The Boy Wonder #3 Review

The most interesting element of Juni Ba The boy prodigy It’s how he explores the Batman mythos and Robin’s place in that mythos. Ba has created his own unique version of Damian Wayne, showing how the latest Robin deals with being Batman’s son and living in the shadow of others. So far, he’s seen a shining example in Nightwing and the darkness that the Red Hood carries, but for my money The Young Prodigy #3 is particularly notable because of the people Damian interacts with.

In this issue, Damian and Tim Drake, aka Red Robin, infiltrate a party on Batman’s behalf since the Dark Knight is out of town. Said party is hosted by Oswald Cobblepot, aka the Penguin, aka the Mayor of Gotham. Tim and Damian have an ulterior motive for attending this party, as Damian senses that the “Demon” who is stalking him has taken up residence in Cobblepot’s tower.

DC fans tend to be divided when it comes to Damian and Tim. Some consider Tim to be less intriguing than the other Robins—Dick Grayson stepped out of Batman’s shadow to become Nightwing, while Jason Todd died and was reincarnated as the Red Hood (and takes a more lethal approach to dealing with criminals). Others believe that since Damian’s introduction, Tim has been pushed aside for him. I subscribe to a third option: Tim is an interesting character. because he chose to be Robin, proving that tragedy is not the determining factor in a superhero’s origin, and he and Damian can coexist because Robin’s purpose is to serve as a balance to Batman.

This is a theory that Ba also subscribes to. He starts out by describing Damian and Tim as characters who are in conflict, but in the final confrontation with the Demon, they work together and are really good at it. Tim even asks Damian a question about the time he killed a criminal: “I can’t figure you out, boy. I can’t figure out if you value life.” At the end of the issue, Ba answers that question.

Ba’s artwork once again presents a fresh take on the world of Batman, drawing on many influences. Tim’s Red Robin costume looks like a mix of his original Red Robin costume and the New 52 era, while Cobblepot bears a striking resemblance to how he appeared in Batman Returns – sweaty gray skin and fin-like hands included. But the best part of the issue are the panels dedicated to the various gadgets each Robin uses. Each panel is adorned with a Wayne Enterprises logo – courtesy of Aditya Bidikar – and rendered in black by Chris O’Halloran, showcasing what’s going on inside these “wonderful toys” that Gotham’s guardians wield.

The boy prodigy Issue #3 stands out because it does what I hope a Batman story would do: it gets Damian Wayne and Tim Drake working together, while also showcasing what makes them both Robins. Ultimately, this series is going to remind us why Robin—each of them—is important to Batman.