Boy Wonder
By Juni Ba
Review by Mida
Damian Wayne, newly appointed Robin and son of Bruce Wayne has been raised to be a killer his entire life. While he initially lashes out at those who previously held the mantle of Robin, he soon discovers that those who came before have knowledge worth learning while also grappling with his internal conflict between the two dissonant roles he is destined to fill.
If you are a fan of Batfam antics, this is the comic for you. Damian is slowly coaxed out of his shell through the patience of the other Robins and as the story goes on, he studies his older foster brothers and begrudgingly learns to respect them. For those who aren’t very familiar with Batman’s crime-fighting posse, fear not. This comic does a masterful job of establishing who each Robin is and what makes them unique. Each chapter is like a fable with a different moral that Damian must learn and his predecessors will be the ones to teach him.
Ba has such a delightful art style that almost delves into the abstract. The neon colours, stark and aggressive shadows and cartoony silhouettes work together to create adrenaline-pumping fight scenes while maintaining a strong sense of melancholy when Damian wanders alone. Boy Wonder ends up feeling less like a traditional comic and more like a fairy tale, the tale of a young man struggling with who he must become.
Perfect for fans of Batman, both new and old, especially fans of Batman and Robin: Year One or the classic animated series.
