#according to Damian

[superbat-love]

Clark is not the stepdad, he’s the dad that stepped up

[ky-landfill]

He had known, bone-deep, that he could not depend on anyone else. Now, it feels like the world has blossomed out around him. Around all of them. There is a future, now. There are people who care.

Now, Damian feels like every inhale goes deeper, and every exhale leaves more behind.

[naarinn]

Is it just me or are we about to get the most gut wrenching, heart breaking, soul crushing arc ever? 'Cus this chapter was so cute and then Anya just randomly dropped literally the most important information in SxF(and to Damian) Not to mention telling it to a wrong person can cost her everything

I started to feel like Endo is preparing us

Also MarthaxHenry is real oml (Someone please come up with a ship name 😪)

Notice how there's no sparkles around her here. She didn't need to read his mind to answer.

Now that we saw her looking like that again (like in hijack when he mentioned his parents, car) I think she feels bad and kind of pities him and his relationship with his family. Maybe she thinks he's not so different from her. Maybe that's why she trusted him when she confessed her powers

Also there's a possibility that this is Anya's pov (like in hijack) 😭 My boy beat the snot-nosed allegations

The sy-on filter may be spreading too. Someone save her asap

Honorable mention:

This two!

[nelkcats]

False Identity

Danny knew that if he wanted to escape Amity and all the chaos that was his life he needed to get a fake identity, move and go as far away as possible. He could probably ask Tucker or Technus, but he felt it was something he had to do on his own.

He made arrangements, destroyed the portal, said goodbye and ended up moving to Gotham. However his hacking job wasn't so good and he was discovered in an instant by the bats.

They decided to investigate him instead of confronting him directly, following Jim's advice that not everyone was running because of something malicious, Danny didn't do anything out of the ordinary.

He seemed to be adjusting to Gotham which was weird on it's own but the strangest thing he did was get a job in Penguin's Iceberg Lounge but that was more because of his job search than anything else.

His past records also showed nothing more than a child with poor grades and troubling injuries, probably caused by neglectful parents.

Damian began to fear the worst and hid the adoption papers.

[ghurab-alzilal]

3 y/o Damian: *pats Jason's head *

LoA's Jason, with a soft smile : What's up, bǎobèi?

3 y/o Damian, while still patting him : I'm trying to wake up the skunk in your head.

LoA's Jason, squeezing Damian's cheeks with a bitter smile : xiǎo shǐ...

[lunamugetsu]

Whenever Batman disappears, he’ll come back with a new child to adopt.

It was a well known running joke amongst the batfamily.

Damian did not see the humor in it.

But right now his father has been missing for three days.

Now the entire batfamily knew that it was protocol to wait three days if they’ve suddenly received no contact from Bruce then they’d start looking for him.

Damian was not worried. His father will always come back home.

He was sitting in the batcave when he heard the familiar sound of the Batmobile coming back to the cave.

Damian reacted quickly and placed himself by the automobile as it opened. He saw his father come out of the machine. His suit had taken a beating with parts of it being singed or torn. But that wasn’t what caught his attention.

Damian’s attention was focused on the being that his father was currently carrying in his arms.

“Father. I demand an explanation.”

“This is Daniel, but he prefers Danny. I met him when I was investigating that government facility. He’ll be staying with us.”

Damian frowned he took another good look of the being. Daniel was a skinny being, practically a skeleton. Pale skin, white hair and glowing green eyes. The tiny thing was clothed in some kind of hospital gown and had something branded on their arm.

D4N.13L

Damian turned back to his father.

“Father I do not agree with this. We know nothing about this being.”

“He was held captive at the government facility. He assisted me when I was injured. He needs a place to stay.” Batman said as Danny gave a little whimper.

“Father, I must protest. We do not have the time to waste on taking care of this…this…thing. I will not watch over it!” Damian pointed at Danny.

“You are certain of this decision?” Batman repeated

“Yes.”

“Very well, then I suppose Superboy can handle this responsibility.”

Damian perked up from the statement.

“Responsibility?”

“Danny will need help in assimilating back into society. He had trouble speaking and does not like loud sounds. I will not be able to watch him all the time and need someone to monitor Danny’s condition for me. I had assumed that you’d be perfect in taking the responsibility of watching over him since you’re close in age and you had to learn to assimilate yourself amongst the public. But if you can’t, Superboy can most likely handle Danny’s special needs until we find a more suitable arrangement.”

