Batman and Robin #1

Damian Al Ghul-Wayne. Yup, the fourth (well technically fifth, read about Stephanie Brown if you want to know more) Robin is the child of Talia al Ghul (who most may remember from Dark Knight Rises played by the beautiful Marion Cotillard) and Bruce Wayne. This is Batman’s son!
Fair Warning: with this being the "current" Robin in the DC universe, the post will reveal some significant spoilers that concern Damian's future in DC comics. If you don't already know what has happened to Damian Wayne, brace yourself for a shock... (and click on the spoiler link at the bottom)

Pre-New 52
Damian originally made his first appearance in comics as an infant (unnamed) in the 1987 graphic novel Batman: Son of the Demon, which at the time wasn't considered canon. He makes his appearance as Damian Wayne in Batman #655, as the beginning of the Batman and Son story arc. Fun Fact: the Batman and Son story will be adapted into an animated film called Son of Batman. His first Robin appearance came in the first issue of Batman and Robin, the one when Dick Grayson was temporarily Batman. As a pre-adolescent, Damian was left by his mother (Talia) in the care of his father, who had no idea he had a son. Damian's violent and self-important behavior is both his trademark and one of the things that make him unique as a hero. But as Deanpool reminded me, Jason Todd went a somewhat similar path towards violence. But Jason wasn't trained (and practically raised) by Ra's al Ghul's League of Assassins. So think about it, you're pairing Batman, who absolutely opposes killing, with his son who is a trained killer. But Bruce does care for his son that he never knew he had, and Damian ultimately does become a Robin at age 10. Yeah, at age 10 Deanpool was considering becoming a full-time Pokemon trainer rather than a full-time sidekick to Batman. Too bad neither came true.

Cover to Batman and Robin #1 (2009).

New 52
As far as his role before and after the New 52 relaunch, there aren’t many differences as he simply keeps his role as Robin. Even keeps the same costume for the most part, with his signature hood on the suit. But in the New 52 we get the exciting, much-anticipated Father-Son duo. 

Batman and Robin #1-  Following events of Flashpoint, we find Batman trying to assume his role as a father figure to Damian. Bruce tries instilling the same morals and values that his parents did with him. However, Damian is portrayed as cold and distant towards his father. At one point, Bruce brings Damian to the place where his parents died. What could have been an emotional moment was ruined by Damian's insensitivity towards mourning over the past. He thinks grief and remorse are a disease of the weak. Still, it's a breakthrough for Bruce to realize it's time to let go of the past. Instead of mourning in grief on the anniversary of their deaths and remembering how they died, he is going to start honoring their wedding anniversary to celebrate how they lived. This issue shows the last time Bruce will be visiting Crime Alley to remember their last days on the planet, and also the first time  Damian has seen the place where his grandparents died. There's a panel where we see Bruce puts a paper boat filled with mementos from this haunting memory and watch it sail through the sewers, carrying away Bruce's grip to this past. Again, it's ruined by Damian's cynical view of saying that Bruce can't just build a boat and hope it magically sails away with the darkness kept within Bruce. Only to be rebutted by Batman saying, "Why not? It's my boat." Classic Batman. Classic Damian. And already this partnership is looking like one worth reading.
Also just for fun, Bruce explains that the clock that leads to Bat-cave's entrance is open when it is set to 10:48, the time that Bruce's parents died that night in Crime Alley.

Deanpool really enjoyed that the creative team already focuses on a strained relationship between Bruce and Damian right from the get go. Damian finds it harder to work with his father and outright says that he prefers working with Dick (who now return to his role as Nightwing). Batman responds by admitting that he actually does not trust him as a partner or as a Robin, he barely trusts him as a son much less a Robin. There are other instances like Damian saying it was easier to look up to Bruce when he wasn't around. Damian has already gone through the process of earning a Batman's trust and friendship and finds it irritating that he's being put through it again. From the first issue Damian already seems more unruly, more feisty, and more condescending than ever. This tension between the two is clearly a much different tone than the one used with Dick and Damian's partnership. Damian is reckless and unpredictable but possesses as much talent, if not more, as his Robin predecessors.

