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One of the most legendary yet controversial decisions in DC account was allowing fans to decideRobinJason Todd ’s fate in the iconicBatman : A Death in the Familystoryline . While DC is n’t putting Robin ’s liveliness in the hands of readers this time , it appears the publisher is revisiting the notorious premise ofA Death in the Familywith Damian Wayne ’s Robin — this time with newfangled twists that could make it even more disgraceful .
The 2d , more outlandish possibility is that DC might indeed reverberate A Death in the kinsperson — but not with Damian ’s Robin .
Set to release on April 9 , 2025,Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Javier Fernández’sBatman and Robin#20 crank up the tension as Damian Wayne finds himself living up to the infamous"Boy Hostage"legacy after being kidnapped — in all likelihood by Batman ’s newest nemesis , Memento .
While the kidnapper ’s identity element has n’t been explicitly confirmed , all signs point to the sinister mastermind behind Gotham ’s in vogue chaos . Adding to the stake , Batman is far from his undecomposed , still cope with the hallucinatory outcome of Memento ’s misrepresented concoctions . This raises the press doubt : can the Dark Knight keep it together long enough to save Robin before it ’s too late ?
Is DC About to Pull AnotherA Death in the FamilyStoryline with Robin?
Main Cover forBatman and Robin#20 (2025) – Art by Javier Fernández
For those who need a refresher course , Jim Starlin and Jim Aparo’sBatman : A end in the Family(1988 ) rescue one of the most controversial plot line in comical history . The narrative saw Jason Todd ’s Robin held jailed and brutallybeaten by the Joker before in the end being killedin a warehouse explosion . This story remains especially tenderness - wrenching as it depicts Batman racing to save Jason , only to arrive too tardily and witness the devastating explosion that claim the life of his son and crime - fighting pardner . Based on DC ’s collection forBatman and Robin#20 ( 2025 ) , there are some unsettling parallels between this upcoming issue and the tragicA Death in the Familyarc .
The synopsis tease a plot line in which Robin is kidnapped , and Batman is in a desperate airstream against the clock to save him — now bringing to mind the issue ofA Death in the Family . However , it ’s the cover artistic production for the result that makes these parallels particularly unnerving . Javier Fernández ’s chief cover portray a fiery , chaotic tantrum with Robin just out of Batman ’s grasp . The Dark Knight ’s face is etched with palpable fear as he hit for his Word , mirror the haunt imagination fromA Death in the FamilyandBatman : Under the Hood#14.The color pallette , opus , and emotional intensity of the cover version call forth an patent sense of déjà vu .
While the scenes are n’t exact replicas , the similarities are undeniable , peculiarly the shared stress on Bruce ’s cobwebby panic and desperation — a hallmark of all three narratives . These ocular echoes , paired with the storyline of Batman fighting to deliver his kidnapped Word , makeBatman and Robin#20 feel like a chilling recall toA Death in the Family . And while some may dismiss the melodic theme of DC kill off Damian , it ’s worth remember that they ’ve already done so once before . Furthermore , this currentBatman and Robinrun has exploredDamian retiring from his persona as Robin — something his end would undoubtedly solidify .
Red Hood Joins theBatman and RobinNarrative: Is DC Teasing a Game-Changing Twist?
Panel Comes FromBatman: Under the Hood#14 – Art by Shane Davis
While there is a very real possibility that DC could be make toward the destruction of Robin , there are other potential effect to consider — one plausible and the other more bad . The first and perhaps most probable scenario is that Damian ’s kidnapping results in a debilitate injury that permanently strike out him from the role of Robin . This would launch the door for him to search his newfound passion for the medical field of study . Even a irregular injury could give Damian enough prison term away from vigilantism to full immerse himself inhis medical ambition , potentially result him to choose this itinerary over his crime - fight bequest .
The second , more gonzo hypothesis is that DC might indeed echoA Death in the Family — but not with Damian ’s Robin . or else , it could involve Red Hood . Jason Todd has just beenreintroduced into theBatman and Robinstoryline , and with Batman compromised , the responsibility of Damian ’s rescue might lessen to him . This raises the wild but intriguing possibleness that Jason could give himself to save Damian , mirror his own tragic past . Considering DC has n’t been utilizing Jason heavily in late storylines , his inclusion inBatmanandRobincould foreshadow architectural plan to kill offRed Hoodin a way that pay homage to his original death .
Batman and Robin # 20is available April 9 , 2025 , from DC Comics !
