Duke Thomas - Blog Posts

Discuss:

Using whatever criteria helps you decide which one you personally like better!

My most random Duke headcannon is that he would have a pet rabbit.

The rabbits name is Bat-Bun and they go paroling together sometimes.

Duke teaches Bat-Bun all the cute trick like playing soccer and giving high fives.

Damian often goes over to Duke's to play with Bat-Bun, even if Duke isn't there. He often comes home from patrol to Damian and his mum sitting together and talking while feeding Bat-Bun sweet potato.

Duke threaten to steal Damain's mum in retaliation.

Damian threatens to steal his rabbit if he tries.

They both settle for playing soccer with Bat-Bun together.

Do you think when Duke was starting out as the Signal and got his bike Gothamites gave it a dumb nickname? Like how Batman has his batmobile, Duke has a signalcycle.

Genuinely just curious, no hate or anything. Honestly I don't fully understand what is going on with him.

Duke Thomas consumes my every waking thought. Every conversation leads back to him. Every song relates to him. Every time I see the sun or moon, I think of him. I find myself thinking, "what would Duke do?" for almost every situation. Just, Duke, man, he is everything.

Random Duke Thomas Headcannons pt 4

Insired by @overcookedfool 's headcannon about Cass and Duke being banned from hide and seek, Bruce uses their hiding skills to train the other batfamily members.

The training involves Duke and Cass hiding around Gotham and the others having to find them before sun up (for Cass) or sun down (for Duke). So that everyone can still get their work done, this only happens once a week.

If someone finds them in time, they can get a trophy from the batcave, if Duke or Cass remain unfound, they get the same deal.

Dick gets them to use carnival rules so winning a lot of little trophies can get you a big one. After a few months of the training exercise Duke and Cass put their trophies together to offically own the dinosaur.

Random Duke Thomas Headcannons pt 3

I think Duke would gets given a lot of gifts while on partol. It comes with working the day shift, really.

The first few weeks people were hesitant about a Bat being out during the day, some openly hostile, but now many see it as just a part of Gotham's charm.

One day, a girl runs up to him, holding a paper tightly to her chest. It was a drawing she made in class of Batman. The girl asks all shyly if Duke could give it to him and what was he meant to say? No?

So Gothamites started giving him things, first with kids crayon drawing, the some teens who made badges and pins, adults with letters of gratitude. Soon Duke was passing on drawings, t-shirts, crocheted dolls, poems, etc to all the batfamily.

Gothamites wanted to share their love to their heros. Bruce, Dick, Barbara, Cass, Damian, Stephanie, Tim, Kate, even Luke now had piles of trinkets after only three weeks.

One day, while on patrol as usual, a kid waved him down. He held poorly wrapped box in his hands. Duke swung down and took the box from the boy. When serching for the same he was shocked to find "Signal" written messy across the top.

Inside was a drawing of Duke a week ago, saving the boys dad who got trapped under his car. He hung to photo up on an empty wall in The Hatch.

Soon, that wall became more full than the rest of the family's piles.

When he gets in his own head, doubts clouding his brain, he stares at the wall. Art, photos, poems, letters, badges, stickers, patches, pins, shirts, dolls, shoes, all the items from Gotham, showing how he is loved by them. How he is their hero.

Duke still is asked to pass on gifts for the rest of the Batfamily, but more often he gets given gift for himself.

Random Duke Thomas Headcannons pt 2

I think Duke and Bao (Clownhunter) would be childhood friends.

Bao and Duke both grew up in the Narrows. I imagine Duke meet him at Bao's parents pho restaurant and dragged him off to play together.

The two would run through the steets, play tag with the other Narrows kids, do their homework, which at that age was mostly just colouring in, in a cornor seat at the restaurant.

When Zero City happened, Bao's family would move in to the apparentment block with Duke's family and others. It was that point when their relationship chnaged from friends to brothers.

They were attched to each other. Duke took it upon himself to be the older brother (dispite only being a year older). He would tell Bao to do riddle while he went out to get fish, no matter how much the other protested (or how much he was scolded when he got home). Bao use to pretend to be more scared than he really was so he could stay with Duke, hoping to protect him a bit.

So their bond grows, as they start middle school they don't hang out as much being in different grade but are always together at lunch. They get into petty fights, play video games together, were general hooligan(/aff) on the streets.

Then Bao's parents we killed by Joker. He started living with his aunt and uncle, Duke and his parents would bring food around, mostly as an excuse for Duke to just sit with him. In the grief, Bao closed himself off, stopped responding to Duke's messges, stopped going to school, stopped leaving the house.

Duke tried to keep contacting him, he would show up at his house, force Bao to sit with him and do his online school homwork while Duke did his, like when they were kids in the restaurant. That stopped by Joker got Duke's parents too.

Duke got washed away in the foster system, in being Robin, in becoming Lark and later Signal, in joining the Outsiders.

The Joker War started, Bao became Clownhunter, was washed away in his bew found duty to finally stop the Koker how Batman never could.

They almost naturally just stopped talking.

Until, while waiting for Jay to be able to take custody of him, Bruce sent him to Gotham Academy.

There was Bao again. The first thing they did was fight. They were both mad at each other for abandoneding the other. A few hours later they made up. Dispite not talking for so long, they were best friends, more than that, brothers.

They caught each other up if their lives, keeping the vigilante business out. They started messaging each other regularly. Duke would fight the people who builied Bao, the two spending a few afternoons in detention because of it. They would just sit with each other, happy to be in each others space.

