A pivotal Robin moment in Teen Titans Annual #2

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Bruce and Damian have a LONG overdue father son moment, which leads to something terrribly sad.




Bruce FINALLY confronts Damian over his whole "Jail the bad guys without due process, and possibly reprogram their minds" plan he's been running in Teen Titans of late.

Damian says that since Batman no longer seems to worry about making the villains fear him, HE will.

The other Titans inform him that they're actually not nearly as scared of the villains as they are of Robin these days

Bruce tries to get him to stop.







Too bloody right you have Bruce. A Robin isn't just for random crossover appearances because Bruce is being all broody by himself is what the Batfamily titles tend to go for, it's for life and this kid is THIRTEEN!

Damian has a rather horrible flashback to Alfred's death (and Alfred begging, not for his life, but that Damian isn't made to watch him die, which is ignored) as he stares at the R symbol on his chest, until...





So this does seem to confirm the various rumours that Damian will no longer be Robin goign forward, giving Tim the chance to reclaim the name Robin (and they'll probably just pretend that Tim was never "Robin" in the post-Flashpoint universe, he was always "Red Robin")

I'm bitterly disappointed by this decision, if it what it seems. Damian has been a conentious character since his introduction, but I've liked the kid he's grown into for the most part (though inconsistent writing hasn't helped) and his growth whilst with (and since) Dick!Batman were a lot of fun.

I think I said when New52 came along that Damian was a bad Robin for Bruce in terms of the duo's dynamic and I think I was right. You don't create a thirteen-year old Robin who has such a skewed worldview and then keep isolating him from his father figure(s) because it misses the point of what Robin is for IMHO.

I also worry about the direction they will take him moving forward. Given his actions in Titans it may be more of the anti-hero and that I feel shouldn't be where they take someone who is an Al Ghul who has been trying so hard to be a hero for years now.

I also wonder how Dick will react to this when he comes back to his senses?
 

Comments

[sadoeuphemist]

It's Signal as in Bat-Signal! It's not called the Bat-Beacon, or the Bat-Spotlight, or the Bat-Lighting-Apparatus — the mnemonic's right there, people!

[zachbeacon]

I get the naming convention ... kinda*. I just don't think it's a good name. It's not the worst name (c'mon Cass, it's really insensitive to call yourself "the Orphan" when you're one of the few people you know with two living parents).

*Why "the Signal"? Because he called the We Are Robin kids into action? Would a car-themed Gotham hero have to be "The Mobile" because the Batmobile exists? Would an aquatic hero have to be "The Shark Repellent"?

[sadoeuphemist]

Look, they used the name Batwing for both an airplane and a person. And then, like you said, Gotham Girl exists. At some point you gotta really start strip-mining the IP for more tie-ins.

[zachbeacon]

Seriously most of the Batfolk have meaningful names.
I shouldn’t have to explain “Batman”
A “Robin” is a flashy bird that heralds the beginning of spring and the end of the cold and darkness of winter.
“Batgirl” is Batman but a girl.
“Batwoman” is Batman but a woman.
“Nightwing” is a character from Kryptonian legend. This one seems pretty out there until you remember that Superman is Dick’s cool uncle and Dick was looking to distance himself from Batman when he created the identity.
(Not entirely sure why Bette went with “Flamebird” though. Seems like cultural appropriation.)
“Oracle” is a source of information
“Red Hood” is a giant FU to the Joker.
“Red Robin” is a place to get a burger.
“Drake” is, um, a different bird. Or a discount dragon. Or someone’s last name.
(I think Tim might be bad at this)
“Spoiler” is a giant FU to the Cluemaster
“Azrael” is a named used by a religious fanatic.
“Gotham” and “Gotham Girl” …. lack imagination?
I have no idea what “Signal” is supposed to mean aside from it being a vaguely Batman-related thing.
PS: I typed this intending it to be an edit to my last post. Now that I’ve seen your response, I think we were on the same page. Also, I completely forgot Batwing.

[kurenai_tenka]

Super late reply but I enjoyed this comment lol.

[zachbeacon]

Thank you. I had fun dunking on Tim

(Tim is my favorite Robin... but not my favorite character to BE Robin because, y'know, Dick exists)

[werehawk]

In 2021, Batman's newest partner the Mobile!!! (As in Bat-mobile, get it?)

[zachbeacon]

I'd still rather have the Shark Repellent.