Warning! Spoilers ahead for Robin #12
In the latest issue of Alfred Pennyworth during the City of Bane event, Bruce Wayne's relationship with his son became strained and eventually fell apart, motivating Damian to leave Gotham. Now, the former Robin has finally returned to Gotham in the aftermath of the Lazarus Tournament he participated in, though he's not there to make up with the Dark Knight.
In previous issues of DC's current Robin series, Damian entered the Lazarus Tournament, a contest featuring the DC Universe's greatest assassins and fighters put on by an off-shoot of his mother and grandfather's League of Assassins. Known as the League of Lazarus, the group was led by Robin's great-grandmother Mother Soul who believed in the supernatural origins of the Lazarus Pits and the literal Demon she attempted to summon using the deaths caused by the Tournament. Despite her son Ra's al Ghul and his belief in science with the Demon being a simple myth, it turns out Soul was right. Regardless, Damian prevented the Demon from coming forth while the League of Assassins reabsorbed the League of Lazarus and Shadows (another rogue faction working with Mother Soul).
Now, Robin #12 from Joshua Williamson and Roger Cruz sees Damian returning to Gotham. However, he's not there to patch things up with Batman. Instead, he goes to Alfred's grave where he considers reviving the Bat-Family's surrogate father. While Damian decides Alfred doesn't deserve the darkness that comes with a Lazarus resurrection, he's surprised to see his mother Talia. Given their complex history where Damian was born and bred to be a weapon for the League, Damian assumes Talia is there for a fight. However, the Daughter of the Demon surprises her son by actually wanting to be his mother, asking him to her as they work to rebuild her empire.
While fans might have been hoping for a reunion between Batman and his son in this issue, Talia reconciling with Damian is just as important (if not more so). Not only does it imply that the former Robin may actually start having a functional relationship with one of his parents, but it also suggests that Damian will be keeping his distance from the Bat-Family a while longer as he works with his mother and the League of Assassins. However, the imminent Shadow War crossover will have Damian facing his father sooner than he likely wants to.
Coming from Williamson as well, Shadow War will be bringing DC's Batman, Robin, and Deathstroke Inc. titles together for a major event where Slade Wilson and Talia al Ghul will be going to war. It also promises that Batman and his son will become the Dynamic Duo once more (though it will likely only be out of necessity). When it's all said and done, this new issue suggests the former Robin will be keeping his distance from his father in favor of leading the League with Talia.