Bao joined Batman incorporated which caused Clownhunter and The Signal to finally meet.

After taking down Professor Pyg's operation, some of the Batkids, lncluding Signal, arrived for clean up. Clowerhunter knew about the Signal, he was Gotham's hero. Signal knew about Clownhunter, he'd read the file Batman had on him. When they saw each other they immediately understood who was under the mask.

There wasn't a chance to talk that night, they didn't want to reveal each others identifies to the other vigilante's and Ghostmaker had an argument with Nightwing, quickly ending Batman Incorporated's time in Gotham.

They meet the next night, in costume, on the roof of their old apprentment building. Once they shared during Zero Year. Not much was said, Duke didn't mention the people Bao had killed, Bao didn't mention him joining the Batfamily. However, they understood each other mor now. Not much needed to be said. Duke gave him a Signal beacon, a promise to help if Bao ever needed. Bao gave the same sentiment. The two parted ways again.

They knew at that point they were closer than ever, dispite being so far apart. They had their own paths to follow but they felt more secure now knowing they had family in the hero community who will help them in any way.

Random Duke Thomas Headcannons pt 1

Duke is my all-time favourite character, and he doesn't get enough love, so I'm going to share some random head cannons I have for our boy.

I love the idea of sensory seeking autistic Duke.

He is canonically a fan of a metal band and I can imagine after a log day of patrol and school him just listening to them full volume. Even with headphones his cousin, Jay, still have to bang on his door sometimes to turn the volume down.

His meta ability would let him visually stimming by causing the light in a room to flash repeatedly. This would also work with him manipulating shadows to make the area dark and light again.

Or he would use his Ghost Vision and pace around a room so the versions of him all burn into one. Duke would also do this during bat family dinners. With so many bats around running all over the manor to help with food or run from each other in importune game of tag. I image the overlapping visual would be immaculate.

Did I give his these head cannons as a form of projecting?

Mostly, yes, but it's my post so I can do what I want./lh

My favourite boy, Duke :3

I think that Damian and Duke need to have more bonding moments

Peter discovers Jackson Wang parties are multiversal

crack fic idea: Spidey in Gotham trope x the infamous Jackson Wang party scene

Tim and Duke drag Peter to a party one of their classmates is hosting and Peter's asks “who's hosting” and Tim/Duke say “Jackson” and Peter's like “huh I've never met him before” and he goes in the house and does a double take before realising “…JACKSON WANG?!” and it's revealed that Peter has read Spiderman fanfiction that people have written about him back home in the MCU universe where the fanfiction version of Spiderman has been to many a Jackson Wang party and he's flabbergasted that in this universe the fanfiction trope has become true

they're brothers your honour

Damian: GRAYSON! TODD! The girls wanted me to inform the both of you that they have challenged you to a water fight.

Dick: oooooooh we haven't done that in a while.

Damian: yes they will perish beneath us. We will drive them to the ground! WE WILL-

Dick: ok-ay. Jay, you coming?

Jason: gimmie a sec. The water js almost finished boiling.

Damian:

Dick:

Duke, who listened to it all from a concealed area of the room: THE FUCKING WHAT?!

Batfam as things my family said pt.2

Jason(while robin): if i'm 25 and not covered in tattoos and have a motorcycle punch me in the face

steph: i’m convinced men are the ones with periods

dick: the eggs were carbonated

tim: i feel like a flintstone

babs: the mormons are out-

duke: actually ima be a stripper now

tim: what's goin on single fucks?

damian(talking to tim): i'm gonna put you in a box and send you to north Korea

bruce(to dick): what kind of crack are you on?!

dick(to bruce): the good kind obviously😃🔫

damian: i am not a demon for you to summon

cass: i have the butt of a ballon dog

tim showing duke around the cave for the first time: there’s jason’s memorial case, and - oh, here’s dicks old nightwing suit, we call it discowing cuz frankly it’s kinda —

duke: it’s beautiful.

tim: what.

duke: all those bright colors, i bet he pulled in this suit

tim: i mean, i guess he was dating starfire, but she’s not exactly a normal girl —

duke: im gonna have to take notes, maybe dick will help design my suit?

dick wrapping his arms around duke and leading him away to discuss suit ideas: i’m glad someone appreciates my artistic eye

jason: imma kms, there’s two now

Duke Thomas and the Robin Mantle

There's been some minor discussion about whether Duke counts as an 'official' Robin or not. While that discussion is interesting, I actually don't think it's the crux of the Duke and Robin issue. To me, the question is whether or not he should be Robin. And, to me, the answer is definitively yes.

This is purely my opinion, and I haven't read every single Duke comic so it's possible I've misread/missed things. Any Duke fans, absolutely feel free to add or disprove anything here!

The Changing Robin

The first thing to understand is that Robin, as a mantle, has shifted with each person it's been passed to. Tim's Robin doesn't mean the same thing as Jason's Robin, which doesn't mean the same thing as Damian's. A mark of a true Robin is the ability to shift the meaning of Robin by wearing the colours.

Duke absolutely fulfils this criteria. In fact, him and his We Are Robin crew are the biggest shift in the meaning of Robin since its creation.

Cover from We Are Robin #1. The phrase "We're not sidekicks. We're an army!" signals the shift from Robin as individual to Robin as collective; from Robin as tied to the singular Batman to Robin as a wider movement, a socio-political force. The last question, "are you ready?", is vitally important as well. Duke as Robin is meant to be different. He's meant to be non-normative, a groundbreaking turn in what Robin looks and feels like.

