Off My Mind: When Will We See Damian Wayne's Clone?

Posted by G-Man (25947 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Damian Wayne is the meanest, cockiest and nastiest Robin there's been. That's what makes him so great. As the biological son of Batman and Talia al Ghul, it's no surprise that the ten year old Robin can easily stand on his own against his opponents. The story of his...conception is debatable. In Batman: Son of the Demon, Bruce Wayne and Talia did things...the old fashioned way. In current continuity, after Superboy Prime changed the fabric of the universe, Damian is actually the product of an augmented DNA combination between Talia and Bruce.

In Batman and Robin #12, Damian told his mother that Robin was who he wanted to be rather than side with her. Talia's response was was that she was preparing another Damian from his DNA. How long until we see our Damian fight this Damian-Clone?
== TEASER ==

Talia told Damian that the copy would be ten years younger than him when he's born. The chances of it actually taking ten years of comic book continuity time seems pretty slim. Even if it did take that long, we have seen Damian as an adult a couple times with no mention of his clone.

In Batman #666, it's an adult Damian fighting the evil in Gotham. We don't get a full recap of what Damian's been up to, only hints, so it's possible he could have had to face a ten year old younger version of himself.

There was also Ibn al Xu'ffasch (which translateas to Son of the Bat) in Kingdom Come who was the son of Batman and Talia. Again, there's no mention of a younger version and we don't see this Damian in action (except for the follow up The Kingdom which is another story).

In Teen Titans #18, the team is sent ten years into the future. In a graveyard at Arkham Asylum, full of Batman related heroes and villains, a tombstone for Ibn ah Xu'ffasch is seen when Tim Drake is fighting his adult self. Is this grave for Damian or for his younger clone?

Kingdom Come has been designated as occurring in a different Universe (Earth-22) and Batman #666 is a possible future. We know things can easily change, especially when new writers or editorial teams take over.

The fact that Grant Morrison had Talia show Damian (and us) that another Damian-Clone was cooking in a giant test tube tells me that this isn't the last we'll see of him. Whether or not this will be a good idea will obviously depend on how it's written. Is Damian going to every go by the name Ibn ah Xu'ffasch or will that be the name his clone uses? We may have clones popping up left and right for most characters and it is very cliche but I would love to see an older Damian have to fight a ten year old version of himself. It would be like some sort of karma that he would have to face his younger self. Maybe after they fought, Damian would be able to show him the error of his ways and have to try to raise him himself. That would be the ultimate payback, don't you think?

Thanks to BOPFAN#3 for bringing up the idea of the clone and making me think about it.

Staff

#1 Posted by shockwave632 (55 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

yeah I guess

#2 Posted by dondasch (921 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

I'll take the wait and see approach. After the debacle of clones in Spider Man, I'm iffy.

#3 Posted by comicbikerscott (152 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

cool i guess

#4 Posted by .o0Johnny0o. (757 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

I hope writers will leave this to the side for a few years at least. It'd have such a better impact if used after a long period rather than an overkeen writer come in and ruin a slow burner.

#5 Posted by Theodore (3445 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Could be good, I hope the clone takes the name Ibn ah Xu'ffasch...

#6 Edited by johnny_spam (2004 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

I think Morrison will follow up on this it's not like him to just introduce something and ignore it it all comes together. I think the clone will age superfast and I think he was The Heretic in Batman The Return since when he confronted Damian he told him that they were the same.

#7 Posted by Bruce Vain (1868 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

I hate clones. There are few exceptions like Connor Kent. But generally I hate clones. It usually ruins things. Do we all remember the clone saga storyline with Spidey ? That was just a headache. I prefer Damian & Ibn being one and the same.

#8 Posted by Decept-O (6697 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

@Bruce Vain said:

"I hate clones. There are few exceptions like Connor Kent. But generally I hate clones. It usually ruins things. Do we all remember the clone saga storyline with Spidey ? That was just a headache. I prefer Damian & Ibn being one and the same. "

I agree with you on that one. Connor Kent AKA Superboy is a clone I also am fond of but this whole clone thing pertaining to Damian....me no likey.... Funny you mention the Spider-Clone Saga, because ol' G-Man loves the Scarlet Spider.

#9 Posted by KRYPTON (1819 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Awesome. Amazing how much research you dug up

#10 Posted by Icemizer (181 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Realizing she made a mistake with her first son. Talia will age the second Damian to adulthood with very specific instructions and loyalty programmed into its brain. This adult Damian will show the young Damian just what he might turn into if he continues his present course. Weather this is good or bad or not only time will tell.

