WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for DC VS. VAMPIRES: WORLD WAR V #4!
After months of teasing, DC has finally revealed the identity of the newBatman, and I’m thrilled to say I’m one of the fans who guessed it correctly. But honestly, I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’m still in shock. I never thought DC would have the guts to hand the Dark Knight mantle to one of Batman’s most notorious supervillains.
I’d love to see Damian, alongside his two feuding grandfathers, hunting vampires…
Afterkilling off Bruce Wayne inDC vs. Vampires#6 (2022), Earth-63 was left without a Batman. However, Matthew Rosenberg, Otto Schmidt, Pierluigi Casolino, and Tom Napolitano’s sequel series,DC vs. Vampires: World War V, changed that in 2024 by teasing the return of the Batman mantle.
Despite the new Dark Knight appearing multiple times throughout the first three issues, it wasn’t until the latest release—issue #4—thatDC officially revealed Batman’s identity as Ra’s al Ghul,the infamous supervillain and Damian Wayne’s grandfather. This revelation had me pumping my fist in the air, as I had predicted Ra’s al Ghul would be the new Batman a month in advance.
How I Knew Ra’s al Ghul Was Batman a Month Before the Official Reveal
Main Cover by Otto Schmidt forDC vs. Vampires: World War V#3 (2024)
Ra’s al Ghul’s Batmanhas made numerous appearances throughout the narrative, but his suit covers every inch of his skin, including the lower half of his face, which conceals his signature goatee and mustache. As a result, there was no way to guess his identity based on looks alone.It wasn’t until issue #3, when Robin and this new Batman finally interact, that Rosenberg gave fans their first substantial clueas to who the new Dark Knight might be. This clue came towards the end of the issue, when Damian was attacked by the vampiric trio of Wonder Girl, Raven, and Black Adam, only for this mystery Batman to swoop in and save the day.
The first hints about this Batman’s identity came in the way he spoke to Damian. Most notably,this Dark Knight addressed Robin with a sense of familiarity, making it clear that whoever was under the mask knew Damian personally.Since most of Damian’s family is dead, this narrowed the list of suspects significantly. Additionally, this Batman spoke with a distinctly superior tone, even referring to Damian as“child”—a manner of speaking that is very characteristic of Ra’s al Ghul. These clues led me to conclude that it was Damian’s grandfather under the mask.
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My theory that the new Batman of Earth-63 was Ra’s al Ghul was proven correct inDC vs. Vampires: World War#4, when Ra’s unmasks in front of Damian at the White House, his current base of operations.Even if Ra’s’ signature facial hair hadn’t confirmed his identity, his response to Damian’s snark—“You’d be wise to remember who you are talking to, my grandchild”—left no doubt.In this interaction, it becomes clear that Damian is less concerned about his grandfather assuming the Batman identity and more enraged by Ra’s’ absence when the rest of Damian’s family was being killed and torn apart.
Damian rants about all the ways Ra’s failed him by not being there when he needed him most. However, despite the anger in Damian’s words, it becomes increasingly apparent that the rage is a mask for the deep hurt he feels. This emotional outburst is particularly refreshing for Damian’s character, as it serves as a reminder that, despite his competence, he is still a child. It also provides fascinating insight into Damian’s relationship with Ra’s, showing that,despite the bad blood between them, Damian still cares for his grandfather deeply.
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Surprise, Surprise: Ra’s Wants to Use His Grandson to Conquer the World
While the moment between Ra’s and Damian inWorld War Vseems like the beginning of a broken relationship on its way to being mended,I was quickly reminded that the Head of the Demon does nothing unless it personally benefits him, as it soon becomes clear why he came to find Damian in the first place. Ra’s begins by waxing poetry about how he and Damian are the only family they have left, suggesting that together they can seek revenge on the vampires and defeat them. When Damian asks if his grandfather truly believes they could defeat all the vampires, Ra’s responds,“Not destroy. Lead.”
This answer rightfully confuses Robin, especially when he points out that Ra’s isn’t even a vampire. To which his grandfather replies,“No. But you can change that.”In that moment, all my hopes for a mended relationship between Damian and his grandfather came crashing down, as it became clear that Ra’s wasn’t seeking out his grandson for the sake of family. Instead,he had a selfish goal—to have Damian turn him into a vampire and aid him in his quest to rule over all other vampires.This revelation that Ra’s only wants to use Damian is disappointing but entirely in character.
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Cover C Card Stock Variant by Stephen Segovia forDC Vs. Vampires: World War V#4 (2024)
Despite being manipulated by Ra’s countless times,Damian is once again on the verge of falling for his grandfather’s schemes as he leans in to bite him.However, DC’s newest Green Lantern—Alfred Pennyworth, AKA Damian’s pseudo-grandfather—swoops in just in time to stop him. Initially thrilled to seeAlfred and his new Green Lantern status, Damian soon feels betrayed when he learns that Alfred has had the ring since severing Hal Jordan’s hand and only just decided to use it. This sparks a confrontation between Ra’s and Alfred, as they argue over who is better suited to look after Damian and aid him in his mission.
Though they’re all at odds, this situation raisesthe intriguing possibility that Batman Ra’s al Ghul, Green Lantern Alfred Pennyworth, and Robin Damian Wayne could form a new iteration of the Terrific Trio—a group name traditionally associated with Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl, Bruce Wayne’s Batman, and Dick Grayson’s Robin. I’d love to see Damian, alongside his two feuding grandfathers, hunting vampires—this dynamic would undoubtedly lead to some hilarious moments. With the way issue #4 ended, it’s also likely that the newBatmanandGreen Lanternwill have to team up to saveRobinfromGreen Arrow’swrath.
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DC VS. VAMPIRES: WORLD WAR V #4is available now from DC Comics!
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
