Robin / Nightwing[/size]
Alter Ego: Richard John "Dick" Grayson
Occupation: Police Officer
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: John Grayson (father; deceased), Mary Grayson (mother; deceased)
Group Affiliation: Former partner of Batman, Former leader of the Teen Titans, and the New Titans.
Base of Operations: Blüdhaven, Gotham City
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 175 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
First Appearance, Robin: Detective Comics #38 (July 1939)
First Appearance, Nightwing: Tales Of The New Teen Titans #44 (February 1984)
Robin[/size]
The transition from Golden Age to Siver Age (later designated Earth-2 and Earth-1) versions was unintentional, and had no clear splitting point. Robin's early history was much more consistent between versions than Superman's, but in some cases, character traits and continuity events that would later be ascribed specifically to different versions of Robin had actually been associated with a single Robin in a past story. Once the Earth 2 & 1 concept had been developed, the Earth-2 Robin was linked with the original appearance date while the Earth-1 Robin was kept roughly static by floating his past history. So, whenever the Earth-1 continuity comic book was published, Robin was born about 13-18 years before, and commenced his career at around 13. Later Earth-1 stories gradually let Dick Grayson age from a child to a young adult, first as a more mature Robin, then as Nightwing he must've aged to his early 20s.Born on the first day of Spring into a family of circus performers, Richard John Grayson learned acrobatic skills at an early age. His parents were stars on the high wire and trapeze, and he joined them in the act at an early age. Dick was a member of the famous acrobatic team
The Flying Graysons of the
Haly Circus. Before one appearance in Gotham, in which The Flying Graysons were the main attraction, they were asked to pose for a photo opportunity with the Drake Family, including their young son Tim. From that time on Tim's one and only hero in the world was Dick.
Boss Zucco, a Gotham gangster, was trying to extort money from the circus by sabotage. During the Grayson’s portion of the show, Dick's parents John and Mary, fell to their death after their trapeze snaps. Dick witnessed the death of his parents when a trapeze that Zucco had tampered with broke during the show. All while many of Gotham's elite, including billionaire socialite Bruce Wayne, and the young Tim Drake watched on.
Following the death of his parents, now an orphan, Dick was taken in by millionaire Bruce Wayne. Bruce revealed that he was secretly the Batman, and offered to help Dick bring Zucco to justice. Dick Grayson became the protégé of Batman. His natural athletic ability and sharp mind made him and eager pupil for Bruce Wayne. As
Robin the Boy Wonder based in part on his favorite story book hero, Robin Hood, he spent his teen years as the Dark Knight's junior partner bringing first his parents' killer to justice, then many more criminals and later as the leader of the super alliance known as the
Teen Titans.
Perhaps it was the fact that Zucco was brought in so soon that prevented Dick from becoming as grim a figure as Bruce. As a superhero, Dick was more prone to swashbuckling and laughing in the midst of battle. His acrobatic skills were such that he taught Batman a thing or two, and coupled with the martial arts he learned from Batman, Robin's speed and agility often allowed him to make bad guys look like lumbering klutzes. Some of Robin's lightness of heart seemed to rub off onto Batman, making him seem less predatory and more heroic.
After many adventures with Batman and establishing himself as a crime-fighter in his own right, Robin soon met other teenage adventurers and formed the first group of Teen Titans. The original Titans were composed of the most well known sidekicks in the DC Universe: Kid Flash, Wondergirl, Speedy, Aqualad, and Robin as the leader. Through the Titans, Dick gained additional experience through adventures against new criminals, both at home and on other worlds.
Soon after his graduation from high school he left Gotham City and Batman for college at Hudson University. After a few months Dick dropped out and drifted around for a while, finally returning to Gotham City. Upon his return he went to Bruce and struggled to get Bruce's respect as an adult. It was during this time period, that Robin was shot in the shoulder by the Joker. After that Bruce deemed the life of a superhero too dangerous for Dick. Thus ending Dick's career as Robin.
