Comic review- Damian Wayne

Here we have what will probably be the final part of my League of Assassins focus for the time being (excepting battle reports), as the title reads it is a comic review focusing on Damian Wayne. This relatively new character has had a big impact since his creation, and some of the stories surrounding him have been among the best DC Comics have produced in the last decade and a half. I will today be briefly going through all the "main comics" Damian has appeared in, and giving my opinions on each independently.

Batman and Son
Where else to start but the beginning? Obviously this is the best introduction to Damian, but it also has a lot of Bruce/Talia conflict in it and a lot of great League content. It's not only the first place Damian appears, but it also has the first appearance of the League Man-Bat Commandos, an amazingly well-written text story involving the Joker, and the leadup to the Zur-en-Arrh arc in Batman RIP. While the "Batman and Son" story only really lasts the first half of the TPB, it still crops up briefly throughout the rest of the story, and by the time of Batman and Robin we can see Damian as a well rounded character, albeit an absolute brat who is pretty damn unlikeable.

Batman and Robin by Grant Morrison
While not strictly a Damian Wayne focused story, its the beginning of the brotherly relationship between Dick Grayson and Damian, something which never really dies down, and the formation of Damian into a true hero. It is here that Morrison begins to shape Damian into someone other than the snotty brat he is traditionally seen as being, and Damian begins to learn more from the "Bat" side of the world as opposed to his League upbringing. The traditional Batman and Robin relationship is completely flipped on its head here as well, which is a large part of the pure charm this comic has, and anyone expecting the norm will get a major shock. In this, Robin is the straight and serious part of the duo, while Batman is the quick-witted one with the smart mouth, which as said is incredibly entertaining and great to read. This series is not only great for anyone wanting to read Damian, its also a great character piece on Dick Grayson, as it shows him trying to live up to Bruce and fill his shoes as Batman all while he wants to forge his own path, and him attempting to reconcile the 2. Batman and Robin is great, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Batman Incorporated
Like Batman and Robin, not exactly a Damian story, but this is the last step in Morrison's Damian story. The continuation of the war Talia declares on Bruce, it also brings in the Heretic, a bastard clone of Damian that is used purely as an enforcer by Talia, and comes into conflict with Damian as a result. The impetuousness of Damian is on full display in this shorter story (only 12 issues total) and it ends up having bad results. This arc defines Damian going forward into late New 52/Rebirth, and is a must read for fans of Damian and Talia alike.

Robin- Son of Batman
This limited series after Damian's own "rebirth" (but before Rebirth) is a short little story going into his efforts to shed his League past and come into his own outside of both the Al Ghul heritage and Batman. This is the first appearance of Goliath, and its here you come to enjoy him as the big pet of Damian, but it also has far more of a focus on Damian "righting his wrongs". The story is about him attempting to undo many of the things he did as a League agent wherever possible, and facing the consequences when he can't. Leads into Titans and Super Sons, and is an important part of his character development, but it often gets ignored so is of less importance to read.

Teen Titans Rebirth
Every Robin has to have a turn leading a team, and Damian is no exception. While there are some great interactions early on in this run, especially during it's formation, there is still much to be desired when it comes to Teen Titans. The plot often just seems bland, and it is in the crossover issues where the series really comes into its own, which is in itself usually due to the other characters involved (The Lazarus Contract has some great moments with Damian). All in all, I wouldn't recommend it unless you want to read absolutely everything about Damian, and even then its pretty mediocre.

Super Sons/Adventures of the Super Sons
Hands down, this is my favourite Damian comic. The dynamic between him and Jon is perfect, and Tomasi does an excellent job at playing the two off each other, often with hilarious results. It reflects the relationship between their parents on the surface level, but also has a level of childish imitation, as each are trying to live up to their larger-than-life fathers, and their upbringings clash many times. Super Sons is a far less serious story than any of the others Damian is in, and the content can almost seem silly at times, but that only adds to the child-like glee it brings when you read it. Super Sons is not only my favourite comic with Damian, it's among my favourite comics of all time, and I really seriously recommend it all the time. Seriously, it's a great read for pure dumb entertainment.