Throughout Juni Ba’s The Boy Wonder, Damian Wayne has grappled with who he wants to be. Is he the heir apparent to Ra’s al Ghul? Will he follow in his father Batman’s footsteps? The Boy Wonder #4 finally provides an answer to both questions, though it doesn’t come easily. Damian finds himself face to face with Ra’s, as well as his mother Talia – and Ra’s is displeased at the path his grandson’s taken. Damien’s battle against Ra’s leads him to plumb the depths of his soul, and finally figure out who he truly is.
Ba been exploring Damian’s relationship to Batman and the other Robins, so it only makes sense that he would also tackle the other side of the family tree. In doing so, he also showcases how Talia’s life has been impacted both by the arrival of Bruce Wayne (and how their relationship led to Damian) and how Ra’s’ crusade to wipe the earth of mankind has impacted her own goals. Ba also continues to explore how Damian taking a criminal’s life is weighing on him, leading to a confrontation that verges on the supernatural but also leads to an emotionally intense finale that will hit you in the heart. I’m not joking – I might have gotten a little teary eyed on the final page.
Said final page is actually a bit of a double edged sword, though. While it brings everything that’s happened in the series full circle, it also teases an issue that will see Damian and Batman come face to face. I feel like this issue was a perfect place to end the series, but who knows? Maybe Ba will surprise me. It also means we get to see more of his amazing artwork: Ba hasn’t skimped on the visuals in this series and he’s not stopping now. Talia’s origins are depicted as a tapestry that recreates some iconic moments (particularly from Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams’ Detective Comics run where she first appeared); Damian tumbles through darkness, with an eerie voice following him; scores of ninja blend together into a massive wall of shadows, with only the emerald green glow of the Lazarus Pits breaking through.
It’s Ra’s al Ghul himself who proves to be the most visually distinct character. Ba draws him as having a literal demon’s head, though that reveal doesn’t come until halfway in the issue. Chris O’Halloran keeps his face shrouded in shadow, adding layers of menace that build and build until the big reveal. Finally, Aditya Bidikar transforms Ra’s speech bubbles into a sinister, serpentine script that feels truly inhuman. This is what makes The Boy Wonder #4 such a great read: it’s not afraid to present Batman’s world in a new light.
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