Post Crisis continuity comics started in 1986, at which point Dick Grayson was depicted as having completed his career as Robin and moved on to establish himself as Nightwing. So the Post Crisis Dick Grayson is seen as Robin only in flashback stories.Nightwing[/size]
Upon leaving the cave, and Robin forever, He moved to New York to become leader of
The New Teen Titans. Grayson took on the persona of
Nightwing and a new costume and led the Titans in that guise until recently returning to Gotham. Dick set out to face a deadlier and darker world.
While serving with the New Titans, Dick was searched out by an older Tim Drake, who had only one goal on his mind, for Dick to return to Robin. It was Dick's refusal to return that Tim started down the road toward becoming the new Robin. After weeks of persuading and proving his potential, Dick then returned to the Batman to plead Tim's case, with help from Alfred. Due to their arguments and the realization that the Batman needs a Robin, Tim Drake becomes the fourth to wear the red and green (following a young Bruce, Dick, and Jason Todd). And, Dick gains a little brother.
In recent history Nightwing has returned to Gotham on more than one occasion to lend a hand. The most notable time was following the breaking of the Bat by Bane. After Bruce's injury he asked the vigilante formerly known as Azrael, Jean Paul Valley, to fill in as the Dark Knight. Dick returned to investigate the new guy in town, and to find out why Bruce would intrust the job to an outsider. He even helped to bring in Jean Paul, after he had let a criminal die, while as Batman. After Jean Paul was finally defeated by a recovered Bruce, Dick was asked to fill in as the Batman, so that Bruce could sort out some things. This time as the Batman was probably most beneficial for Dick. He finally realized he and Bruce's differences, and that he had to be his own man.
On a mission ordered by Batman to nearby Blüdhaven, Nightwing uncovered a deep criminal conspiracy headed by Desmond (Blockbuster). The corruption in this depressed coastal city was so pervasive that Grayson elected to stay on and make the 'Haven his and Nightwing's home. He recently joined the Blüdhaven P.D. as a rookie police officer in order to work from the inside to destroy the twisted crime machine that rules his adopted city. Nightwing's mask includes a built-in radio transmitter/receiver and Starlite night-vision lenses. His costume is made of Nomex/Kevlar weave and contains a one-use only taser charge.
Nightwing can currently be found as the new, and overwhelmed, protector of
Blüdhaven, a city worse than Gotham in many ways, and "big brother" to the next Robin, Tim Drake. Blüdhaven is far enough away from Gotham for Dick to be his own man, yet close enough to Dark Knight if needed. In the near future, he will also be rejoining with the original Titans as a regular, and hopefully very active member, of the new Titans.
On the I.Q. scale, Nightwing is a bit below Batman's near genius level, but he is in no way a slouch. With regards to his detective skills, they are second only to the Dark Knights. What he lacks in raw intelligence, he makes up for in superb leadership skills.
An excellent hand-to-hand combatant, Nightwing learned his fighting skills from the Batman, thus their skills are very similar and a blend of various styles. But in general, their fighting styles favor Aikido and Jeet-Kune-Do.
Nightwing's style does differ with respect to his being a near-flawless gymnast and greater natural athlete. These traits lend themselves toward a more flowing, free form style of combat. Thus making Nightwing an excellent hand-to-hand combatant.
Nightwing is a master of a half dozen martial arts disciplines with an emphasis on Aikido, as well as being armed with twin escrima sticks made from unbreakable polymer. He carries several dozen modified batarangs along with de-cel jumplines and gas capsules.
His current costume houses numerous concealed devices: swing lines, med.-kit, tazer, etc., all of which are contained in his gauntlets and boots. Also included in the suit are holsters, located on his back, for a pair of escrima fighting sticks.
Among Nightwing's means of transportation are his customized car and boat. For a long time Nightwing also had a customized motorcycle.
Compiled and Edited By: FlaBat
Sources:The Ultimate Guide To The Dark Knight by Scott Beatty
www.dcuguide.com/Who/Nightwing_Bio.htmwww.dccomics.com/secret_files/dc_character.html?sc_dc_itemCode=nightwingweb.cetlink.net/~farrier/dicke1.htmlweb.cetlink.net/~farrier/dicke2.html