We Are ... Robin!/Robin War

Robin War was a 6 part crossover event told across We Are... Robin!, Grayson, Gotham Academy, Detective Comics, Robin: Son of Batman #7, and the Robin War title.

Robin War #1-2 written by Tom King with art by Khary Randolph, Alain Mauricet, Jorge Corona, Andres Guinaldo and Rob Haynes; Gotham Academy #13 written by Brendan Fletcher and illustrated by Adam Archer; Grayson #15 co-written by Tom King & Tim Seeley and illustrated by Mikel Janin; Detective Comics #47 written by Ray Fawkes and illustrated by Steve Pugh; We are Robin #7 written by Lee Bermejo and illustrated by Carmine Di Giandomenico; and Robin: Son of Batman #7 co-written by Patrick Gleason & Ray Fawkes with illustrations by Scott McDaniel.

Plot
After one of the robins was implicated in the accidental shooting deaths of a police officer and a robber at a convenience store, the entire We Are Robin movement comes under fire by the public. Following the deaths, local government official Councilwoman Noctua passes legislation that outlaws all Robin activity, which even includes wearing Robin colors. The Robin Laws made it illegal for anyone in Gotham to wear robin paraphernalia and encouraged police to stop and detain anyone who might be a Robin. These actions leave Duke and the gang persecuted by local law enforcement, and targets of the new, government appointed Batman.

While at a team meeting, Duke implores the as-of-yet unknown Robin involved in the accidental death to come forward, so that Gotham can see that the Robins are more than a reckless gang of vigilantes and that they take responsibility for their actions.

This meeting soon comes to a halt as Damian Wayne descends upon the crowd, claiming that the We Are Robin crew are frauds, challenging them to a fight. Damian retains the upper-hand, but the meeting is even further crashed by the new Batman. While Damian defeats the new Batman, shutting his suit down with an electric shock, this leaves time for Duke and his crew to escape before being arrested.

Shortly after, a fellow Robin named Travis, comes forward to Duke about the vigilante incident. While Duke says that the choice in coming forward to the police is Travis', he also lets it be known that it's the responsible thing to do-- what a Robin would do.

Later, the We Are Robin crew is gathered by the actual apprentices to Batman: secret agent Dick Grayson, Red Robin, Red Hood, and Robin; to be trained in a sort of "Robin school" that will hone their abilities and make them into more disciplined crime-fighters. In training with Dick Grayson, Duke actually reveals to him that he knows his secret identity, and is recognized as one of the best to come out of "Robin school," alongside Izzy, Dax, and Dre.

Suspecting something larger is at play, Grayson splits the four new Robins up with their four mentors: Duke with himself, Izzy with Damian, Dax with Red Hood, and Dre with Red Robin; and sends them out to complete various missions. What they did not know is that Dick sets them up to be arrested so as to keep them safe while he figures out what's going on. Dick parts with the soon-to-be-arrested Duke, telling him of his intentions, saying that because Duke is the Robins' leader, they will accept and understand the situation if the news comes from him.

Whilst in jail, it is revealed that the anti-Robin legislation, arrests, and even inciting incident for the legislation were all a ploy by the Court of Owls. While Red Robin and Red Hood are made to fight to the death by the Court, this leaves an opening for Duke, Damian, and the We Are Robin crew to free themselves and put an end to everyone's capture.

After beating back an elite group of Talons on the GCPD rooftop, Duke and his tight-knit group of Robins continue to get to the bottom of the Court of Owls' plot alongside the Bat-apprentices, tracking the Court to a base underneath Gotham Academy. Following the defeat of even more Talons and the destruction of the Court's elite Talon hatchery, Duke and the team are made to confront one more remaining foe: Damian Wayne, who, in order to save his friends from certain death, was made to fight alongside the Court of Owls.

Even with the odds stacked against him, Duke refuses to give up, fighting Damian and trying to bring him back to the side of good. Eventually breaking through to him, they fight alongside the Robins to keep the elite Talons from decimating the city. Between the two allies, Duke realizes one thing: he isn't Robin, nor will he or the We Are Robin crew ever be, but that won't stop them from doing good. After saving the city, they stand alongside one another, embraced by the GCPD and the citizens of Gotham as heroes. The We Are Robin crew disbands soon after, when Duke quits upon learning of Travis' death at the hands of a Talon.

Later, Duke finds himself being tracked by Damian, and extends to him an invite to the movies; to which Damian accepts, kicking off the start of a friendship.

Characters
Duke Thomas