| “ | I’m Damian, scion of the Desmond family! I’ll be a politician one day and protect this country! Father fought against all kinds of enemies during the war… and I… can fight too! | ” |
— Damian to himself[1]
| ||
Damian Desmond (ダミアン・デズモンド, Damian Dezumondo?) is one of the recurring characters of the SPY x FAMILY series. He is the second son of Donovan Desmond and a first-year student at Eden Academy, being part of Cecile Hall, Group 3.
Appearance
Damian is a young boy with short dark brown (sometimes blackish-brown) hair and hazel eyes with light skin. Similar to his mother, Damian's eyes are narrowed and slightly drooping, with visibly long lower eyelashes and short, thin eyebrows above them. In the anime, his hair periodically has a greenish tinge. He often wears a condescending expression. In Anya's perspective, he gains a more stupider appearance with round, wide eyes.
Like other students, he is usually seen wearing Eden Academy's uniform. He wears socks with vertical lines and black shoes.
Personality
Due to his upbringing as a child of an important and powerful man, Damian gained a highly respected status among his peers by default, making him grow incredibly arrogant, assuming Anya gained a crush on him when she stared at him. He is shown to prefer being called "Lord Damian" when spoken to. He gets angry when he is looked down upon by Anya's smug smile, quickly resorting to insulting her with his limited vocabulary and harassing Anya.
After taking a punch from Anya, he becomes very embarrassed around her. After Anya's tear-filled apology, Damian develops a crush on her that he does not want to acknowledge, denying it at every opportunity he gets.
Damian getting into a pillow fight with his friends as they prevented him from studying
Later, it is hinted that a possible reason for Damian's behavior can be attributed to his brother's success as an Imperial Scholar and his father's influence which has set high expectations for him to strive and become part of the Imperial Scholars. Damian believes that getting a high status and achieving success will encourage his honored father to finally pay attention to him. These lofty ambitions very often encourage him to neglect others and even his own rest. Periodically, Damian allows himself to relax and be an ordinary child who likes to have fun and spend time with his friends. Although even in a playful manner, the boy may show signs of irritation or even anger if someone or something prevents him from achieving any merit.
Damian and his friends are determined to get ahead of Anya and Becky in getting the "Pastry of Knowledge"
The desire to become the pride of his father is the main motivator for Damian in making progress in various types of activity. This causes him to look down on others beneath his social class for if they are not a benefit to him, they only slow him down from becoming an Imperial Scholar and in turn, slow down his progress. Damian also has a fairly developed competitive spirit when he is ready to overcome not only himself but also intentionally step over others on the way to achieving his goals.
Despite his high ambitions, Damian is capable of self-sacrifice to the detriment of his interests. A rare exception is when he protects Anya from a ball in a dodgeball game, willingly getting himself eliminated. Though it did not help their class win the game, Anya recognized Damian's good nature. Another rare moment was in their classroom when a girl from their class was spreading a rude rumor about how Anya got her first Stella Star, Damian stood up for her, recognizing Anya's merit, although still mentally outraged that she was ahead of him in receiving the award. Damian would even offer his school supply case to George Glooman when he was told that he would be moving, though he would later demand George to return all the stuff he gave him after figuring out that this was not the case. During the bus hijacking, he showed bravery and selflessness when he tried to save Anya, demanding that the terrorists hang a bomb on him instead of her.
Damian's futile attempts to have a casual chat with his brother
Behind his cocky, self-absorbed, snobby behavior is a sweet, insecure boy desperate for his parents' love and approval. After the bus hijacking incident, Damian is surprised and tearfully relieved that his mother came to pick him up. However, the boy tries to hide his weaknesses from his father and, not wanting to make him worry, asks his mother not to tell him that he cried. Despite the frequent neglect from his father, Damian continues to admire him and tries in every possible way to meet his expectations, especially after an unexpected praise that he received from him after meeting Loid. Periodically, Damian also tries to get closer to his estranged brother, once approaching Demetrius to congratulate him on his academic achievements, and became somewhat upset that his attempts to have a casual chat were met with cold indifference.
Abilities and Skills
As Damian is still a child, most of his known abilities are limited.
Physical Ability: Although his strength as a child is limited, he is able to be one of the few that nearly survive to the end of the dodgeball match, despite having Bill Watkins as an opponent.
