As this is a spoiler discussion and some people might be trying to avoid them, lets throw up the spoiler tag. Keep reading only if you don’t give a flying flock about Robin.
The New York Post spoiled this Wednesday’s biggest comic book, Batman Inc #8. In it the fourth Robin, Damien Wayne, son of Batman, dies.
He dies fighting alongside his favorite partner. Not his father, but the first Robin and now Nightwing – Dick Grayson.
Fans hated Damien when he was brought into the Batman mythos but thanks to Grant Morrison he became one of the most beloved characters in all of comics.
Newsarama has a great write up of Damien Wayne’s history. Far better than I can do.
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/damian-wayne-robin-profile.html
I have my father’s voice in my head while typing this. Also for any of you who have seen DC Comics documentaries remember the Death in the Family 1-900 number.
One, people are going to think its permanent. Like Chris Sims says, its easy to bring a character back from death. Its when a character walks off panel that’s tough to bring back.
My father called me from a comic book store when Johnny Storm died and asked if I wanted him to buy up multiple copies because “its permanent”. I told him the Human Torch will be back within a year.
Even Bucky came back!
Two, Batman needs a Robin. That was the point of Tim Drake. To bring Batman back from the edge. A new character may be introduced. For some reason there’s a clone so there’s some possibilities. Either way, for sure Robin will be back and very likely Damien will return as well.
HELLIONS TEAM 
They kinda had to do it this way, since the cover betrays what lies inside. That said, Marvel usually had the decency to embargo these spoilers until the morning the book is to be released.
The death isn’t surprising. He was always supposed to die, but he caught on. I love the character myself. While other people have done great things with Damien, he’s been written almost like a creator owned property of Morrison. Since it’s his swan song in the Batverse, I guess it’s only fitting he takes all his toys with him. In all the discussion of the spoiler, however, I find it odd that few are discussing Damien’s lineage. He comes from a long line of people whose sole purpose was finding ways to cheat death. To me, death is just a natural part of the character’s journey. He’ll most certainly be back, one day, probably more badass than ever. All you need is time and a Lazarus Pit.
I see him returning as that future Batman we saw in Batman #666. Now more than ever.
See, I can see them writing stories about that, but that’s another tricky quagmire: Marvel and DC will NEVER evolve to the point of a permanent person taking over a licensed mantel. According to DC Continuity, Old Damien is the person who trains Terry McGuinness instead of Bruce, but we’ll never see that. We might get a mega event crossover that shows us a glimpse of a supposed future, a la Kingdom Come, but it saddens me that there’s never going to be a passing of the torch that sticks. I LOVE Batman Beyond, just like a loved Amazing Spider-Girl. I like the idea of seeing the next generation of a hero’s legacy, but the publishers don’t want to sever ties to the familiar.
Its a damn shame too. I love DC having legacy characters, but the major ones are untouchable. Jamie is a great Blue Beetle. Guy, John and Kyle have had great stories. Renee Montoya! But, yeah, it will never happen with Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman. Damn shame too. Miles Morales is another great one. But, you’re right, not “official”.
In my I get to write comics for a living dream world I will address this.
I almost wonder what it would take for publishers to give up this stance. After all, baby boomers are dying out and fewer new readers are coming in. A good example of this is the return of Barry Allen. NOBODY WANTED HIM BACK. He meant more in death, and Wally was the most successful promoted sidekick. The legacies only have meaning if they’re continuously shoved in our faces. I’d be fine with no more Hal Jordan (Kyle showed us that worked), Barry Allen (bring back Wally), and as much as I hate to say it, I could do without a Bruce Wayne Batman. He doesn’t have to die, but he could step aside. I liked how Golden Age Bruce handled things, by becoming part of the law, instead of operating in spite of it.
I expect Rick to die in Walking Dead. Vertigo series had characters die and grow. Look at Ninja Turtles, or Power Rangers. One version ends and a new one can begin. Every “generation” gets the version that is their own and they love. People love their Adam West Batman, or Mark Hamill Joker. But its tough to love this 70 year old character, how much really changes anyways, Batman. Or Superman. The best Superman tales of the last decade have been the out of continuity ones. All Star Superman is great. But I have stacks of 90s Superman comics that I couldn’t care less about because they were published to fill space. If writers are out of ideas for Bruce, Clark, Hal, etc than give us Kyle or Damien or whoever else to carry on that legacy and tell all new tales. There were some groundbreaking new characters that people cared about – Renne Question, Wally, Damien that are now no where to be found. Hell it took years to give Batwoman, who was incredibly popular, her own title. Look at the big hits of new 52. Aquaman, Animal Man, Swamp Thing, All Star Western. All titles that weren’t over exposed the last 20 give or take years.
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