At the end of the first issue, a disguised Alfred (who started We Are Robin) thinks the following:

Alfred infuses the phrase "of color" with two meanings: the Robin colours, and People of Colour. By explicitly linking Robin to POC, the comic is suggesting that not only can kids of colour be Robin, but that they should be Robin. Robins of Colour are the "future of this city," and Duke is the vanguard of this future. It's no coincidence that the Robin before (Damian) and the one after (Maps) are both POC. Duke, however, is the Robin that gives the mantle an explicit direction towards diversity: him and WAR use Robin as a social movement, and in doing so transform the colours of Robin into a symbol for the diversity in Gotham and the world.

Robin as Collective

Duke doesn't change Robin alone. The point of We Are Robin is that Robin is a collective, and it's important that Duke doesn't start WAR (as much as people like to say he did). By joining late, the comic demonstrates that Duke is part of a bigger movement.

The Robin community represents POC solidarity, the necessity and ability of the oppressed to band together. Lee Bermejo ends We Are Robin's final issue with "stress on the word "we"" - Duke's arc, in one sense, is learning to rely and work with others (he initially mistrusts basically everyone). The WAR community is essential to both Duke's character development and his tenure as Robin.

So to have this page, affirming his loyalty and love for them, to be followed immediately by them being written out is... something.

Duke appears next in Batman: Rebirth, where Bruce gives him the yellow suit and tells him he's not looking for a Robin. As soon as he stops being Robin, the community around him quite literally falls apart. Izzy sticks around for a bit but fades into obscurity, Riko and Dax turn evil, Dre ends up in Arkham - all of these fates are antithetical to these characters and genuinely tragic.

Batman: The Secret Files: The Signal is possibly the worst Duke story in existence, but it's important to understanding why Robin!Duke mattered. Riko calls Signal 'Bat-Signal', highlighting his sudden reduction to a Batman acolyte. His friends turning on him shows how, by losing Robin, he also lost the community formed by WAR. In every way, his transition into the Signal was saturated by loss.

Robin Doesn't Need A Batman

Bruce giving Duke the Signal suit is borderline insulting. He already had an identity predicated on the fact that he didn't need Batman.

From Batman (2011) #45, Batman: Rebirth, and Night of the Monster Men. "Robin doesn't need a Batman" is an inversion of Tim's 'Batman needs a Robin' - in many ways, Duke is the opposite of Tim, who's rich, White, and whose Robin is the most focused on helping Batman. If Tim is the ideal Robin-as-partner, Duke is the ideal Robin-as-individual. His idea of Robin is not, and has never been, associated with Batman.

People who say Duke isn't an official Robin since he was never Batman's partner miss the point. He is Robin because he was never Batman's partner. That's what Robin means to him - a mantle free from Bruce and all authority.

"Batman is on the gargoyle. Robin... Robin is on the street." Robin is the person on the ground, who lives and belongs to the people. When Duke becomes Signal, this ground aspect - as well as his separation from Batman - is gone.

In this cover from Batman & The Signal, they gave him a Bat symbol and put him on a gargoyle. They erased every single part of his Robin philosophy.

The Original Robin

Post-We Are Robin, Bruce becomes the Batfam member Duke interacts with the most. Besides the insult of Bruce withholding Robin, this fact also strips away one of my favourite aspects about early Duke - he was tied to the Batfamily through the Robins (especially Damian and Dick), not by Batman.

It's Dick, the original Robin, who chooses him.

Dick recognises that him and Duke have a lot in common. He tells Duke in Robin War that he's "got it," and that he's a natural leader - Dick knows Duke has what it takes to be Robin, and explicitly endorses him.

Not only that, but when Dick sends Duke to jail (along with the other Robins, official and unofficial), he tells Duke that he "take[s] care of [his] family". He basically inducts Duke into the family then and there!

Dick's endorsement of Duke makes it more interesting that Bruce doesn't make him Robin. Despite Duke's disillusionment at the end of Robin War (dispelled soon after in WAR), the events in RW confirm that Duke can and should be Robin. Bruce not making Duke Robin is defying both Duke's potential and Dick's right to choose Robins.

Robin as Family

On the rooftop in Robin War, Dick tells Duke that Robin is about family. This is the fundamental connection between them both: Robin acts as the link to the families they've lost and gained.

For Dick, Robin keeps John and Mary Grayson alive, while also symbolising his connection to Bruce. For Duke, Robin is the intersection of three families: the heroic legacy of his parents, the tight-knit community of We Are Robin, and the newfound friendship of the Batfamily.

In Batman (2011) #45, Duke tries to give his friend Daryl a Robin badge. He says, "you and me, we came up together. We're fam[ily]." Even before Dick, Duke associated Robin with family, and Daryl implies in the next issue that Duke became Robin because of his parents' inclination to help. Signal, of course, also comes from his mom; but unlike Robin, Signal isn't a legacy mantle. As Robin, he constantly inducted people like Daryl, Riko, Damian, etc. into his family. As Signal, his circle shrinks immeasurably, until it's really only the Batfamily and the Outsiders if we're being generous. (Daryl also turns evil - a really unfortunate pattern for Duke side characters).

