Warning: Spoilers for Batman & Robin #11!

Damian Wayne is finally ready to grow out of his identity as Robin, and his cast of allies is proof. Joshua Williamson’s Batman and Robin series has quietly introduced and re-introduced characters that can be considered key assets to the network that Damian has built outside his father’s influence. This super-network includes his “villain” love interest, Flatline, and his sister Maya Ducard, who uses the name Nobody.

Maya stands by Damian Wayne’s side in Batman and Robin #11 by Williamson and Juan Ferreyra, where she helps Batman and Robin track down Bane on Dinosaur Island. Though Batman, of course, is wary of her presence (and her history with Henri Ducard), Damian trusts her completely. The way that Damian is quietly building a network of friends independent of his relationship with Batman directly mirrors Dick Grayson’s path that eventually saw him shed his Robin skin in favor of becoming Nightwing.

Be it intentional or not, the creative team is etching out a path for Damian Wayne for him to outgrow his Robin identity and become something more — something that supersedes his ambitions toward Batman’s cowl. Prior to Nobody’s reappearance in this arc, Damian also teamed up with Flatline in Gotham, reconnecting with his own supporting cast outside his adventures with his father.

Damian Wayne Is Quietly Building a Superhero Network

Robin’s “Team” Could Include Nobody, Flatline, Hawke, Jon Kent, and Even Ravager

The makings of what would become the so-called “Nightwing Family” first started to take shape when Dick Grayson met Aqualad and Kid Flash in 1964’s The Brave and the Bold #54 by Bob Haney, Bruno Premiani, Charles Paris, and Stan Starkman. Dick continued to find new allies and friends who formed the original Teen Titans. What made this so significant is that Dick was building and cultivating relationships that had nothing to do with Batman himself. Robin may always be Batman’s sidekick, but clearly, he didn’t need Batman to create adventures of his own with friends he was making himself.

Once he finally branched off on his own with the Titans and became Nightwing, it was easy for readers to view Dick as his own hero, especially with his own stories that were separate from Batman while still being his partner. Becoming a solo hero just seemed like a rational, inevitable next step for him. The same can be said for Damian Wayne as he carves out a similar path in Williamson’s run with the character. If his path is anything like Dick’s, then Damian could form his own team alongside Nobody, Flatline, and others he’s befriended.

What Does This Mean for Damian Wayne’s Future as Batman?

Robin Forming His Own Identity Is the Perfect End of His Chapter

Alternate timelines — like the iconic one seen in Batman #666 by Grant Morrison, Andy Kubert, Jesse Delperdang, Guy Major, and Jared K. Fletcher — showcase Damian Wayne as Batman, which makes sense, given how obsessed Damian has often been with the cowl. Early iterations of his character would often croon about being the rightful heir to the cowl. However, what makes the idea of Damian outgrowing the Robin identity so interesting is that it doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s ready to be Batman — it means that Damian now has ambitions and desires outside of Batman, which has been a major theme of Williamson’s Damian run.

Batman and Robin sees Robin living like a teenager for once, partaking in romance, high school drama, and strengthening his relationship with his father. He was once as overly dedicated to the mission as his dad (if not more so), but even he acknowledges in Batman and Robin #11 how beneficial being a high school student has been. Damian is slowly outgrowing his violent streak and learning there are things more important than the Bat-mantle. He can outgrow Robin, but wanting an identity that isn’t Batman would be immense character growth for him.

Batman & Robin #11 is available now from DC Comics.