I am attempting to get into Nightwing but I am having trouble figuring out how he is much different from Bruce Wayne. They both patrol Gotham, deal with similar villains (possibly don't quote me on that ;p).

This question is not being asked to disrespect the character. A while back I asked "what's so special about Spider-man" after years of having 0 interest in his character and today he is one of my all time favorite characters and I am currently pulling several Spider books.

I really want to get into Graysons character but I just need to see how he isn't just a Batman-lite.

Would appreciate anyone taking the time to explain this too me because after seeing all the hype about Nightwings books I want to jump onto the title as well.

Thanks all.

Dick Grayson is basically the imperfect perfected version of Bruce Wayne meaning that, sure, Bruce is a better detective, fighter,tactician, etc, but Dick is extremely well suited in all those attributes and especially exceeds him in personality. Unlike Bruce, Dick is friends and allies with a majority of the superhero community and he trusts others, something Bruce can't let himself do. He's similar to Bats, but has so much more personality. I suggest giving him a try, but read some of his old stuff, there's a reason Bruce entrusted Dick with being the leader of the Teen Titans, The Titans, The Outsiders, and the JLA on two separate occasions. Dick is my favorite bat-family character and probably my favorite comic book character. I hope that helps, even a little.

Oh and also:

• Dick used to patrol Bludhaven but that was destroyed and so he relocated to Gotham because he had to take up the mantle of Batman // is apart of Batman, Inc now.
• They have fought similar enemies, but Dick has his own rogues, I believe. (I could be wrong about that, that information temporarily escapes me)
• Dick is a ladies man and gets mad biddies.

@Kallarkz: Well I suspect @ReVamp could tell you more in depth reasons why Grayson is different from Batsy, but I'll take a stab at it anyway...

First off they have different villains. Most recently he has faced Saiko who is not a Batman villain. they have shared rogues in the past but its exactly like the rest of the Bat Family. Batgirl has faced Clayface and Joker, but she has her own district rogues and so does Nightwing. Check out his enemy section for examples.

Also, Nightwing's actual location has varied. He lived in Bludhaven and right now he is traveling around with the circus.

As characters they are quite different. Even from his first appearance, Dick was more playful character while Bruce is the always serious character. Since becoming Nightwing, Dick has matured and became a teacher and guide to several heroes like Damian. I think the best way to describe him as you are a Spider-man fan is that Dick Grayon is sort of like Spider-man but a little more serious given his background with death and revenge.

Well, that was my attempt at telling the differences. Probably one of the many Nightwing fans can describe him better. You really should read Nightwing. It is a very cool series.

Dick was the Batman people (of Gotham) wanted Batman to be.

@Kallarkz: In terms of fighting style, Dick is lighter on his feat and employs acrobatics more often than Bruce.

Wow. Thanks all for your responses.

I kind of got that feeling about Grayson when i picked up issue one about his personality. He seemed real serious about his responsibilities but at the same time he wasn't as serious as Batman. Batman and the members of his family was another aspect of comics that I wasn't very interested in until i saw the animated film "Under the Red Hood" which was incredible.

It's good to know that Nightwing isn't just like a small version of Batman and he deals with other problems and travels around.

I will definitely give his series a shot. (Usually I stick with a series for a god 6 issues before I make a decision).

But if it's anything like what I'm reading here it should be great.

Once again thanks all.

Now im off to make a thread about my last DC comic choice =) then the list will be full.

I think one of the biggest differences is that Dick actually likes what he does...he enjoys being a superhero...it's what he was born to do...also...one of the reasons that they planned on killing Dick in Infinite Crisis instead of Superboy was because Dick is actually friends with almost every hero in the DC Universe and his death would have had a resounding affect on the other heroes...meanwhile Bruce sees the other heroes as tools in his war on crime and counts very few of them as actual friends...if he counts any of them at all...I'm not sure that Bruce considers anyone an actual friend after Harvey Dent....then there's their fighting methods...Dick is loud and talkative and uses banter and his acrobatic abilities as a distraction...Bruce on the other hand is more about stealth and brute force and taking down his opponents as quickly as possible...Dick had a hard time adapting to being Batman he had to change a lot of his tactics including his fighting style to work around the cape and to make everyone truly believe that he was Batman and to be honest he failed pretty miserably...lots of people including Two Face and Gordan knew right away that this wasn't the Batman that they were used to

Dick's only flaw is that he's a slut. 

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Dick's only flaw is that he's a slut.

The thing is.....this most true thing i've ever seen....how can something so right be so wrong?!?

