Summary

• The Boy Wonder #1 by Juni Ba gives ample evidence that Nightwing was a better influence on Damian than Batman.
• Nightwing's mentoring approach contrasts with Batman's, emphasizing encouragement and positive for young heroes like Damian.
• Dick Grayson's deep bond and nurturing influence on Damian as Robin highlight his superior ability to guide and the youngest Robin.

Damian Wayne’s Batman and Robin. However, their relationship goes far beyond their tenure as the dynamic duo, extending across various interpretations and even transcending mainstream continuity. This deep bond consistently highlights one clear truth: Dick Grayson should have been the one to raise the youngest Robin.

Juni Ba’s The Boy Wonder is a prime example of a series outside mainstream continuity that beautifully highlights the bond between Dick and Damian. In this Black Label series, Damian’s Robin origin story gets a fantastical retelling that also explores his relationships with his three brothers: Dick, Jason Todd, and Tim Drake.

The first issue focuses on his relationship with Nightwing, while also providing insights into Damian’s relationship with his father, Batman. This results in a gorgeously rendered comparison of Dick and Bruce’s interactions with the youngest Robin, making it evident that Nightwing should have raised Damian.

'The Boy Wonder' Proves Dick Grayson Is a Better Mentor Than Bruce Wayne

One of the major themes in The Boy Wonder #1 is Damian’s insecurities about being a worthy son and Robin to Batman. This is poignantly illustrated in an interaction between them, where Damian—still influenced by his upbringing in the League of Shadows—kills a criminal while on patrol with his father. Initially, Damian is pleased with himself, thinking he did a good job, only to realize that Batman is horrified by his actions. Instead of discussing what went wrong, Batman turns his back on Damian and walks away, leaving the boy feeling abandoned and rejected.

Later in the issue, Robin makes another mistake on patrol, rushing in ill-prepared to fight Clayface. This time, the error occurs in front of Nightwing rather than Batman. Dick saves Damian from a potentially fatal blow from the Gotham Rogue, and instead of reprimanding or dismissing him, Nightwing turns the situation into a learning experience. He tells Damian, “Our job isn’t just to punch criminals. It’s also to help their victims get back up.” Initially, Robin isn't receptive to Nightwing’s advice and defensively snaps back. However, the issue soon reveals that the lesson was not lost on Damian despite his initial reaction.

Damian Wayne Learned How To Be a Hero From Nightwing (Not Batman)

After the fight with Clayface, Robin slips away from Nightwing and goes on to patrol Gotham alone. During his patrol, he sees an elderly lady being mugged. After defeating the criminal and tying him up for the police, Robin recalls Nightwing’s words about how part of being a hero is helping the victims get back up. With Dick’s advice in mind, Damian approaches the elderly lady and helps her gather herself and her belongings. This act of kindness results in the woman thanking and praising Damian, marking a significant moment in his career as Robin.

Unbeknownst to Robin, Nightwing had been watching the entire scene unfold and smiles down proudly at the young boy, glad that Damian took his words to heart and applied them. This interaction with the old woman demonstrates how much more effective Dick’s gentle correction of Damian’s behavior is compared to Batman’s harsh reprimands and neglect. It is evident that Nightwing knows how to treat Damian in a loving manner that doesn’t diminish his self-esteem while still correcting his behavior, unlike Batman. This moment underscores Dick’s ability to connect with and guide Damian, proving his capability to raise the boy.

Nightwing Proves He’s a Better Mentor Than Batman Through His Mentorship with Jon Kent

Nightwing's superior mentoring skills compared to Batman extend beyond just his relationship with Damian. The Nightwing 2022 Annual story, The Lesson, by C.S. Pacat, Inaki Miranda, and Adriano Lucas, also underscores Dick’s aptitude in nurturing young heroes. The narrative contrasts Nightwing’s mentoring of Superman Jon Kent with Batman’s approach when Dick was Robin. In his training sessions with Jon, Dick provides encouragement and positive while making necessary corrections. This stands in sharp contrast to Batman’s harsher methods during Dick’s time as Robin.

In the flashback, Batman is seen telling a young Dick that he can’t make a single mistake, trust anyone, or make himself vulnerable, while putting him through relentless drills. While this tough love approach was effective, Dick’s comparison of his methods with Jon to Batman’s training of him as Robin highlights Nightwing's belief in a better way to train young heroes. This is further emphasized by the stark contrast between the defeated look on young Robin Dick’s face after his session with Batman and Jon’s confident, uplifted demeanor after his session with Nightwing. Hence, underscoring Dick’s superior aptitude in nurturing young heroes.

Nightwing Proves He Was a Better Dad to Robin (& Should Have Continued Raising Him)

Beyond Ba’s The Boy Wonder run, it’s crucial to recognize Nightwing’s significant positive influence on Damian within mainstream continuity, underscoring Dick’s superior ability to nurture the youngest Robin compared to Batman. This is prominently illustrated in Grant Morrison’s Batman and Robin run, where Dick and Damian form an exceptionally effective duo. Throughout the series, Damian’s evolution from a trained assassin to a heroic figure is vividly portrayed, alongside the deep and affectionate bond he shares with Nightwing. This narrative highlights Dick’s skill at guiding Damian toward personal growth and also emphasizes his genuine love and for the boy.

Towards the end of Morrison's run, when Batman returned from being lost in time, Damian repeatedly expressed his desire to remain with Dick, showing hesitance about returning to his father. This sentiment was also notably underscored in Batman Inc #8 when Damian said, “We were the best, Richard.” This highlights that the argument isn’t just about who was the 'best' fit for raising the youngest Robin, but also about the profound bond Dick and Damian shared, resembling a father-son relationship. In essence, DC missed a significant opportunity by not allowing Nightwing to continue raising Robin.

The Boy Wonder #1 is available now from DC Comics!