Lark and Conclusion

I'm going to end with this panel from Batman & The Signal #1, which is emblematic of the way DC has treated Duke and Robin as a whole. Bruce tells Duke that Lark is "too soft" a name. DC was probably debating between Lark and Signal, but it's telling what they went with. How is Lark too soft, exactly? How is it any softer than Robin?

By overtly dismissing the bird-like name, Bruce - and DC editorial, or whoever decided this - is definitively moving Duke away from Robin. And it's a shame. In Duke's transition from Robin to Signal, he has next to no agency. Bruce tells him he's not Robin, Bruce gives him the suit, Bruce tells him not to be Lark, Bruce gives him another suit. It's a stark contrast from his induction into Robin - though Alfred arranged it, he gave Duke a choice. Duke chooses Robin.

Duke being disallowed the Robin mantle is, to me, on par with DC stripping Cass of the Bat symbol during the New 52. The racism behind both these decisions cannot be overstated - both Cass and Duke redefined their mantles, and their mantles defined them. At least Cass' mistake has been corrected, and lots of writers and fans acknowledge how horrible that period was. For Duke, he was never given a real chance. And it's unlikely he ever will be.

This is not a knock against the Signal identity or any writers. However, it genuinely saddens me to think that all of this story potential - Duke's redefinition of Robin, his relationship to Dick, his connection to We Are Robin, and above all his ability to choose who he wants to be - has been neglected and cast aside. Even if they never acknowledge his role as Robin, I hope future stories centre him once again, because it's what he deserves.

Don't we all love some chaotic siblings shenanigans at the gala?

Ah! The annual Wayne gala...

Every year, Bruce Wayne attempts to throw a normal gala.

You, know. The kind every other billionaire throws.

But somehow

Somehow

Something weird happens.

Whether Damian lets Batcow into the ballroom, or Steph sets off the sprinkler system, or (God forbid) Jason mixes laxatives into the cake; something always goes wrong.

And. It. Is. Always. His. Kids'. Fault.

It's become a running joke in the media!

"The Wayne Kids at it again!!! Read their latest gala antics below!"

Bruce just wants to jump into that bottomless pit in the Batcave...

Why WHY are his... lovely children like this? Can't they just give him some peace.

Of course not, Dick is sitting on the chandelier and everyone is staring.

Dick waves at him.

He can only stare blankly until Tim comes over and hands him a cup of coffee, Tim holding one himself.

Not really a typical gala drink, but he deserves it. Takes a big drink and almost spits it out. He give Tim and incredulous look.

The coffee is spiked.

He can't tell if it has monster, whisky, or a fucking 5 hour energy in it though.

Tim just shrugs and takes the cup back.

"More for me"

Cass walks over and gives him a pity pat on the shoulder.

God help him.

He loves these kids.

But God help him...

Okay, but like...

Jason Todd coaching a little league team called the Outlaws.

And trying to keep it from literally everyone he knows.

Because he adores these kids, but he knows he'd catch hell if anyone found out.

Tim finds out first.

Of course he does this is Timothy Drake we're talking about.

Jason expects Tim to use this as blackmail. He's surprised when Tim doesn't. Even more surprised when Tim starts showing up for all their games, and becomes the most enthusiastic fan.

Cass follows Tim to a game one day. Gets as invested in these Baseball playing babies as Tim is.

Everything is all fine and dandy for a while... until Damian discovers the team.

Of course being the little demon he is, he forms a plan to destroy the team. "The team is a distraction to Todd and must be eliminated". So the little shit joins the team without Jason’s knowledge. His plan was was to start rumors and divide the team until it fell apart.

Buuuuut, turns out Damian Wayne likes baseball.

So now we have nearly half the wayne family invested in this team of 13 year old baseball players.

No one really knows how Barbara found out. She just started join Tim and Cass for the games.

Steph and Duke start showing up not long after. Showing up with enough snacks to feed a small nation.

The Wayne family turns out to be very enthusiastic... so much so that it makes headlines...

Annnnnnd that's how Dick Grayson joined the group.

And they thought the others were obnoxious...

This grown ass man shows up with a 6 by 2 foot banner that says "GO OUTLAWS" in giant glittery letters. He bring face paint and T-shirts for all the parents. Really he just gets way too into it.

Jason and Damian are mortified...

When Bruce sees the headlines, he thinks it's adorable. Of course he joins in all the shenanigans, just a little less chaotic.

Alfred just sits back and watches. He knew the whole time. He was the one to suggest Jason coach the team in the first place

Yes I know its supposed to hurt, yes I know there are rough patches, yes I know that’s not how it happens, yes I know it’s not realistic, it’s not gritty, yes I know that’s not what fate, the gods, the writers say. Yes and yes and yes I know I know I promise you I know-

But what if

things got better?

things could get better?

what if love didn’t always have to bleed?

what if pain wasn’t inherently more valuable than care?

what if those who thought themselves out of reach still had unconditional love?

what if those trying their best to shoulder the burdens of responsibility got to share the weight?

what if family was supportive, and protective?

what if they grew, what if they learned?

what if they got to get up the next day and keep going, not the same as before, but still getting through this?

what if they weren’t alone? not by circumstance, but by choice?

what if they could heal and you could too?

I know that’s not how it ends. I know it ends in pain and tears and a thousand split branches telling different stories, few of them any kind of joyful.

But maybe it doesn’t have to.

Maybe we pick the branch that bends skywards. Maybe that’s what we need.

Hope is a decision. Found family is deliberate.

Ultimately it’s your choice.

Play in the sand.

I don’t want mine to be full of glass.