As the poet so eloquently pointed out, Dick Grayson is nothing like Bruce. For all intents and purposes, Nightwing is essentially a bastard Batman. In this case it's a good thing. He's a textbook hero but his principles are also very unique to those of his mentor. Dick understands the fundamentals of crimefighting because he was rigorously drilled to as Robin; as Nightwing he took that experience and hit the ground running.

He's likely the guy you'd feel most comfortable asking for help in Gotham because he believes in the people(unlike Batman who scares the crap out of them) and he's just too damn nice for his own good.

Subnotes: He has great chemistry working with anyone. Including villains.*

Dick Grayson is to DC what Kevin Bacon is to Hollywood. That is, he shares a connection to every major player out there in in one way or another. His death would hold huger ramifications than if even the goddamn Batman was killed.*

A major theme of his books revolve around his exquisite skill of timing, and the fact that he doesn't like to plan ahead. He works without a safety net.*

Dick on super rare occasions has allowed the death of his enemies. He's even killed.*

When he fights, he'll almost always use his trusty escrima sticks much the same way Daredevil depends on his billy clubs.*

He hates capes. Despises them.*

sorry for the bulk of text everybody. My browser is acting up.. I'll hopefully get this corrected in the next couple of days.

Dick is a slut

Bruce is a dick

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Dick's only flaw is that he's a slut.

@Nerx your video won't upload(?)

I could write a massive text, but here's why:

He's fcking Nightwing, he's the best fcking character in comics.

Alot of you are up tight and need to get laid. Dick isn't a "slut" he is a rich good looking dude in his 20's and he is enjoying what comes with that.

Lord I could write you a book on this. To shorten it and save time though: Dick's fighting style is different, his approach to the job is different, and it might even be said that out of the two he's the better hero.

He's an acrobat and relies on that. As we've all seen he doesn't like using the cape as it weighs him down. He likes to be light and constantly on the move. He's forever talking to his opponent, something Bruce rarely does. He likes to keep his target distracted and then go in for the kill.

Dick genuinely enjoys what he does. Bruce doesn't. He lives to be in the spotlight. Bruce thrives in the shadows.

Dick's death is probably the one that would shake just about every hero in the world. Not because they look up to him like they did with Superman. But because they all know him on a personal level and our proud to be his friend. He makes an effort to know everyone and not treat them as pawns, but as people.

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Dick's only flaw is that he's a slut.

Change either "Flaw" or "Slut" and that's right.

He smiles.

@ReVamp said:

I could write a massive text, but here's why:

He's fcking Nightwing, he's the best fcking character in comics.

QFT

@RichardJohnGrayson: I'm pretty sure ssjellendrad has a gf, but lolololol too too funny @NathanialChristopher: Great analysis @Backflip: Like a boss

No one else?

Bruce would never do this

Nightwing saves a man and a woman from a sandpit

"Their tears of joy don't stop as they suck in night air. They hug me for half an hour before they stop shaking. Another day. Another life. In the end, that's all that matters."

@SmoothJammin said:

Bruce would never do this

Nightwing saves a man and a woman from a sandpit

"Their tears of joy don't stop as they suck in night air. They hug me for half an hour before they stop shaking. Another day. Another life. In the end, that's all that matters."

I love that. The Great Leap IIRC. I like the "Half an Hour" touch. Definitely interesting.

He's four inches shorter and about 75 pounds lighter.

60/40 I kick yo ass

He's basically a happy Batman.

@John Valentine said:

He's four inches shorter and about 75 pounds lighter.

That's actually bad portrayal in the Batman book.

@ReVamp said:

@John Valentine said:

He's four inches shorter and about 75 pounds lighter.

That's actually bad portrayal in the Batman book.

How so?

@John Valentine said:

@ReVamp said:

@John Valentine said:

He's four inches shorter and about 75 pounds lighter.

That's actually bad portrayal in the Batman book.

How so?

In his Solo book he's much taller. The Batman book really just differentiated the robins/Batman by size. He's more built than that. You could argue that the Solo book is wrong and not the Batman book, but I don't really think that's the case.

@ReVamp said:

@John Valentine said:

@ReVamp said:

@John Valentine said:

He's four inches shorter and about 75 pounds lighter.

That's actually bad portrayal in the Batman book.

How so?

In his Solo book he's much taller. The Batman book really just differentiated the robins/Batman by size. He's more built than that. You could argue that the Solo book is wrong and not the Batman book, but I don't really think that's the case.

He's been constantly depicted, as an adult, at around 5ft10 and 175 pounds. So that makes him around four inches and 35 pounds less than Bruce. No matter the series.

He's nice.

@John Valentine said:

@ReVamp said:

@John Valentine said:

@ReVamp said:

@John Valentine said:

He's four inches shorter and about 75 pounds lighter.

