Summary
The “Batman and Son” storyline introduced Damian as Batman’s son and showcased his rebellious nature, as he sought to prove his worthiness as the new Robin.
Damian’s character development is explored in various storylines, from his bond with Dick Grayson as Batman to his struggle to find his place alongside Bruce in Batman Incorporated.
With Damian Wayne’s DCU debut on the way, it’s worth taking a look at some of the best Robin stories. Since his debut in the pages of Batman in 2006, Damian Wayne has become a fan-favorite member of the Bat-family. With a reputation as the Robin with the prickliest personality, unmatched confidence, and a penchant for taking himself too seriously, Damian always adds competitive tension, impressive fights, and comedy when he appears in a story.
The idea of Batman’s son first appeared in 1987’s Batman: Son of the Demon by Mike W. Barr and Jerry Bingham, in which Talia gives birth to Bruce’s child in secret. Though the in-universe nature of the graphic novel was in question for many years, it was officially canonized by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert’s “Batman and Son” storyline, which brought back the child and named him Damian.
10 “Batman and Son” From Batman (2006)
By Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert
The story that created Damian Wayne, “Batman and Son,” sees Talia al Ghul introduce a rebellious Damian who claims to want to train with his father. Damian is intent on replacing Tim Drake as Robin, and being raised by the League of Assassins, he is eager to prove how inadequate Bruce’s no-killing policies are. Suspicious of how Damian figures into Talia’s plans to either win him over to her side or take him down, Bruce accepts Damian into his home. With Bruce unsure of his son’s motivations, the two begin a contentious relationship marred by the thick defensive barriers around their true emotions.
9 Batman and Robin (2009)
By Grant Morrison
After the death of Bruce in Morrison’s Final Crisis, Dick Grayson takes on the mantle of Batman with Damian as his Robin. Damian is introduced to Gotham’s criminal underworld in a story aesthetically influenced by the four-color Silver Age adventures of Bruce and Dick. The new Batman and Robin go up against the seemingly immortal Simon Hurt and the Black Hand, who intend to destroy the legacy of Batman and turn Gotham into Hell on Earth. Dick struggles to handle the volatile Damian, but the two slowly develop a close bond as Dick’s lighthearted and caring attitude begins to temper some of Damian’s harder edges.
8 Batman Incorporated (2010)
By Grant Morrison
The final chapter in Grant Morrison’s series of Batman titles sees Dick and Damian join Bruce as part of Batman Inc, an effort by Bruce to organize an international network of Batmen to eradicate crime. With Bruce’s return, the ambitious Damian struggles to find his place at Batman’s side, as his father’s overprotective nature begins to hold Damian back. Though full of high-stakes action and adventure, the story’s heart is Damian’s efforts to break away from his mother and prove to his father that he can be a hero. However, still struggling with his own familial losses, Bruce hesitates to give Damian the chance.
7 Batman and Robin Annual, Collected in Batman and Robin: Death of the Family (2013)
By Peter J. Tomasi and Ardian Syaf
To get Bruce out of the city, Damian challenges his father to a scavenger hunt tracing the life of Thomas and Martha Wayne across the globe in the years before Bruce was born. Though disguised as a gift to Bruce, Damian takes advantage of his father’s absence to replace him as Batman for a few days in Gotham City. Connecting the Wayne family across three generations while Damian attempts to prove his abilities, the story is heartfelt and funny, with stand-out moments for Damian, Bruce, and Alfred. Notably, it also debuts Damian’s use of the iconic Batman 666 costume in the present day.
6 Batman and Robin: Requiem (2013)
By Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason
After Damian is killed in a final battle with the villainous organization Leviathan, Bruce must come to terms with the passing of his son and partner. Across Peter J. Tomasi’s New 52 run on Batman and Robin, Bruce and Damian have become closer working in Gotham, and Requiem sees the fallout of Bruce taking the risk to open up his heart. Issue #18 is a standout work by Tomasi and artist Patrick Gleason. This silent issue sees Bruce going through Damian’s belongings and costume, barely holding it together emotionally, before finally cracking in a fit of rage.
5 Batman and Robin Eternal (2015)
By Scott Snyder, Tim Seeley, and James Tynion IV
The weekly Batman and Robin Eternal sees all the Robins come together to face the deadly assassin David Cain. With Bruce suffering from amnesia and unable to remember his identity as Batman, the Robins and Batgirl track Cain’s deadly network of killers across the globe on their own. Featuring the New 52 debuts of Cassandra Cain and Azrael, the book is one of the best modern Bat-family adventures and a great look into Damian’s place in the group. Batman and Robin Eternal showcases Damian’s comedy in how he butts heads with his allies, as well as his ability to rally the family to fight seemingly impossible battles.
4 Batman vs Deathstroke (2018)
By Christopher Priest
After Bruce and Damian separately discover a DNA test that claims Slade Wilson, the mercenary known as Deathstroke, is Damian’s biological father, they go on the hunt to discover its veracity. Bruce finds Slade and is surprised to learn that Slade could care less about the boy’s parentage, but unable to trust the killer, Bruce puts all of Slade’s contracts on hold until he can find out the truth. Damian too confronts Slade but claims he wants to join his supposed father in the mercenary life. Featuring intertwining narrative threads and fantastic action scenes, Batman vs Deathstroke is grounded by a test of familial bonds and personal rivalries.
3 DCeased (2019)
By Tom Taylor
After a corrupted anti-life equation creates a zombie outbreak that results in the death of Bruce, Dick, and Tim, Damian is forced to take on the mantle of Batman. Alongside his best friend Jon Kent, the two attempt to rally the remaining heroes and minimize the degree of fallout from the undead virus. Tom Taylor takes the gruesome concept and imbues it with a dramatic heart, foregrounding the personal connections between each character before they are violently torn away. More time in DCeased is spent on character conflict than on action-packed fight scenes, and it’s for the better, as it makes every tragic twist hurt all the more.
2 Robin (2021)
By Joshua Williamson
The recent Robin by Joshua Williamson sees Damian in a solo series with a fresh new Robin costume design courtesy of Gleb Melnikov and a new path in life. Disillusioned with Bruce after the death of Alfred, Damian strikes out on his own, entering into an underground martial arts tournament. He goes toe-to-toe with the best young fighters in the DCU, including Connor Hawke. The comic is Street Fighter in the DCU, with comedy and a dose of ‘70s high adventure irreverence. An action comic and coming-of-age story, the series sees Damian develop his individuality apart from the Bat-family.
1 Wayne Family Adventures (2021)
By CRC Payne and StarBite
The instant hit Webtoon comic, recently collected in hard copy, follows the Bat-family in their off hours. Competing in their workouts, fighting over the last cookie, or stressing over school crushes, Adventures focuses on the interpersonal dramas of Batman’s ensemble cast when not fighting crime. Damian is a standout ensemble member, and some of the best stories feature him stressing about his haircut or discovering Jane Austen for the first time. Though he can be prickly and competitive, Wayne Family Adventures showcases Damian’s deep personal ties to those around him and a sensitivity that he tries to hide under stoicism and grouchiness.