This Might Be DC’s Best New Character of the Last 20 Years (But They have Completely Wasted Them)

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DC Comics has created countless characters over the years. While some are fleeting, appearing only briefly in a single storyline, others become significant figures – either as villains opposing the heroes, or as heroes themselves, gaining popularity and even starring in their own comic series. In the last two decades, one character seemed poised to become a major player, but despite debuting over ten years ago, DC hasn’t fully developed his potential.

Duke Thomas first appeared as a young, unnamed character connected to Bruce Wayne in Batman #21. Created by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo, he represented a fresh direction for the Batman storyline. The story reveals that Duke’s family once helped Bruce Wayne after the Riddler caused a hurricane in Gotham, and Duke himself was already preparing to fight the Riddler. In Batman: Endgame, Duke and his family were kidnapped by the Joker due to their connection with Bruce. Although Batman rescued Duke, his parents were left behind after being infected by a Joker-created disease. Duke then entered foster care, and later joined a group called We Are Robin, supported by Alfred Pennyworth while Batman was away, to protect Gotham. Eventually, Bruce Wayne offered to train Duke, not as a Robin, but as a completely new type of hero.

Duke Has a Unique and Important Role in the Bat Family

It’s not unusual for Batman to take on a new young protégé, but Duke Thomas is different. Bruce Wayne isn’t trying to find another Robin; he’s doing something new by training Duke to be a hero who could one day stand alongside the Justice League, rather than just assisting Batman. Duke’s training focuses on developing leadership skills and preparing him for a larger role than a typical sidekick.

As a huge Batman fan, I’ve always found Duke Thomas fascinating. What immediately set him apart from other Robins wasn’t just that he didn’t become Robin in the traditional sense – he was already out there as We Are Robin, doing his own thing. But it goes way beyond that. Duke’s truly unique because he actually has superpowers! He’s a metahuman who can absorb and control light and darkness, which is incredibly cool. He calls it ‘ghost vision,’ and it lets him see glimpses of the recent past, or even predict where light will be in the future. He can even turn completely invisible! And get this – in Batman & The Signal #18, they hinted he might be immortal, thanks to a healing factor. Honestly, with his skills and these amazing abilities, Duke really stands alone in the Bat-Family. While the other Robins are all talented, there’s just no one else quite like him.

Duke is Gotham’s Daytime Protector But DC Doesn’t Do Anything With That

Duke Thomas, as The Signal, brings a fresh perspective to the Bat Family. While Batman and the others focus on nighttime crime-fighting in Gotham, The Signal operates during the day – a logical idea that DC hasn’t fully utilized. Considering how well-known Batman is, villains could easily shift their activity to daylight hours when he’s less active. Positioning Duke as The Signal, especially given his powers related to light, opens up exciting possibilities for exploring a different side of Gotham and creating new, engaging stories within the broader DC universe.

Despite having a compelling backstory, impressive powers, and a unique role in the DC universe, Duke Thomas hasn’t yet been given a truly defining story of his own. DC often treats him as a supporting character, which is a missed opportunity. Considering fans sometimes feel there are too many Batman-related stories, focusing on Duke as an independent hero in Gotham—with a fresh perspective—could be a great way to expand the universe. This would not only allow readers to connect with Duke as a character, but also make Gotham feel like a more vibrant and complete city, beyond just being a dark and nighttime setting. With DC’s upcoming plans, hopefully Duke will finally get the spotlight he deserves in the near future.

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2025-11-09 22:42