| Damian Wayne | |
|---|---|
.png) Damian Wayne as depicted on the variant cover of Nightwing vol. 4 #16 (May 2017). Art by Ivan Reis, Oclair Albert, and Sula Moon. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | As infant: Batman: Son of the Demon (1987) As Damian Wayne: Batman #655 (September 2006) As Robin: Batman #657 (November 2006) As Batman: Batman #666 (August 2007) |
| Created by | Grant Morrison (writer) Andy Kubert (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Damian Thomas Wayne[1] |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Batman Family League of Assassins Teen Titans Justice League |
| Partnerships | Dick Grayson (adoptive brother) Stephanie Brown Rose Wilson Bruce Wayne (father) Terry McGinnis (comics) (half-brother) Superboy |
| Notable aliases | Robin Batman RedBird Nightwing[2] Demon's Grandson |
| Abilities |
|
Damian Wayne is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, created by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert, commonly in association with Batman. Damian Wayne is the biological son of Bruce Wayne/Batman. His mother is Batman's love interest Talia,[3][4][5][6] and his grandfather is the Batman villain Ra's al Ghul.[7] With the al Ghuls citing Bruce Wayne as the optimal successor to their empire,[8][9][10][11] after faking a miscarriage to his father and calling off their marriage,[12] Talia has kept his existence hidden from Batman until Batman #656 (2006). In turn, the character is revealed to have originally been intended to "kill and replace his famous father,"[13] as well as serving as a host body for Ra's al Ghul,[14][15] thus, in theory, unifying the Wayne and Demon factions as intended by the al Ghuls.[16][17] Damian is Bruce's youngest and only biological child in mainline DC continuity, with him having four older adopted siblings: Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Cassandra Cain.
A prototype of the character originally appeared as an unnamed infant in the 1987 story Batman: Son of the Demon,[18][19] which at the time was not considered canon. Following this, various alternate universe stories dealt with the character's life, giving him various names. In 2006, the character was reinterpreted as Damian Wayne by Grant Morrison, and introduced into the main continuity in Batman #655, the first issue of the "Batman and Son" story arc. Damian Wayne is the fifth character to assume the role of Robin, Batman's vigilante partner.
Damian, as a preadolescent, was left by his mother in the care of his father, who had been unaware of his existence. He is violent, self-important, and was trained by the League of Assassins, learning to kill at a young age, which troubles the relationship with his father who refuses to kill. However, the Dark Knight does care for his lost progeny.[20] After the events of Batman R.I.P. and Batman: Battle for the Cowl, he takes the role of Robin at ten years of age,[21] becoming the fifth person to use the Robin persona. He first worked with Dick Grayson before going to work alongside his father, upon the original's return to the role of Batman.
Damian appears in the 2023 Christmas-themed animated film, Merry Little Batman, voiced by Yonas Kibreab; and will return in the upcoming TV series, Bat-Family, with Kibreab reprising his role. He is also slated to make his live-action debut in the film The Brave and the Bold, produced by DC Studios.[22]
- ^ Paternity test/documentation via source material, proof of biological relation and established name of the character provided in last panels of comic book. Priest, Christopher. Deathstroke (2016) #35. DC Comics, Inc., 2018
- ^ Batman Incorporated Vol 2 #3
- ^ Morrison, Grant. Batman #656 DC Comics, Inc., 2006.
- ^ J. Tomasi, Peter. Batman and Robin 2011 #2. DC Comics, Inc., 2011
- ^ J. Tomasi, Peter. Batman and Robin 2011 #0. DC Comics, Inc., 2012
- ^ J. Tomasi, Peter. Robin Rises: Omega. Marvel Comics, Inc., 2014
- ^ Morrison, Grant. Batman (1940) #666. DC Comics, Inc., 2007
- ^ "Your admirable mind has reasoned all save the obvious that my darling Talia loves you! My organization is vast... I had to satisfy myself that you are a worthy successor to me!" —Ra's to Batman. End of the comic. O'Neil, Dennis. Batman (1940) #232. DC Comics, Inc., 1971.
- ^ "I need a man to assume my position when I'm gone... Because you are most worthy. That is now proven beyond any doubt. And because my precious daughter loves you." —Ra's to Batman. Near the end of the episode. Altieri, Kevin, director. Batman: The Animated Series, "The Demon's Quest: Part 1" Warner Bros. Animation, 1993.
- ^ "You fell in love with the Detective that day, of course. How could you not? He was the optimum man... You and your detective will yield the ultimate child. A dark king for a new age." —Ra's to Talia. Near the end of the comic. Morrison, Grant. Batman, Incorporated Vol.2 #2. DC Comics, Inc., 2012
- ^ "Assassins plan to take over Ra's' organization... led by a man who Father believes could be his successor, until my father became aware of you." —Talia al Ghul to Batman. Around fifteen minutes into the film. Spaulding, Ethan, director. Son of Batman Warner Bros. Animation, 2014.
- ^ "Holy Bat-trimony: The Dark Knight and Marriage". DC. September 17, 2021. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- ^ "Genetically perfected, and grown in an artificial womb, Damian was engineered to kill and replace his famous father," —Narrator. Beginning of comic. Morrison, Grant. Batman (1940) #666. DC Comics, Inc., 2007
- ^ "It's true that I was gestated in a laboratory. That I was groomed to be a new body for my grandfather so that he may sidestep death and continue his mission to reduce the swollen population of the Earth." —Narration by Damian Wayne via introductory pages of the comic book. Seeley, Tim. Batman: Prelude to the Wedding - Robin VS. Ra's al Ghul #1. DC Comics, Inc., 2018
- ^ "You fell in love with the Detective that day, of course. How could you not? He was the optimum man... You and your detective will yield the ultimate child. A dark king for a new age." —Ra's to Talia. "You have no intention of giving up your power to another, Father. But it seems there are rites, whereby consciousness can survive death by migrating to more vigorous flesh? I know you've been searching for ways to survive when the Lazarus Pits run dry." —Talia al Ghul Near the end of the comic. Morrison, Grant. Batman, Incorporated Vol. 2 #2. DC Comics, Inc., 2012
- ^ "Who else in this world is like us, Bruce Wayne? The century's greatest crimefighter, the daughter of its greatest crimelord. And their genetically perfect child... We'll found a dynasty that will rule the planet for a thousand years. Ours is a love story remember? -Talia al Ghul to Batman. Near the end of the comic book. Morrison, Grant. Batman (1940) #658. DC Comics, Inc., 2006
- ^ "Your brain waves will be purged as mine are implanted in their place. I shall return to Gotham in your stead, bringing with me proof, both written and genetic, that I am the long-forgotten son of Bruce and Talia. How ironic that your company and holdings will fund my new empire." —Ra's al Ghul, while in Talia's body, to Bruce Wayne. Elaborating his plan in transferring his consciousness into Bruce's. Near the end of the episode. Tucker, James, director. Batman Beyond "Out of the Past" Warner Bros. Animation, 2000.
- ^ "Batman and Son TPB Review". shelfabuse.com. January 9, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
- ^ Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1980s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 229. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
In an over-sized hardcover graphic novel one-shot, writer Mike W. Barr and artist Jerry Bingham introduced a monumental new character into the life of the Dark Knight – Damian Wayne.
- ^ Batman #658
- ^ Batman and Robin #2
- ^ Kit, Borys (January 31, 2023). "DC Slate Unveiled: New Batman, Supergirl Movies, a Green Lantern TV Show, and More from James Gunn, Peter Safran". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.