The art is really crisp and the action moves fluidly. The artwork does a good job of keeping pace with the storytelling. Compared to the other Batman and Robin series, this one looks darker and grittier but really matches the tough personality of Bruce Wayne's Batman paired with the feisty Damian. While the first half of the issue sets up quieter, more private moments shared between Bruce and Damian, the art style enhances these moments with the dark backgrounds at the place where Bruce's parents died. The action picks up when Batman and Robin confront some bad guys at Gotham University. It's fast-paced but done really well as the reader can enjoy seeing Batman and Robin kick butt, like the lovely scene where Damian is just flat out pummeling a person as seen in the picture below.

Batman and Robin #1 shows promise to be strong series. The tense relationship between the father and son can definitely set up a wide range of story lines and the art looks like it will be able to keep up with all the action and excitement. Though the mysterious villain in the beginning and the end of this issue was not mentioned much in this blog, his presence still presents a new evil for the duo. But the focus of this issue, and this review, is seeing the relationship[] between this Batman and Robin pair. Since Damian doesn't have as much of a change with the relaunch, most of his story and character simply carry onto this series. No recruitment of a new team, no need to rediscover a sense of purpose. Damian continues to work alongside Batman as the Boy Wonder. His character has its own charm to it. Behind all the defensive bluster underlies his father's courage, determination, and desire to do what is right. He's confident in his abilities and is always looking to prove himself. And it seems like the relationship with him and his father and if Bruce can instill this sense of "right and wrong" into Damian will be the main theme for this series, at least in its early run. It's also nice to see Batman outside of his solo series, like Batman and Detective Comics, and see him paired with the Boy Wonder to tackle villains as a duo. Just another reminder to look out for the DC animated film Son of Batman that will come out later this year for more Bruce Wayne and Damian Wayne action! The father-son dynamic duo are an engaging pair worth reading while it lasts... 8/10.

Deanpool liked this picture to end the post.

DAMIAN WAYNE SPOILER <-- Click to find out what happens to Damian in the New 52.

Unfortunately, the series is no longer Batman and Robin but now Batman and (insert Batman character here) since the death of Damian in Batman Inc. #8.

Damian was killed by Heretic, an adult clone of Damian. In the Batman, Inc. #8, Damian is seen battling hordes of Leviathan (organization headed by Talia, Damian's mother) henchmen. Nightwing comes to his rescue, and there's even a touching moment when Dick and Damian reminisce about their brief stint working together as Batman and Robin. But when the Heretic arrives and knocks Nightwing unconscious, it's up to Damian to face him solo. He fought bravely as a hero, as a Robin, and as Batman's son. But in the end, Heretic impales Damian through the heart with a sword, killing him instantly. Batman arrives shortly after Damian's death as he and Nightwing angrily take on Heretic. They end up having to retreat with Red Robin and Damian's body.

At the end of the issue there is a private funeral for Damian and Bruce swears to avenge the death of his son. The aftermath of this issue shows "Requiem" story lines for many of the Bat titles. Particularly Batman is shown in an unstable mental state of mind and very emotional with the loss of Damian. He eventually gets hi revenge when he and Nightwing confront Heretic again. The only stopping Batman from killing in this case was the resemblance he saw that Heretic had with Damian. He began thinking that this may have been the only part of his son that he had left. But then Talia came in and ruined everything by killing Heretic for his failures. After Batwoman steps in to kill Talia, it is revealed that the League of Assassins had stolen Damian's body along with Talia's for plans against Batman. It is also revealed that Ra's al Ghul has started to engineer clones of Damian.

The burning question since this issue: Will Damian make a return to comics? Well if Jason Todd could, why not Damian. His connections to Ra's al Ghul could pose a similar solution to his revival like Jason's with the Lazarus Pits. Or is it possible that a Damian clone could take his place? It could present an interesting dynamic to the Batman and Robin duo. There's also the theory that this Damian was a clone all along too and perhaps the real Damian is still being hidden. Deanpool will give a post for his theories at the end of the month (in a few days) so look out for that!