Spoilers ahead! If you have somehow accidentally ended up on this page and you don’t want to know what happens in Batman, Inc. #8 then close your browser now! Begone! Run! This is your last warning!
For those curious about the perceived inconsequence of the “Death of the Family” story line, you might look to Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham’s gesture this week. Because death isn’t just on the table. It’s a certainty.
Early this morning the New York Post broke the news that Damian Wayne will die in the pages of Wednesday’s Batman Incorporated #8.
“He saves the world. He does his job as Robin,” Morrison told the Post. “He dies an absolute hero.”
The writer likens it all to the fallout of divorce, pointing to Bruce and Talia as ‘culpable’ for their son’s death in the crossfire, two estranged parents having lost sight of what’s important.
This is not the metaphorical death I’d imagined when rumors of Robin’s final bow began circulating. Stated explicitly, unequivocally, Damian is going to die. His father is trapped in a submerged safe. His mother and her ninjas are poised to dismantle western civilization. If there’s any silver lining, according to the newly released preview pages, it’s a final return to Dick Grayson’s woefully brief partnership with the lad. Their tenure as Batman & Robin might be the high water mark for the modern Bat-books, including Morrison’s own run.
It’s fitting, too, that Morrison bring this particular chapter to a close. Though he didn’t conceptualize Damian Wayne, he birthed the character as we know, love, or potentially despise him now. Only a few other writers actually managed to get the complicated young Robin’s voice just right (Bryan Q. Miller comes instantly to mind) where others struggled (Peter Tomasi until recently; but when he got him, he got him) or largely avoided using him (Scott Snyder employed Damian sparingly, but to heartening effect).
Of course, it might be too early to speculate whether this was all part of Morrison’s plan all along or a more recent realization. There are a lot of Robins out there, perhaps a sticking point to have survived the editorial culling heading into the New 52 remodel. As with Johns’ Lantern pocket, The Bat family of books was famously allowed safe passage into this new continuity with little change. Gradually, though, the birds are leaving the nest or have been reconfigured in retrospect to simplify the mythos. Tim Drake’s origins as a Robin are murky. Stephanie Brown remains MIA. And now Damian looks to replace Jason Todd as the new signifier for Bruce Wayne’s failure.
Could be a compelling story in the end. May well be. Though the collateral damage, even on fictional terms, seems staggering.
*tt*
For more details on Damian’s demise, as well as an exclusive preview, head on over to the NY Post.
UPDATE!
DC’s blog has posted an essay from Grant Morrison on the subject of the end of his time writing Batman comics:
Little did I suspect when I accepted the BATMAN writing assignment back in 2006 that I’d wind up spending the next six years writing the longest continued comic story I’ve ever attempted. I thought I’d said most of what I had to say about the character with Arkham Asylum, Gothic, and Batman’s appearances in JLA. Clearly, I was wrong.
The original pitch was for 15 issues winding up with BATMAN R.I.P. but something happened along the way and, as I was researching his rich history, I became fascinated by the idea that every Batman story was in some way true and biographical – from the savage, young, pulp-flavored “weird figure of the dark” of his early years, through the smiling, paternal figure of the 1940s and the proto-psychedelic crusader of the ‘50s, the superhero detective of the ‘60s, the hairy-chested globetrotting adventurer of the ‘70s, to the brutally physical vigilante of the ‘80s and snarling, paranoid soldier of the ‘90s.
By taking his entire publishing history as the story of his life, I was able to approach Batman from a different angle and the multifaceted character that was revealed became the subject of my story.
What would such a man be like, realistically? This was a man who had saved countless lives, faced innumerable perils, and even prevented the destruction of the world itself. This was a master of martial arts, meditation, deduction, yoga and big business. This was a man who had tamed and mastered his demons and turned personal tragedy into a relentless humanitarian crusade.
Taking that man seriously meant I had to throw out a few of the accepted ideas about Batman as a semi-unhinged, essentially humorless loner struggling with rage and guilt. The totality of his history and accomplishments made that portrayal seem limited and unconvincing, so instead, my Batman was a true superhero at the height of his powers and the peak of his abilities, surrounded by a network of friends and associates, all of whom had been inspired by his lead.
I chose to build my story around the basic trauma, the murder of his parents, that lies at the heart of Batman’s genesis. It seemed to me there would be a part of Bruce Wayne that resented his parents for leaving him and especially resented his father for not being Batman that night, so the principal villains were an archetypal bad father figure in the form of Dr. Hurt and a dark mother in the form of Talia, our villain for the concluding chapters of the story.
This master theme of damaged and ruined families was nowhere more in evidence than in the creation of Damian, the first “Son of Batman” to be acknowledged in the canon. In many ways this has been Damian’s story as much as it has been the story of Bruce Wayne and it’s a story that had its end planned a long time ago – for what son could ever hope to replace a father like Batman, who never dies?
