Batman Names the 1 Enemy He Refuses to Fight Ever Again (No Matter What They Do)

Warning! Contains Spoilers For Batman and Robin #13!Batman has admitted there is one character he will never fight again, no matter what they do, as the Caped Crusader makes clear in the preview for an upcoming issue. Since Batman refuses to kill and Arkham usually can’t contain his villains for long, he’s locked in an endless cycle of fighting them over and over, but for at least one enemy, the cycle must end.

Batman and Robin #13 – by writer Joshua Williamson and artist Juan Ferreyra – features Damian unleashing his rage as he takes on a massive, muscular form due to the drug venom. This also greatly increases his aggression, and Damian wants nothing more than to tear apart Bane for killing Alfred. This is a completely understandable reaction, but with the drug fueling Damian’s rage, he might not be able to stop his rampage once he begins.

However, as Bruce makes clear, no matter what the circumstances, he will never fight his son Damian again.

Batman Vows Never To Come To Blows With His Son Damian Wayne Ever Again

Batman And Robin #13 – Written By Joshua Williamson; Art By Juan Ferreyra; Letterering By Steve Wands

Not wanting his son to lose himself to this drug, Batman steps between them, and when it seems like only force will be able to stop Damian, Batman admits that he will find another way because he will never fight his son again. Considering their complicated history over the years, this is a pretty major promise for Batman. This is just another example of Batman’s legitimate attempt to repair his relationship with Damian over the past year, something that has been central to this Batman and Robin run.

Damian Wayne and Batman haven’t always gotten along. When Damian first showed up in Batman’s life, he was a borderline supervillain, as he felt no empathy for anyone and had absolutely no issue using lethal force. If Damian had stayed on this path, there’s no doubt that he would’ve become one of Batman’s greatest villains. Thankfully, Batman managed to steer Damian down a different path and the two of them settled into a more healthy relationship, but they still had their fair share of battles over the years, most recently in Batman vs Robin​​​​​​.

Batman Is Trying To Be The Best Father & Mentor To Damian That He Can

Batman And Robin #13 – Available September 11, 2024

Damian is immensely stubborn, a trait that he no doubt inherited from his father; when Damian believes what he’s doing is right, he won’t let anyone get in his way, including his father. This has led them into conflict a few times. It’s even driven a wedge between them, as Damian has done things like go off to fight in a death tournament without informing his father. While conflict isn’t anything new for them, Bruce has made the effort to repair their relationship and has openly promised that he will never fight his son again, regardless of the situation.

It’s no secret that Batman hasn’t always been the best father to his kids, and there have been numerous situations where he’s hit them for one reason or another. This includes the infamous punch he gave to Tim Drake during City of Bane, and he once punched Nightwing so hard he knocked out his tooth, though that was to prove a conspiracy. This also isn’t even to mention the numerous brutal beatings that Batman has given to Jason Todd on several occasions. Yet crucially, he seems to be making an effort to never repeat this with Damian.

For Now, The Publisher’s Priority Is Letting Them Bond

Still, Batman and Robin readers should take this proclamation from Bruce as a sign of his intentions to be a better father, and a better heroic mentor to Damian than he has been previously, rather than concrete truth. That is to say, the potential for drama that comes from putting Damian and Bruce in conflict is likely too great for DC Comics to leave on the table forever. For now, though, the company seems committed to allowing the characters to develop a stronger bond than they ever have before.

While their relationship started out complicated, Bruce has been making a real effort to have a true father-and-son bond with Damian, including going on camping trips and attending Damian’s soccer games. While this isn’t an easy change for either of them, it’s definitely a step in the right direction, and the healthier relationship both need. The reason Damian was able to become a hero in the first place was because he was shown love and acceptance. Having a better relationship with Batman is exactly what Damian Wayne needs, and it all starts with a single promise from father to son.