The Boy Wonder (2024) #2

The Boy Wonder (2024) #2

by Juni Ba (Writer/Illustrator), Chris O'Halloran (Colorist), Aditya Bidikar (Letterer)

Jason Todd is the exile prince of Batman’s kingdom, stalking Gotham’s darkest alleys and eternally turning his face from the light of day—all because he cannot quench the burning flame of anger and retribution that consumes his heart. Can Damian learn from Jason’s mistakes? Or is the reflective mask of the Red Hood doomed to be a mirror held up to his own future?

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Graphic Novels, Batman

38 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2024

About the author

Juni is an illustrator and writer hailing from Senegal and France. His current works include the Kayin and Abeni mini series and the Monkey Meat stories both published by Kugali. He’s also a cover artist with works for Skybound and IDW. His artistic fuel is mostly based on orange juice.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 4 out of 5]

(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: Read in trade paperback. Collective review for issues #1-5 can be found here: The Boy Wonder.

[Ayah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Jason todd writing in a minute 🥲🫶🫶

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me really sad, but these boys have sad stories. They also happen to be my favorite, and I appreciate that Juni Ba tapped into the potential for them to bond over their similarities. I love the characterization Damian is given here— he still comes across as a total brat, but there’s a hopefulness, and almost an innocence about him. And Jason— his heart is his biggest weakness and his greatest strength.

[tortured reader ࣪ ִֶָ ⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

DC nos está robando a mano armada la relación tan bonita que tendrían Damián y Jason, deberían ser más cercanos porque siento que se entienden demasiado bien por sus propios traumas y serian un dúo maravilloso 🥹

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series.

Tells the story of the Robins well, adding new depth to the characters. This one looks a little closer at Jason Todd, and this issue made me feel more sympathy towards him than I've ever felt.

Artwork is fantastic, very fun and contributes to the storytelling well.

Having fun here.

[James DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

PERFECTO!

LOVE LOVE LOVE This issue. Really showcases the dynamic of Damien and Jason as misunderstood, broken, and yet their bond is so close if they just talked more. Damien telling Jason to talk to Nightwing too was a perfect touch, because he can see the good it can do his brother.

Great stuff all around.

[Colin Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a gem. As someone who’s familiar with the different Robins but hasn’t t spent a ton of time reading Batman comics, I love this as a primer on what each Robin’s story is and what their relationship with Batman is like. More than an informational resource, though, the story and art are so rad. Ba’s Gotham is incredible, especially paired with O’Halloran’s colors - ramshackle, sickly glowing.

[rima · Rating 5 out of 5]

jason todd you sad, sad boy

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright this series totally tricked me on the first issue, no duh the captive to the robber telling the story in the first issue isn’t Damian. Apparently it’s a girl named Merle, my bad Merle I didn’t know your storytelling game. This issue covers the hunter Damian needs the help of to track down the demon who took the old woman last issue aka Red Hood. I love the style of red hood in this so much, they make him look so much like the MAXX. Damian and Jason have a lot to relate to over their more “permanent” methods for fighting crime. But of course we know the story of Jason, the boy from the streets that was slain and brought back to life angry. He has now sequestered himself back into those very streets, keeping a room in his apartment full of the memories he would rather not look at. Something Damian can relate to quite a bit.

Red hood was quite apprehensive to tagging along with Damian to hunt this demon, but Damian reminded him about what Batman could say if anything bad happened to Damian when he could of had a chance to save him, lol. That got red hood, but one stipulation from Damian…no guns. As they begin to canvas the city, they immediately find the demon they are hunting. But it seems more like it found them. It immediately transformed from a winged creature into a hasbin hotel character, lol. Full top hat, cane, and white empty eyes. Of course working with Damian and Red hood, they don’t take a lot of time to strategize and instead run in immediately after the demon…and get knocked back just as quick. As Jason says screw it and pulls his guns, going against Damian’s one request, the demon expresses that he is there solely because of that bloodlust that they are not properly using. The demon expresses that a mysterious “he” had so much more promise for them, and their lack of potential makes it easy to control them. The demon is even able to make Damian freeze in his tracks and was able to “open” Jason’s eyes to force him to see the image of joker once again. Seeing this caused Jason to freak out a little bit and start rapid firing everywhere. The demon messenger decided to leave, leaving them with the message that they are both what they are and they will see each other again should they guess “where birds nest highest.” Whatever that means, but at the moment we have a bit more pressing matters…as in Jason’s sporadic firing he accidentally hit Damian! Luckily it went right through, but this gave a chance for the two to regroup at Jason’s and talk. Damian made quite a jab about that being Jason’s attempt at “taking his place.” But that gave Jason a chance to really dig deep and explain himself. Everyday he sees that barman lives in the darkness to help and bring the helpless to the light…so he has to wonder…why couldn’t barman do that for him? Jason was once Batman’s soldier, it then the worst person on the world killed him and Jason came back angry. He expected understanding from Batman, but when he didn’t receive it Jason assumed that barman thought he was a failure. But Damian disagrees. When he beheaded that man Bruce scolded him for hours, and then told Damian about Jason. He never described Jason as a failure, and instead blamed himself for not knowing how to make it better. The entire time Damian thought why couldn’t Batman be as understanding with him? Damian leaves Jason with one final thought, if Jason did want to reach out he should go to Dick, he’s good at those things and he would remind Jason that he hasn’t been abandoned. The issue ends on quite an emotional one as Damian leaves and Jason steps into the room he doesn’t enter to confront the things he doesn’t like to think about. I love how much Jason is shaping the bat family just as they are shaping him.

