Robin’s True Father Was Superman’s Oldest Ally, Not Batman – Theory

In DC Comics, Damian Wayne has held the title of Robin for some years now, and it’s a matter of canon that he is the biological child of Batman and his former lover Talia al Ghul. All of the pieces are there, from his indomitable will to his blue-black hair. But a keen-eyed fan recently found some evidence that could contradict the veracity of Bruce Wayne’s paternity and point instead to a classic ally of Superman—Jimmy Olsen! 

What’s a superhero without their sidekick? Whether meeting the battle alongside them, helping tackle a threat with multiple fronts, or simply cheering from the sidelines, almost every prominent protagonist has a trusty chum or two to lighten the load. For Superman, the affable Jimmy Olsen was one of the first. The mild-mannered photographer has been the subject of nearly countless transformations and experimentations throughout his publication history. Yet, nothing that’s happened to Olsen would be quite so shocking as the apparent revelation in Action Comics #1006(written by Brian Michael Bendis with Ryan Sook on pencils), where he claims to have slept with the daughter of the Demon’s Head. 

@amadcartoonist on Twitter posted a screenshot of the two panels that contain this fragmented confession. The first shows Jimmy just in the beginning of venting to his friend about why he thinks “sleeping with Talia al Ghul was a huge mistake” when the distracted Kryptonian asks him to “hold that thought” and races off to chase a supervillain. Stunned in the wake, Jimmy tosses a few Post-Its into the air, which say “Call Mrs. Al [sic] Ghoul 10:15” and “T–Al Ghoul called 9:15.” Remarkable how a man with superhuman hearing can be such a poor listener. But it’s really the Tweet’s caption that draws particular attention: “Roses are red/Skateboards are rad/Jimmy Olsen/Is Damian Wayne’s real dad”

Yes, this may be ridiculous to comprehend. For one thing, Damian Wayne and Jimmy Olsen look nothing alike. Moreover, Jimmy’s history of genetic manipulation would probably predispose any child he does have to some level of metahuman ability. Damian has yet to display any such quirks. Though on a very practical level, it should be noted just how many women Batman has slept with, let alone how many suitors Talia has entertained. Is it completely without purpose to speculate even momentarily on the possibility that some fertilizing wires got crossed? 

In the end this was probably little more than a gag thrown in by Bendis. Then again, comic book writing is a long and patient game. Even if Damian Wayne isn’t Jimmy’s son, that one speech bubble alone could be the seed of an Elseworlds miniseries where “James Olsen Junior al Ghul” leads the League of Shadows on an intergalactic conquest that can only be halted by his father—with Batman and Superman at his side, of course. 

Source: Twitter

About The Author