And so, via Batman, Batman and Robin, Return of Bruce Wayne and Batman Inc. this epic tale has finally reached its finale.
Thanks to all the artists who helped realise the story – Andy Kubert, JH Williams, John Van Fleet, Tony Daniel, Ryan Benjamin, Lee Garbett, Frank Quitely, Philip Tan, Cameron Stewart, Andy Clarke, Frazer Irving, Scott Kolins, Chris Sprouse, Ryan Sook, Yanick Paquette, Georges Jeanty, David Finch, Scott Clark and of course, Chris Burnham.
Thanks to the inkers, colorists and letters and to my indefatigable editors.
Thanks to the readers who joined in the fun and contributed to the thought-provoking debates and analyses online.
The conclusion is finally here, with only four more issues to go. Four issues which take Batman to dark places he has never had to visit before. Four issues and I’m done, while Batman himself continues into as yet unimagined future adventures. He’ll still be here long after I’m dead and forgotten; long after all of us have come and gone, there will be Batman. It’s been a joy and a privilege to spend so much time in the company of pop culture’s greatest character but it’s going to feel weird waking up and not having Bruce Wayne’s calm, commanding, ever-so-slightly cynical voice in my head.
Batman forever…
– Grant
Scotland, December 2012
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Wow, Big news for the bat books. I’m trying to add padding so people won’t see my comments in the recent comments field. So how is everyone….? Can you believe that weather? Its crazy out there.
And whats going to happen to the Batman and Robin book? Is this a permanent thing or will the popularity of the character and the on-the-edge status of Batman Inc mean that he’ll be back soon?
Interesting! Morrison spoke on Fatman on Batman (Kevin Smith’s great Batman podcast) on something big coming up, marking his final statement on Batman. Perhaps this (or the fallout from it) is it!
He also said in the same podcast that his intention was to kill the character in his first arc, so maybe this is just an extension of that. Looking forward to it! Well. That sounds morbid. But you know what I mean.
I hope this fits his overall arc. I had no idea how this was all going to work out when Batman & Robin #1 came out. That run ended up being absolutely wonderful (ignoring some genuinely bad artwork.) The Dick/Damian dynamic was obviously a very large part of that. Damian seemed to mature dramatically over the course of the run. I hope this feels like an appropriate end to his evolution. He’s one of my favorite “new” characters.
I’d like to think (and hope) that this is just a twist that the story is taking, I’ve been pro-Damian since day 1 and I love the character, so I am legitimately sad to read this.
However, I believe that he’ll be back before the run is out. What is it Morrison wrote about comic book deaths in ‘SuperGods’? That they always come back better than ever and with a new costume. Or something like that, anyway.
I really hope we see him return, he’s been my favorite Robin (and one of my favorite characters) of all time.
I agree with all your points 100%. When I first read “Batman & Son”, I loved Damian right away. He just felt so different and complex from all the other Robins before (added to the fact he tried to kill Tim to steal the mantle). I suppose it makes sense for him to be killed off, he’s not the most popular (to most others), Stephanie Brown can’t return as Batgirl, and Red Robin is just Robin with a… Less cooler costume so there is room on the chopping block. Damian would have to come back tho because we see him become Batman in issue 666, and “Batman: Time and the Batman”.
Please bring him back. He’s the best
Perhaps Robin dies so that Redbird can live? I’d be down with that.
I still buy Comics. Paper Comic books. Why? Because I like the guy who owns the place and I like seeing my other comic addicts on Wednesday. But I gotta tell ya, after the ending of ASM #700, twenty or so different Avenger titles after the success of the movie, the re-booted Superman, and now killing off the most interesting character in the Batman family, I’m just getting a little sick of it. It seems these guys have no respect for people who BUY their product. Twenty-five or Thirty dollars a week to get kicked in the balls every couple of months.
Killing characters (even temporarily) has always been an easy way of boosting sales. But it’s lazy. Hickman’s run on Fantastic Four revitalized the title and he didn’t kill anyone.
Damn, I gotta go to work.
HIckman killed Johnny Storm, he was resurrected but was in fact killed and they had a countdown to death of a ff member on the cover of the issues and an issue with a 3, then he stayed off the table for around a year.
https://ifanboy.com/articles/who-dies-in-fantastic-four-587-its/
Hickman’s run was awesome and one of the absolute highlights for me was the death of Johnny Storm, the way his death was handled, and the manner in which he was resurrectioned. In this case, I’d say a death made the book ever better.
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Have kind of been expecting this has just felt it was where the story was heading. I know the cover leaked already but is it kind of odd that DC spoiled their own book? Also I think this may lead to Stephanie Brown robin, so many people have been clamoring for that character.
