Nightwing’s Blockbuster confession

It’ll be anti-climatic, but you’ll have a sense of closure that’ll enable you to finally sleep soundly at night once again.  Well mainly me, because I’ve been procrastinating and writing these at midnight. Anyway, as Nightwing’s guilt slowly destroys him, he begins to take bigger risks, jump deeper into danger, and put himself in situations where radiation poisoning’ll boil his insides.  Especially the third one in Nightwing #116-117, written by Devin Grayson and drawn by Wellington Alves, Marcos Marz, & Brad Walker.

In Infinite Crisis #4, Blüdhaven blows up.  That’s the city Nightwing spent 116 issues attempting to protect and reform.

Millions of people and a piece of Nightwing’s heart die in that radioactive blast.  With Nightwing trying to kill-himself-by-danger to ease that guilty conscience, a glowing wasteland of a city seems like the perfect place.  Look, I know I haven’t been as terribly kind to Nightwing these past few weeks.  But I do adore Nightwing.  It’s the idea of one acrobat valiantly struggling to save one city from eating itself alive from crime and corruption.  We know it’s impossible.  Hell, Batman and his entire team of gymnasts in capes can’t possibly rid all evil from Gotham City (though I believe Batman likes it that way).

Still, as Nightwing, with his batons and grappling hook, fights his unending battle against forces always stronger than him, he’s the closest we have to a “normal” guy parading as a superhero. Batman can’t qualify for that role.  People believe the Dark Knight could win against Superman. Comics have been written about his victory (or at least tie).  Superman — the superhero who could split the moon in two with a single karate chop.  The superhero who can circumnavigate the world in the time it takes Batman to throw his first punch.  But Nightwing?  No one thinks he would win.  We all agree Superman would squish the former Robin into a pellet small enough to feed to an actual Robin.  It’s because he’s seen as a normal guy (at least to me), despite that Nightwing has the same skill, talent, speed, training, and intelligence as Batman.  Readers love normals, which is probably one reason Hawkeye is selling so well.  My 1 AM Nightwing theory aside, I don’t think I’m talking entirely out my butt.

But back to Blüdhaven and a few pages I selected.

Delirious hospital bed confession time coming up.  A nuclear blast and building wall combo attack can be more effective than any truth serum.  And Nightwing’s final line before he passes out?  Beautifully written — Nightwing’s gushing about hope, especially his lack thereof that cost Blockbuster his life.

Discussion over.  Batman only deals in tough love.  The Dark Knight’s advice summed up?  I’ll get over your moral failing, but not if you use it as an excuse to drown in self-loathing.  Grow up, learn from the experience, move on, punch bad guys.  Something like that.  So Nightwing takes his advice, as any son would when your father dressed as a giant bat screams in your face.  The first step for recovery? He should start with repairing some mistakes that can be fixed.

They break up next issue, but at least the Boy Wonder takes the first step in becoming the Man Wonder.

Nightwing, Batman’s son

For a former teenage superhero, Dick Grayson turned out relatively normal.  He retains his sense of humor, passion but not obsession, and can even manage a healthy romantic relationship (which Bruce certainly can’t).  I don’t think it’d be far off to say that Dick has managed to become the most successful and popular former sidekick in comics today.  But despite not being pantsless for over twenty years, a few loose ends needed to be tied up between the Boy Wonder and Dark Knight.  Like legal status.

In official documents, Dick is Bruce’s ward, which remains something like a guardianship.  Depending on the continuity and various writers, Dick’s only fifteen or so years younger than Bruce (though probably now around ten with the New 52).  And since Batman’s job involves pummeling bad guys into unconsciousness, a smart man would have a back up plan set up in case of untimely (and likely) death.  Unfortunately, in Batman: Gotham Knights #20-21, written by Devin Grayson and drawn by Roger Robinson,  there’s one problem with this plan.

Dick’s roots go back to Romani Gypsies.  That and carny folk.  Circuses may excel at back flips and bearded women, but I imagine a clean past may not be one.  Records tend to be hard read when written mostly on cotton candy.

Yes, that’s Batman generalizing a whole group of people.  Nightwing gets mad at him, but Dick keeps forgetting Batman’s superpower of being wildly inconsiderate of other people’s feelings.

Let’s meet this so-called relative, who by the way, fits every stereotype down to his bushy mustache.

I get that legal mysteries may be less fun than Batman roundhouse kicking henchmen, but character development makes future roundhouse kicking worth it.  Probably.  With a harmless old man following Dick around, it’s time for Bruce to have a little chat about this final adoption obstacle.