Damian frowned

“Danny comes with a dog. Cujo, come!” At those words a glowing green dog hopped out of the Batmobile and ran over to Batman. Sitting down in front of the vigilante while wagging his tail excitedly.

“Father I have changed my mind. I am more than ready to take up this responsibility.” Damian held his arms out for his father to hand Danny over to him.

A couple weeks later

“Father I have come to the conclusion that if anything were to happen to Danny, I will kill everyone involved and then myself.” Damian said while Danny is currently playing fetch with Cujo and Titus.

[redhoodinternaldialectical]

"Murder is Werewolves" - Batman

I don't got the SPOONS to do this thought train justice, I have seriously been trying to write this thing for MONTHS so just, idk, have this half baked skeletal outline of the essay I guess:

I don't believe that Batman's no-kill rule is primarily about rehabilitation or second chances.

His refusal to believe that Cassandra could have killed someone when she was eight years old because "how could a killer understand my commitment not to kill" is absolute fucking MOON LOGIC from a rehabilitationist standpoint. No jury on the planet would think for even a second that she could reasonably be held accountable for her actions in that situation! Her past cannot condemn her to being incapable of valuing human life under a rehabilitation centering framework. However, Batman's reasoning makes perfect sense if he believes that killing is a spiritually/morally corrupting act which permanently and fundamentally changes a person, and that corruption can never be fully undone.

Dick Grayson killing the Joker is treated both narratively and by Batman as an unequivocally WIN for the Joker. The Joker won by turning Nightwing into a killer. Note that this is during a comic in which the Joker transforming people was a major theme! Batman didn't revive the Joker because the Joker deserved to live; he revived the Joker to lift the burden on Dick.

His appeal to Stephanie when she tried to kill her dad is that she shouldn't ruin her own life. He gives no defense of Cluemaster's actual life. Granted this is a rhetorical strategy moment and should be taken with a generous pinch of salt, but it fits in the pattern.

When Jason becomes a willful killer, he essentially disowns him, never treats him with full trust ever again, and... Well, we can stop here for Bruce's sake. Bottom line is that his actions towards Jason do not lead me to believe that he thinks Jason can become a better person without having his autonomy taken from him, either partially or fully.

The Joker is, for better or worse, the ultimate symbol and vessel of pure, irredeemable evil in DC comics now. He hasn't been just another crook in a long time. He will never get better, he will only get worse. If you take it to be true that the Joker will not or can not rehabilitate, then there's no rehabilitationist argument against killing him.

Batman does not seem to consider it a possibly that he'll rehabilitate. Batman at several points seems to think that the Joker dying in a manner no one could have prevented would be good. Yet Batman fully believes that if he killed the Joker, he himself would become irredeemable.

Batman's own form of justice (putting people into the hospital and then prison) is fucking brutal and clearly not rehabilitative. He disrespects the most basic human rights of all criminals on a regular basis. It is genuinely really, really weird from a rehabilitationist standpoint that his only uncrossable line is killing... But it makes perfect sense if he cares more about not corrupting himself with the act of killing than the actual ethical results of any individual decision to kill or not kill.

In the real world cops are all bastards because they are too violent to criminals, even when that violence doesn't lead to death. Prison is a wildly evil thing to do to another human being, and you don't use it to steal away massive portions of a person's life if your goal is to rehabilitate them. In the comic world, Batman is said to be necessary because the corrupt cops are too nice to criminals and keep letting them out of jail. I don't know how to write a connector sentence there so like I hope you can see why this bothers me so damn much! That's just not forgiveness vibes there Batman!!

I want to make special note here of the transformative aspect. You don't simply commit a single act when you kill, no, you become a killer, like you might become a werewolf.

The narrative supports this a lot!

Why did Supes go evil during Injustice? He killed the Joker. Why did Bruce become the Batman Who Laughs? Bruce killed the Joker. Why was Jason Todd close to becoming a new Joker during Three Jokers? Because he killed people, to include the Joker.

Even if these notions of redemption being impossible aren't the whole of his reasoning (people never have only one reason for doing what they do) it is a distinct through-line pattern in his actions and reasoning, and it is directly at odds with notions of rehabilitation, redemption, and second chances.

