"Do You Remember What Your Father's First Step In Becoming Batman Was?"

"Do you remember what your father's first step in becoming Batman was?"

"His parents' deaths. He made a vow to them."

"And then...?"

"He traveled the globe. Learned the ways of the world. Trained with its greatest masters...then my father returned to Gotham, Pennyworth. You were there. He had his family's money and a plan. He thought that the skills he had learned were enough to fight Gotham's crime. But he was wrong. He came home hurt. Unsure of his mission. He felt that he had failed the vow he made to his parents. He couldn't make Gotham's dark side fear him...[a bat flies through the window]...my father knew then what he needed. A symbol. A symbol to strike fear. He became a Bat. And he took on a Robin...but I am not my father. I failed."

"The Bat was merely the inspiration, Damian. It was not his first step."

"What're you prattling on about, Pennyworth? What was his...the bell. He rang the bell...and you came and helped him. My father's first step in becoming Batman...was asking for help..."

-Robin (2021) #9

Wisps of the Hydra Galaxy

Batman Vs. Robin #2 - “Bewitched” (2022)

written by Mark Waid art by Mahmud Asrar & Jordie Bellaire

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #7 - “Reckless Youth” (2022)

written by Mark Waid art by Dan Mora & Tamra Bonvillin

just a couple of besties