Cliffhanger, right?  Knowing that his grandson puts on a costume and clubs supervillains at night would certainly hold a major financial advantage, or at least blackmail.  But truthfully, he really is just a harmless old man.

Being a comic book world, something sinister lurks behind this grandfatherly curtain.  And fortunately, Bruce lacks the ability to trust anyone who isn’t Alfred, or Dick, or Tim Drake, or Barbara Gordon, or Commissioner Gordon, or Leslie Thompkins, or Lucius Fox, or Superman.  Maybe a few others. Okay, so he trusts more than I thought, but definitely not this dude.

Yes, this is where things get bad.  I wonder why anyone in Gotham would ever leave their window blinds open.  The city has more snipers of roofs than pigeons.  Still, plot demands the blinds stay up.

Did you read that last panel in the gravelly Batman voice?  Of course you did.  So who told Yoska about Dick?  Think bad facial hair and petty grudges.

I know this is weird, though it’s not above Ra’s al Ghul to spend enormous amounts of money and time to set up a single emotional blow.  Also, Ra’s is a dick.

Let’s get right into the solution of this mystery.  It all involves Ra’s’ daughter Talia, who recently abandoned her father after nudging from Batman.  With news of Bruce securing an heir, the whole heir business surely hit the supervillain’s sore spot.  Also remember, Ra’s is a dick.

Know the biggest difference between Dick and Bruce?  I believe Devin Grayson sums it up best here:

During the Hush arc and the fight between Batman and Superman, Bruce remarks, “I know how [Superman] thinks.  Even more than the Kryptonite, he’s got one big weakness.  Deep down, Clark’s essentially a good person … and deep down, I’m not.”  That begs to be argued, but I can probably say that Batman fights less out of concern for his fellow man and more for the justice and vengeance against crime and corruption.

But Nightwing?  Dick’s not a mini-Bruce.  He’s far more like Superman in regards to his crime fighting ideals.  Like Superman, Nightwing trusts too easily, loves too much, and holds back far more than he should.  And truthfully, maybe Batman could learn something from that.  Or not.  That’s not really up to me.  Brooding tends to be one of Batman’s more popular traits anyway.

Therapy with Batman & Nightwing

Another Nightwing post!  I promise the last one of the week (I can’t promise that).

Sorry in advance for the huge chunk of back story.  Y’see, back in the early 1980s, Dick Grayson grew tired of being Robin, now 17 years-old and no longer a little hatchling.  He announced his situation to Batman, who responded with his same emotional vacancy that he normally does, prompting Grayson to quit and don the Nightwing costume.  Bruce Wayne and Grayson eventually grew close again, but only after Nightwing firmly established himself as a successful solo superhero.

Unfortunately in 1993, Bane broke Batman’s back and forced the Dark Knight into retirement.  Azrael, the insane psychopathic religious zealot, was chosen by Wayne to be his successor.  Terrible idea. Azrael (real name Jean Paul Valley) created a mecha-Batman suit, abused Robin, and killed bad guys.  Wayne, feeling better after a magical chiropractor, fought Azrael for supremacy and gained back his Batcave and title.

Unfortunately again, Batman’s still feeling a bit woozy from all that former paralysis and needs to take some more time off, allowing Grayson to assume the role for a short while.  When Wayne returns and demands his costume back, Grayson’s emotional geyser erupts in anger and frustration.  Our story picks up with the final issue of the Prodigal arc in Robin #13, written by the genius Chuck Dixon and drawn by John Cleary and Phil Jimenez.

Oh, the green text boxes are Robin stuff I’ve cut out.  He’s busy fighting supervillains.

To be fair to Wayne, he is legitimately stunted emotionally as trauma leftover from the death of his parents.  While the Grayson family’s deaths are no less tragic, he’s not consumed in a permanent cloud of guilt and vengeance like his mentor.  Plus, it’s been a decade of comics with really zero closure on the ending of their Batman-Robin partnership.

For being the world’s greatest detective, Batman certainly has a hard time detecting hurt feelings. Though despite Nightwing’s verbal sucker punch, Batman’s explanation stands true to his character.

Batman needs therapy.  Badly.  Instead, he takes out his problems by putting his fist through the faces of bad guys.  See it through Batman’s eyes.  Every minute Wayne sits on a couch rattling on to a scribbling doctor, another illegal gun is being sold, another helpless man is being beaten, and another supervillain is planning to torch the city.  Also, do you know how long it takes to zip-line to Gotham?

C’mon, Batman.  Tell Nightwing your true feelings.  What does he really mean to you?

And there you go.  Grayson, after a decade of feeling neglected, pushed away, and rejected by Wayne, finally hears exactly where he belongs in Batman’s life.  Closure granted.  Broken heart healed.

