WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Robin #7, available now from DC Comics.
The mysterious circumstances of the Lazarus Tournament have been keeping Damian Wayne's attention despite the series of death-defying duels he's found himself entangled in, and it appears that all of the fights have been increasingly empowering something secret growing within the island.
Damian Wayne has been getting closer to the truth of Lazarus Island in Robin #7 (by Joshua Williamson, Gleb Melnikov, Max Dunbar, Luis Guerrero, and ALW's Troy Peteri) -- and his discovery hints that Mother Soul (aka the mother of Ra's Al Ghul) is growing some mysterious force.
Introduced at the beginning of Robin, Lazarus Island has proven to be a mysterious island hidden away from most of the world. Home to the League of Lazarus, the Lazarus Island is the setting for a centennial tournament where the greatest fighters in the world are assembled for combat to the death. However, thanks to the mystical properties of the island, two defeats result in the no consequence resurrection of the fighters. But a third defeat results in the forfeiture of the fighter's soul. The ultimate victor of the tournament leaves with a powerful upgrade: immortality, seemingly promised by the presence of a Lazarus Pit. But there are more secrets to the island than the League of Lazarus and their leader Mother Soul are initially willing to share.
Throughout the series, Damian has been committed to further investigating the island and the mystical properties that seem to exist within it. In Robin #2, he and Flatline were able to further explore the island, discovering a massive Lazarus Pit that was deemed too unstable by Mother Soul's agents. Instead, they'd need to "feed it more" if they wanted the ideal result Mother Soul is seeking. Damian's investigation has taken him deeper into the island and its history, and his confrontation with Mother Soul in Robin #7 confirms that the Lazarus Pit is different than any other. On top of being the largest one that Damian has ever seen, it also turns out the pit has been leaking into the rest of the island, spreading into the foundations of Lazarus Island itself.
Within the island, something seems to be growing -- and it's all part of whatever plans Mother Soul has going forward. The only way to nurture the beast is with blood and death -- and by holding a fighting tournament where every combatant can die multiple times, Mother Soul has found a way to give it plenty of energy. It's not entirely clear what this full evolution will be, but it's clear that something is growing within the island -- and that it's dangerous enough for the mother of Ra's Al Ghul to spend untold years in hiding, preparing to raise it up and make something of it. It's a dangerous prospect, especially for the fighters on the island and what it could mean going forward. It could even be tied to the nominal prize of the tournament -- with the promised "immortality" being tied to whatever force is brewing.
If Damian wants to learn more, he'll have to overcome one more person to win the tournament -- pitting him against Conner Hawke, perhaps his deadliest rival on the island. If he can achieve a victory over Connor (who previously defeated him), then Damian might find out the full truth -- even if he isn't happy about the mysterious nature of the island once he discovers the truth.
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