The following article contains spoilers from Robin #16, on sale now.

Damian may be back on speaking terms with Batman, and even reconnected with the rest of his family, but that doesn't mean he approves of all the decisions they've made in his absence. Robin #16 (by Joshua Williamson, Roger Cruz, Norm Rapmund, Luis Guerrerro, and Troy Peteri) saw Damian and Connor Hawke travel to Tokyo to find Flatline, during which they briefly encountered Hiro. When asked why he wasn't with "Ghost-Maker Inc." Hiro corrected them, saying it was still Batman Inc., but Damian disliked the idea that Ghost-Maker is in charge, labeling him a "pretender"

It's a surprisingly harsh condemnation of Ghost-Maker, someone who Damian might even have admired in his younger years. It's even made ironic by the fact that Ghost-Maker really likes Damian because of his rebellious attitude. It's a quick moment of disapproval, to remind fans that while Damian has changed, there is still something of a snob in him. However, his dislike of Ghost-Maker might be motivated by more complicated reasons than simple pride.

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Robin Disapproves of Ghost-Maker

Damian's declaration that Ghost-Maker is a pretender seems to imply that he views Ghost-Maker as a knockoff Batman, or someone trying very hard to be like him. That alone would be enough to motivate dislike. Damian is rather territorial when it comes to the Batman name, not only viewing it as his birthright, but also as a title worthy of respect. To see another trying to emulate that in a less than honorable way might rub him the wrong way.

This leads to the next possibility for Damian's dislike of Ghost-Maker: his conduct. If this had been ten-year-old Damian meeting him, he might have actually preferred Ghost-Maker over Batman. He was still wrestling with the notion of not killing anyone so to see a person who had all of Batman's skills, and put down the monsters he and his father kept fighting every night would probably have been inspirational to him.

Since then however, Damian has embraced Batman's one rule. More than that, he is focusing on becoming a healer instead of someone who inflicts pain on others. So, his distaste for Ghost-Maker might be because he understands that Ghost-Maker defies Batman's rules on the sly. That makes him both untrustworthy and an unworthy partner of the Dark Knight.

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Ghost-Maker Likes Robin

While those might be the most likely reasons for his disapproval, Damian may also have some pettiness motivating him. He's still a kid after all, and there has to be some childish motivation from time to time. In this instance, it might be simple jealousy. Ghost-Maker was picked up in Damian's absence, likely not too long after he had broken ties with the Bat-Family. The recruitment of someone who was not only a highly skilled fighter, but shared Damian's violent tendencies must have felt like Batman was looking for a replacement.

That couldn't be further from the truth, but it's not hard to see how Damian might have felt that way. His dislike however, is only made amusing by Ghost-Maker's obvious admiration for Damian. During the Shadow War, Ghost-Maker approved of Damian's defiance of Batman. Though whether this was motivated by the act of rebellion or Damian risking his life by jumping out of a plane to force Batman to catch him, thus ensuring he joins the mission, is impossible to say.