So why does he give so many killers second chances?

Firstly because this doesn't apply to all versions of Batman. Some writers explicitly incorporate rehabilitation and forgiveness into his actions. You will be able to provide me with examples of this other through-line pattern if you go looking for them. The nature of comics is to be inconsistent.

Secondly the existence of that other pattern does not negate the existence of this one. People and characters are complex, and perfectly capable of holding two patterns of belief within themselves, even when they conflict to this degree. You can absolutely synthesize these two ideas into a single messy Batman philosophical vibescape.

Finally and most importantly to this essay: he has mercy on killers the same way that werewolf hunters sometimes have mercy on someone who is clearly struggling against their monsterous nature, especially if they were turned in exceptional circumstances or against their will. They understand that they are sick, damned beasts, cursed to always be fighting against themselves and the evil they harbor within. It is vitally kind to help them fight themselves by curtailing their autonomy in helpful ways and providing them with chances to do some good to make up for their eternal moral deficiency.

I think in many comics Batman views killers as lost souls. Battered and tormented monsters who must be pitied and given mercy wherever possible. (The connections to mental health, addiction, and rampant, horrifying ableism towards people struggling with both is unavoidable, but addressing it is sadly outside of the scope of this essay.)

Above all, the greatest care possible must be taken to never, ever let yourself become one of them, because once you have transformed the beast will forever be within you growing stronger.

To Batman, it is the most noble burden, the highest mercy, the most important commandment: Thou shalt suffer the monsters to live.

[batbabydamian]

DC June 2024 Solicitations - Comics Featuring Damian! 🦇

BATMAN #148

6/4/2024

Written by Chip Zdarsky

Art and Cover by Jorge Jimenez

Variant Covers: Woo-Chul, Homare (1:25), Gabriel Dell'Otto (1:50), Yasmine Putri, Skylar Patridge (DC Pride Variant)

“DARK PRISONS - FINALE” It all comes down to this: Batman versus Batman! With Damian's life - and the future of Gotham - hanging in the balance, nothing can prepare either version of the Dark Knight for what's about to happen!

BATMAN #149

6/18/2024

Written by Chip Zdarsky

Art by Michele Bandini

Cover by Jorge Jimenez

Variant Covers: Belen Ortega, Dan Panosian (1:25), Steve Lieber (1:50)

“DARK PRISONS - EPILOGUE” When confronted with the totality of your life, and all the choices that led you to where you are, do you build on the ashes, or rise from them? The Batman who is left standing will have to answer this question quickly, as someone is already sifting through those ashes, with an eye toward saving the world!

BATMAN AND ROBIN #10

6/11/2024

Written by Joshua Williamson

Art and Cover by Simone Di Meo

Variant Covers: Gleb Melnikov, Guillem March, Sergio Acuna (1:25)

SHUSH RISES! Man-Bat's plans have been unleashed on Gotham. The only person who can help Batman and Robin save the city is... SHUSH?! Can she set aside her hate for the dynamic duo and help, or will she let her quest for revenge overcome her?

THE BOY WONDER #2 of 5

6/4/2024

Written by Juni Ba

Art and Cover by Juni Ba

Variant Cover: Chris Samnee

Jason Todd is the exile prince of Batman's kingdom, stalking Gotham's darkest alleys and eternally turning his face from the light of day-all because he cannot quench the burning flame of anger and retribution that consumes his heart. Can Damian learn from Jason's mistakes? Or is the reflective mask of the Red Hood doomed to be a mirror held up to his own future?

WONDER WOMAN #10

6/18/2024

Written by Tom King

Art and Cover by Daniel Sampere and Belen Ortega (Backup Story)

Variant Covers: Julian Totino Tedesco, Daxiong, Jeff Spokes (1:25), Phil Jimenez (DC Pride Variant)

This cat has claws! Cheetah enters the fray as the Sovereign recruits Diana's greatest foe to deal the killing blow! Meanwhile, the Wonder Girls may have promised their mentor that they'd stay out of her fight, but well-behaved heroes seldom make history. Will they reach Diana before it's too late? Plus, Trinity takes to the skies...literally!

