WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Robin #2 by Joshua Williamson, Gleb Melnikov, Luis Guerrero, & ALW's Troy Peteri, on sale now
The League of Lazarus is a secretive group, even when compared to other forces like the League of Assassins and the League of Shadows. This kept even the likes of Damian Wayne from knowing about them until recently when he won a place in their upcoming tournament. And while the full details around the Lazarus Tournament haven't been yet revealed to him, Damian has learned more about how the upcoming DC fighting tournament will be conducted and the prize awaits the true victor of the contest: immortality.
Normally, this investigation would have been complicated by Damian's unexpected death. Upon arriving on Lazarus Island, Damian Wayne was caught by surprise by just how ruthless the competition was going to be -- and opened himself up to being murdered by Lord Death Man's new sidekick, Flatline. However, to his immense surprise, he's quickly revived. As a surprisingly friendly Ravager explains, the properties of Lazarus Island give the coming Lazarus Tournament some unique attributes, including the notable ability to revive from death. It turns out that the people running the tournament have discovered a way to bring someone back to life with ease, and will do so twice for every competitor.
This way, even a fallen fighter may find their redemption in another battle -- or someone like Damian Wayne can cut loose without fear of compromising his complicated morals, allowing him to easily put down multiple competitors with ease. This also allows each fighter to give it their all, with the knowledge that they can and will be revived following any over-the-top attack. The tournament itself won't begin until each competitor has been killed at least once, effectively serving as a warm-up round. Mother Soul explains that each competitor can be revived twice with no complications. After the second revival, they will even be allowed the tournament, with no apparent repercussions.
However, if they elect to remain and continue battling, a third death results in someone losing their soul forever. An additional rule ensures that no one can sneak up on the others in the dead of night, with all combat constrained to when the sun is shining on the island. This also potentially offers clever fighters possible advantages, such as attacking early in the morning or using the setting sun to escape a lengthy duel. At night, the competitors are housed together and even encouraged to get to know another -- less to form bonds, and more to learn about their opponents. Mother Lazarus also further explained the true stakes of the tournament: the last survivor who remains in the tournament will be awarded immortality.
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There are still numerous questions to be answered about the Island, and why everyone is truly there. Connor Hawke seems reluctant to be engaged in the tournament and is prepared to follow the orders of the League of Shadows despite his natural heroism. Meanwhile, Ravager is seemingly more concerned with Respawn, who has come to the battle in a Deathstroke-inspired costume. Robin sneaks out into the dead of night (unexpectedly followed by Flatline) and discovers Mother Soul and her scientists experimenting on a massive Lazarus Pit, suggesting there's a secondary secretive motivation for the tournament to be held.
With the tournament set to start at any moment -- whenever the last of the competitors suffer their first demise, robin will have plenty of more mysteries to solve if he wants to uncover the truth of Lazarus Island and why both Batman and Talia al Ghul kept it from him.
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