I was just about to call that, I’m predicting she’ll appear in “Batman and Robin” soon. Unless Harper Row becomes Robin but I kinda doubt that will happen.
Been saying Harper Row will become Batgirl since she first appeared.Don’t know how but it seems like it could be part of Snyder’s long con.
I would love to see Stephanine again (I’m one of those fans who have been clamoring for her), but my bet would be on Row. Row has already been featured in Snyder’s Batman, while poor Stephanine is nowhere in sight . . .
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considering his grandpa is Ra’s al Ghul how much can he die? 😉
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Exactly my thought. I see a Lazarus Pit and a career as a villain in Damian’s future. I think he’ll be out of circulation for a bit, but his mom’s freaking Talia, she’ll bring him back and he’ll be working for her. We’ll get a new/old Robin working with Bruce eventually. I don’t have a problem with this if it makes for a good story. The ramifications don’t have to be permanent, this is comics.
@BronxRonin–Bingo. Why did that not occur to me sooner?
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Eh these types of scheduled gimmicks are the exact thing that’s pushing me away from big 2 comics. It’s hard to really care about something like this when it starts to become Such a default plot point.(granted marvel is much worse). Whether they bring him back or leave him dead or just have a none of the above twist, it’s all very ‘meh’ for me, which is too bad cause I liked Damian and his dynamic with Bruce.
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I was hoping that Damien would leave Gotham with Dick. That “Batman Reborn” era was probably one of my favorite periods in comics. But the Bat-verse really is overcrowded with protégés. It won’t hurt to lose one. I say they finally clear up the confusion and make Tim Drake Robin again.
Also, I love how DC lets Morrison do whatever the hell he wants.
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Yea I feel like this is what Grant wanted to do with the story which is good.
As for gimmicks or if this is or is not a gimmick, a lot of fans last year seemed to say that DC’s line was middling and boring and I think that leads to shake ups like WTF certified and having things like this happen.
People complained no one died in death of the family, people complain someone dies in this, can’t win with everyone.
TIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOW! TIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOWTIMMY WOOD IS A HANDSOME FELLOW!
I get bored with “character” deaths as much as the next guy BUT Damian is Morrison’s character (not officially created but he’s the one who has truly breathed live into him) It’s just like seeing someone who isn’t Gerber writing Howard or someone not Brubaker writing Bucky. It just isn’t the same.
Also there are too many Robins. TOO MANY ROBINS! I am fine with a thinning of the flock.
Now maybe steps can be taken to give Tim an actual name. Red Robin is the worst superhero name. Now maybe he can just go back to being Robin.
……….
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As we saw in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, there are never too many Robins. https://ifanboy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/The-All-New-Batman-The-Brace-and-The-Bold_13_panel.jpg
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I just hate the name Red Robin so much. Tim Drake deserves more.
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^Just a precaution^
I can’t think of Red Robin/Tim Drake without thinking of the restaurant chain.Especially because they just built one in the mall across from my comic shop.
Whats going to happen to BATMAN AND ROBIN?
This may be a dumb question but is Batman Inc. in continuity?
Its Loosely based in the new 52.
Not a dumb question at all!
I’m pretty sure the short answer is yes, Batman Inc is in continuity. That said, it tends to march to the beat of it’s own drum, and there are some points where you’re better off not thinking too hard about it.
In this instance, it is. According to the source article, this will play out throughout the rest of DC’s catalog.
WOW the Batman family of books just keep building the drama. Will be interesting to see how it all plays out. Kinda sad I started out hating Damian, then I loved to hate him, then I loved him I guess now I will have to “mourn” him.
Thanks for answering my question.
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I kind of wonder – if Morrison had this planned, was Snyder told he couldn’t literally kill anyone off in “Death of the Family” by DC editorial?
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EVEN A WEE BIT MORE THOUGH AT THIS POINT IT’S LIKELY REDUNDANT.
Couldn’t help it. The rumours had been swirling and I was worried about Damien’s fate. So I spoiled it for myself.
And now I’m sad.
I really love the character, not just for the character on his own merits, but for the added dimension it gave to Batman. No ward, no adopted son. His actual flesh and blood, a child he had with an enemy. But Damien on his own is a wonderfully compelling and complex kid. One of the most interesting mainstream additions in ages.
Yep. I’m sad.
You’re not the only one. Its really got me down as well, for the same reasons.
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Morrison has balls! I in no way feel this is a gimmick or marketing tool. It seems pretty clear that Morrison created the character to die (even though the future Damien Batman stuff is awesome) and the idea of the symbolism behind it, makes it that much better. I was just thinking about Damien yesterday and was hoping this wouldn’t happen, but what can you do? That cover is awesome by the way.
Harper anyone?