Daycare

It’s not just Batman. All of Gotham hates magicians. Because they pull shit like this.

Some out-of-towner decides the best way to keep the Bats distracted while they kick up trouble would be to turn the family into children, thereby making them harmless without the associated alarms if they were to disappear.

Unfortunately, they’re not very good at this.

Alfred is greeted at the Batcave by the normal Batfamily, plus their pint-sized doubles. Every single person is struggling to handle their younger version.

Dick is frantically trying to keep an eye on the most adventurous nine year old. Jason is freaking out trying to responsible parent his eight year old self who’s screaming his head off about stranger danger. Tim and his eight year old double have not broken eye contact, and Tim is refusing to touch ‘it’ except with a bow staff. Steph is bribing hers with ice cream to keep her quiet and to stop her from attacking the other children again. Cass is attached to hers by child reins. Duke’s mini has already tried to escape explore three times and is over Duke’s shoulder to prevent any further attempts. Damian (in his mid teens) is trying to get his toddler self to stop grabbing everything, and failing.

Bruce had called Zatanna, but she’s on a JL mission at the moment. It’s going to be a long week.

A scene where batboys was causing chaos on Wayne Manor, while Alfred and Bruce had enough for it :)

I'm done drawing, so now I'm just sitting here and waiting for someone to tell me the lore behind this chaos

"Oh, I just love showing up where I'm not invited !!!"

We need more aus and fics were Bruce somehow ends up adopting all of his kids around the same time

I could see Bruce getting Damian out of the League of Shadows as a baby and taking in everyone else as kids

@malfiora found it for me so I'm gonna share it! I genuinely love this so much, it's such a Thing that would become part of Gotham's cultural zeitgeist.

Imagine the first time each of them heard some kids singing this?! Imagine if it's a cryptid Batfamily au and the song breaks containment before the other heroes know them? So much possibility, so much potential, I love it.

Listen... All I know is that the kids I babysit were singing that one Gummy Bear song and next thing I knew my brain made a parody

This is the chaos I'm here for damnit. I wanna eat this as a long form, slow burn, multi-chapter, identity porn fic because it'd be delicious.

I've had this idea rotating in my head for a while about a specific scenario in a universe where nobody is ever clued in on the fact that the bats are related. They just assume that Robin, Red Robin, Red Hood, Nightwing, and everybody else just coincidentally happens to be Gotham (+Bludhaven) based like Batman is.

Do me a favor and imagine the aftermath of some stage five hall hands on deck crisis where everyone and their team has to gather for debriefing and for medical care. Everybody shows up with their respective teams, Nightwing with his Titans, Red Robin with the old members of YJ, Red Hood with the Outlaws, Batman with the JL ect ect.

Everyone is super tired from the battle and none of them are even given a moment to breathe before Red Hood and Red Robin start beefing on sight. Before anybody can even think to intervene, Nightwing, Orphan, Spoiler, Robin, and Signal join in and they all just start bickering at one another.

Everybody thinks they're about to fight. Like seriously start hashing it out. Thing is, YJ are RR's ride or dies. If RR starts fighting Nightwing then the YJ are gonna fight Nightwing. And then the titans are gonna fight the YJ because those are Nightwing's ride or dies. Same goes for all the teams and their respective leaders.

Everyone looks across the room going, "Am I gonna have to fight you? Man, I don't wanna fight you." They could not wanna fight because of the prior battle, out of respect for their potential opponents, or because they know that opponent would whoop their ass. But they'll still do it because that's their leader.

Eventually all of them stop their bickering, suspending the room in tense silence, as they stare each other down. Everybody is bracing themselves for the first punch and the JL is preparing to break up the fight, but instead the silence is broken by all of the birds turning their heads in one direction and yelling, "Daaaaaaddd!"

The room is dead silent enough that everyone can hear Batman's exhausted sigh echo through the room before it's followed by, "You're all grounded."

Jason: So, what're you gonna be when you're older, hm?

Damian, without missing a single beat: Taller.

Dick, desparately trying not to fall over laughing: pfft-

Tim, whispering to Steph: Damn.

Duke: Do you want some aloe for that burn, Jason?

I tried the TikTok AI challenge with DC characters pt 2

yes…also ironic that Alfred is ‘Father of fathers’ seeing that he abandoned and ignore the existence of his daughter

BatFamily as a ruling Pantheon: Gods of Gotham

Bruce/Batman:

Names/Epithets - Brix, Father Willow, The Dark Knight, The Night King, Guardian God, Crusader, Phantom Lord, Saint Brix of Gotham, Father of Gotham, Master of Caves, God of Justice, Comforter of Innocents, King of Shadows, Watcher, God of the Vigil, White Eye, Whose Voice Rumbles Like Thunder

Patronages- Protection, Adoption and Orphans, Secrets, Revelations, Detectives, Night time, Mercy, Charity, Wealth, Justice, Travel, Dual Identities, Seduction, Mentally Ill People, Gadgetry, Martial Arts, vigilantism, Insomniacs, First Watch, Alleys

Symbols/Attributes- bats, cowls, armors, throwing blades, the colors Black and Grey, gold coins