#11 Posted by Baron_Emo (3570 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

@.o0Johnny0o. said:

" I hope writers will leave this to the side for a few years at least. It'd have such a better impact if used after a long period rather than an overkeen writer come in and ruin a slow burner. "

I agree. Wait several years.

#12 Posted by Fantasgasmic (1018 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

I'm NEVER a fan of clones, but I think it could be fun to show a possible future where 20 year old Damian, maybe just taking the mantle from Tim, has to fight a 10 year old version of himself that's just as annoying as he is now. Always fun to have characters go "my god, I really was a brat back then." I also think it would be HILARIOUS if, in that scenario, Damian-clone decided to become Damian's Robin. I mean how freaking funny would that be?

#13 Posted by weapon154 (339 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

No, we'll see him soon. Batman Inc. needs a villian or group to fight against, I think the clone'll be involved in something like that.

#14 Posted by Doctor!!!!! (2053 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Its a matter of time, batman inc. Now project Cadmus needs to start some mess!

#15 Posted by Sydpart2 (1084 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Looking at how Morrison writes, that he doesn't throw out anything at all, hell he brought back Bat-mite, the red phone to police head quarters, and the entire silver age. I'm starting to think that Son of the Demon is where Damian came from, but that the Damian we currently see is a clone of the child Talia gave away. You can say what you like about Talia but there is no denying she is a
nurturer at heart. She always took care of her father, she became a mother to Jason, she is a very caring woman when it comes to people she loves. I have a hard time believing that she would repeatedly send her own son to be beaten within an inch of his life by assassins. I think that she cloned the child she gave away at the end of Son of the Demon, and this clone is the Damian we know.

#16 Posted by placeboaddiction (13 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Oh, this actually looks exciting.

#17 Posted by Dracade102 (8175 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

One Damian is bad enough.

#18 Posted by Metatron_Da_Don (1033 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

he'll appear in around 6 storylines in a couple years ala Deadpool/Wolverine, just my prediction.

#19 Posted by Neverpraying (1465 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

I am behind on my Batman, so excuse me for asking but Damian is evil?

#20 Posted by Dr. Maxwell (661 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Chances are The Heretic is the clone, and Leviathan is the latest incarnation of the Hyper Adapter

#21 Posted by vincethekid (63 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Anything can be cool as long as it's done right. If you want this to be a better or more memorable clone story don't let Grant Morrison write all of it. Trust me.

#22 Posted by Razeil (56 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

I'm not a big fan of clone stories i general, the clone saga killed Spider-Man. But saying that I loved the Scarlet Spider and Superboy as well but both were around for sometime. Damian reminds me of Jason Todd but with a biological connection to Bruce, not a fan but neither a hater. I think once Bruce is back and Damian has calmed down ultimately accepting his father's way, his character will become balance and accepted by the public. But dropping a clone into the mix too early will just bring the series more cliches which would do more harm than good.

#23 Posted by joshmightbe (19516 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

I think clones and evil twins are the absolute worst cliche' in comics and sci fi and honestly the very thought of an evil clone makes me not want to read a book the spider-man clone saga pretty much killed it for me

#24 Posted by G-Man (25947 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

@Decept-O: I love Scarlet Spider but the Clone Saga could have been handled differently towards the end.

Staff

#25 Posted by Decept-O (6697 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

@G-Man: That I didn't realize! I thought you were really fond of the whole storyline. OK, so at least we know you love Scarlet Spider. Have to plead the 5th here, though, as I've not read the rest of the Clone Saga.

@Neverpraying: That is the whole "fun" thing about Damian. You aren't entirely certain to a degree given his maternal pedigree, but thus far he is just acting like a tool for lack of a better explanation.

#26 Posted by G-Man (25947 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

@Decept-O: Someday I'll write about why Ben Reilly isn't dead and my biggest complaint about the Saga. I didn't mind the trickery. People got too upset when it was said Spider-Man was a clone. I knew that wouldn't stay. Perhaps I'll write about it next week.

Staff

#27 Posted by Decept-O (6697 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

@G-Man:
Cool! You can count yours truly as one who did read a good portion of the storyline, though, and yes, I wasn't too keen on thinking that Spider-Man may have been a clone. Still, it did inject some interest in Spider-Man. In hindsight, that whole storyline is far more digestible than say...some other..."brand new days"...for Peter Parker. OK, I won't gripe too much about that. Maybe!