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Okay – so, this was expected. Morrison has been hinting at it for some time, and he even stated (once) that he didn’t expect Damian to exist for more than a few issues. But…and I knew this was going to happen…I feel, *really* sad about it. It’s an expected event (Inc #1 pretty much told us that in the opening scene), but Morrison (and BQM) has made me fall in love with this character…
Btw, love the allusion to Batman RIP on the cover (is that a variant or the regular cover?)
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I don’t care much about the comic deaths, so much as the now inevitable comic resurrections.
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I’m not reading “Batman Inc” right now; mostly because volume 1 didn’t grab me, but I’m alittle down from this. Damian’s my favorite Robin, and for the first time ever today I realized he was “My Robin”. You see in “Doctor Who” when the main actor leaves from playing the Doctor they “regenerate” him into the new actor, and people who jump on the show will grow to love the one they grew up watching. Damian was like that for me, the first Robin I saw in comics (even tho his initial start was short, he kept coming back and insisting he was Robin).
I’m a little down from this but 1: It’s comics, and Damian never stays gone for long and always comes back, 2: Damian is meant to become Batman at some point in the future, can’t do that if he’s dead, 3: I’ve gone through 2 Doctors, addied and droped several comic titles, so “losing” a fictional character has become something I’m used to.
Incidentally, would someone explain the appeal of the first “Batman & Robin” book by Morrison? I’ve read it, didn’t love it, but everyone else seems to, why?
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Can’t wait for the next writer to say that it wasn’t really Damian Wayne who died and that Damian is still alive and well in Genosha. .. I mean Gotham.
*tt*
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On a lighter note, how many people do you think will misunderstand this news report and think it references Dick Grayson ala Death in the Family?
That actually happened in the 70s when they killed Jason Todd. Look it up, Denny O’Neil talked about it in an interview, these people in a diner started harrassing him for killing Robin (nobody knew it wasn’t Dick Grayson).
Jason Todd was killed in the 70’s? I thought it was 80’s.
It was 1988.
@Ithospaien Yep, that’s why I mentioned Death in The Family. The public’s reaction to that series is the proof for one of my three rules of the public’s comic book knowledge. One there are no other genres of comic book besides superheroes. Two, Aquaman’s only super power is the ability to talk to fish. And finally three, Dick Grayson will always be Robin. Always.
Thanks Conner I thought I was slipping, Must have been a typo by @IthoSapien
@Pyynk, damned if those rules don’t make all the sense in the world. @Walterwhite, it was the 80s. It’s been so long since “Death in the Family” (and JT’s not my favorite Robin) I forgot. My bad.
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I am really hoping this is paving the way for Snyder to make Harper Row the new Robin. As much as I love Tim Drake, and would like to see him abandon the “Red Robin” name and persona, I feel it would be a step backward for the character. Isn’t it about time we had a female Robin (discounting Stephanie Brown’s brief period in the Red Yellow and Green 🙂 )???
Don’t forget Carrie Keller.
I tend to not count Carrie since TDTR takes place in the future and therefore should be considered “out of continuity”
What about “Batman 666” or Some of Marvel’s 2099 line?
Same…It’s a “Potential Future” and is not necessarily going to happen. Like “Days of Future Past” or “The Age of Apocalypse” for the X-Fans
Alright fair enough, but Carrie Keller and Stephanie Brown were both Robin. Stephanie just has a more recent and legitimate claim to the mantle. I’d prefer it if before the next Robin is picked, Tim gets a new codename. No more Red Robin/Robin nonsense, there is one Robin and that’s all you need. I’m not saying Tim needs to be Robin (tho that would make sense, and it wouldn’t really be a step back since this version seems like a robin with more red and longer name).
This was spoiled for me by an award winning comic creator (who’s work I like) on my twitter feed who apparently doesn’t give a shit about ruining other creators’ stories for readers. What an inconsiderate douche.
Morrison actually spoiled this over a year ago. He said that the end-run of Batman Inc was going to make Damian fans very, very sad. And this was in the context of his saying that he was originally going to kill Damian off in 2006, at the end of Batman & Son, but decided not to back then.
P.S. …and in one fell swoop Morrison does more to affect the Bat-family than Snyder did with wholly misleading”Death of the Family” stuff. What Morrison has done is based on literally 7+ years of continuous storytelling, and it happens without nauseating hype, tie-ins, and big overpriced issues. And it’s something that actually happens, not a vague metaphor that doesn’t even make sense.
I gotta disagree about the that second point. Morrison’s story has been interesting and all, but it hasn’t been entirely smooth. He’s jumped around on the Bat books (first Batman, then Batman and Robin, now Batman Inc), plus “The Resurrection of Ra’s Al Ghul” had several tie-ins, then you had the mini-series “Batman:Time and the Batman”, “Batman Reborn”, “Batman: Return of Bruce Wayne”, “Final Crisis” tying into all of that (that had numeriois tie insas well, a mess of an event IMO). Basically, it’s been somewhat of a chore following his Batman story, and it wasn’t without some stumbling along the way.
