okayla:

deconstructingdamian:

Look at that cocky face. Damian loves attention, he doesn’t matter who its from. Nothing makes him happier than hearing he’s the best. I don’t think he cares that he’s getting this attention from a female, notice how he’s not looking in the direction of or at any of them. In fact, he’s looking down.

It’s something other writers tend to not agree with Morrison on—that he’s too young to really care about women. Battle for the Cowl had him taking one on a date (only to sort of help get her eaten), then scoff at working with one. Batgirl has Damian making constant comments about Steph’s chest. Hell, even Streets of Gotham had Damian interested in Katana, and Superman/Batman 77 had Dick joking he was interested in Supergirl.

I’m not saying I don’t think Damian likes girls, I’m just saying I don’t think it’s on his mind. He hasn’t hit puberty yet, and he’s more focused on kicking ass and taking names. Let’s give him a few years before he starts liking the ladies (or the guys), okay DC writers? He’s only 10, he has plenty of time.

You know what? I disagree (sort of).

I definitely agree that for the most part, Damian is in it for the attention. Damian has been raised to consider himself the best at everything, and he loves to hear verification of it - that he’s brighter than most, the better fighter, and yes, better looking. It all fits into the idea he has of himself as a superior person than most.  So when he hears girls gushing that he’s adorable? It makes him smirk and shrug.  It’s confirmation of what he already knows, but damn if it isn’t good to hear it being said. 

But I don’t think the other things from other comics are beyond the realm of possibility or a stretch at all. 

I remember being 10 and in 6th grade - it was the year two of my friends started dating. They held hands, kissed on the cheek (and maybe once or twice on the mouth, scandalous), and they bought one another Valentine’s Gifts. While I think at that age it’s mostly going through the motions, you have to remember Damian has been raised by adults and kind of considers childish things to be below him.  

Also let’s not forget who Damian was raised by and related to - the al Ghuls. The al Ghuls are incredibly  passionate when it comes to love; it’s what drives their actions as misguided as they be.  I know a lot of fic writers and things tend to write Damian as cold and reluctant for love, but I’ve found that baffling. He’s raised by Talia al Ghul, you know, the one who calls Bruce ‘beloved’ and lets her feelings for him guide half of her actions. Ras does all he does for his love of the earth aka “mother gaia”.  I know even the comic writers forget it sometimes, but the al Ghuls are basically ecoterrorist hippie flower kids-slash-assassins, and it wouldn’t be that surprising if they encouraged Damian to be passionate about things and told him what might an appropriate ‘mate’ for an al Ghul etc etc.  

It reminds me of when Tomasi said Damian thinks of himself as a warrior-poet-king because that’s how Talia raised him, a concept which I love and I think fits nicely with his Middle-Eastern heritage.   I think romance and culture are important to al Ghuls, and while I doubt Damian would know what to do with a girl I do think he’d still know, at least on some level, what is attractive and what he wants. So yes, making comments about Katana or maybe having a puppy dog type of crush on Supergirl are totally within the realm of okay to me.

Also, especially preboot - Damian really respects and idolizes Bruce, even if it’s only his idea of what Bruce really is. And what is Bruce? Good with the ladies. It definitely isn’t above a 10 year old’s train of thought to try and go for girls because he’s a Wayne, and Waynes oughta be good with girls. 

 I don’t think it’s on his mind constantly, but he didn’t grow up/live in a bubble and I think it would be something that occurs to him even if only on a practical level. 

reblogging again for the wonderful commentary okayla added.