Endurance: Damian has shown to be quite tough, being able to block a shot from Bill Watkins, a kid who is much bigger than the size of an average 6-year-old.
Intelligence: As it's shown in his grades, Damian is a very studious and intelligent student, always striving for high grades and good scores. His discipline and responsibility made him have one of the highest grades in his class, and for this, he managed to get a Stella for being in the top 2 highest grades in the History midterm.
Special Moves
| Special Move | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Desmond-Style Rolling Sweep (デズモンド 流 ローリングスイープ, Dezumondo-Ryū Rōringu Suīpu?) |
|
Damian's cleaning move, in which he spins forward in a circular motion while sweeping away anything in his path. Those nearby will get caught up in the dust clouds it creates.[4] |
- Other special moves include:
Weaknesses
Scoleciphobia: Damian is terrified of worms. He runs away in a panic from Ewen and Emile when they chase him, holding these invertebrates in their hands.[5]
Insecurity: Behind his prideful behavior, Damian is actually very insecure about himself and has low self-esteem. Secretly believing that his own family considers him a failure, he tries to hide it from others by acting arrogant and looking down on anyone who is beneath his social class.
Awards and Demerits
| Type | Event | Awarded | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Chapter 27 Episode 18 |
Damian scores a 94 on the History midterm, placing him in the second-highest score in his grade for the subject and earning him a Stella Star. |
|
|
|
Chapter 75 | Because of his brave actions during the bus hijacking incident, Damian earns his second Stella Star alongside Anya, Becky, and Bill. |
|
|
|
Chapter 93 | Damian earns his third Stella for getting the highest score in his grade for the History term finals. |
Chapter Appearances
| Mission 7 | Absent |
| Mission 8 | Debut |
| Mission 9 | Appears |
| Mission 10 | Flashback |
| Mission 11 | Appears |
| Mission 12 | Absent |
| Mission 13 | Absent |
| Mission 14 | Absent |
| Mission 15 | Appears |
| Mission 16 | Appears |
| Mission 17 | Appears |
| Mission 18 | Absent |
| Mission 19 | Absent |
| Mission 20 | Absent |
| Mission 21 | Absent |
| Mission 22 | Absent |
| Mission 23 | Appears |
| Mission 24 | Absent |
| Mission 25 | Appears |
| Mission 26 | Appears |
| Mission 27 | Appears |
| Mission 28 | Appears |
| Mission 29 | Appears |
| Mission 30 | Pictured |
| Mission 31 | Absent |
| Mission 32 | Absent |
| Mission 33 | Absent |
| Mission 34 | Absent |
| Mission 35 | Absent |
| Mission 36 | Appears |
| Mission 37 | Appears |
| Mission 38 | Appears |
| Mission 39 | Appears |
| Mission 40 | Absent |
| Mission 41 | Absent |
| Mission 42 | Appears |
| Mission 43 | Absent |
| Mission 44 | Absent |
| Mission 45 | Absent |
| Mission 46 | Absent |
| Mission 47 | Absent |
| Mission 48 | Absent |
| Mission 49 | Absent |
| Mission 50 | Absent |
| Mission 51 | Absent |
| Mission 52 | Absent |
| Mission 53 | Absent |
| Mission 54 | Absent |
| Mission 55 | Absent |
| Mission 56 | Absent |
| Mission 57 | Appears |
| Mission 58 | Absent |
| Mission 59 | Absent |
| Mission 60 | Absent |
| Mission 61 | Appears |
| Mission 62 | Mentioned |
| Mission 63 | Absent |
| Mission 64 | Absent |
| Mission 65 | Fantasy |
| Mission 66 | Appears |
| Mission 67 | Appears |
| Mission 68 | Absent |
| Mission 69 | Appears |
| Mission 70 | Appears |
| Mission 71 | Appears |
| Mission 72 | Appears |
| Mission 73 | Appears |
| Mission 74 | Appears |
| Mission 75 | Appears |
| Mission 76 | Appears |
| Mission 77 | Absent |
| Mission 78 | Absent |
| Mission 79 | Absent |
| Mission 80 | Absent |
| Mission 81 | Absent |
| Mission 82 | Absent |
| Mission 83 | Absent |
| Mission 84 | Absent |
| Mission 85 | Absent |
| Mission 86 | Absent |
| Mission 87 | Absent |
| Mission 88 | Appears |
| Mission 89 | Absent |
| Mission 90 | Absent |
| Mission 91 | Mentioned |
| Mission 92 | Appears |