Offerings/Prayers- usually take place in caves and at night for rituals. He does not ask his followers for sacrifces of their money, food, blood or anything of the like. In fact, such a thing offends this deity. Brix is a generous god and a fiercly protective one. He would not see mortals go without for him to provide protection or enact justice on their behalf. He doesn't want anything material from his followers because he loves the Gothamite People unconditionally. So what does he ask for when they petition him? Not much usually. However, every now and then comes a mortal with... well, a past. One they aren't proud of. All he asks is that they confess and commit themselves to a path of redemption. Even better if they perform charitable acts in his name. That doesn't mean he is an easy god to work with. In fact, he's often blunt and critical in his judgements. And for those seeking to learn his mysteries in ways of combat, the initiation process is grueling and brutal. His monks and priests are among the most feared in the world for this reason. He will also grant special blessings to those who can tell him something he doesn't already know. He is wrathful and violent toward those who threaten the Gothamite civilization. He enjoys when his followers bring things for him to give to the other members of the pantheon as his children tend to enjoy gifts. He is often at odds with other gods within the city- particularly the Demon Clown God. In times of great peril, lanterns that light in the shape of a bat in the sky will summon him instantly.

Dick/Nightwing:

Names/Epithets- Rikhart, Rik, The First Robin, He of the Mantle, The Blue Feathered God, The First Titan, First Son, The Gray Son, Blood of Bludhaven, Prince of Two Cities, Blue Bird Prince, The Night Wing, The Trapeze God, Rope Walker

Patronages- Circuses, Acrobats, Robins, Fraternities, First Borns, Strategy, Peace, Joy, Gatherings, Unity, Leaders, Beauty, Performers, Compassion, Romance

Symbols/Attributes- The Colors Blue, Red and Black for his older form/ the colors red, green and yellow for his child form. Fighting staffs, Torches, Batons, birds, mirrors (for vanity), tents, tightropes, nests.

Offerings/Prayers- You might make offerings to Rickart at the tops of towers, or you can make a tent to commune with him. He's typically a joyful god although his temper may strike if he feels volatile. His feelings toward Brix may be positive or negative with any shift in the wind so be careful to do proper divination if you plan to invoke father and son together. It can be incredibly powerful energy for better or worse. Same if you plan to invoke Rickart with any of his brothers. Know that if you require the protection of the entire pantheon, however, they will all put their differences aside for the sake of Gothamites- and Bludhavenites in his case. The best way to earn Rickart's favor is to perform for him. Bonus points and extra blessings if you have already proven yourself capable of handling workings with one of his brother gods or worse- his father. This particular god will manifest a physical form to lay with mortals but it must be an act done and offered willingly if the mortal is impressive in both beauty and skill. Most people come to Rickart before the others as he is known as "The Nice One". Make no mistake, his kindness is by no means weakness. He is kind because he can afford to be. His priests are among the most loyal and devoted and he has temples in Gotham and Bludhaven where performances are known to happen regularly.

Jason/Redhood:

Names/Epithets- Iasonas, The Phoenix God, The Rebellious Prince, Raging God, The Heart of Gotham, He Who Bleeds Eternally, Lord of Thieves, The Accuser, Healer of Souls, Dual Bladed One, Red Hooded One, Iasonas White Lock, Master of the Pistol, Severer of Heads, The Executioner, The Poet, Master of the Word, Blood Scribe

Patronages- Necromancers, Near Death Experiences, Straight up death experiences, Death, Judgment, Retribution, Writing and Literature, Libraries, Graveyards, Funerals, Books, Theaters, Poor people, Drug Addicts, Prostitutes, Thieves, Magic, Torture Victims, Runaways, The Homeless, Automatic Writing, Mediums

Symbols/Attributes - Guns, Pens, Books, Hoods/Masks, Dual Blades, Grave Markers, Coffins, the colors red and black. Do not invoke the red, yellow and green of his younger self it will only anger him. Typewriters, Resurrection Sigil

Offerings/Prayers- You may make offerings to this god in graveyards, cemeteries or mosoleums. You may also pray to him in libraries and schools. He is a complex god, often oversimplified to his more violent traits. While he may respond neutrally to this, his favorite prayers are those made in the libraries. If you wish to be proficient as a writer or to discover knew information through sacred texts, he will help you. Appeal to him by reading him something you wrote or from an excerpt of something commonly known to be his favorite. For more violent petitions, you may make your case to him and ask this God to avenge you in the event of wrong doing against you. He will act swiftly. Be certain that you want your enemies dead if you choose to petition this god for such things and be aware an offering of blood may be required. He may also assist in Resurrection. He has a complex relationship with his family of deities. Do divination when invoking him with any of them but usually Damasus is a safe bet. Iasonas has a soft spot for poor, needy and generally in distress people. This god will not abandon you. Just be mindful of his violent methods. He may also possess his more advanced followers to write through them if they possess the gift of automatic writing and his priests are often highly skilled scribes and mages as he is Magic itself.

