene from an episode of “Young Justice”?
Wonder Woman: “You indoctrinated Robin into crime fighting at the ripe old age of nine.”
Batman: “Robin needed help to bring the men who murdered his family to justice.”
Wonder Woman: “So he could turn out like you?”
Batman:
(P.S. Please remember that this is fantasy, people. Not the recommended real-world parenting method.)
At this point in the comics, the Batboys have already overcome a lot of their personal issues with one another – and with Bruce. They’ve all gone through enormous character development in their respective titles. (Writers seem to be making up for a lot of emotional damage to the fans over the years.) So when we experience them together like this, we find that they’re more mature (which may come off as “gritty”), more accountable for other people, more efficient as a unit. And, dare I say, more grateful for Bruce’s role in their lives.
“We’re Robins. And our work isn’t close to being finished.”
Big brother Dick puts things into perspective one last time…
“Sounds like a job for Batman and Robin.”
Of course Bruce is back before the series concludes. And this last part? I can’t ask for better reunion panels.
Intense. Emotional. Action-packed. 11/10 would recommend.
So, here’s sort of a continuation of a previous post I made about Tim and Damian’s first encounter, and Bruce (with Alfred’s help) dealing with the fallout. Since Bruce and Damian were resolving their issues, I wanted to acknowledge a moment when Bruce and Tim did, too.
A little backstory (and some spoilers): After that whole father-son and brother-brother fiasco in the “Batman and Son” story arc, we move on to “Three Ghosts of Batman”. Bruce think he’s hallucinating when three villains, all dressed in twisted Batman costumes, show up at Gotham and commit crimes. As it turns out, they’re actually real police officers selected among the GCPD to be trained as replacements for Batman just in case something were to happen to the real one. This is also connected to an isolation experiment that Bruce underwent some years back, the Black Casebook, etc., etc.
Anyways.
After being brutally beaten up by a Bane-like Batman, Bruce reaches the Manor with the help of a prostitute and passes out. With Alfred and Tim at his bedside, he is woken up by a nightmare involving Damian and three “ghosts”.
“I’ll be careful , Alfred. You know I’m always careful.”
In the next set of panels, perhaps it’s seeing Bruce not being in his element – vulnerable, fearful – that drives Tim to do something unusual – take an uncalculated risk. Despite Bruce’s warning that Tim is basically outclassed, the latter goes after the impostor anyway, while the former passes out.
“Young Master Tim feels he has a lot to prove.”
When Bruce comes to, he realizes that Tim is gone. And, as Alfred points out, the teenager still has feelings carried over from the debacle with Damian. Bruce sets out to find the impostor (and hopefully Tim?) himself, rubbing his own imposing scent all over him (perhaps to instill some sort of primal fear in his enemy?).
So, here we see Tim show a lot of bravado as he faces an enemy who was able to beat the Batman.
“Nice work.”
The same thing almost happens to Tim, but Bruce arrives just in time to rescue him. He then says two words that would mean a lot to any Batkid.
On any given day, Bruce would have chewed Tim (or any of his other children) out for being “irresponsible” or “stupid”. (He hates it when his children take uncalculated risks!) But, this time, he puts Tim’s feelings over his pragmatism, knowing that this son of his doesn’t need a lecture right now, but reassurance that he’s means no less to his father than Damian.
“You don’t have anything to prove to me.”
And, of course, the last panel below – the one that made me write this post in the first place.
Bruce says it so casually, mid-battle, like they didn’t have to sit down and have a long talk in the manor to get it over with. Right there and then, he wants to ease Tim’s mind.
And, Tim responds as if Bruce didn’t just tell him the words he’s probably been longing to hear for a while now. Doesn’t flinch when Bruce says it out loud and out of the blue. As if they’ve been having a telepathic conversation about it the whole time.
No other words need be said. As Bruce has said before, nothing’s changed between them.
Every now and then, Bruce’s children need reassurance from him. They don’t usually ask him for it (and end up doing stuff to get his undivided attention).
And, every now and then, Bruce will notice that need and actually do something about it. But, when he doesn’t, count on good ol’ Alfred to point it out.
So, although this was originally meant to discuss a moment in Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake’s relationship, I couldn’t help but include Damian Wayne along the way because, as you’ll see, the drama unfolds because of his presence in the first place.
** Issues:
Batman #655 – 658 **
Due to the length of this post, I made a separate one for that Bruce & Tim moment here.
A little backstory (and some spoilers): Tim, as Robin, decides to spend some time on his own in the mountains. Bruce realizes that he, too, needs a vacation, and attends a fundraiser in London. Unbeknownst to him, Talia al Ghul has been observing him with a 10-year-old Damian by her side. With an army of Man-Bats, she attacks the party and subdues Bruce (as Batman). She explains to him that, with the death of her father Ra’s, she has taken over the family business. She reminds him of their passionate night together (though, in Bruce’s version, he was drugged and raped). After introducing him to their son, she leaves the boy for him to look after.
