Summary
Damian Wayne’sRobinofficially gains a new weakness with the debut of his latest villain, Rok the Demon. This debilitating vulnerability is unlike anything Robin has faced before, adding a fresh and intriguing challenge to his storyline while also raising the compelling question of how he can overcome this new weakness. The answer may lie with Damian’s grandfather, Ra’s al Ghul.
Juni Ba’sThe Boy Wonder#2sees Robin team up with Red Hood to hunt down the “demons” responsible for a series of abductions plaguing Gotham City. However, the duo doesn’t have to look far, as one of these demons, Rok, finds them first.
Jason and Damian immediately attack the mysterious demon, but they quickly realize they have woefully underestimated their opponent as they begin to lose the fight. After Rok delivers a particularly brutal hit to Robin,he utters two words with unforeseen consequences: “Stay put.”
Rok the Demon Reveals He Can Control Robin With 2 Words
Surprisingly, Damian immediately freezes.It’s clear that this isn’t Robin’s choice; instead, a physical or, more likely, mental block prevents him from moving.While the reason Rok can exert such control over Damian remains unclear, one thing is certain: this debilitating weakness puts Damian, his allies, and civilians at immense risk. This vulnerability could easily get him killed, as it effectively renders him unable to fight back or even move. If word of this new weakness reaches Batman, it could be a valid reason to bench Robin, potentially putting Damian out of commission indefinitely.
However, it is highly unlikely that Robin will let his father learn about his new vulnerability. Damian will likely choose to handle this burden himself and find a solution without Batman’s interference. Instead,he might seek help from another Bat-Family member who can’t bench him—Tim Drake.This seems probable, given the solicitation for the upcoming issue,The Boy Wonder#3, which confirms a team-up between Robin and Red Robin. However, Damian may still withhold information about his vulnerability, enlisting Tim’s help solely for the demon issue in Gotham.
Ra’s al Ghul: Damian Wayne Will Need to Seek Out the Source of His Conditioning to Overcome His New Weakness
Rok’s ability to control Damian with just two insignificant words raises many questions. Is this power unique to Rok, or could others do the same? Is this control a superpower, a substance, or a League tactic? Most importantly, is there a way to combat it? Although few clues have been revealed, it seems likely that Damian underwent conditioning as a child, making him a sleeper agent who responds to certain commands. To combat this new challenge,Robinwill likely need to confront his grandfather,Ra’s al Ghul, who is probably responsible for the conditioning.
