Out of The Robin's Nest

It's not often we see characters physically age in comic books, is it? Why, Superman and Batman have been in their mid to late thirties since the 1940's. But once and a while there comes a character who not only grows up, but advances in the field of heroism. This character just so happens to be my favorite comic book superhero: Dick Grayson, AKA Nightwing. You'd probably better recognize him as Robin, The Boy Wonder.

Created in 1940's "Detective Comics #38", Dick Grayson was a ten-year-old acrobat and member of a circus family called The Flying Graysons. During their performance in Gotham City, Dick's parents fell to their death after mobsters cut their trapeze wires. In order to protect Dick from said mobsters and help the boy turn his tragedy into something productive, Bruce Wayne adopted Dick Grayson. Eventually, Dick would learn Bruce's secret and The Dynamic Duo of Batman and Robin would begin. But what about after? Well, in 1964 Dick/Robin would lead a team of sidekicks called The Teen Titans. While on this team Robin would be further apart from Batman and his attempts at establishing his own identity would be more successful. In 1969-after the first temporary disband of the Teen Titans-the now eighteen Dick Grayson attended Hudson University College and would occasionally reappear as Robin. It was in the 1980's "The New Teen Titans" were Dick's position as sidekick would come to close. Maturing out of Batman's shadow, Dick gave up the Robin identity and became Nightwing. As Nightwing, Dick would have his own solo adventures. New Robins would come and go and new members of the Batman Family would occasionally team-up with the First Boy Wonder. Finally, in 2009's "Battle for the Cowl" Batman was believed to be dead. As Gotham City was overrun with criminals and Batman imposters, one man would take the true mantle and that was Dick Grayson. Earning the right to be the next Dark Knight, Dick teams up with Bruce's estranged son Damian to become the new Dynamic Duo, Batman and Robin. Sadly, it didn't last long. Bruce eventually loopholed his way back under the cowl and Dick traveled to Chicago as Nightwing. Currently, Dick Grayson is believed to be dead, but he's actually working as a spy for the organization, Spiral. Yeah, a bit out of nowhere.

The character of Dick Grayson has always progressed and aged, which is the feature of the character I enjoy. On a more personal note, I always portrayed Grayson's aging as an allegory for people who grew up with comic books. As kids, we could imagine ourselves as Robin, fighting alongside Batman. As teens, we connect with Nightwing and his journey to becoming his own person. And when we have reached adulthood, we can see ourselves as the new Batman, taking on the role our parents had laid before us and aspiring to honor that position. As a comic book fan, I believe that Dick Grayson's legacy is timeless, because those who follow him aren't. Thanks for reading.