#28 Posted by DarkSyde79 (214 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

I really hope we don't have to deal with anymore clones anytime soon!!! Especially the clone of a genetically created (test tube baby) of Batman and Talia!!! Luckily Damian will have to be nearly 20 before we deal with that which gives us some time... unless they quicken his aging process... oh, I so do REALLY hate clones!!! :os

#29 Posted by J1ml33 (477 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Grant Morrison is a freaking genius , Love the unorthodox creative direction of the batman universe if only Mark Millar would have taken better notes but oh well .
Long Live Grant Morrison ! ( Hope his run will be the greatest of all time!) also I hope his clone problem will pan out into something really really big ! (and the Damian clone should team up with Jason Todd! to bring down the bat once and for all !)

so may the real Damian wayne please stand up ,please stand up !

#30 Posted by Bruce Vain (1868 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

@G-Man:
@Decept-O:
Yea Scarlet Spider I was okay with. I did love his design, but just that whole clone storyline and who was the "real" Peter Parker was all just bs.

#31 Posted by FireFlare153 (107 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

My god... Not more clones!!

#32 Posted by leokearon (1593 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Just what the world needs another Damian.

Still the whole rewriting of his conception reminds me of what Neil Gaiman said about the DC universe years ago.

#33 Posted by MuadDiab (330 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

well it wouldn't be his clone it would be an entirely different person. just made in the same process damien was

#34 Posted by JonesDeini (3593 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Like most of Morrison's run, I hope it's forgotten intentionally by future writers...

#35 Posted by thecheckeredman (397 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Clones shmones!

#36 Posted by mickoreo_LZ (250 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Damian is an interesting character. Hopefully whoever writes this clone saga doesn't ruin that

#37 Posted by joshmightbe (19516 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Clones are nothing more than a sign that a writer is running out of original ideas, its over done and most of the time terrible

#38 Posted by spiderguylll (620 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Clones are never a good idea
X-23 is the ONLY clone I accept

#39 Posted by joshmightbe (19516 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

@spiderguylll: I think of x23 as more of a test tube baby than a clone

#40 Posted by ChrisTobin (14 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

It would be great if the clone went unmentioned, yet uncontradicted, for a number of years (comic time). Then, once he's faded into obscurity, somebody springs him back onto us. I doubt that will happen though given how slow comic time can be compared to real time.

#41 Posted by batman_is_god (1185 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

We have already seen the clone. Damian fought him in #666

#42 Posted by blaakmawf (187 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Too many clones.

#43 Posted by thatlad (579 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Here's something to think about, the 'Damian Wayne' in 666 and grant morrison's future is pretty damned hard he kills with extreme prejudice. What if the 'Damian' we've seen is the clone?

Don't get me wrong I could see Damian go down this path but it's a little off the beaten path for Bruce, Dick, Tim, Superman etc. to let this happen

#44 Posted by Grim (2049 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

i bet at some point someone else will steal the clone and use advance tech ( Luthor or Brainiac or the like) to speed up the process.
Either that, or they plan to kill Damion at some point, and the alternative is to download his brain into the clone.

#45 Posted by Crimson Eagle (1385 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Wait, don't clones age rapidly.
Hmmm... we might see the Damien clone sooner than we think.

#46 Posted by goldenkey (2927 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Man is Damian popular right now. I must admit that Im actually starting to like the pompous little jerk myself. He's coming around. He actually trusts Dick, which is what changing him. I still don't like the idea that he's 10. To young. It worked for the more kid friendly comics for when the first 2 Robins were around, but not so much now. No 10 year old can beat up a some what decent fighting adult. No strength, no weight behind punches and kicks. No. no. no.

#47 Posted by darksoul7th (210 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Clones are getting out of control!

#48 Posted by Journey Into Chaos (311 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

meh.

#49 Posted by Leegar88 (85 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

@johnny spam:
Yeah dude I assumed him and Robin had some sort of connection(maybe a future self or clone) and I had not read batman in a while.

#50 Posted by CrimsonInuTears (463 posts) - 2 years, 5 months ago - Show Bio

Probably some future Damain batman villain in some one-shot/mini-series they make. Otherwise, not really, seein as he'll age like a normal human(she did say younger brother), like Damian himself. 10 year dif means plenty, even if not much to comics~

Damian Wayne

Damian Wayne is the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia al Ghul. Trained by the League of Assassins all his life, Damian joined his father’s side in the war against crime by becoming the fifth Robin. Damian later met his heroic demise at the hands of his adult clone the Heretic.

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