The Boy Wonder Rises
This issue justifies fusing together the Terminus and Robin Challenge arcs, and brings a heartwarming conclusion to Damian's quest for superiority, but really drops the ball on making Terminus a solid arc.
For starters, we're never really given any kind of explanation as to what it was that caused Terminus to be the weird decaying way he was, or how Batman was responsible, or how really he was able to keep himself alive. And then after introducing himself as Terminus, he demands Batman tell him his (Terminus') name DESPITE HIS FACE BEING HIDDEN BEHIND A HELMET? Do you want Batman to say Terminus or do you want Batman to tell you your real name? Are you trying to make a point? Because there's no way Batman would recognize you WHEN HE CAN'T SEE YOUR FACE. And speaking of that helmet he's wearing, it looks absolutely stupid and goofy.
But the worst part is the timing. This issue came out right alongside The Dark Knight Rises, and the end of this arc is almost exactly the same. I don't know if Tomasi knew the ending of the movie early to rip it off, but the feeling of deja vu is extremely uncanny and unavoidable. But really, did Batman actually save the day here? The missile was supposed to release a rain of 'death and decay' in the form of a weapons grade toxin. So, when Batman steered it into the Gotham Harbor.... doesn't that mean the toxin's now in the water?
The only saving grace to the story here is the team up of all the former Robins, minus Stephanie Brown, putting aside their differences to protect a city in danger. The real treat to this portion of the story is Nightwing continuing to show how he's different from the rest of the family, though essentially proving again why he should have the blue costume. He has been the compassionate 'role model' older brother to Damian, not always at the kid's throat, but eager to guide him along a more generous and sociable path. Tim and Jason's attempts to outcast Damian only make him worse, so DIck takes it upon himself to offer an olive branch to end Damian's quest, granting him both victory, and comfort that he didn't need this quest in the first place.
In Conclusion: 3/5
This arc started off so well, and the conclusion of Damian's challenge to the other Robins was perfectly in line with the deep psychological exploration of this tortured little kid; but this arc was taken over completely by Terminus and his arc; and that arc's resolution is anything but satisfying.