DC’s Biggest Mistake Was Making Damian Wayne a Hero

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Stating that Damian Wayne didn’t stir up a whirlwind of drama within the wider Bat family would be a clear falsehood. Upon taking over as Robin from Tim Drake, Damian has been embroiled in drama since his introduction. Born an assassin due to his mother Talia Al Ghul’s influence, he chose to follow his father’s path instead. His inclusion in the Bat family and assumption of the Robin role were logical moves for character development, but they haven’t necessarily been positive ones. Since his debut, Damian has frequently butted heads not only with his father, but also his siblings, finding it challenging to adapt to a more ordinary life in Gotham as a trained killer.

Since he’s declared his departure from the Robin role and his father’s crusade, Damian has found himself at a pivotal juncture in DC comics. This situation presents an opportunity for DC to address what could be their biggest misstep regarding the character: initiating him as a hero in the first place.

Assassin Instead of Sidekick

Born into the League of Assassins, you’d assume that would be his destiny, but surprisingly, he opted for a life as a vigilante instead. Killing criminals at just eight years old should have been a clear red flag that something wasn’t quite right with him. However, people seem to conveniently forget about the time he beheaded someone. It’s challenging to picture how he could transform into Robin, a character who usually follows the rules. The only one who openly defied this expectation was Tim Drake, but many saw his actions as him being denied the spotlight. It wasn’t necessarily that he was right in this instance, but his actions certainly raised questions about his path.

Despite Damian’s unique upbringing, molded to become a lethal force, it’s challenging to fully accept him as a hero due to his dark past. While the concept of a powerful redemption arc is common in comics, Damian was essentially created for the role of the ultimate weapon within the League. Instead of pushing Damian towards the hero path, there was an opportunity to further develop him into a more formidable villain, posing a terrifying and complex challenge for Batman. An intriguing narrative could have emerged from their conflict, especially if Damian truly embraced his role in the League. This storyline would have delved deep into their relationship, potentially culminating in an intense and deeply personal battle between father and son.

Damian al Ghul

It wasn’t until much later that he could turn out to be Ra’s, but it seems unfortunate that the storyline isn’t moving in that direction. All we got from the idea was Damian as Ra’s in the Batman Beyond comics, but it’s unclear how closely those stories align with the main narrative. Still, writers have found a way to make it happen, turning it into a kind of reality. However, this is still only a small step towards making Damian a villain, and it doesn’t feel like enough. The idea of Damian as a hero just doesn’t seem right, which is why his transition into a darker character makes sense.

Red Hood and Redbird

One intriguing scenario that could have unfolded, but didn’t, was the pairing of two villainous Robins: Damian and Jason Todd. Before the New 52 era, DC Comics considered Jason as a potential antagonist, even battling Dick Grayson (Batman) in this role. If Damian had turned evil alongside Jason, we might have witnessed a sort of dark version of the Dynamic Duo. This concept was proposed by Grant Morrison in their “Batman and Robin” comic series. Given DC’s history of ambiguity regarding Jason and the ongoing complexities in his relationship with Bruce Wayne, this twist could have offered an engaging exploration into the dark side of both characters. Such a development would have created unique family dynamics with far-reaching implications for Gotham City and the broader DC Universe.

As a die-hard movie buff, I find it intriguing that Damian Wayne, despite his journey, hasn’t fully crossed over to the antagonist side. It seems odd, given his character development and the setup in recent narratives, where his disenchantment with being Robin is evident. However, the way things stand now, I can’t help but feel that Damian doesn’t quite fit the mold perfectly.

Yet, there’s a sense of anticipation in the air, a feeling that we’re on the verge of witnessing some profound self-discovery and significant changes in this character. It’s almost as if DC is setting up Damian for an introspective journey. But, I can’t help but wonder, wasn’t it a missed opportunity to make Batman’s son his greatest adversary?

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2025-07-23 19:53