Warning! Spoilers ahead for Robin & Batman #2

In the latest issue of DC Comics' Robin & Batman set in comics past, the Dark Knight claims that Dick Grayson's Boy Wonder was never meant to be his sidekick. While the role of Robin has become nearly synonymous with the concept of sidekicks in general, Batman reveals that it was never his intention when he brought Dick Grayson into his crusade against crime. In his mind, Robin's role is something far more serious and intense despite Dick's youth during their first days working together in Gotham.

In the first issue of Robin & Batman from writer Jeff Lemire and artist Dustin Nguyen, Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne have some pretty strong tensions and conflict with one another. Batman very much wants his new ward to be exactly like him despite Alfred's protests, seeing as how Dick Grayson has his own identity and brightness. However, the Dark Knight's intensity is threatening to snuff it out with his darkness, seeing as how neither of them has figured out how to be in sync with the other to one day become the Dynamic Duo.

Related: Gotham Is About To Get A Brutal Version Of Batman and Robin

Now, Robin & Batman #2 reveals that it's Dick's birthday. Having loosened ever so slightly from the prior issue, Batman finally allows Dick to join him on his crusade and suit up as Robin. However, he first takes him to the Justice League Watchtower to meet with the other sidekicks while the League goes out on a mission. While the future Teen Titans quickly bond and secretly go on patrol together, it's later revealed that Batman gave Dick an ulterior mission that went beyond simply meeting other superhero kids his age. To Alfred's surprise and disgust, Dick reports his tactical analysis of how he'd take down each of the other sidekicks such as Speedy, Wonder Girl, and Kid Flash per Batman's orders. Furthermore, the Dark Knight defends the mission he gave Robin by claiming that Dick isn't like the other kids. In his eyes, Robin is a soldier.

Batman-Robin-Sidekick-Soldier

Clearly, Alfred is furious with Batman in this new series as he's justifiably concerned about protecting Dick's identity and what innocence he still has left. In contrast, Batman's concern has only been to prepare and train Dick the only way he knows how by turning Dick into a version of himself. However, the very fact that Robin is not Batman is why their partnership works so well. Dick's color and brightness counter Batman's darkness in ways that are ultimately healthy and beneficial, making them much more effective than if Grayson was just a carbon copy of the Dark Knight as his Bat-Soldier.

While Dick's mission in this issue certainly tarnishes his first meeting with his future best friends and teammates in the Teen Titans, it very much tracks with Batman's original intentions for Robin. In this series set in DC Comics' past, Batman currently sees Robin as no more than a soldier in his war against injustice. As a result, it seems likely that Robin will have to force the Dark Knight to see him as his own person as the series continues, paving the way to becoming his partner instead.

More: Nightwing Is a Better Father to Robin than Batman Ever Was