Summary
Robinhas confirmed the one unforgivable way in whichBatmanfailedNightwing, and it appears that Bruce may be on the verge of winning the “Bad Bat-Dad” award once again as he risks repeating the mistakes he made with Dick Grayson, now with his youngest son, Damian Wayne. This development prompts a crucial question: Will Batman ever learn from his past mistakes, or is he destined to fail all his Robins?
The Boy Wonder#1,crafted by Juni Ba, is a fairytale-inspired retelling of Damian Wayne’s evolution as Robin, narrated from Damian’s unique viewpoint. This narrative style immerses fans in his emotional psyche and brings a new light to his interactions with different members of the Bat-Family.
In the first issue, particular attention is given to Damian’s dynamic with his older brother, Dick Grayson, and the observations he makes concerning the elder. One of the most poignant insights Damian shares is thatBatman failed Nightwing by acting like a “general” rather than the “father” figure Dick needed at the time.
Dick Grayson’s origin storyas half of the Dynamic Duo is widely known among fans. However, what distinguishes Ba’s retelling from previous iterations is that it is recounted by Damian, offering a unique and never-before-seen perspective on Dick’s journey from a Flying Grayson to the Original Boy Wonder to Nightwing. In Damian’s narrative, he places particular emphasis on Dick and Bruce’s falling out, which led to Dick relinquishing the Robin mantle and assuming the identity of Nightwing.Damian attributes this falling-out to Bruce’s actions, stating that Dick “needed a father, not a general.”
The fifth Robin also notes howBatman prioritized his missionabove everything else, including Dick’s needs.Therefore, Bruce’s failure to be the father figure his adopted son needed and his placing of justice above his child’s well-being is what Damian perceives as one of his father’s major failures concerning the first Robin. Damian further explains that the “coarse, hard ways of [Dick’s] father became too much for [Dick].” This narration is complemented by visuals of Dick resigning from his role as Robin, succinctly and effectively portraying the breakdown of the original Dynamic Duo’s relationship.
Batman’s Son Proves He’s More Inspired by Nightwing Than Bruce
In the latest issue of DC’s Robin, Damian Wayne reveals that he’s taking more cues from Dick Grayson’s Nightwing than he is from his father Batman.
Batman Is on the Path to Failing Robin the Same Way He Failed Nightwing
Despite Damian seemingly unaware of it, he is actually narrating the ways in which Bruce is currently failing him while recounting Dick’s story. In a previous panel, Batman is depicted literally turning his back on Damian when the latter makes a mistake. It’s evident that the fifth Robin is struggling to adapt to his father’s new moral code and to unlearn the teachings instilled by his grandfather, Ra’s al Ghul, over the years. However, instead of showingRobinthe mercy and understanding of a father,Batmanis treating him like a disobedient soldier, repeating his past mistakes withNightwing.
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
Robin
Nightwing
Nightwing is the superhero moniker taken up by Dick Grayson, upon his aging out of the Robin role and becoming a superhero of his own. Inspired by the original Kryptonian hero of the same name, Grayson has risen to comic book immortality with the identity, earning respect as one of the greatest leaders in the DC Universe.
