Wonder Woman’s role in the formation of Robin is the most underrated part of Bat-Family lore

Warning: Spoilers for Wonder Woman #13!One overlooked part of Bat-family lore is Wonder Woman relationship with each of these Robins. It’s no secret that Batman relies on Wonder Woman more than any other member of the Justice League. As a frequent Trinity partner and popular romantic interest, Diana’s dynamic with Bruce Wayne is fundamental to DC lore. But her dynamic with Bruce’s charges is sometimes even more interesting.

Wonder Woman #13 by Tom King, Tony Sh. Daniel, Leonardo Paciarotti and Clayton Coles follow Diana as she teams up with Robin Damian Wayne during the monumental Absolute power event. Their bond is clearly fledgling – but also clearly meaningful to both of them. But the issue also shows how the relationship Wonder Woman has with the Robins—not just Damian Wayne in this issue, but every Robin—is secretly just as fundamental to DC lore as her relationship with Batman.

The Bat-Family is arguably DC’s first family, with Batman building the foundation of what later becomes DC’s connection to legacy in superhero storytelling. However, looking at Diana’s individual relationship with each Robin makes an argument for Wonder Woman deserving her own credit for building the Bat-Family into what it is today.

Wonder Woman’s relationship with Dick Grayson has grown over the years

Most intense after he becomes Nightwing

The crux of Wonder Woman and Dick Grayson’s relationship can be seen once he becomes Nightwing, but the building blocks of the relationship can be seen in Justice League #51 by Dan Abnett, Paul Pelletier, Sandra Hope, Adriano Lucas and Carlos M. Mangual. With Dick still early in his time as Batman’s sidekick at the time, the Dark Knight introduces Robin to the Justice League in hopes of giving the Boy Wonder his first major mission. However, at first glance, All the League sees is a boy not ready for the occasion – especially Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman has been the most vocal about doubting that Robin is ready for a mission in the big leagues. Immediately after meeting Dick Grayson, she calls him a child and says that “The league is no place for a child.” However, she is pleasantly surprised when she finally sees the original Robin holding his own in the thick of battle. He even proves useful once she borrows his insignia-shuriken. Dick earns Diana’s trustWhich not only instills further confidence in the boy but becomes the foundation for their partnership for years to come.

Their first meeting proved to Diana that Dick Grayson was worthy of standing beside the Justice League, and like Nightwing, she later deemed him worthy of leading the Justice League, if not the entire DC Universe. They would work closely side-by-side sporadically over the years, but their most significant interaction comes during and after Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths By Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sampere, especially when Wonder Woman immediately co-signs that Nightwing should lead the Justice League. This is a testimony of how much respect is mutual between the two heroes after years of working together.

Wonder Woman’s relationship with Jason Todd is more fascination than relationship

as charmingly represented in Wayne Family Adventures

Jason Todd’s Robin first meets Wonder Woman in the iconic Superman story, “For the Man Who Has Everything” by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, and she immediately mistakes him for Dick Grayson. It might not be the best start for their relationship, but that doesn’t make Jason any less enamored with Wonder Woman’s presence, especially after a kiss on the cheek. That awe-inspiring feeling of Batman “smell” Remains consistent in his adulthood, as the Wayne Family Adventures Webtoon often depicts Red Hood as a Wonder Woman superfan.

Other than that, there weren’t many interactions between Jason and Diana. One of their more notable moments comes in Trinity #12-15 by Rob Williams and V. Ken Marion, where she must combat a Red Hood possessed by a demon. But she shows no indication of ever meeting Red Hood before, or even knowing that the young Robin she met and the Red Hood are one and the same. If she never got the news that the fallen Robin grew to become an anti-hero, then That’s an indicator that their personal relationship is perhaps on the weak side.

Wonder Woman’s relationship with Stephanie Brown and Tim Drake could still be developed

More off-panel than on-panel

Stephanie Brown’s run as Robin was short enough that it is often forgotten and overlooked, but it proved to bridge the gap between her and other superheroes. While there aren’t many notable on-panel interactions between Steph and Diana, they’re close enough for Wonder Woman to team up with her in a story from Wonder Woman #600 by Gail Simone, George Pérez, Scott Koblish, Hi-Fi and Travis Lanham. Granted, Stephanie was Batgirl at the time, but it’s still indicative How close the Bat-family member became to Diana to be recruited for the teamEven if their bond grows off-board.

Off-board seems to be the big theme for the Robins of the ’00s, as the same can be said for Tim Drake’s “relationship” with Diana. Their interactions are few and far between on the panel, but when they join forces, Wonder Woman and Tim seem to have a decent dynamic. It’s hard to believe that they have any relationship whatsoever when he is close friends with and once dated her sidekick, Wonder Girl (which some would say was Robin’s biggest mistake), but it should at least be inferred and assumed that Tim And Diana built. Some sort of off-board report if nothing else.

Wonder Woman’s relationship with Damian Wayne is just beginning

Amplified in Wonder Woman #13, including the backup by King, Harry Randolph, Alex Guimaraes and Coles

As close as Wonder Woman has grown to Dick, she may be even closer to Damian Wayne. She unexpectedly emerged as a mentor to the Robin, With him becoming a sidekick to her when he’s away from Batman. Diana practically adopted Damian as his “warrior mom,” and that fact settled in Wonder Woman #13, where the new dynamic duo is featured in both the main story and the backup story. In the first, he is surprisingly the equal in a team with Steve Trevor and Diana, who cannot keep their hands off each other.

In the backup, an older Damian tells the story of his team-up with Diana to Jon Kent and Lizzie Prince, detailing the latter’s “secret origin”—though it’s safe to assume that Damian is an unreliable narrator in this retelling (especially When he suggested Steve and Diana he was gushing more than he actually was in the main story). Still, they have a cute dynamic. on the same note, Damian and Trinity have a close friendship in this one-possible DC futureAs seen in several backup stories that illustrate how they are practically siblings, since they are so close.

Wonder Woman’s major role in the Bat-Family is still underappreciated

What will come next for Diana’s relationship with the Robins?

Wonder Woman may not be closely related to everyone who has ever donned a Robin mask, but for those she has touched, She influenced the Robins to be better heroes. She watched Dick Grayson grow from righteous to leader, standing shoulder to shoulder with Nightwing and even willing to follow his lead. The confidence she instilled in him at a young age is certainly a predictor of who he is today. Meanwhile, her alliance with Damian Wayne quickly became DC’s ultimate superhero friendship.

The friendship is still in the early stages of development right now, but seeing how she instills better values ​​and skills in the youngest Robin looks promising so far. All the more promising is that if you know what kind of impact Wonder Woman had on Dick Grayson, the future looks bright for Damian Wayne in the same manner. Wonder Woman’s influence could help make Damian the hero he was always born to be. Although Wonder Woman May not have a major relationship with each RobinHer impact on Damian and Dick’s growth as heroes is undeniable.

Wonder Woman #13 is available now from DC Comics.