That's actually bad portrayal in the Batman book.

How so?

In his Solo book he's much taller. The Batman book really just differentiated the robins/Batman by size. He's more built than that. You could argue that the Solo book is wrong and not the Batman book, but I don't really think that's the case.

He's been constantly depicted, as an adult, at around 5ft10 and 175 pounds. So that makes him around four inches and 35 pounds less than Bruce. No matter the series.

I'll check on that.

Dick has a glass jaw.

GTFO of this board Baney.

His chin may or may not be sturdy but the back of his head is certainly prone to clubbings. Never seen Batman take so many blows to the back o' the noggin like Wing. How can Dick still form complete sentences after what Hurt did to him..

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Dick's only flaw is that he's a slut.

A man cant be a slut...

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Dick's only flaw is that he's a slut.

A man cant be a slut...

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@Skunkstein said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Dick's only flaw is that he's a slut.

A man cant be a slut...

Errr, yes they can.

He would be a player.. A man who sleeps with a lot of women should get some credit, he does a hard work.

@Skunkstein said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

@Skunkstein said:

@FadeToBlackBolt said:

Dick's only flaw is that he's a slut.

A man cant be a slut...

Errr, yes they can.

He would be a player.. A man who sleeps with a lot of women should get some credit, he does a hard work.

...lol.

Dick Grayson is Batman without the baggage.

Bruce Wayne is waging a war on crime in a child-like attempt to prevent tragedies like his own from ever happening again: a futile effort.

Dick Grayson also saw his parents murdered before his eyes, but instead of turning his grief internally, dealt with it. He fights crime out of a sense of honor and responsibility.

@Crash_Recovery said:

Dick Grayson is Batman without the baggage.

Bruce Wayne is waging a war on crime in a child-like attempt to prevent tragedies like his own from ever happening again: a futile effort.

Dick Grayson also saw his parents murdered before his eyes, but instead of turning his grief internally, dealt with it. He fights crime out of a sense of honor and responsibility.

Though Batman was responsible for that, if Batman hadn't been there, its quite possible that Grayson wouldn't have overcome their deaths as easily.

Bruce: The ends justify the means.

Dick: A little more consideration on method.

@Crash_Recovery said:

Dick Grayson is Batman without the baggage.

Bruce Wayne is waging a war on crime in a child-like attempt to prevent tragedies like his own from ever happening again: a futile effort.

Dick Grayson also saw his parents murdered before his eyes, but instead of turning his grief internally, dealt with it. He fights crime out of a sense of honor and responsibility.

The difference is Bruce knew what Dick could become. As said in Superman/Batman #1, Bruce doesn't wish his life upon anyone else. By taking Dick under his wing, he could make sure that this boy, with an incredible talent, won't grow up to be like him.

Seeing things through this point, we could call Bruce a proud dad ;)

I just hope he'll be able to do the same for Damian. He seems to have forgotten the way to do it, maybe because the boy is his biological son...

Damian w/ Bruce isn't working for me. Not Long-Term.

I'm liking it, but, when it comes to team work, Damian was better with Dick.

The weird thing is that Bruce is not a beginner when it comes to guide a "son" but with Damian he seems to have forgotten everything he already knows. Alfred is the one who's saving both parts :P

Even though, Damian rocks.

Winick explains it in a different way. His theory is basically that in the circus, Dick accepted/understood there was always the possibility his parents or extended family could bite the dust at any moment because they were showmen and risktakers whereas Bruce was brought up in a sheltered lifestyle and being an only son spoiled by rich albeit loving parents, it came as more of a shock. It makes sense, but I don't support the idea wholeheartedly. Especially when you look at the manner in which Dick's parents died. It's liable to drive any 8 yr old to the edge. Seriously, how the hell are you going to sleep with a clear conscious at night knowing some douchebag named Tony "Fats" Zucco murdered your parents. C'mon son!!!

@SmoothJammin said:

Winick explains it in a different way. His theory is basically that in the circus, Dick accepted/understood there was always the possibility his parents or extended family could bite the dust at any moment because they were showmen and risktakers whereas Bruce was brought up in a sheltered lifestyle and being an only son spoiled by rich albeit loving parents, it came as more of a shock. It makes sense, but I don't support the idea wholeheartedly. Especially when you look at the manner in which Dick's parents died. It's liable to drive any 8 yr old to the edge. Seriously, how the hell are you going to sleep with a clear conscious at night knowing some douchebag named Tony "Fats" Zucco murdered your parents. C'mon son!!!

Winick sux.

Yes, I second that RV