Remember that one time Robin was dead?
When people like a Robin, they grow up and become something else. Something new. Something independent. When people hate a Robin, they die. They come back-eventually-they come back. But when they die, they leave an impact.
In 2013, Damian Wayne-Robin, Son of Batman-died during a battle against an evil organization called Leviathan. He was stabbed through the heart by his own clone, then he spent his last seconds of life in his father's arms. What followed was one of the darkest, most vulnerable periods in Batman's life. This was not a friend in a red cape, nor was it a father or a mother, this was his son. As if the pain of losing Jason Todd, and slowly welcoming him back into the family wasn't enough emotional turmoil, Bruce Wayne's progeny had died in this war he started.
The series "Batman & Robin" became a Batman team-up series for a short time, with each issue touching upon Damian's life and his death. When Tim Drake/Red Robin tried to help Batman he found The Dark Knight kidnapping Frankenstein's monster to learn how his life was created from science. When Batman teamed up with Jason Todd/Red Hood he constantly asked what Red Hood experienced when he was dead, knowing Jason could not remember. With Dick Grayson/Nightwing, Batman ran simulation after simulation of virtual reality recreations of the day of Damian's death, looking for a way he could have saved him. And with Barbara Gordon/Batgirl he expressed his resentment of her temporary separation from the Batman Family, only for her to give him tough love over Damian's death. The Batman Family, as well as The Justice League, watched as Batman destroyed himself. But alone? This is what happened when Batman was alone.
"Batman & Robin #18" was an issue with no dialog, and no narration. Batman went out on patrol, stern-faced and swearing he saw Damian multiple times. When he drove in the Batmobile, he could feel Damian in the passenger seat eating chips. When he swung across buildings he could hear Damian's laughter beside him. When he slid down the Bat-Pole he could see Damian following him. But Damian wasn't there. He was dead. Batman got home later that night. He ignored Alfred. He patted Damian's dog on the head. He went to pack his equipment in his locker, but found something in Damian's locker. A letter, written before Damian disobeyed Batman's orders and got involved. It read:
Father,
I'm sure you'll be angry with me for disobeying you again, but I don't care, I will not let you fight Leviathan alone. You need me and I will always be at your side.
Because it will be hard for me to say these words face-to-face, I want you to know that Mother may have given me life, but you taught me how to live.
Love and respect
Your Son, Damian
Batman screams out in anguish, he punches the lockers until it's door bends and his hands bleed. He grabs Damian's costume out from the locker and holds it, he holds it in his arms just as he held Damian. Just as he admitted to Damian that it didn't matter how many people Damian might have killed in the past, all that mattered was that he was trying to be a better person now. That there was hope for him. That his son had a future. A future that was torn away from him too soon.
Damian would return to live only six months after his death, and while his revival came with temporary superpowers and his revival left this story irrelevant, I still believe this story matters. Damian's death matters. When Batman battled Darkseid for the life of his son, it mattered. We all focus on the lack of importance when comic book characters die because we know they always come back. But what we forget are the moments of truth and weakness from their friends and families when they pass. We forget, despite those moments of weakness reflecting our own lives.
We've all lost people and although they cannot be resurrected or recreated, we can take some comfort in knowing that when our favorite heroes lose people close to them, the man in the Bat-suit with a bottomless wallet and a lifetime of defying the impossible can be as human as we are.
Thank you for reading.
No comments:
Post a Comment