Batman and Robin and Return of Bruce Wayne happened together (and which Morrison wrote both of), and I’ve been able to enjoy this without having read Final Crisis. I would have been extremely bored reading a 6 issue arc about Batman and his son that all gets wrapped up and done. Instead there has been years of entertaining arcs and stories all building up to this culmination. Granted there has been hype around a lot of this stuff, but the payout has always been there in a developed intelligent, gratifying way. Sometimes it was a little confusing, but that’s Morrison love it or hate it. This is momentous and is happening in a vacuum as far as an event goes. The whole Batman experience from Morrison has been awesome and given the reader so much. Seems almost comical that this happens on the coat tails of “DOTF”. I mean if what the Joker did was somehow important, what will this do?? Talia has killed multiple Bat allies and damn near taken over the world, not to mention Gotham. Killed a bunch of kids…really puts (the letdown that was) DOTF in perspective.
HOLY FUCK BALLS! My anger has eclipsed the Goddamn sun!!!! Damian was the ONE character who brought me back to reading comics after 20 years! I almost completely abandoned Marvel for the new DC crap.
I thought I was pissed after what Robert Kirkman did in Walking Dead #100. This has just went to a whole new level in my anger book.
I need to go punch something….
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Damian’s death is probably the unspeakable tragedy included in the Batman #18 solicit and will probably lead to Harper Row becoming the new Robin and Talia is probably going to go after Bruce blaming him for the death of Damian and being completely blind to her own hand in Damian’s death.
Time for Superboy-Prime to start punching walls in the New 52!
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I wish there was some way to avoid this, but that ain’t happening. I have been invested in this story from the start (Batman 655 – Summer 2006?) and I’m just somewhat sad that DC and a newspaper felt this “news” had to be done. Just a little sad because I’m not completely shocked that this death happens. Personally, it was that Worlds Finest solicit that gave it away for me. That comment about Huntress mourning a loss. That sealed the deal.
What I am excited about now is that we get Andy Kubert back on Batman with #18 for an issue. Obviously, the signs were out there all along. Andy drew Damian’s first apperance.
Well Grant Morrison created the character, I hope this was his intention and story all along. Let him complete the story and have it out there. It’s been a great ride, and I love the lil weirdo, but If Damian biting the dust is part of Morrisons story then I’m all for reading it out. Not like there isn’t a slew of other characters after this one to step into the role…
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I didn’t like him at first, but I’ll be damned if the little shit (Damian) hadn’t grown on me. And news what this means for Batman and Robin?
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Grant Morrison never stops amazing me with his story telling. Damian is his baby and I’m glad DC is letting him end his creation the way he want’s to to see him go out. Last week Happy finale and now this, spoiled Morrison fan.
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This is disappointing. That the story has taken years to play out makes it more so. Why can’t they have Damien simply walk away from both parents and have that be the end. This way he could come back and be a super hero some time down the line. Killing Damien does not insure a definite ending.
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Wow. I’m super sad about this…. I love Damian. I think I was tipped off this way back in April, when I was discussing some of the changes the big Two were going through. Considering pretty much all of the predictions for Marvel came true, I’m not surprised this one did too. Granted, Morisson’s been building to this for quite some time. Damian’s been one of the best things about the current slate of Bat-books, it’s a new and interesting take on Robin and what he means to the mythos.
I see a lazarus pit, a heel turn and then redemption in 2-3 years time. I mean, what’s more terrifying then your son growing up to become the leader of an international org of assassins and carrying on his grandfather’s legacy? Good drama it will make. Still, I’ll miss the kid, because he’s been the centerpiece of some excellent Batman tales.
Very cool letter by Grant Morrison. His run on Batman is where I started reading. I’ve since thought it was fate that I just happened to start reading Batman at #655. And I’m so glad I did. What a ride it’s been that is for sure.
P.S. Thanks for everything Grant, you are awesome.
This must be what happens when those smarty-pants creators get to simply use these company-owned characters to tell the stories they want to tell.
If only DC Editorial had mandated Morrison change his story, then everyone would be happy… right??
😉
Damian was Xorn all along!
A beautiful goodbye letter from Grant. No one gets these characters like he does, and I’m terribly sad to see him go.
His batman run when read all at once is truly a labyrinth of epic storytelling without compare, and it’s my personal favorite batman story of all time.
I’m glad he’s ending his story on his own terms, but the batbooks will never be the same without him.