BATMAN: WAYNE FAMILY ADVENTURES VOL 5

8/6/2024

Written by CRC Payne

Art by Starbite

Cover by Vasco Georgiev

Collecting the finale of season two of the smash-hit WEBTOON series! When your superhero life is just as busy as your personal life, there's never a dull moment in the Bat-Family. Bruce Wayne's young heroes are still learning to fight and live side by side, but they always have each other's backs. Whether it's teaming up to fight a massive villain or a massive head cold, Nightwing, Robin, Oracle, Spoiler, the Signal, and the rest know what it takes to smash that problem in the face! Collecting episodes 98-116 of the massively popular WEBTOON series, optimized for a brand-new reading experience in print!

BATMAN AND ROBIN VOL 1: FATHER AND SON

8/6/2024

Written by Joshua Williamson

Art by Simone Di Meo, Nikola Cizmesija, Mikel Janin

Cover by Simone Di Meo

The Dawn of the Dynamic Duo Isolated from their friends and allies, Batman and Robin have moved into a Gotham City brownstone to rebuild their lives, reconnect with one another, and, of course, fight crime. No sooner do they settle in when they are attacked by their most monstrous villains, led by the mysterious Shush. Whispering from the shadows, she is intent on revenge with a plot to turn one of Batman's greatest assets against him! With his father incapacitated by Shush, can Damian help solve the case before it's too late? Can he survive the tribulations of high school at the same time? A brand-new fun and exciting adventure begins for comics' greatest father-and-son duo, from DC Comics architect Joshua Williamson (The Flash, Knight Terrors) and superstar artist Simone Di Meo (Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood)! Collects Batman and Robin #1-6!

[sxnshxnxxnddxxsxxs]

i feel like this is going to be so niche but that one scene from season one of my wife and kids about claire’s d’angelo poster.

duke introduces cass to d’angelo and she gets obsessed (we’ve all been there) so cass puts up a couple of posters and maybe a massive print of the untitled music video in her bedroom.

and bruce comes across them and takes them down triggering the silent treatment (and general lack of acknowledgement of his existence) from cass and solidarity silent treatment from duke.

which doesn’t work for #girldad bruce.

bruce: cass what’s wrong with you? we havent ominously stared into each other’s souls for days.

cass: that’s before you took down my d’angelo poster

bruce: the man was naked!

duke: and?

bruce: and? he didn’t have clothes on

duke and cass walk off together playing nothing even matters from their phones

bruce left with dick: did you see that poster?

dick: mhmmm, i mean uh huh

[peanutseagle]

we need Anya forcing Damian to go trick or treating with her in couples costumes (he secretly likes it)

They went as Kiki and Tombo!

[squid-kidz]

doodle of the sweet silly baby Damian 🫶

[mikami1992]

You know what…

Celebrities are followed by the Paparazzi

and Bruce Wayne is a celebrity.

so… in a stroke of luck a paparazzi manages to take a photo of Bruce Wayne aged 50 or more with a muscular and strong body that is also covered in numerous scars…

and this was just a month after the "leak" of a photograph of Bruce Wayne where he looked like a normal body according to his age and where the use of Photoshop to "improve" the image was debated for days…

now we don't know what to think…

[justlikearat]

Who’s he looking at…? 😊

[ghurab-alzilal]

Dick: Damian, why do you keep trying to stab people?!

Damian: Umi didn't raise a quitter.

Jason: Damn right, I didn't.

Dick: *rubs his frown *

[sketchywhale]

So, I haven't had time to do pretty much anything the last two weeks, but thankfully yesterday a large chunk of my family was over so I had time to start on these guys. Chibis have never been my strength and these are far from done, but I found some good references and I wanted to try some and figured why not do it with the batsibs?

I need to fix Jason big time and Damian and Dick's hair isn't my favorite, but I'll try tweaking them, but Duke was hard to find any reference for that didn't just give him a buzzcut and Damian's type of hair has always been a nightmare for me. As for Tim, just ignore that abomination, only thing I could say that I enjoyed was I couldn't find a good skin tone for him that was pale enough so I paint bucketed him with low opacity white paint fill and couldn't stop chuckling cause I painted him like a drag queen.

[weirdo-from-bonesborough]

we talk about itty bitty big sister cass and giant little brother jason but we never talk about cass having three years on duke and duke having four inches on cass