To design his new Robin, Zur-En-Arrh cloned Batman.
Damian has been kidnapped by Zur-En-Arrh and his new Robin in Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jiménez, Tomeu Morey, and Clayton Cowles Batman #148. Unaware that Damian has been messaging the Bat-Family Morse code through the electronics in his suit, the new Boy Wonder boasts about how he and Zur-En-Arrh would purify Gotham. To keep Robin from rebuffing and short-circuit the electronics, Zur-En-Arrh zaps Damian. While the new Batman tests his latest creation, Zur-En-Arrh leaves his Robin behind to babysit Damian.
The Bat-Family is on a mission to save Damian and put Zur-En-Arrh permanently under control outside Blackgate Penitentiary Red Hood and Nightwing accompany Batman; Robin Tim Drake sets off to locate Damian. He breaks into the study Damian is under before Tim is unexpectedly ambushed by Robin from Zur-En-Arrh. Tim looks at the new Boy Wonder one time and realizes shockingly that Bruce has been cloned by Zur-En-Arrh to produce the new Robin. As the restrained Damian watches, Bruce's clone savagely strikes Tim.
Why did Zur-En-Arrh create His Own Robin?
After Bruce was framed for killing the Penguin, Batman's backup ego surfaced once more to handle his robotic contingency Failsafe. Unknown to Batman, the framing was a scheme by the Joker to have Zur-En-Arrh take over Batman's body permanently. Joker almost fulfilled his dream since once Failsafe was handled, Zur-En-Arrh started working on a scheme to eradicate all kinds of crime. Zur-En-Arrh gradually undermined Batman's will to attempt and seize control of his body over time.
Batman #146 (2024) exposed Joker's part in enabling Zur-En-Arrh to emerge! Though failing, Zur-En-Arrh was able to send his consciousness to the Failsafe robot. Zur-En-Arrh supplanted Bruce and Gotham's Dark Knight once Batman was locked away. The Bat-Family had no idea what was going on, hence he grabbed them forcefully and locked them in Blackgate. Damian, the counterfeit Caped Crusader persuaded he was actually Bruce Wayne's consciousness dwelling in the Failsafe body, was the only person Zur-En-Arrh could bring over to his side. The new Batman launched his ideas into high action once Damian was on his side.
DC Notes New Evil Robin is a permanent addition to Gotham Lore (& Damian Wayne's perfect nemesia).
New Robin arrived in town and he has everything to be Damian Wayne's best enemy yet. Batman's ultimate contingency Zur-En-Arrh is out to permanently clean the planet of crime, but even this warped Dark Knight cannot accomplish this by himself.
Damian accompanied Zur-En-Arrh as the rest of the Bat-Family worked to discover what had happened to the actual Bruce Wayne; he thought the impostor was his father. But as Batman's son came to know the truth, Zur-En-Arrh revealed he already had a new Boy Wonder scheduled, and this evil Robin could be the toughest opponent Damian Wayne has ever known.
Perfect Opportunity DC Shouldn't Pass Up Robin's 'Brother'
Bruce having a clone has somewhat disruptive consequences, but the new Robin would have an interesting chemistry with his half-clone brother, Damian Wayne. Like Damian developed by the League of Assassins as a weapon of war, this new Robin was developed to fight for Zur-En-Arrh. Though no one is more qualified to face Zur-En-Arrh's Robin than Damian, there is great potential here as the Bat-Family negotiates the reality of Bruce's clone. With this development, hopefully DC will seize advantage and bring back the new Boy Wonder as a regular enemy for Robin.
DC Comics now carry Batman #148.
The Robin of Zur-En-Arrh is a dark mirror of Damian Wayne.
Though disturbing, this evolution is equally fascinating. Zur-En-Arrh secretly created a clone of Bruce by snatching a small piece of his genetic material at some time. Although the concept of Zur-En-Arrh having a Robin was first presented in Batman #127, it was never mentioned how he would make one short of violently splitting a young person's psyche to create one. But now the DC Universe boasts a Robin with all of Batman's training and abilities but lacking his moral compass.
...the new Robin reflects many of Damian's bad traits, including his inclination for violence. The degree to which Zur-En-Arrh's Robin resembles Damian Wayne from first introduction is amazing. Apart from the clear shared genes, the new Robin is violent, a merciless combatant, and has a limited, inflexible view of justice. Damian was exactly the same when he visited the Bat-Family many years ago; only he developed out of it. Depending on what the Bat-Family does with this new Robin, Damian Wayne could have a fascinating recurrent foil in later exploits.