+ Infinity
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^I’m not sure all that is necessary to avoid spoilers. If you clicked into this thread and wanted to avoid spoilers it’s kind of your own fault. But I did it anyway…..
As some others mentioned I’m pretty sure Harper Row will be the next Robin. I’m guessing it’s the whole reason Snyder created the character. It sounds like Morrison has known for a long time he was going to kill Damian and probably clued in Snyder to start thinking about a replacement. Harper Row to me really feels like Carrie Kelley from the Dark Knight Returns. A girl who idolizes Batman and starts to randomly help him out, even when not asked, and eventually becomes Robin. I can’t think of another reason why Snyder would just create some civilian who likes to help out Batman randomly. I would love her as Robin too. She would be great I think. I really like seeing her in Batman. I re-read Batman #12 recently which is basically all about Harper Row. Why would a civilian be spotlighted in an entire issue if they weren’t of vital importance to the future of Batman? It all makes sense to me. Just can’t believe I didn’t see it before.
“I’m not sure all that is necessary to avoid spoilers. If you clicked into this thread and wanted to avoid spoilers it’s kind of your own fault. But I did it anyway…..”
It’s not about protecting people who click through, it is, as Paul said in the first comment under the article, about new comments appearing on the main page.
I wouldn’t mind if harper became robin. It would add some nice diversity to the robin ranks, and watching her interact with bruce, and maybe come up with her own costume would be fun.
Bringing back tim would feel like a step backwards.
I’ll probably come under alot of fire very quickly; here we go… I don’t care for Harper Row. She can be Robin and she’s smart and all, but I just don’t care for the character. I feel the same way about Oswald Oswin in Doctor Who. I think what they have in common is they’re both smart women who insist on helping the hero even if he tells them repeatedly not to. I think I’m sick of seeing that over and over (Since Stephanie Brown as Robin maybe) more than anything else. Where Oswald is very obnoxious and as smart as the Doctor, Harper is alittle more sympathetic and that’s all I can give her.
@IthoSapien:
You’re certainly entitled to your opinion, but I’d argue that we’ve barely gotten to know Harper Row at this point. I know she was featured heavily in Batman 12, and had an earlier cameo, but beyond that I think she’s still kind of a mystery.
I’ll agree that she’s clearly being set up for something, but I don’t think we can really say what it’s going to be just yet.
I mean, remember people’s first reactions to Damian? Heck, you can just look in this thread and see people that had their opinion of a character completely turned around as that character was further developed.
@Kenochalek, but l loved Damian right off the bat in “Batman and Son”, while it seems that most people love Harper Row already (after an even shorter appliance no less). Besides her back story was outlined at the very least, plus her talents and “fangirlism” were established, so if argue all that’s left is how Snyder will use her in the future. I’m just not welmed by Harper. Truth be told I was hoping Snyder would start using Nightwing and the others more in his stories like the “Court of the Owls” arc, or the Mr.Freeze annual.
Maybe it’s just me, but I would very much prefer that didn’t happen. I feel like Robin is the Boy Wonder and thus should always be male. And I don’t really care for Harper Row. She’s not a bad character, but she’s not terribly special either. I feel no sense of attachment to her. She’s a footnote, a byline, a distraction. Her inclusion was a low point in The Court of Owls run, because she didn’t seem to serve any purpose by being there other than that Snyder wanted her to be for some reason. And for her to be around for that very purpose, and to become Robin that soon would feel shallow and cheap. Damian’s barely in the ground before someone else is wearing the costume? She would feel like a rebound-Robin. I think we need a Robinless Batman for at least 6 months to give the loss some credibility. He’s not exactly going to be ready to throw the next kid he lays eyes on into the line of fire so soon. That and if I have to see another teenager browbeat one of the most terrifying men in the world into letting them be his sidekick I’ll be rather annoyed.
Agreed to all points.
@roboanimal: I agree I don’t think it will happen right away. It sounds like the Batman & Robin title is going to be a Batman Team up title for a while so that kind of guarantees it won’t be for a while. And when it does happen I’m guessing it will be tied to some Bat Family event where Harper helps out the family, and at the end Harper Row will become the next Robin. Or something to that effect anyway. That’s what all the signs are telling me, but you never know, maybe Snyder will read this and decide to change his whole script now to throw me for a loop. 😉
@roboadmiral So minor nitpick but Tim didn’t actually browbeat Bruce to try to become Robin…..he was browbeating Dick Grayson to go back and be Bruce’s partner again, then Bruce and Dick turned the tabled on Tim and offered him the chance to wear take on the mantle. But all that being said, it would still suck to see it go down as you described.
@Conor: My bad, that’s what I get for skimming comments, Lol.
Personally I am fine with this ending the way it is. I know a lot of people get attached to characters in comic books, but in the end it is about good stories. This will just open things up for new stories. Personally I wouldn’t even be upset if Bruce Wayne died.
