Parables have an almost child-like quality. The point is to communicate a moral or spiritual lesson succinctly, so they typically have a story-book cadance while still communicating deeper themes. The Boy Wonder offers a refreshing take on the Bat family using that lullaby-influenced structure.
This miniseries is a breath of fresh air because of how it tells the origin stories of each Robin. It seems it will retell the origin of one Boy Wonder per issue.
That isn’t a terribly original idea, but the point isn’t just about what story Juni Ba is telling but also how he’s telling it. Readers are treated to a rendering of the Robin story through the lens of storytelling that shares as much DNA with a lullaby story as a traditional comic.
The sophomore outing of this series focuses on Red Hood. From a visual perspective, I’m loving what Ba is doing here. Jason is wearing a sweatshirt and vest without the distracting Bat symbol on his chest, some ripped-up jeans and a pair of converse. He looks scrappy. Colorist Chris O’Halloran pitches in a warm, syrupy color palette that makes Gotham feel like an old red-light district in New Orleans. It complements Ba’s dreamy narrative style well.
When Damian meets Jason, he’s living in a run down apartment complex and is in full Hot Topic mode. While his angst meter is at an all time high, he still seems to have endeared the locals, who greet him as he strolls through the weary streets of forgotten Gotham. While his extreme methods may not engender the support of Batman, they seem to have some popularity amongst the underclasses of the Dark Knight’s city.
Damian asks for Jason’s help in getting to the bottom of the seemingly demonic force that’s haunting Gotham. Todd refuses, which gives rise to a fascinating dynamic.
As they encounter Rok, the elusive villain who is responsible for the disappearances Damian is investigating, the boys confront their shared insecurities. Both Damian and Jason feel like the outcasts of their families, both are too violent for their own good, and they resent each other for character traits that are all too apparent in themselves.
Jason’s reflection on his alienation from Batman is particularly painful to read: “I wasn’t his soldier anymore. I was a failure.”
Despite a more cartoonish look, Boy Wonder’s characters feel far more true to life than an average DC comic. Damian and Jason aren’t heroes or antiheroes, they’re disgruntled sons who feel insecure about their place in a family of high-achievers.
While there are plenty of series that have attempted to explore the relationships between Robins, I think sometimes writers can get distracted by the traditional structure of comic books, where the central focus has to be a hero taking down a villain. While there is technically a costumed antagonist in this series, I’d argue the real force the Robins are facing is insecurity. It’s a brilliant writing choice that spotlights how stressful it would actually be to carry the responsibility of the Bat mantle.
The issue ends with [minor spoilers] Damian accidentally being shot by Jason. They fish the bullet out and recuperate on the dingy floor of Todd’s apartment, which gives way to a conversation about their place in the family.
I don’t want to waste your time going through how great the dialogue is here, because you should just read it for yourself. It’s a genuinely moving scene that justifies the cost of picking this comic up alone.
Recommended if…
- You are a Red Hood fan.
- You enjoy a more psychological story.
- Really if you have any interest in any of the Robins you should be reading this.
Overall…
Maybe it’s just because I’m a struggling twenty-something, but Jason’s sense of listlessness and failure really hit me. In a comics landscape that can feel dominated by useless events and gimmicks, Boy Wonder is exploring emotional themes with a novel parable-like structure. While I don’t want to get too excited just two issues in, this mini will be required reading for any Robin fan if this quality is sustained to the end.
