Warning: Spoilers for Batman and Robin #9!

Summary

• Damian's growth in Batman and Robin #9 comes from embracing his childish side after maturing throughout the series.
• Damian's history as Robin shows his journey from arrogant beginnings to a more relatable and mature character.
• The current Batman and Robin series explores Damian in relatable ways, like romance and high school, making him more likable.

redefining his entire relationship with Batman. More than anything, the series has matured Damian Wayne as a character like never before.

That maturity is on full display in Batman and Robin #9 by Joshua Williamson, Nikola Čižmešija, and Simone Di Meo when Damian gets into perhaps the most important fight he's ever been in: a food fight. Determined to get themselves in a room with a villain masquerading as a principal, Damian and his girlfriend, Flatline, intentionally get themselves sentenced to detention the only way they know how.

While starting a food fight sounds like the opposite of maturing, the formerly all-too-serious Damian allowing himself to be childish is the most overt sign of his growth yet. Some of the best moments in Damian's history as a character have involved him learning how to be more like what he is: a child.

Robin Had (Not So) Humble Beginnings

The Extremely Cocky, Extremely Serious Debut of Damian Wayne

Years before becoming Robin, Damian Wayne made his on- debut in Batman #655 by Grant Morrison and Andy Kubert. He appears as a silhouetted figure deep in the dark shadows standing beside his mother, Talia al Ghul, when he lays eyes upon his father, Bruce, for the first time via a monitor. It wouldn't be until the next issue that Damian actually meets Batman face-to-face, holding a sword to his throat. His introduction was quick to establish Damian as far from jovial, instead a deadly serious child born from deadly serious circumstances.

This personality is the consequence of Damian being raised solely by his mother and trained under the League of Assassins, as Batman had no idea he impregnated Talia years prior in the graphic novel, Batman: Son of the Demon by Mike W. Barr and Jerry Bingham. When Talia puts Damian under Bruce's care in the following issue, Damian immediately showcases his violent streak by trying to start a fight to earn his father's respect and vice versa. Furthermore, Damian's entitled attitude is prevalent in his arrogance. His arrogance makes it clear he thinks that he deserves everything from laptops to swords.

Damian Wayne's Most Notable Moments as a Pre-Teen

Arrogant, But Effective

In the same aforementioned slew of Morrison-era Batman issues, Damian Wayne tries to steal Tim Drake's place as Robin, because he thinks it's his right to be Batman's sole partner. He adds that he's bound to inherit everything else from Batman in time, including the Bat mantle itself. In his first full-issue appearance, Damian Wayne's personality is a shadow as dark as the one he was shrouded in on his debut page, as cockiness, privilege, and bloodlust cloud his morals.

Damian's dark, serious, and über-violent nature isn't something that Batman could change overnight, nor alone.

To his credit, showing himself capable of defeating arguably the best Robin is an early highlight for Damian. The highlights continue, and with each new personal feat, Damian learns to loosen up, so to speak. Damian's dark, serious, and über-violent nature isn't something that Batman could change overnight, nor alone. Doing so ends up being a team effort, especially when he finally earns the right to be Robin during Dick Grayson's time as Batman. When Damian felt that he was too good to need additional training, Dick was the first to get through to Damian.

Damian Wayne's History with Other "Sidekicks" Made Him Who He Is

Stephanie Brown and Jon Kent Changed Damian for the Better

appreciation for Stephanie Brown, even if he can't find the proper words.

Shedding Damian's attitude was not just a Bat-Family effort. The most significant contributor to Damian's new lease on life is Jon Kent, who became his best friend during their time together as the Super Sons. Jon's carefree, optimistic personality proved to be a stark contrast to Damian's, but it also proved enough to rub some of his optimism onto Damian. The best values that Jon earned through the Superman Family continue to shine during Joshua Williamson and Gleb Melnikov's Robin series. It's that run that truly kickstarts Damian's transition from pre-teen to teenager.

Robin's Newfound Maturity Is More Important Than Ever

DC Picked the Perfect Time to Strike a Balance

The Infinite Frontier-era Robin series examines Damian Wayne in an entirely new way, as Williamson touches on more grounded and relatable topics that Damian's stories hadn't quite delved into yet at that point, like romance. That solo series paved the way for the current Batman and Robin run by Williamson and Di Meo, which continues to explore Damian through more relatable subjects and plots. The deadly serious heir to the Bat-Family legacy is now a student of Gotham City High School, where he's learning to care about things more than just the mission at hand.

Audiences may be quick to peg the stark serious Damian as unlikable, but they might be able to relate to a 15-year-old embarking on a journey of love, school, and puberty.

Granted, Batman being incredibly (and almost uncharacteristically) ive of Damian's high school activities. Not to mention, Damian's romance with Flatline is still blossoming, and he's partaking in missions beyond crime-fighting, like school sports and exams.

Such activities are minimal compared to, say, grandiose encounters with Man-Bat, but it allows Robin to connect with audiences on a deeper, more relatable level, which is especially perfect timing as James Gunn plans to bring Damian's Robin to the big screen in the forthcoming The Brave and the Bold movie. Audiences may be quick to peg the stark serious Damian as unlikable, but they might be able to relate to a 15-year-old embarking on a journey of love, school, and puberty while trying to save the world, feeling as if the world lies heavy on their shoulders.

Damian Wayne Has a Bright Future as Robin

And Beyond the Boy Wonder

Most importantly, the comics fleshing out Damian fittingly rounds out his journey so far. The super-serious sidekick who refused to "let his hair down" is now letting food fly in the school cafeteria. As an assassin under Talia, Damian was raised to discard his emotions and desires to focus on the mission at hand. Seeing Robin finally let himself give into childish tendencies that he wasn't allowed to have when he was younger feels rewarding for anyone who's been reading Damian Wayne's journey in real time.

Batman and Robin #9 is available now from DC Comics.