#wokeheroes

Spoilers ahead

[Andy Clarke and Cameron Stewart]

In the latest issue, Damian Wayne drops a bombshell: if he can solve the case on his own, he’s done being Robin🤯

And this isn’t just about the case at hand. This ties into earlier conversations with Talia, where Damian told her he was tired of following what the family wanted for him. And even with Bruce, he’s spoken about how he feels like he’s being controlled too much (maybe because Bruce never had anyone to guide him and now he’s overcompensating). Damian, in his rebellious brilliance, even mentioned that maybe—just maybe—he’d rather follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and become a doctor. 🩺

But we all know that Damian Wayne is never going to follow a conventional path, especially not one that involves stethoscopes and white coats. He’s far too driven, too relentless. Even if he succeeds in solving the case solo, he’s bound to stay in the world of superheroes—even if it’s on his own terms.

I’ll admit, though, I kind of wish we could see a new Wayne—not a superhero, but as a philanthropist who isn’t out saving Gotham every night. A Wayne who focuses on his family’s legacy without the mask, becoming a symbol of hope without the night-fight. 🌙

At the same time (and on the contrary), I would love to see a vegan Batman 🥑 (if in the future they decide to retire Bruce and Damian inherits), which would absolutely rock the foundations of the Batman mythos, especially considering how many still see him as the epitome of conservative American values. Batman has always been a symbol for marginalized groups, often ahead of his time in representing the "woke" movement. What if Bruce forced them to challenge those social constructs? It would be very interesting on a comic/book level and a social level.

I mean… the whole sex-affective thing can be "ignored" as "it's trendy", but has anyone read the comics and not fully understood AND RESPECTED Damian's entire vegan arc? What if Damian is Batman now? Being vegan is a central part of him, and Batman is a big guy, not some smart-aleck Lisa Simpson (the only other vegan reference of such reach inside and outside the US). Seriously, that would be very curious (and would open the can of worms as to why Clark keeps eating meat 😤 WHEN HE DOESN'T NEED TO EAT).

Still, I digress. Damian’s departure from Robin has a much deeper significance for Bruce. This isn’t the first time he’s heard a Robin tell him they want to go their own way. Dick Grayson did the same years ago, and that was a painful blow for Bruce, even more than he lets on. When Dick left, Bruce had to confront the truth: his greatest creation, his son, no longer needed him as a mentor. 😔

The way Damian wants to carve out his future—free from Bruce's overbearing influence, and potentially even choosing a path that has nothing to do with Gotham or the cape—is as much a sign of growth as it is rebellion. He’s finally coming into his own, and it’s going to be a painful process for Bruce 😔. And it's curious that he takes this chapter as Dick did, since he was built as Robin under Dick's wing, not Bruce's. This brings Damian and Dick (our double D) closer together compared to the other two Robins, who didn't abandon the mantle, but rather, the Robin mantle was taken from them (from Jason by his death and from Tim by Bruce's replacement with Dick and then the arrival of Damian).

Damian's journey isn't just about the Robin mantle. It’s about self-identity and finding a place where he can define his legacy without living in the shadows of the Bat. Can Bruce let him go? Has he learned from his history with Dick? 🤔

What do you think? Is Damian ready to leave the Bat behind? Is it bravado???

But, most importantly: will DC dare to leave Batman without Robin for a long period? Will a new Robin appear? Will we see the re-emergence of Tim (a character totally forgotten by the publisher)? And, most importantly, is this in some way the prelude to the resurrection of Alfred?