I want Morrison’s head on a pike and paraded through the streets of America! F**k him! He hasn’t written anything worth a damn since he left Batman & Robin. The Search for Bruce Wayne was long winded and boring, Batman Inc was/is the same. And in my opinion, he ruined the Superman character & Action Comics for me (not including All-Star Superman). I jumped on the Morrison train during his B&R run, but I quickly jumped off soon afterwards. He’s hit or miss.
I think there was a lot to do with Damian. I loved the interaction with him and Bruce.
After reading Batman #666, I always pictured Damian taking the mantle. I’ve invested a lot of time and emotion (and money) into this character. Why can’t DC give us a character that we can love (or hate) without it being one of the big names and let us turned that character into something bigger.
I don’t want Damian becoming part of the LOA. I want him next to Bruce and learning from him like Dick and Tim did and become his own person.
I don’t give a damn that Morrison created this character and gets to do with it what he wants. I will never buy another f’ing Grant Morrison book. I’m seriously done.
I feel bad for my ol’ lady who had to endure my rant about this earlier. And apparently, I’m too stupid (and angry) to let it go.
I feel like Grant Morrison just anally raped my mother while pouring sugar in my gas tank.
Whoa whoa whoa, whoa. I sympathize man but ease up a little huh? I’m gonna miss Damian too, but don’t be one of those guys who gets on YouTube and rants about something in comics happening (Spidey-Ock, anyone?). Damian will be back man, don’t worry about that.
Hmm, I’m not so sure he will. What would they do with him if they did bring him back? It seems like a lot of writers are uncomfortable using other writers’ characters, especially if they put them away like this and end their story with a punctuation mark. Typically DC has been fairly respectful of this sort of thing like with sandman and starman. I’d bet on damian belonging to this specific era of batman comics.
If that were true, Stepanie Brewn, Renee Montoya, and Stormwatch fans would be very disappointed. Stormwatch is unfair tho because DC is using it right now, not being asked about it all the time. Besides, Damian is not Morrison’s creation, he retooled him and made him popular, but didn’t create him ( I think he even says that in the essay). My point is, almost nobody stays dead, and DC is using characters RIGHT NOW by people who didn’t create them. Almost all the other Robins are alive again and active, just not as Robin anymore (Damian doesn’t have to return as Robin, he could be given another moniker). They’ve killed characters before on high marks and brought them back (Hal Jordon/Parallax, Superman, Aquaman, Bart Allen), so why would Damain be any different? I just don’t see your logic, why he should belong to “this era of bat books” when all the other characters are alive, being used by new people, and fans keep asking for Stephanie and Renee (maybe Cassandra Cain too) to come back.
Didn’t Talia create a clone of Damian that she was growing in a test tube? I’m guessing we will see him someday.
I believe The Heretic is the other clone, sped up.
@Daningotham, you’re right; Talia showed Damian a clone of himself she referred to as his brother in a test-tube somewhere in ” Batman and Robin” (volume 3?). It was a threat to scare him by telling him he is easily replaced if he didn’t come back to her.
Thanks, I knew I read that somewhere, couldn’t remember where it was.
Yeah the clone thing makes me think that this isn’t the last time we have seen Damian. It is an easy way out for future writers.
He was revealed to be the clone last issue (#7) guys. Page 8.
@RoughNTumble – Hey, there’s this series called “Before Watchmen” you might have missed…
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Oh, and if I were writing this stuff, Damian would be going into a Lazarus pit, then coming back as leader of the League of Assassins. Seeing him fighting against his father would be epic. He would also take up the name Ibn al Xu’ffasch.
If you’re seeing this on the main page, be warned. It contains…
***SPOILERS***
STOP READING HERE. SERIOUSLY.
I think it is a creative miss-step to kill Damian right now and never bring him back.
That’s one reason why I don’t think DC will do it. At least, not literally. The New 52 has thrown countless new characters at readers since last September, the majority of which will not be seen/heard from again, but Damian Wayne is a character that fans are really emotionally invested in, I don’t think they would let all that money go down the drain.
There’s a ‘Batman & Robin’ book in DC’s top seller list for goodness’ sake.
Damian has a future in DC (literally), ‘Batman Beyond’ isn’t canon without Damian. AND, his Grandfather is Ra’s Al Ghul.
Robin will die in Batman Inc Issue 8, of that I have no doubt, but I genuinely believe that Damian will survive somehow. Batman Inc may well end with the character’s death, but, even if it does, other creators will bring him back.
Personally, I’m rooting for him pretending to be dead (as Batman has done so many times before) only to eventually return as Redbird.
In a perfect world, he wouldn’t die at all, because I love the little snot. So there.