Tim/Red Robin:

Names/Epithets- Timotheos, The Cardinal God, Red One, Lord of Genius, Prince of Reason, The Observer, The Judge, Master of Principle, Commander of Order, Once Clown Twice Bird, The Abandoned One, Lord of Substitutions, The Follower, Rescuer, Sacrifice God, Tech Lord, Gotham's Mourner, The Grand Architect, Keeper of Record, Lord of Time, The First Prophet

Patronages- Inventors, Businesses, Technology, Neglected Children, Teachers, Martyrs, Spies, Photographers, Sculptors, Record Keepers, Archives, Cleanliness, Hierarchies, Government, Bisexuals, Mourning, Architecture, Historians, Time Travellers, Xenophiles, Artificial Intelligence, Museums, Divination and Prophecy

Symbols/Attributes- the colors red, black and yellow. bo staffs, keyboards, capes, gavels, wreaths, flowers, hourglass, clocks, temple symbol, pillars, compasses, maps, cameras, sculptor tools, cardinals, vehicles, Tarot Cards, Bones, Winter, Cycles, The Seasons

Offerings/Prayers- There are many places and ways one might commune with Timotheos: clock towers, ancient ruins, architectural marvels which have stood the test of time, in computer programs that are plugged into Gotham's magical energetic grid, in Museums etc. Your safest bet is one of his temples, though. He is a calculating and reasonable god, albeit a rigid one. Very set in his ways, that one. This god has a distinct set of right and wrong and yet- he can be quite mysterious in that he often acts in ways which do not make sense to others, even his fellow gods- usually because he knows something they dont. While it may seem this deity is an adherent of "my way or the high way", he does feel immense compassion for Gothamites and particularly those who feel abandoned. He was once a lonely god and will strive to provide support to those in need. To gain his favor, providing him with artifacts from far off places, building temples of beauty and durability are a good start. He enjoys when his followers keep his altars pristine. His priests are diverse. Some are able to slip through time and do work for him. Others are prophets who share visions with Gothamites who will hear. Others are Spies within historic secret societies deeply involved in government agencies. You never see his devotees coming and he likes it that way. He does enjoy flowers here and there but they must be removed when they begin to wilt or lose fragrance. Once blessed, dried petals may be reused by devotees for cleansing spiritual baths. When angered, he may change the weather or throw the seasons out of wack to express his displeasure with the mortal world. He may set it to rights when appeased. He is perhaps the brother god with the least conflict with Brix, their Father.

Damian/Robin:

Names/Epithets- Damasus, Blood of Brix, The Illustrator, Prince of Assassins, Sadīq Al-Hayawānāt or Friend of the Animals, The Half Foreign God, Beast of Gotham, The Supreme Artiste, Sword Master, Prince of the World, Child of the Wind/ Whose Mother is like Wind, Inheritor of the Earth, The Painting God, The Child Who Never Was and Always Will Be, Canvas Born, Healer of Harms, The Last Betrayer, The Redeemer, God of Truth, The Cultivator

Patronages- Animals, Asassins, Painters, Illustrators, Foreigners, Combat, Swordsmanship, Children Born Nonconsensually, Blood Children, Child Assassins, Priestshoods, Secret Societies, War, Vegetarians, Doctors/Healers, Farmers and Agriculture, Nature

Symbols/Atrributes- Swords, Dogs, Cats, Robins, Trees, a Wind Sigil. Green, Yellow, Red, Grey and Black. Paint Brushes, Pencils, Blank Canvases, Pottery, Hieroglyphs, Scriptures, Cows, Turkeys, Fruits, Crops, baskets, wheat, pollen

Offerings/Prayers- You may find him in the trees, in the fields, in the mountains- anywhere you may find animal life... you may even whisper his name to the winds and he will hear. His arrival is swift and he will demand your reasons for summoning. Do not waste this deity's time or the consequences will be brutal and swift as his blade. The love he shows toward the beasts of the Earth is legendary. If you wish to earn his favor you may offer him a new pet. He bestows blessings upon those who rescue and protect animals in his name. Many sanctuaries are named for him. His name is often invoked when putting injured animals out of their misery with prayers that their souls be kept under his care. He appreciates The Arts and will also accept artworks and paints, canvases, pencils, parchment etc. You may present him offerings of drink in ornate pottery. He is complex like his family and will respond differently to being invoked with them. Divination prior to invocation with other members of the family is a must. However, your safest bet is to invoke him with his brother, Iasonas. This god refuses to lie and will punish those who attempt to decieve him. His anger takes the form of tornados and hurricanes. Harsh as he may be, he only kills when he feels fully justified and with intention- remembering the guilt of having once killed Rikhart on accident, angering Brix, before Iasonas aided him in resurrecting their brother and restoring their family. As such, he has since also been a healing god and will provide healing to the sick and ailing. His sigil is at the entrance of most hospitals and many of those thought to have uncurable ailments have been healed in his main temple where feeding the cats is common practice. His priests are notorious for being highly skilled combatants. His devotees often include dog trainers, whose canines are feroocious in battle. Horseback riders are also included among his followers. One time, someone betrayed their oath to Damasus so severely and disrespectfully that he caused them to be trampled to death in a stampede. Do NOT offer this deity meat as it offends him. You may prepare cooked vegetable dishes, offer raw fruits, nectars, and cruelty free sweets. He keeps Gotham's crops fruitful for this purpose- answering the prayers of farmers. He often requires Timotheos to assist him with this as his older brother controls the seasons.

