Warning: Spoilers for Wonder Woman #13!One overlooked part of Bat-Family lore isWonder Woman’srelationship with each of theRobins. 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 are sometimes even more interesting.
Wonder Woman#13 by Tom King, Tony S. Daniel, Leonardo Paciarotti, and Clayton Cowles follows Diana as she teams up with Robin Damian Wayne during the monumentalAbsolute Powerevent. Their bond is clearly fledgling - but also clearly meaningful to them both. But the issue also shows how the relationship that Wonder Woman haswith the Robins- not just Damian Wayne in this issue, but every Robin - has secretly been just as fundamental to DC lore as her relationship to 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 Profoundly 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 that relationship can be seen inJustice 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 opportunity - especially Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman was the most vocal about doubting that Robin was ready for a mission in the big leagues. Immediately upon meeting Dick Grayson, she calls him a child and states that “the League is no place for a child.” However, she is pleasantly surprised when she does end up seeing 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 trust, which not only instills further confidence in the lad but becomes the foundation for their partnership for years to come.
Wonder Woman is currently, actively, and happily taking orders from Nightwing during DC’s majorAbsolute Powerevent, which is focused around the main event series by Mark Waid and Dan Mora - thoughWonder Woman#13 is a key tie-in issue to the larger story.
Their initial meeting proved to Diana that Dick Grayson is worthy of standing beside the Justice League, and as Nightwing, she later deems him worthy of leading the Justice League,if not the whole DC Universe. They’d work closely side-by-side sporadically throughout the years, but their most significant interaction comes during and afterDark Crisis on Infinite Earthsby Joshua Williamson and Daniel Sampere, especially whenWonder Woman outright co-signs that Nightwing should lead the Justice League. That’s a testament 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 inWayne 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’s maybe not the best start for their relationship, but that doesn’t make Jason any less enamored with Wonder Woman’s presence, especially following a kiss on the cheek. That awe-inspiring feeling from Batman’s"chum"remains consistent into his adulthood, as theWayne Family Adventureswebtoon often depictsRed Hood as a Wonder Woman superfan.
“We’re a Family”: The Bat-Family’s New Status Quo Makes Comedic ‘Wayne Family Adventures’ Canon
Batman finally puts aside the “tortured loner” trope, instead looking to the brightest, most positive version of the Bat-Family as inspiration.
Beyond that, there haven’t been many interactions between Jason and Diana. One of their more notable moments comes inTrinity#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 prior, or even knowing that the young Robin she metand this Red Hoodare one and the same. If she never got the news that the fallen Robin grew up to become an anti-hero, thenthat’s an indicator that their personal relationship is perhaps on the weaker 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 often goes 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 are close enough for Wonder Woman to team up with her in a story fromWonder Woman#600 by Gail Simone, George Pérez, Scott Koblish, Hi-Fi, and Travis Lanham. Granted, Stephanie was Batgirl at the time, but it nonetheless is indicative ofhow close this Bat-Family member has become to Diana to be recruited for the team, even if their bond grows off-panel.
Off-panel seems to be the big theme of this entry, as the same can be said for Tim Drake’s “realtionship” with Diana.
Off-panel seems to be the big theme of 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-panel, but whenever they do join forces,Wonder Woman and Tim seem to have a decent dynamic. It’s hard to believe that they have no relationship whatsoever when he is close friends with and once dated her sidekick, Wonder Girl (which some would say wasthis Robin’s biggest mistake), but it should at least be inferred and assumed that Tim and Diana built some sort of rapport off-panel if nothing else.
Wonder Woman’s Relationship with Damian Wayne Is Only Just Beginning
Amplified inWonder Woman#13, Including the Backup by King, Khary Randolph, Alex Guimarães, and Cowles
As close as Wonder Woman has grown to Dick, she may end up being even closer to Damian Wayne.She’s unexpectedly emerged as a mentor to this Robin,with him becoming a sidekick to her when he’s away from Batman. Diana has practicallyadopted Damian as his “warrior mom,“and that fact is solidified inWonder Woman#13, where the new Dynamic Duo is showcased in both the main story and the backup story. In the former, he’s surprisingly the reasonable one in a team-up with Steve Trevor and Diana, who can’t keep their hands off each other.
ThoughWonder Woman#13 explores the early days of Diana and Damian’s relationship, King’s backups with Belén Ortega showing his future brotherly relationship with Diana’s daughter, Lizzie Prince, suggests that Diana will come to trust Damian - and Superman’s son, Jon Kent - enough to leave her toddler in his care. Whether she was right to do so is up to the reader’s discretion - check out a collection of Lizzie, Damian, and Jon’s adventures inTrinity Special: World’s Finest#1, a one-shot by King and Ortega, abvailable now from DC Comics.
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 suggesting he was gushing over Steve and Diana more than he actually was in the main story). Still, they have a cute dynamic. On that same note,Damian and Trinity have a close friendship in this one-possible DC future, as seen in several backup stories that illustrate howthey are practically siblings, since they’re that close.
Wonder Woman’s Major Role in the Bat-Family Is Still Underappreciated
What Will Come Next for Diana’s Relationships with the Robins?
Wonder Woman may not have a close relationship with everyone who ever donned a Robin mask, but for those she has touched,she’s influenced these Robins to be better heroes. She watched Dick Grayson grow from sidekick 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 arguably a predictor of who he is today. Meanwhile, her bond with Damian Wayne has quickly becomeDC’s ultimate superhero friendship.
“The Most Epic Wonder Woman Story of All Time” Officially Begins with the Birth of Her Daughter
Wonder Woman’s latest saga is only just getting started, as Trinity’s birth draws near and sets the stage for a groundbreaking new era.
That friendship is still in the early stages of development right now, but seeing how she instills better values and skills into the youngest Robin looks promising so far. All the more promising is that knowing 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 mold Damian into the hero he was always born to be. AlthoughWonder Womanmay not have a major relationship with everyRobin, her impact on Damian and Dick’s growth as heroes is undeniable.
Wonder Woman#13is available now from DC Comics.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is the superhero identity of Diana, Princess of the Amazons. Created on the island of Themyscira, Wonder Woman is a super-powered demi-goddess with extreme physical strength who utilizes magical gifts (like her famous Lasso of Truth) to defeat her foes. As mighty as her fellow heroes Superman and the Justice League, Wonder Woman is unmatched in her compassion and virtue.