[z · Rating 5 out of 5]

“why didn’t he do it for me?”

“do you know what it’s like to finally have someone who cares about you and gives you purpose?”

the best jason todd characterization of 2024!!!

jason with scars every where and broken fingers that didn’t heal right and that one blind eye. he wears what happened to him on his skin 🥲 a stylistic choice i love and also find HEARTBREAKING. the art is so sweet and childlike and beautiful. it works wonderfully. it anthropomorphizes the traits and stories of each character on their person to me - they look like the stories they tell.

juni ba is taking the robins and their complex sibling relationships and ACTUALLY HAVING THEM TALK. YEAH!!! GOOD!!! i adored the moment for jason and damian to acknowledge their similarities, and their shared but incredibly unique feelings about eachother and bruce. two sides of the same coin. heartbreakingly lovely.

the ending, for jason to go into the room hiding his “past life”, the walls plastered with cut outs of batman articles, the moments of innocence and the boy he was coupled with the man he is now?? GUT-WRENCHING.

a gem of a story. 🫶🏽

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es agradable disfrutar de una nueva aproximación de historias mayormente conocidas como son la de los Robins a parte de Dick Grayson. Pero que sin duda aún merecen exploraciones como esta de Juni Ba en la que el talento gráfico se une una buena narrativa que liga a la perfección la trama de Damian con esta aparición de Jason Todd en un punto bajo de su nueva vida como Capucha Roja. Ambos hijos del murciélago son los más mal vistos en la Cruzada contra el crimen del Caballero Oscuro por emplear los métodos definitivos y más letales. Uno, por instrucción directa de herencia familiar, y el otro, por una vida difícil que se agravó por el terrible suceso del Joker y la palanca que hizo devolverle al plano terrenal imbuido por la venganza más cruenta. Ambos tienen demonios interiores con los que deben aprender a convivir y no dejar que les posean en su totalidad. Algo complicado cuando esta historia parece estar definiendo una amenaza sobrenatural de esa índole infernal.

[Rob Vitagliano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series surprises me so far. I'm not really familiar with Damian Wayne, and honestly what I've read of him so far makes me think he's just a brat. The art in this series is... unique to say the least. It works with the way this story is portrayed, almost like a fairy tale. It's not really my style but it works. This issue deals with Jason Todd and has a moment towards the end that gives the issue enough gravitas to justify its existence, and I think each issue will have a similar moment, and that's enough to keep me reading.

[a · Rating 5 out of 5]

y'all ever just cry over jason todd
BECAUSE I DO
this is probably my favorite characterization of jason since outlaws rebirth. my poor meow meow.
another perfect issue why do I have to wait DAYS for the next one. although im not a tim drake stan (apparently he has stans) if anything could make me like him im sure it would be this series
tbh one of the best batfam comics highly recommend
jason and damian understanding each other and being brothers is so,,,, i cri
NEXT ONE PWEASE

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damian seeks help from another of his predecessors, this time going out on a run with Jason Todd. I’m loving this series and the way it’s presented like a heartfelt fable being told to a child. Much like the first issue this one hit me in the gut but still leaves off on a hopeful note. Damian and Jason are so similar yet they just don’t know how to communicate with each other as brothers.

[Ximena · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE JASON CHARACTERIZATION IS SO GOOD!!!!!!!!! And having Jason with all of those scars is such a good choice omg. I teared up with the line “do you know what it’s like to finally have someone who cares about you and gives you purpose?” 😭😭

[jaylyn ‎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

actual good writing of jasons character and his trauma always brings a tear to my eye. and i love seeing jason and damian bicker and act like they hate each other but theyre so similar i love them they’re my faves

[Cassius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, I loved the art style and is definitely a good introduction to comics from an outsiders perspective Idk why its marketed towards 13 year olds though. It reads like something I'd find in a scholastic bookfair, at least the ending.

[Nicole 🍡 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is genuinely the best Jason Todd characterization
That we’ve gotten in a while. I loved that we got to explore more of his character and the trauma he faces. I loved that the Juni Ba truly understood his story, his character and wrote him so beautifully.

[queen carrasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

jason todd oh how i see you

[azz · Rating 5 out of 5]

AAAAAAAAA JASON TODD WAS WRITTEN SO WELL. used to pray for times like these. amazing story I love. thank you thank u thank u!! not sure who I'm thanking , but thank u.

[dhariam · Rating 5 out of 5]

"just remember... you haven't been abandoned"

it's been a while since i've read a good characterization of jason, i'm excited for the next issue with tim :)

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a pretty good, junior aged tale of the Robins. I like the art.

This one focuses on Red Hood. It’s sweet, but slight.

[Lily Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such beautiful depictions, and amazing characterisation

[danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

UGH..!!!!! i’m so in love 🥲

[nas✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to give a hug to jason and damian:(

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[James B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one hits right in the feels. The best comics always do.

[Sienna Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing take on Jason Todd and his trauma

[Amber Sayre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juni Ba understands Jason Todd’s character in a way that a lot of writers don’t. The art continues to be fantastic. I love the fairy tale quality of this series.

[Tess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again, the story and art is so beautiful. I love the characterization of both Damian and Jason.