Bruce and Alfred make an effort to make Damian feel at home, with Bruce even offering to train him to fight crime. Damian, in turn, is incredibly rude and unappreciative, and even has a physical altercation with his father.
“Don’t patronize me or I’ll break your face.”
To say that Damian is rough around the edges is an understatement. If this is the only version of him you’ve read so far, you probably dislike him a great deal. His egotism is at its rawest, and not just a now-amusing quirk. He’s a far cry from the Robin-turned-Teen-Titans-leader-and-best-bud-of-Jon-Kent Damian we find adorable today because Grant Morrison’s is the one who’s fresh out of the League of Assassins, a trained killer who didn’t know better than survival through dominion, born and raised to serve the selfish purposes of his grandfather and his mother.
This is a Damian who hasn’t experienced the unconditional love of Bruce or Alfred yet, or been in the company of other young people who have overcome tragedy with the help of family and friends. He is self-entitled, cultured, and convinced that appreciation is a reward that always has to be earned the hard way.
Now, the Tim we meet in these pages has been in Robin’s shoes for a while now. Adopted and raised with love and structure within the Manor walls. More or less secure in his standing with the Bat Family.
So, when the two meet for the first time, we see the contrast in their upbringing. Tim greets him casually, with a little humor, while Damian is automatically defensive (and offensive).
“So tell me it’s not possible. Is it possible?”
Tim has rightfully earned the title of “world’s second greatest detective” because he usually doesn’t take anyone’s word for anything without enough evidence. Here, we see him question Bruce’s paternity of Damian. Now, whether it’s due to his investigative nature or to insecurity (now that a “blood son” is in the picture) is worth pondering.
(Also, Alfred’s sarcasm aside in the first panel below, Bruce definitely had his moments growing up!)
“This doesn’t change anything.”
In the next set of panels, I appreciate how Bruce maintains his fatherhood to both of them. Firstly, he reassures Tim that the presence of a biological son doesn’t make him any less of a son to Bruce. And, secondly, he tries to let Tim understand where Damian is coming from since Tim is clearly upset that Damian, for all his impertinence and impetuousness, seems to get a free pass from Bruce.
I mean, if this isn’t your typical brotherly-jealousy-and-rivarly-for-father’s-approval kind of thing…?
“If he really is your dad, you should be proud.”
In the next set of panels, while Bruce is away on a case, we see Tim doing his best to take the high road – giving Damian the benefit of the doubt, exercising restraint (which he probably picked up from years working with Bruce). He even reminds Damian of what an honor it is to be Bruce’s son.
We also see behavior that’s become classic Damian by now: trying to prove to his brothers that he’s superior to them. But, remember, this was back in the day when his tantrums were lethal. Tim is inviting him to spar (a traditional Bat Family bonding activity) and he takes it as a challenge.
More under the cut:
“There’s a new Robin now.”
Leaving Tim for dead, Damian catches up to his father who’s on patrol…
(So, yeah, if you think Damian’s vicious today, he sure wasn’t playin’ any games back then.)
Then, back at the Cave, Bruce makes a gruesome discovery…
“He’s not your real son, I am! It’s my right to replace him.”
And, this is how Damian justifies it.
(How incredibly unfortunate that a 10-year-old boy should live life with such heartlessness, that his own flesh and blood raised him to!)
“I won’t fail you, Father.”
Alfred, freed by Bruce from the room Damian had locked him in, stabilizes a seriously injured Tim in the Cave.
Meanwhile, in order to prevent Damian from doing further damage, Bruce begrudgingly brings him along as he goes off to face Talia.
In the next set of panels, we see Damian’s vulnerable side, the one craving for his father’s approval. He’s clearly misguided in how he tries to obtain it. At the very least, Bruce has earned his son’s respect, even if it’s not quite out of love just yet. (Plus, we get a glimpse of the unwavering loyalty that makes Damian who he is.)
This is a very important story arc to me because, aside from getting context for Tim and Damian’s rivalry, we also see Bruce’s paternal instincts kick in for his two youngest boys.
Firstly, he makes it clear to Damian that, regardless of what he thinks he’s achieved (by fatally stopping a criminal like Spook and defeating Tim), he went about it the wrong way.
His brand of love entails calling out his children when they mess up so that they understand the consequences of their actions.
Secondly, with everything Damian’s done, Bruce could have given up on him and sent him back to the League (or to a boarding school or whatever), but he chose to keep him under his wing. Gave him a second chance to redeem himself, knowing that upbringing was not his son’s fault. (Besides, there is no way that Bruce is sending any of his children back to the people who did them harm in the first place.)
Last, but not the least, he treats Tim and Damian fairly, in my opinion. He tries to let the other see the other’s point of view, trying to dispel their ill feelings towards each other, even if one seems “more right” than the other.
Bruce (with Alfred’s help) really has his work cut out for him, raising vigilante sons and daughters. I mean, can you just imagine?
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