Cassandra/Black Bat:

Names/Epithets- Kekasmai, Kassandra, Moon Princess, Mistress of Silence, Goddess of Perception, Lady of Illusion, The Dissolver, The Preserver, Sweetness of Brix, The Unseen One, The Swift Bat, Muse of Gotham, Mistress of Song, Dancing Lady, Feasting One, The Shadow, Mistress of the Tides, Our Lady of Reflection, Princess of Promise, One with the Sight

Patronages- First Responders, Psychologists, Neurodivergents, Nonverbal people, child abuse survivors, Child Soldiers, Liars, Comedians, Sports, Feasts, Restaurants, Cooks, Memory, Mimicry, Learning and Students, Oaths, Intuition, Water, Telepaths, Empaths, Swimmers. Dancers- and by extension, music/musicians. Rehabilitation. Daughters and Sisters, Sororities. Martial Arts, Astronomers, Astrologers

Symbols/Attributes- A bat symbol, the color black, the Moon, Mirrors (for reflection), Dolphins, Whales, comedy and tragedy masks, music notes, a lyre, the lyra constellation, monkeys, spiders, eyes, crystal balls, stars, telescopes

Offerings/Prayers- This goddess is perhaps the most elusive when it comes to gaining a direct audience. She rarely strays from her father's side- and usually communing with her means invoking Brix first. The Father of Gotham is rather protective of his only daughter. Not that she is incapable- in fact, she is perhaps among the most powerful of her siblings- in combat at least, and capable of causing great storms and tsunamis when angered although it is rare. She is not easily decieved either and can sniff out the true intentions of any who call upon them- which Brix finds incredibly helpful when it comes to dealing with Gods from other pantheons. She has more priestesses than priests but she welcomes any devotees who devote themselves to the Way of the Bat. The pantheon is undoubtedly a family, albeit a turbulent one. And this highlights her unyielding loyalty to her father. She takes oaths quite seriously for this reason and will condemn those who break them. Unlike her father, however, she does accept material offerings for her own benefit. Bowls of purified water and candles which blow out when she arrives. She is also a hungry goddess. Feed her well in her sacred spaces: meats, cheeses, breads, vegetables, fruits, anything of the like. In the event that you manage to get an audience with her alone, be warned that she may not be as restrained with her energy. She is, at least the more patient one after Rikhart and will listen and understand the best. This has made her a great mediator, not only within the pantheon, but between it and others. If your first appeal was denied and you felt it was unjust, a direct audience and proof of wrongdoing with her will usually solve the issue. But if the initial denial was jusified, she enacts twice the punishment for the insolence.

Duke/Signal:

Names/Epithets- Dux, Lord of the Day, The Sun Prince, The Uniter, Lord of Revolution, He Who Answers, Ghost Prince, Master of Light and Shadow, The Star of Gotham, He Upon Whom Gotham Rises and Sets, The Greeting and Farewell God, Morning and Evening Star, The Shining One

Patronages- Revolutions, Uprisings, Puzzles and Riddles, metas of Gotham, Films, Codes, Leadership, Militias, Guerilla Fighters, Rebels, Protection, Liberation movements, Freedom Fighters, Chess Players, Pool Players, Mathematics, Games, Electricity and Electricians, Lights of all kinds, Electric Storms and Lightning

Symbols/Attributes- The Sun, the color yellow, nunchakus, puzzle boxes, rubix cubes, mathematical symbols, an upside down question mark, a light bulb, a thunderbolt, sun dial

Offerings/Prayers- 90% of the time this god is only active during the day. When the Sun is still in the sky is the optimal time to build an altar and commune with him. Or you can visit one of his sun temples! The only times you may experience him at night is during a storm where the lightning is abundant. It means he is communing with other members of the Pantheon and can be reached- but that also requires a lightning rod and everyone doesn't have that on hand. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until morning. Dux is incredibly formidable as the sole protector of Gotham during the day, earning him high regard from the rest of his pantheon. He is perfect to summon as a group or army if you can convince him that your cause is worthy. He will always lead you to victory. He's also perfect for cracking codes and solving Mysteries and deeply enjoys puzzles and riddles. If you wish to offer him something, you may give him a riddle to solve and add to his collection or you must satisfy him by solving a riddle he has for you. You may also gift him puzzles. One offering he wished he recieved more is glass lamps in various colors, so his devotees will not be left in the dark in his absence during the night time hours. He's a god of ambiance. Win against him in chess and recieve a blessing! His devotees and priests tend to be large groups of liberationists. They have power in numbers and he has the most direct devotees.

Alfred💖:

Names/Epithets- Ælfræd, The God Keeper, Strength of Brix, The Attending God, Warmth of Gotham, Lord of Shelter, Master of the Hearth, God of Manners, One Whose Aim is True, God of Rest, With Whom Gods and Men Recover, God of Devotion, The Elder God, Master of the Needle, Father of Fathers, The Mender

Patronages- Advisors, Public Servants, Butlers, Adoptive Fathers, Hunters, Snipers, Surgeons, Paramedics, Physical Therapists, Combat Medics, Actors, Security, Fidelity, Domestic Arts and Sciences, Home and Hearth, Etiquette, Fire, Shooting Ranges, Property, Communications, Disabled People, Textiles and Sewing, Knitting

Symbols/Atrributes- Two Rifles crossed in an X. A white glove, a flame, a tea leaf, a Silver Spoon, Feathers, a sewing needle

Offerings/Prayers- This is a God who mainly attends to Brix and his children. However, there are people in the world who have need of him- mainly because they are much like him. So, the best place to gain audience with him is your very own home. He is the only god it is recommended to do this with. It's better if you have a fire place but a simple candle will work as well. You may offer him tea and show him proper hospitality when his presence enters your home. Manners are very important to Ælfræd and he will not tolerate rudeness. Be mindful, lest the fire you used to summon him somehow cause a housefire. That said, should you come with a worthy request, he is normally a last resort to getting the rest of the pantheon on board. If you perform domestic duties well and the space is to his liking he will bless your home with protection. His devotees range from housewives to a secret order of butlers and medical professionals who have intelligence affiliations.