Damian Wayne is Batman’s Greatest Failure (and That’s Why He’s Interesting)

Bruce Wayne is often seen as one of the pillars of DC Comics, but that doesn’t mean he’s infallible. Over the years, he’s made countless mistakes, many of which he’s fessed up to. However, one of Batman’s greatest failures isn’t a mission gone wrong or a villain he left undefeated—it’s Damian Wayne. Damian Wayne is the child of one of DC’s greatest heroes and a villain he couldn’t stay away from, Talia al Ghul. Their romance has been incredibly complicated, and yes, it resulted in young Damian. Damian is the sum of both parents, the good and the bad. That has the potential to make him one of the most interesting characters around, even while fans love to hate him.

On the surface, Damian Wayne is admittedly an impossible twerp. He’s snide and intentionally off-putting, trying to keep people at arm’s length. It’s tempting for many to write him off and move on, but taking a closer look reveals the layers to this character. He’s the embodiment of Bruce Wayne’s flaws, his contradictions, limitations, and decisions. This shines through here and there, reminding readers that Damian’s very origin is meant to be a reminder of Batman’s failure as a superhero, while Damian himself raises questions about Bruce Wayne as a father.

Damian Wayne is a Direct Consequence of Bruce Wayne’s Actions

Let’s start with the most obvious layer of Damian Wayne’s story. His very presence is a reminder of Bruce Wayne’s decision to be with Talia al Ghul. As a reminder, she’s not just the daughter of some terrible supervillain; she is a trained assassin and lethal fighter in her own right. She may have worked alongside Batman on several occasions, but this doesn’t magically undo the choices she has made. Choices that include hiding Damian away from Batman, putting their young child into the League of Assassins.

By the time Bruce Wayne became aware of Damian, the young man was a gifted fighter, trained to be a ruthless killer. While Bruce would never have willingly chosen this life for his son, he did indirectly allow this to happen because of his choice of partners.

Presenting a Chance to Become the Father He Lost

Batman has a pattern, and all readers are aware of it: he takes in these youthful characters with dreams of a brighter future and allows them to dive into a world of violence. Sure, one can argue that they would have followed in his footsteps no matter what he did, but the truth is that the sidekick business is dangerous, as Bruce Wayne has seen firsthand. If anybody should be in a position to try to stop this from happening time and time again, it’s Batman.

We’re bringing this up because Damian’s introduction was meant to give Bruce Wayne a choice: take a step back and focus on Damian, helping him reform from the life he was trained for. We all know that Bruce has always wanted to put the city of Gotham first, but Damian’s presence screams the need for a change. Instead, Bruce brought Damian into the fold, allowing him to become the next Robin. This was far from the ideal course for Damian’s recovery.

Trying to Turn His Child From Violence

Right from the beginning, readers could see the struggle Damian faced. He was raised to feel emotionless in the face of death and danger, so bringing him to a point of empathy and love was always going to be a challenge. Both Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth made multiple attempts to reach out to the young man, with varying degrees of success. For example, Bruce got Damian Titus in hopes that the endearing dog would help bridge the gap for the young man. Similarly, Alfred the Cat (provided by Alfred the human) was meant to help with the next step in this healing process.

The problem is that even years later, Damian is still impulsive, arrogant, and angry. Damian’s upbringing runs counter to everything Bruce Wayne stands for, and that’s the point. He doesn’t have the same respect for life, which explains his more brutal actions and takes. Damian’s path as a superhero has not always gone well, as evidenced by how he started leading the Teen Titans down a more brutal direction. Unlike his father, Damian is okay with a more permanent solution (killing) to their villain problems. Worse, he resents his father’s stance on the matter. He blames Bruce’s refusal to kill as the source of many of their problems: Nightwing’s near-death, Alfred’s death, and even his own brushes with death.

One might not look at Damian Wayne and see a failure, but when you really stop and think about what Bruce Wayne stands for, it becomes more obvious. He is every mistake and flaw of Bruce Wayne brought to life. It’s a fascinating example of storytelling, with karma coming full circle in a way that readers never could have anticipated. It makes us wonder where Damian’s story will lead next.

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