I love the Gotham Irregulars, but I miss Colin Wilkes
Well, let’s start from the beginning:
Currently, in the 2023 Batman and Robin series by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, we were introduced to the Gotham Irregulars — a group of street kids who assist Batman and Robin in urban missions, infiltrations, and investigations where adult vigiants/ Police ou People who don't exactly know Gotham like they do don’t quite fit.
Perhaps inspired by the Baker Street Irregulars from Sherlock Holmes?lock Holmes?
Anyway, they receive guidance and support from Batman, who takes on an almost godfather-like role.
Their dynamic with Batman — especially with Damian — and even their brief moment alongside Jonathan Kent made many fans grow even more attached.
Colin Wilkes, known as Abuse, is a character created by Paul Dini and Dustin Nguyen who debuted in Detective Comics #847 (1937)
An orphan, Colin endured deep trauma, including phobias, abandonment issues, and unstable experiences in foster homes.
Kidnapped by Scarecrow, he was subjected to experiments with a synthetic version of Venom — the same steroid that grants superhuman strength to Bane.
This resulted in powers that allow him to transform into a gigantic and extremely strong form when triggered, resembling a childlike and unstable version of the Hulk or Solomon Grundy
(Scarecrow intended to use him as a kind of weapon against Batman, believing he wouldn’t hit a child — forgetting that hitting someone is far from the only method the Bat uses to win a fight.)
Despite his tragic origin, Colin chose to use his abilities to protect the vulnerable.
Adopting the codename Abuse, he became a street vigilante who prioritizes defending the weak, even though his monstrous appearance makes him feared.
His greatest relevance, however, lies in his relationship with Damian Wayne.
In Batman: Streets of Gotham, Colin was Damian’s first true friend outside the Bat-Family.
(Of course, no one surpasses our beloved Superboy, BUT ANYWAY.)
The two practically met while investigating Victor Zsasz, who was exploiting children in deadly fights.
This friendship was further explored in stories like Batman: Li’l Gotham, where their dynamic is portrayed in a light and affectionate way.
Although Colin remains canonical within the DC Universe — even making a brief appearance alongside Cassandra Cain in a comic — he hasn’t received significant use since his original stories.
(this last comic (･ั﹏･ั) )
I truly miss him, especially now that Damian’s supporting cast (and circle of friends) is expanding.It would be a valuable opportunity — at least to me — for DC to reconnect a rich and underused character to a current narrative that celebrates exactly the kind of hero he represents.
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