Summary

When Batman Beyond hit TV screens, Damian Wayne had not entered Batman's life, much less become Robin. Though the show followed the DC Animated Universe's history, many fans imagine that Terry McGinnis will one day become the future Batman of the mainstream DC Universe. However, for that to happen, there's one serious question that needs to be answered - Why would Damian Wayne give up his birthright as the Batman?

That question was answered in one of the most recent Batman Beyond series by Dan Jurgens, Sean Chen, Sean Parsons, and Norm Rapmund. Though some comic book adaptations have chosen to follow the history of the original show, the DC Rebirth series followed the future set out by the New 52 Futures End event. After Tim Drake departed as Neo-Gotham's Dark Knight, both Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne returned, and soon found out what happened to Damian Wayne in Batman Beyond.

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Batman Beyond's Damian Wayne Experienced an Identity Crisis

Ra's al Ghul confronting Batman in Batman Beyond

When former League of Assassins member Curaré returned to Neo-Gotham to warn Batman about the return of Ra's al Ghul, it set Terry on a collision course with the heir to the Demon. Unbeknownst to the Bat-Family, the assassin's warning was orchestrated to bring the new Batman to Damian so that he could challenge the so-called "pretender" believing him unworthy to be Batman.

Contrary to what Curaré told them, Ra's al Ghul was not the leader of the League of Assassins but rather it was Damian. As to why he wasn't Batman, as it happened he used to be. Years earlier, Damian did inherit the mantle but Bruce and his son disagreed once more about Batman's methods. An incident involving the dangerous X-7 Batsuit pushed their relationship over the edge and Damian left the Batcave behind to join his grandfather's merciless crusade.

Though he planned to kill Terry and carry on Ra's goals, the confrontation with his father and the new Batman made Damian doubt his choices. Whilst his followers pushed ahead with their original deadly mission, the former Robin helped Bruce and Terry put an end to it. After their conflict was resolved, he stated that he still didn't agree with his father's methods and wouldn't return to Gotham. Nevertheless, he dedicated himself to remaking the League into something constructive for the world, rather than how it was under his grandfather.

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Where Is Damian in Batman Beyond's Ending?

Damian Wayne joins the rest of the future Bat-Family in Batman Beyond

Damian returned towards the end of the series with a dire threat following him. His pet Dragon Bat Goliath flew his unconscious body to Neo-Gotham when he was ousted as the League of Assassins' leader. His usurper, Zeh-Ro, was hell-bent on enacting Ra's most apocalyptic plan for the world - freezing all life on Earth until nothing remained. Although he didn't agree with Bruce's methods the last time they met, Damian accompanied the new Bat-Family to Zeh-Ro's space station where they put a stop to his scheme.

The League of Assassins had split apart thanks to the coup, but some of its members stayed loyal to Damian. Terry suggested using what was left to solve the world's problems rather than destroy everything. Damian lamented that after what Zeh-Ro had done, he didn't have enough resources to enact any lasting change. To that, Bruce suggested they combine their resources. Though Damian rejected this sort of alliance before and knew his grandfather wouldn't approve, he agreed with his father this time. With their forces now as one, the son of Batman had become a part of the family once again.

Damian Wayne's Batman Beyond journey mirrors the struggles he's had with his father since his introduction. With how different they are, and the ways that Damian is still being pulled back and forth by both sides of his family, it's only natural that father and son would part ways in their later years. The fact that they reconcile in the end, however, shows that Damian is still a hero, no matter what future he's in.