The following contains spoilers for Batman vs. Robin #4 and Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1, on sale now from DC Comics.

Robin Damian Wayne is set to make a major sacrifice in the finale of DC's Batman vs. Robin miniseries.

Between two exclusive interviews with CBR, writer Mark Waid has teased a "jaw-dropping" sacrifice that Damian will make in Batman vs. Robin #5, which follows the Lazarus Planet event that Waid is helming. While discussing the events of Batman vs. Robin #4 and what comes next, Waid said, "I can tease the final showdown between Robin and Nezha...you're going to see Damian make a jaw-dropping sacrifice in that issue." Some time after that, when asked about future character growth for Damian during a Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 spoiler interview, Waid reaffirmed his earlier tease, adding, "He's willing to make the sacrifice that he's going to make, and if there is a better example of how much he has learned, I can't think of one."

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What Led to Batman vs. Robin and Lazarus Planet

Damian's journey to Batman vs. Robin and Lazarus Planet was paved by the now concluded Robin series written by Joshua Williamson. In the series, Damian participates in the Lazarus Tournament's death matches held on Lazarus Island, where he makes friends with the other fighters and eventually explores the island further while establishing a home there. However, his exploration causes him to accidentally free the Devil Nezha, an ancient villain who then takes control over Damian's mind in Batman vs. Robin, beginning a mission to take over the world and all of its magical power.

Nezha previously fought Superman and Batman during their earlier years seen in Waid and artist Dan Mora's Batman/Superman: World's Finest series. He fights Batman while the Caped Crusader wears the Helm of Fate in Batman vs. Robin #4, and their battle is what indirectly causes the mystical Lazarus Storm affecting the entire Earth in Lazarus Planet. The cliffhanger ending of Lazarus Planet: Alpha leaves Damian face to face with the villain King Fire Bull for a teased "last stand," and gives Batman a horrifying transformation, which Waid explained is a result of Nezha moving into and taking over the hero's body.

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Will Robin's Sacrifice Return the Favor for Batman?

As for sacrifices, Batman already sacrificed himself for Robin in Batman vs. Robin #4, jumping in front of one of Nezha's magical blasts intended to kill Damian. What sacrifice Damian will make remains unknown at this time, but as of the events of Lazarus Planet: Alpha, if he is going to have a "final showdown" with Nezha, it is possible that he will be fighting the villain while Nezha still inhabits Batman's body.

Written by Waid, Lazarus Planet: Alpha #1 is drawn by Riccardo Federici, colored by Brad Anderson and lettered by Steve Wands. The issue also features a backup story, "Nezha and the Monkey King," written by Gene Luen Yang, drawn by Billy Tan, colored by Sebastian Cheng and lettered by Janice Chiang. Main cover art for Alpha is by David Marquez and Alejandro Sánchez, with variant cover artwork contributed to by Lee Garbett, Ben Oliver, Felipe Massafera, Ariel Colón, Bernard Chang, Federici, Pete Woods, Hélène Lenoble and Tiago Da Silva. The issue is on sale now from DC Comics.

Source: CBR, DC Comics