And Robin?  While the two have their bonding moment, surely he’s not in terrible peril and desperately needs their help, right?

On a final note, you may know that Darkseid killed Batman a few years ago.  Well, more like shot Batman’s soul into the depths of space and time, but close enough.  Grayson took over the Batman role for real, now completely deserving as the only true successor.  And fans loved it.  His few years as the Dark Knight alongside Batman’s son Damien as Robin were critically loved and applauded. Plus, he brought a kind of energy to the character that hasn’t been seen since, well, ever.

You see that?  A happy Batman.

Jailbreak: Nightwing

It’s the 100th post and to celebrate, we’re going to read my favorite comic book scenario: superheroes breaking out of prison.  I adore the idea of superheroes escaping out of somewhere inescapable while surrounded by enemies and inevitably always ending up in gigantic fistfight mob climax.  Delightful reading every time.

Since we’ve been sticking with a theme the past few days, let’s continue the Batman event No Man’s Land with a little Nightwing side story (real name Dick Grayson, the original Robin). Y’see, since Batman now has to patrol and protect his lawless anarchic city from the dozen or so crime gangs and supervillains causing trouble, sometimes he needs to outsource a few missions to his buddies.  Let’s take a look at Nightwing #35-37, written by Chuck Dixon and drawn by Scott McDaniel.

Someone doesn’t like backtalk.  I imagine Batman has the money to buy gas grenades and new bat-mobiles because he cuts cost in manpower, such as sending just one non-superpowered acrobat alone into battle against the most dangerous prison in Gotham.

Even Nightwing can’t disobey Batman.  The Dark Knight doesn’t take rejection well.  And actually, the prison plan that Nightwing and Oracle come up with is pretty solid.  Grayson’ll infiltrate the prison, take the place of the inmate who looks the most like him, and then ambush Lock Up’s crew one-by-one until the prison comes under Nightwing’s command.  He gets as far as the second step.

Nightwing’s biggest strength lies not with his brilliant mind (that’s Tim Drake), or his calculated ruthlessness (Jason Todd), but instead with his natural physical gifts.  It’s been stated on more than one occasion that Nightwing’s even faster than Batman.  Well, like by a fraction, but still faster. Surely he can outrun the rifle of a hollerin’ stereotype.

Oh, KGBeast!  The ridiculously outdated USSR relic premiered three years before the fall of the Soviet Union as a master assassin terrorizing Gotham.  He even has a cool gun or sword hand, depending on his fancy.  Yes, the guy’s intimidating and powerful, but KGBeast’s also been beaten by preteen Robin twice.  So, y’know.

Stuck between a Russian behemoth and the fast approaching cowboy twins, Grayson makes a call.

A bad call.

A very bad call.

The prison takeover plan a bust, Nightwing’ll have to improvise.  I mean, how bad can it possibly get?

I love comics because of situations like this one, where Nightwing’s now trapped in an impenetrable basement pit with twenty enraged baddies.  You and I get to wonder how he’ll get out of this mess, even more so after the villains realize that Batman ain’t coming to rescue them. They get stuck with the former Boy Wonder.  What a terribly rude way for Batman to treat all those people he’s given concussions.

Batman’s rogue gallery has some weirdos.  Luckily the Dark Knight trains his sidekicks in critical thinking and environment analysis when they’re not doing backflips over crocodile men.

Favorite panel in the entire arc.  Nothing like the pure glee of a BDSM supervillain so minor, you can count all of his issue appearances on one hand.  With Nightwing’s first plan shattered into pieces, why not go for a double?

Grayson conquered a pit full of murderous supervillains.  Can he prevail over Mother Nature next?

We’re speeding towards Grayson’s great escape, because as you’ve probably figured out, Nightwing’s safety depends pretty heavily on the containment of the prisoners.  Thugs and supervillains totally have goldfish memory.  That or an inability to properly thank the good-looking, athletic, young man who bloodied and shipped them off to the police in the first place.

He totally showed those prisoners.  Can you taste the salty fresh air that awaits?  The seagulls squawking as they swoop down for their breakfast?  Not if a plot twist hat trick can help it.

Definitely the coolest superhero/supervillain suspended by chains in midair fight you’ve ever seen, right?  Time to clean up the rest of the trash, and then report back to Batman’s approving scowl.

Y’know, this arc actually leads up to the Ballistic Romance story, where Nightwing meets up with his rejected lover Huntress again while rekindling his relationship with Oracle at the same time as battling a rogue police hit squad.  It’s awesome.

I bet Batman makes Alfred sew all the uniforms back together.