Here's my thoughts on him:
Dick Grayson....is what I describe as Superman/Batman rolled into one when looking at him from a vigilante standpoint and sometimes attitude! Like Superman, he see's the good in everything and can seem incorruptible. However, like Batman, he is only human and has no superpowers, therefore, his view on life is much easier to taint then Superman.
His strengths as a person is his optimism and how easygoing he is. He would be the last person to complain, last person too look down on people, and be the one cracking jokes and showing sarcasm during missions. He also wants to help people in anyway he can! He's a very determine character. Before the reboot, he done everything he could to gain acknowledgement from Batman(Batman had his reasons for making it seem like he didn't even though he admit it any day of the week he's a much better person). This is because he's his father figure. To him, it's the ultimate way of knowing what he's doing is the right thing. In all though, he's learned that he defines himself, not Batman. However, he would still want him to acknowledge him. As time went by though, he saw that Batman did. Just not in a way he thought. He was able to catch this eventually because he knew Bruce. He understood him. He just let his emotions get in the way. He also is known to be very inspiring and friendly. He's been able to convert people like Rose Wilson and Damian Wayne for the better. And they have acknowledge that. Even Damian said to Batman he loved it when Dick was his partner, as he trusted him. And before his death, he said he was the best partner.
EDIT: I also forgot to stress the importance of him moving of from his parent's death. It's because of this he sets himself different from Batman and how strong of a person he is to move on and focus on him being inspired to help others because of them rather then seek eternal vengeance from their demise
He's also an adventuerer. He's positive. He loves a good adventure. He loves being a hero and helping other people out in anyway possible and apporaches people with charm. Many people as a result have no problems talking to Dick. Even Villains. He does get excited in during battle and smiles too.
However, close up, Dick has flaws. These flaws are what subject him to many insults to people who read comics and do not fully understand him. For example, his "daddy issues". He might of have had daddy issues, but it's a little more then that. He works and strives to get out of his shadow. However, he tends to end up doing exactly how Batman does his job. Only when he stops caring about it for a moment, he gets the job done in his own unique way. When he actively tries to do it in a different way then Batman, it just doesn't work. He's also can be very oblivious. He just cannot realize that whether or not he likes it, him and Batman are very similar. In skills and personality. More then he will admit it. He didn't wanna face the fact that deep down, give him a bad week/month and you will literally have a Batman Version 2. Except, he has the capability of being worse. After Donna Troy's death, he turned for a time. When he lead the Outsiders, he treated them how Batman said he treated him: a solider. Mind you, Batman only seems like that because he has a hard time expressing his feelings and the Justice League still value him as comrades and friend. Nightwing also had the same problem. He had a hard time knowing the fact that the Outsider's Team would later be consider his family. He would have quit before they would get that close but that doesn't mean he didn't care about them. No, he did. And tried to tell himself he didn't. When Joker killed Jason, Batman beat him into a body cast and Joker was lucky because of Gordon. When Dick thought Tim was dead, He also beat him into an inch of his life, also. It was thanks to Batman Joker was saved.
He was also never Jealous of Batman nor hated Batman. He always looked up to Batman. ALWAYS! He was his father figure. He can't even put up a fist to him properly when he should. Despite how Batman can be cold to him. Hugo Strange pointed out he was utterly loyal to Batman. However, his problem was that he would say he didn't want to be Batman...however, that's what he wants. He also wants to feel he's worthy of the legacy. However, Batman seemingly doesn't make him feel that way. Batman has explain numerous time he doesn't want Dick to take it. He feels the burden is unecessary to him and he's too good for such a dark mantle. Dick disagrees. Though he understands some of Batman's concerns. He's never told many people that. Superman was the only person to know that just by hanging with him over the years. The Nightwing mantle worked for him because he can do whatever he likes. However, being Batman was his Superhero dream. Many stories emphasize on him being his own man, but that's because he wants to prove to Bruce he has what it takes to be Batman If the day comes he needs to pass it on. However, many fans think that it's just him wanting to be just as good or better then Batman. To me, that's not the case. He wants to show Bruce he has what it takes to be Batman should he need to go. And that he can take it to new heights. Fans love him more as Nightwing but It was his dream since Robin to one day be Batman. He feels he worked just as hard as every other hero out there and has what it takes. But to do so, he needs the approval of Bruce. However, like I said, Bruce REALLY doesn't want him to. He feels he should be his own man. He will do almost whatever it takes to keep him away from it. Even if it strains their relationship. The Young Justice Black Canary talk with Robin is a great depiction of how he feels with being Batman If you need to see it. Even some words were spot on from what he told Superman. However, even with the drive Bruce has, he stills wants to be it. He also doesn't realize when he's Batman, he doesn't have to act like Bruce. He acts how he wants to act because the mantle is his. He never realized this until he WAS Batman himself. Though he had to act a certain way, he did things a little different then Bruce. In all, he wanted the Barry/Wally treatment. Where Wally became Flash and was not compared to him all the time and got the respect he worked for.
With that said, he has a hard time coping with people comparing him to Batman. People just don't understand sometimes that he's different from Batman in ways. Too many times, people compare him to Batman. It annoys him. Richard is similar to Bruce, but he's Richard. Simple at that. However, people around him do compare him to Bruce a lot. Sometimes, it's for comedic relief. And sometimes, they get in his face and mean it as an insult. He loves Bruce and all, but, he hardly wants to always be compared to him. Sometimes, he wants a "Good Job, Dick" instead of "Just as good as Bruce would have gotten it". He wants to be Batman, not Bruce.
He also feels he's under appreciated at times. This goes with his "Daddy Issues". But this also extends to other heroes. Though he ends up proving them completely wrong. His story is going from Sidekick to fully respected hero. As so, people do seem to view him as some rebellious Robin, still. Nightwing doesn't play the second fiddle game. That's a no-no. He feels no one should. And has vouched for side-kicks. Superman told him the story of Nightwing on Krypton. Part of the story noted a Kryptonian that was kicked out of his family and was not given as much credit then he actually earned. And he became a legend. Dick related to that and adopted the name for that reason
While this problem doesn't surface a lot, he has been shown to love adventure. However, how much does he like it can be a problem. While turning evil for him is laughable mostly, If he was, even Nightwing himself knows that it be hard to turn back. Similar to how Batman feels killing once will only lead to more. Deathstroke in the Teen Titans book has tried converting Dick with no advail. This problem doesn't get explored a lot, though . Sometimes, it would tempt him when he was having a bad day. Sorta like his time being Renegade. Except during that time, he was confused and still being good. Like I said, this problem doesn't surface up. However, in the Teen Titans series, this problem does show up when Slade forces him to be his apprentice. He did say Robin felt excited from fighting his friends. While it's not canon and the personality is different, that aspect is still there.
Log in to comment