Summary
WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers For DC Vs. Vampires: World War V #1!The sequel to the fan-favoriteElseworldsseriesDC vs. Vampiresplunges into a gripping new chapter asBatman’syoungest son andRobin, Damian Wayne, seemingly embraces his dark destiny. Now leading an army of ruthless killers reminiscent of the League of Assassins, Damian appears to have fully embraced his villainous role. This is a particularly gut-wrenching revelation, given that Damian was one of the few heroes not previously corrupted by vampirism.
Matthew Rosenberg, Otto Schmidt, and Pierluigi Casolino’sDC vs. Vampires: World War V#1elevates the stakes (pun absolutely intended) by turning the already intense vampire-human conflict into a three-sided war involving the humans, Barbara’s vampire army, and Damian’s vampire guerrilla fighters.
In this issue, Damian and his faction are revealed to be the only ones actively challenging Batgirl’s rule over the seven continents, as humans have formed an uneasy truce with their vampire overlords.Despite Damian’s continued resistance against the tyrannical Batgirl, he seems to have entered his own dark era—a development some might argue was always destined for the youngest Robin.
ReadDC vs. Vampires(2021-2022) &DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War(2022) to catch up on DC’s war against the undead!
InDC vs. Vampires: World War V#1, Damian makes an unforgettable return, emerging from a snow-covered forest with a squad of vampires behind him. He blocks a road with a fallen tree, forcing one of Batgirl’s convoys to stop. Leading the charge, Damian and his guerrilla fighters kill the other vampires, leaving just one alive to deliver a message to Batgirl: They are coming for her. Afterward, Damian and his vampires unlock the caravans, discovering that the vampires were transporting humans.Instead of freeing them, Damian allows his fighters to feed on—and presumably kill—the captives.
Damian leading a host of killer vampires eerily parallels the fate he was once destined for in the main continuity—where he was meant to succeed his grandfather as the leader of the League of Assassins. Raised from birth to be an assassin and expected to inherit Ra’s al Ghul’s dark mantle,Damian initially embraced a path of violence. Yet, he defied this grim destiny, choosing to follow his father’s footsteps by becoming a hero and upholding the ‘No-Kill’ rule, thereby rejecting his al Ghul upbringing. However, it appears that Damian is now slipping back into his darker inclinations.
Has Damian Wayne Officially Entered His Vampire Villain Era?
Damian leading a small army of vampires and condoning their killing of innocents is a tragic turn for the youngest Robin, who once fought fiercely against such a fate. It seems he is heading down a villainous path akin to his grandfather’s, where the atrocities committed are seen as justifiable for achieving his goals. Damian appears to rationalize the killing of humans to keep his fighters satisfied and strong, all in pursuit of eliminating Batgirl. However, there might be more to his actions than what is initially apparent. Meaning thatBatman’syoungestRobinmay not yet be lost to the dark side.
Damian Wayne’s Rejection of Batman’s Biggest Rules Makes Him A Hero
Batman’s rule against killing makes him a great hero, but sometimes Damian Wayne’s willingness to cross that line proves to be a necessary evil
DC vs. Vampires: World War V #1is available now from DC Comics!
