Yes, Robin Has a Cousin and She Needs to Come Back ASAP

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We all know Robin has brothers, but I’m always surprised how few people talk about his cousin! Considering he comes from both the Wayne and al Ghul families, you’d think Damian would have tons of relatives. We’ve definitely seen him with his father’s side of the family over the years, but it’s rare to see him connect with his mother’s family – a huge family we barely know anything about. Take Featherweight, for example, who recently showed up in Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League – she’s a great example of that hidden side of his family!

When the main characters planned a heist targeting the Justice League’s Watchtower, they assembled a special team for help. One member was Alya Raatko, known as Featherweight – a young woman who’s surprisingly strong despite her small size. Throughout the series, she reveals she’s related to the Boy Wonder. Unfortunately, Featherweight hasn’t had a major role, and now that this story arc is ending, it’s unclear if she’ll appear again. However, DC Comics should definitely bring her back soon.

Meet Featherweight, Robin’s Superpowered Cousin

Alya is first introduced in the comic Cheetah and Cheshire Rob the Justice League #2, written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by Nicola Scott. Cheetah and Cheshire are searching for someone strong to help them when Lian, Cheetah’s daughter, points out a young woman protesting in Hub City. Barbara and Jade watch as the woman single-handedly destroys a tank. They bring her in for questioning in the next issue, where she introduces herself as Featherweight and reveals her mother is Nyssa al Ghul, making her Damian Wayne’s cousin. Throughout the series, Featherweight forms a close bond with Lian, and Klarion the Witch Boy develops feelings for Alya.

Alya plays a crucial role in the Justice League heist. She creates a distraction by hitting a satellite with a rock, allowing her team to sneak into the Watchtower. Once inside, Featherweight is the one who breaks into the most secure area with surprising ease. It’s also revealed during the mission that Featherweight’s powers are amplified when she’s fueled by anger.

Even though Featherweight works with bad guys and managed to rob the Justice League, she’s actually a kind person. After the team steals everything from the League’s trophy room, she thinks about how her cut can help people in need, like herself. She intends to return to her activism, particularly in Greece, where LGBTQ+ people are facing increasing persecution – a cause that’s very important to her, as she shares she is both bisexual and transgender. After a final farewell to Klarion, she sets off to see what happens next.

There is So Much Storytelling Potential with Featherweight

I’m a big fan of Damian Wayne, so I was excited when I learned Featherweight was related to Robin. While their connection isn’t a huge focus in this story – it’s mostly just Alya calling Damian ‘cousin’ during a heist – that’s okay because this is a team book, not a Robin-centered one. The writers did a great job with Featherweight, and most importantly, they made me eager to see more of her after finishing the story.

It’s not just that I like Featherweight because she’s related to Robin – though that is a cool connection from a storytelling perspective. I also admire her strong beliefs in fairness and her willingness to challenge those in power. Seeing characters who reflect the energy and frustration of young people today is really powerful. Plus, Featherweight is great representation for bisexual and transgender people. Her identity isn’t the only thing that defines her, but it’s not hidden either. She simply exists as herself, and that’s often the most meaningful kind of representation.

There’s a lot of potential with the character Featherweight, and I’d love to see her interact with Robin in a story – not as opponents, as there’s already been plenty of conflict within the Wayne family. Alya is incredibly powerful, so a fight wouldn’t even be fair! Even a solo story for Featherweight would be great, as DC always benefits from having more LGBTQ+ representation. It would be a real loss if DC didn’t continue to develop Robin’s cousin and let her character fade away.

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2026-01-09 23:14