In a line up of
- Dick
- Jason
- Tim
- Stephanie
- Damian
- Carrie Kelley
Where would Helena go as a Robin?
In the New 52? Before Dick Grayson.
I’ll start out with a Nolanverse Batman quote, “It’s not who you are…it’s what you do that defines you.”
Of course we know Damian isn’t a “real kid”. That doesn’t mean what he’s done for us real kids isn’t real. I can’t really speak for anyone but myself and a few cases I know of, but Damian has given me the courage to act and speak out against things I never would have otherwise. He gave me strength to do what was right, to make a difference, even if that meant disappointing a few choice people (Talia).
That empowerment came from Damian. The things he did, the people he inspired, were real, Morrison. And I’m proof.
From Comic Book Resources, Paul Levitz and James Robinson do a joint interview. Here’s what Paul in particular had to say about Helena dealing with Damian’s death in Worlds’ Finest #10:
Looking at your individual books, one of the things affecting all the characters associated with Batman is the death of Damian Wayne. Is that something that will be tying into “Worlds’ Finest?” How does that impact Helena both as the Damian of her world and someone who’s actually met Damian?
Levitz: I think there’s a really nice emotional moment in this last issue where you’ve got Helena shocked and saying goodbye at Damian’s grave and a moment of her considering whether she ought to volunteer to be Robin. She knows how to do it really well; at least from her point of view she’s more qualified than any of the other contenders. I think she gets over that very quickly but it’s a very natural payoff moment to the peculiarity of that relationship where she’s both attracted to not-her-father as a father figure, but also kind of freaked out by him. We play with all that fairly energetically in that issue. There’s a beautiful cover with the two of them at the grave.
I would agree with the scene being ‘emotional’ if it wasn’t so cliché. Also, let’s hope that’s really the end of the ‘maybe I should volunteer to be Robin!’ thing Helena had going since it was complete nonsense for a woman in her 20s.
Other than that, it shouldn’t be of any surprise to anyone at this point that—for once—I actually agree with the comments on CBR.
I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who’s noticed that between James Robinson and Paul Levitz, Robinson always says what his plans are for Earth-2 during his interviews whereas Paul tends to be pretty vague about his own plans for Worlds’ Finest. Which pretty much tells me there really isn’t much of a plan.
Lets hope the Desaad story arc will actually help pick up the pace. Though….given Levitz’ tendency for completely watered down and cliché characterisations of antagonists, my hopes aren’t particularly high. I would, however, literally cry tears of joy if a complex characterisation of Desaad actually happens within this story arc.
In other news, it looks like Michael Holt (Mister Terrific) will become a permanent resident of Earth-2 from Robinson’s portion of the interview, and he’s going to downgrade from “third smartest man” to “tenth smartest man” on Earth-2
I don’t think I need to point out all of the unfortunate implications of that statement in addition to the fact that Terry Sloan is also set become the Earth-2 Mister Terrific.
I love Catwoman’s costumes in the 1960’s tv show.
Damian help you sister and put the damn mask.
I still dream of the day Helena Wayne puts on her mum’s costume. Just once. It’s all I ask for.
The baby birds of the New 52.
3/4 black-haired, blue-eyed lads, 1/4 black-haired, blue-eyed lass.
Helena Wayne says ‘The Breasted Robins Club’ is feeling a little empty up in here.
Damian Wayne: The Little Brother Helena Never Had
In place of a review for Worlds’ Finest #10 this month (which in my opinion wasn’t very good), I instead did a reflection post on my own experience with the character of Damian Wayne, who as everyone knows by now, was killed almost two weeks ago in Batman Inc.
It originally started off as another discussion post about the disturbing trend at DC Comics to kill off important characters in a hero’s life as a way of enhancing the narrative, but ultimately changed my mind when I realised I won’t have the opportunity to talk about this character again in a future storyline, or at least not one that would feature Helena Wayne any time soon. As such, I felt it was more worthwhile to talk about what developments I enjoyed about the character, including his relationship with his parents and distant Earth-2 relative.
Since it is, as I said, a reflection post, I must warn that it is very long. It’s enough to say it took all week to write it, but fortunately it’s short enough to not qualify as an encyclopaedia of feels.
On an unrelated note, I will get to the questions in my inbox tomorrow. I promise I’m not ignoring you guys, I just didn’t have time today to actually sit down and answer your questions. But I promise they will get answered tomorrow. :P
That being said, happy reading!
I wish the cemetery pages were better written, but at least this bit was workable for a photo set.
(And then I made myself sad).
Newsarama does a list of possible candidates that could take over the mantel of Robin, including:
(Yes that last one really is there).
I’m surprised Helena Wayne didn’t make this list as a possible candidate, but at the same time I’m very relieved. Robin is who she WAS on Earth-2, and more specifically, she was HER father’s Robin. It wouldn’t make sense for her to suddenly decide to take up on that vacancy given that (a) she mourned the loss of her “little brother,” and (b) she’s still not comfortable with the idea of being around a Bruce Wayne who isn’t her father.
Also, given that she’s already an adult woman (she’s established as 22-23 in the new continuity) and well established in her role as the Huntress (the costumed identity she’s always strongly identified with), a move like this would be a huge step backwards for her character.