| Mission 93 | Appears |
| Mission 94 | Absent |
| Mission 95 | Appears |
| Mission 96 | Appears |
| Mission 103 | Absent |
| Mission 104 | Appears |
| Short Mission 1 | Absent |
| Short Mission 2 | Absent |
| Short Mission 3 | Absent |
| Short Mission 4 | Appears |
| Short Mission 5 | Absent |
| Short Mission 6 | Absent |
| Short Mission 7 | Absent |
| Short Mission 8 | Absent |
| Short Mission 9 | Absent |
| Short Mission 10 | Appears |
| Short Mission 11 | Absent |
| Short Mission 12 | Appears |
| Short Mission 13 | Absent |
Anime Appearances
| 26. FOLLOW PAPA AND MAMA | Absent |
| 27. BOND'S STRATEGY TO STAY ALIVE / DAMIAN'S FIELD RESEARCH TRIP | Appears |
| 28. MISSION AND FAMILY / THE ELEGANT BONDMAN / THE HEART OF A CHILD / WAKING UP | Appears |
| 29. THE PASTRY OF KNOWLEDGE / THE INFORMANT'S GREAT ROMANCE PLAN Ⅱ | Appears |
| 30. PLAN TO CROSS THE BORDER | Absent |
| 31. THE FEARSOME LUXURY CRUISE SHIP | Absent |
| 32. WHO IS THIS MISSION FOR? | Absent |
| 33. THE SYMPHONY UPON THE SHIP / SIS'S HERB TEA | Absent |
| 34. THE HAND THAT CONNECTS TO THE FUTURE | Absent |
| 35. ENJOY THE RESORT TO THE FULLEST / BRAGGING ABOUT VACATION | Appears |
| 36. BERLINT IN LOVE / NIGHTFALL'S DAILY LIFE | Absent |
| 37. PART OF THE FAMILY | Appears |
Trivia
(Left-middle) Early design concepts for Damian
- During the original sketches, Damian's face closely resembled Donovan's. In his initial sketch, Damian had curly hair and wore an ascot. However, the designs were rejected by Tatsuya Endo's editor.[6]
- In the manga, Anya's nickname for Damian, "Sy-on Boy," is a mispronunciation of "Scion." Anya calls him "Jinan" (じなん, Jinan?) in Japanese, which means "second son" (次男, jinan?).
- The English dub of the anime uses the literal translation of Anya's nickname for Damian as she calls him "Second son."
- Damian stays in the school dormitories of Eden Academy with Emile and Ewen.
- Damian has a German shepherd named Max, who he leaves at home in the care of his house servant, Jeeves.
- Jeeves calls Damian by his short name, "Dammy" (ダミー, Damī?).[7]
- Damian's student registration number in Eden Academy is 61133229.[8]
- Damian's shoe size is 17 cm.[2]
- Damian's favorite things are football, cartoons, and Stella Stars.[2]
- Damian's disliked things are earthworms, peppers, and the national language.[2]
- Damian's chair, featured on the seventh volume cover, is a Willow Chair designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
- Damian is the first and currently only person to whom Anya has confessed her telepathy in the manga, although he does not believe her, thinking that she watches too many cartoons.
Quotes
- (To himself): "I gotta be the MVP in this game so I can score a Star. I need to become an Imperial Scholar like my brother did. Otherwise... Dad won't pay any attention to me at all."[9]
- (To himself, referring to Donovan): "I know father couldn't care less about me. If I want to please him... If I want to earn his respect... I have to be perfect. I have to become an Imperial Scholar!"[10]
References
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga: Chapter 71.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 SPY x FAMILY Official Fanbook: EYES ONLY (p. 102).
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga: Chapter 91.
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga and Anime: Chapter 29, and Episode 19.
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga and Anime: Chapter 39 (p. 14), and Episode 27.
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga: Volume 2, Bonus Sketches
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga and Anime: Chapter 25 (p. 22), and Episode 17.
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga and Anime: Chapter 27 (pp. 12-13), and Episode 18.
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga and Anime: Chapter 15 (pp. 6-7), and Episode 10.
- ↑ SPY x FAMILY Manga and Anime: Chapter 25 (pp. 24–25), and Episode 17.