10 Comics For Fans Who Love Batman and Nightwing’s Relationship

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As with many people in Bruce Wayne’s life, Dick Grayson has a complicated relationship with Batman. He became Robin at a young age, helped found the Teen Titans, fought crime as part of the Dynamic Duo for years before graduating to the role of Nightwing, and now serves as one of the most influential, inspiring heroes of the DC Universe.

Readers looking for more information on Batman and Nightwing’s relationship have quite a deep well of comics to pull from. Comics like “Year Three” and miniseries like Robin & Batman retell Dick Grayson’s origins. At the same time, “Knightfall” and Battle For the Cowl depict Nightwing’s internal struggle when dealing with his potential destiny as Batman’s successor.

10

A New Take On Robin’s Origins

Jason Todd’s Robin had just died at the hands of the Joker, Batman was spiraling from guilt, and Nightwing had just returned to Gotham after his parents’ killer was released from prison. “Year Three” took place after “A Death in the Family” and brought readers back to Dick Grayson’s origins as Robin.

“Year Three” is a tremendous starting point for readers looking to learn more about Batman and Nightwing’s relationship. Fans learn why Robin is such an important piece to the Batman puzzle, how Robin’s death affected the Dark Knight, how a former Robin saw his time in the Dynamic Duo, and how a new Robin emerged in Tim Drake.

9

Superman & Robin Team Up

Beyond Batman, Robin actually had a close partnership with Superman for many years. The duo worked together in the original World’s Finest volume (alongside Batman too) for decades. In Legends of the DC Universe #6, Superman and Robin teamed up in a rare adventure that didn’t involve Batman.

In modern DC comics, Nightwing and Superman are close friends. This issue presents the roots of that friendship, as Superman offers Robin a perspective on crimefighting that differs from the Dark Knight’s––one that’s more inspiring and hopeful. Nightwing would adopt these traits later.

8

Dick Grayson Graduates From Robin

Frank Miller created a new status quo for Batman’s origins in “Year One.” Nightwing “Year One” attempted the same, but it has not gained the same popularity as its predecessor. Still, “Year One” was an interesting story arc that brought readers back to Dick Grayson’s last days as Robin.

The writers and artists took inspiration from Robin and Batman’s disputes and disagreements in The New Batman Adventures, highlighting the Dynamic Duo’s tumultuous partnership and hotheaded arguments, with Batman firing Dick as Robin, leading to Dick’s evolution into the Nightwing persona.

7

Will Robin Replace The Earth-Two Batman?

Fans could read the continuing adventures of DC’s Earth-Two, an alternate world that starred the Golden Age heroes of the DC Universe, such as Jay Garrick’s Flash and Alan Scott’s Green Lantern. On Earth-Two, Bruce Wayne married Selina Kyle, who had a daughter named Helena Wayne, who would become the Huntress.

Even though Adventure Comics takes place on an alternate Earth, it signifies how close Dick Grayson would have been to becoming the next Batman had Bruce and Dick’s relationship been healthier. After Earth-Two Batman died, Earth-Two Robin nearly took up the cape and cowl, but Huntress convinced him not to.

6

Batman’s Replacement After “Knightfall”

“Knightfall” was about the Bane’s demolition of Batman’s world and Azrael’s villainous rise as a new Dark Knight. However, a major part of the story arc was Batman’s quest to find a worthy successor. The “Prodigal” storyline, connected to “Knightfall,” highlighted Bruce’s search.

Dick Grayson was an obvious candidate, but there was so much bad blood between Batman and Nightwing at the time, with DC retconning Dick’s experience working alongside the Dark Knight. Nightwing refused the role, and Azrael nearly drove the Batman legacy into the ground.

5

Nightwing & Red Hood Battle For The Batman Mantle

When Dick Grayson received a second chance to claim the Batman mantle, he didn’t pass it up––he couldn’t because Jason Todd had returned as the Red Hood and stolen the Batman identity, wearing Bat-like armor while wielding guns. The entire Bat-Family struggled to fill the void left after Batman’s death, and Dick Grayson rose to the occasion to save everyone, especially Gotham.

Battle For the Cowl may not have Bruce Wayne in it, but it is emblematic of Batman’s importance to his partners and loved ones and the DC Universe as a whole. Gotham needs a Batman, and Dick deciding to become the next one showed his evolution as a character.

4

Dick Grayson & Damian Wayne’s Dynamic Duo

Dick Grayson became Batman, and it was almost a reconciliation with Bruce Wayne, despite Bruce being stuck in the past at the time, thanks to Darkseid’s Omega Beams. Though Batman and Robin starred Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne as the Dynamic Duo, the series emphasized how much Dick cared for Bruce and how hard he worked to honor the legacy he created.

At the best moments in the series, Dick Grayson sat with Alfred in the Batcave, discussing what it meant to be Batman and whether the former Nightwing was doing a good job. Alfred, knowing both Batman and Nightwing better than anyone, confirmed that there was no one better suited to take Bruce’s place.

3

Dick Grayson’s Early Robin Adventures

Readers can find many interpretations of Robin’s origins across TV shows, movies and comics. A recent adaptation came in the three-part Robin & Batman miniseries, which took fans back to Dick Grayson’s early years as Robin, using his Robin design from the New 52.

The miniseries delved into the harsh realities Dick faced when becoming Robin at such an early age. Robin & Batman also highlighted the trust that Batman and Robin built in each other. Early in his career, Robin saved Batman’s life, earning a place in the Batcave and cementing himself as a hero.

2

Batman & Nightwing In Another Universe

Sean Murphy was inspired by Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures. That inspiration is never more evident than in how Batman and Nightwing interact. Dick Grayson almost resents Batman for directing his life the way he had.

Across all three volumes, from White Knight to Curse of the White Knight and finally Beyond the White Knight, Dick and Bruce both love and hate each other, with a heartfelt conclusion to their mini, mutual arc arriving in the third act of Murphy’s story. White Knight may not exist in DC canon, but it’s an extremely rich, character-driven saga.

1

Read Tom Taylor’s Complete Nightwing Run

Nightwing volume four doesn’t feature very many interactions between Batman and Nightwing. Though Dick Grayson frequently teams up with Tim Drake and Barbara Gordon’s Batgirl, the series is primarily a solo one. However, it’s still an important piece of Batman and Nightwing’s overall relationship.

Nightwing shows how far Dick Grayson has come. He’s not just a hero but an inspiring one. Nightwing has taken the lessons from Batman, Superman, Alfred, and more, creating a superhero who has led the DC heroes in the Justice League’s absence and made Blüdhaven into one of the greatest cities in the DC Universe. With a smile on his face, Nightwing fights crime his own way while also honoring the roots planted by the work of Batman and Robin.

“}]] Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson were the original Dynamic Duo, and their familial relationship has only grown over the years as Batman and Nightwing.  Read More