WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Robin #9, on sale now from DC Comics.
Ever since debuting and taking up the mantle of Robin, Damian Wayne has been defined by his place in comparison to Batman, with the young anti-hero growing to become an impressive figure in his own right. But he might have just taken the final step to distinguishing himself as a hero uniquely different from his father, DC's Dark Knight Detective.
Robin #9 (by Joshua Williamson, Roger Cruz, Norm Rapmund, Luis Guerrero, and ALW's Troy Peteri) reveals just how impressive Damian Wayne could become as a leader going forward, giving him a possible edge over the role Batman has typically played in the DC Universe.
The Lazarus Tournament has been a major time of growth for Damian Wayne. On top of having to prove his combat skills, Damian has grown as a person, quietly training with his grandfather Ra's Al Ghul and developing a romance with Flatline. But his greatest personal development comes at potentially his lowest moment. Having been defeated by the Lazarus Demon raised by his grandmother Mother Soul, Damian is inspired by a vision of Alfred Pennyworth. Reminding Damian that Bruce Wayne only truly became Batman after he accepted the idea that he would need help in his war on crime, Damian rises up and inspires the other competitors from the Lazarus Tournament to work alongside him in facing the creature.
Damian proves to be an adept leader, commanding the group and utilizing their abilities to hold their own against the massive fiery demon. Working together, Damian gives commands and puts aside his differences with some of the competitors, allowing them to gel together well and ultimately defeat the Lazarus Demon. It's a huge development for the youngest Robin, who in the past has been defined by his inability to work well with others. Like Batman, Damian had the ability to devise impressive plans on the fly and hold his own against plenty of dangerous enemies. But as a team player, neither Robin or Batman have been particularly notable.
Even as a member of the Justice League, Batman works as a strategist while the in-field command has often been left to other members of the team. Damian, on the other hand, proves to be a quick, decisive, and effective field leader to the rest of the combatants going up against the Lazarus Demon. It seems Damian's troubled time as a leader of the Teen Titans served him well, and allowed Damian to grow as a commander. It also notably comes from the perspective of a teammate instead of a dedicated leader, with Damian not necessarily ordering around everyone so much as inspiring their confidence and leading them to victory against a deadly foe.
This showing from the young Robin is especially impressive because it might prove to be the perfect way for Damian to finally escape his father's shadow. It could even be seen as the young hero picking up some of the decisive elements that have long endured in his mother Talia, tempering them with his father's eye for cooperation and spotting potential in others. Damian might eventually be able to grow as a leader and become an even more impressive figure in the DC Universe, setting himself up to become the type of hero that Batman has never been. If Damian continues to develop in this way after the conclusion of the Lazarus Tournament, he could continue to become a genuine force to be reckoned with in his own right.