The Batman Beyond story takes place on Earth 12 doesn’t it? So Damian might actually survive there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_DC_Multiverse_worlds
But I don’t remember seeing him in Batman Beyond Unlimited, only in the couple of issues where Damian was Batman in Batman #666 etc
I don’t actually read or watch that series, but in Batman 700, it’s made pretty clear that the future Batman is trained by a (very much older) Damian. Unless I misread it, of course.
Does anyone have an idea of how many issues Morrisons Batman run would total up to? I wondering what an Absolute Grant Morrison Batman edition would look like.
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I hope they bring him back soon because he is my favorite Robin and I love how his struggles with being Robin are so different from the ones of previous Robins.
I think Stephanie Brown becomes Robin and Harper Row the new Oracle.
I like the Row as Oracle idea . . .
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Well shit, just when I was warming up to the little fucker.
I gotta agree with what’s already been said about Harper Row taking over as the new Robin. I would love to see what Snyder could do with that dynamic duo.
I have a feeling this won’t be a literal death… They’re making it too obvious, even if it was spoiled. Remember Batman never really died in his RIP storyline either, it was a more metaphysical death. Also, Damien just seems too important now-a-days; Batman and Robin is more or less the Robin book at this point. Then again, its Morrison’s character, he brought Damien in, let him stick around long enough for us to get attached, then rips him away.
My first Batman comics were the original Death in the Family issues. I grew up reading Tim Drake. I wasn’t reading comics when Stephanie Brown was major. I know Grayson has the history, but the past 7 years has made Damian Wayne “my” Robin and that is all due to Grant Morrison.
poor form DC. why cant we learn about plot twists IN THE FUCKING COMICS. This annoys the shit out of me
NOT HAPPY!!! There’s a way it could’ve been done that would’ve been cool, like Damian dying in battle right as Bruce came back from his time travel and blaming Dick…
Broken record time – DC is best when it’s all about legacies and they’ve abandoned all that. Dick and Damian as Batman & Robin was FANTASTIC! Wally West as the Flash, great. Its like the people running the show at DC have forgotten what made it a great universe to get lost in.
Sad.
I really loved Grants run with Batman,many great artists have worked with Grant as he mentioned in what I think is a great interview. I liked Batman Inc before the New52 and maybe even more after and loved the story it was telling apart from the other Batman stuff. I really liked Grants run on Batman and Robin, thought it was really cool how they brought in Frazer Irving just for the 2 issues the Joker was in as the art just changed the tone to fit the Joker, and I was very surprised how much I liked Batman and Robin in the New52 w/out Grant, Tomasi and Gleason did great work there and the recent Annual was excellent. I’m was gonna stop with Batman & Robin as of the annual even before this spoiler news. I love the R.I.P. homage cover and was getting to like Damian more and more as these books went on and the moment where Batman hugs him after DOTF was classic. I don’t know now if I’ll continue to read Batman and Robin seeing how it’ll be another Robin soon and don’t know if I can read Batman Inc w/out Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham as its his concept with his art that gave it a special feel. I’m kinda bummed but excited at the same time for what I hope is classic story closure. I do on the other hand think this news should not have been broke before the issue hit then release Grants well rounded interview covering his time with Batman poetically front to back. R.I.P. Live and let die.
SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING! SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!
My prediction: After Multiversity, a new series called Damian, about the “666” future Batman, will come out. It might be written by Brian Azzarello or Scott Snyder….maybe after his Batman run is concluded.
SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING! SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!SPOILER PADDING!
This is a perfect ending and Morrison’s statement is awesome. Only Morrison wrote Damian in the proper voice. Damian would never have been right if Morrison is off Batman.
hmmm.. too bad about this .. I think Damian was a more interesting Robin than the last 3… and thats coming from a guy that has 300 hundred issues of Nightwing and Robin comics and loved them. Tim has ran his course for me.
I don’t think Batman & Robin is getting cancelled is it? Also, what Batman team member also just lost a partner? Squire. I’m betting she is the new Robin.
Nope. It is, supposedly, becoming a “BATMAN AND…” team-up book for the time being. BATMAN AND RED ROBIN, BATMAN AND RED HOOD, etc.
Cool news. Thanks, Conor.
I’ll miss Damian, but I have a feeling he’ll be back one of these events/years/re-boots.
Yeah, I liked Damian more and more but love Morrisons interview and the Batman and Red Raven or whoever for now might be really cool and Grants Multiversity project sounds really expansive and DCU altering so who knows, there might be a future with Damian in it.
I just read the issue and I must say, it was pretty kick ass. I great action packed issue, loved the Damian and Grayson exchange.
Since Damen’s grandfather is Ra’s I could see the lazarus pit being used at somme point, so note to DC or Bruce Wayne.. CREMATE