Whereas Batman is not alone in coaching a teen sidekick to assist in his adventures, one achievement he can declare is having skilled the most effective in his first Robin, now Nightwing, Dick Grayson. Nonetheless, the younger hero who’s continuously taking the silver medal to Dick Grayson’s gold identified the darkish implications of his unbelievable ability.
Nightwing is likely one of the most expert fighters and detectives within the DC universe and has even led the Justice League, however these expertise did not simply come to him naturally. Nightwing’s needed to be skilled by his mentor and father determine, Batman. The issue is these expertise got here at a excessive value – one which fellow superhero Roy Harper is properly conscious of. Roy was skilled by Oliver Queen, the Inexperienced Arrow, and is a formidable vigilante in his personal proper. However, even he admits he comes second place to Dick – one thing he is really okay with since he finds the price of Nightwing’s expertise is not value it.
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In Batman Plus Arsenal #1 by Devin Grayson and Rodolfo Damaggio, Roy explains precisely why he is okay with not being as expert as Nightwing. After taking offense at Batman’s taciturn response to his expertise, Roy says he is aware of Nightwing is healthier however that he is pleased with second place, as he is aware of the value Dick paid was coping with Batman. Roy implies that his much less intense coaching allowed him to have an actual childhood, stating, “Exhausting to think about the 2 of you going tenting only for the hell of it. Or spending all day taking part in outdated B.B King Albums and making chili.” Roy accuses Batman of seeing Nightwing as a soldier greater than a son, making it clear that he does not contemplate being the most effective definitely worth the injury carried out to Dick by his harsh coaching.
In Robin and Batman by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen, readers are proven only a little bit of Dick Grayson’s time with Batman, and it does not paint the most effective image of Batman’s parenting expertise. Not solely does Bruce learn by way of Dick’s personal diary in an try to search out the proper present for the child, he additionally makes use of what was presupposed to be a light-hearted day trip for Dick as a coaching mission, to instill in Dick simply how far Nightwing could must go to finish a mission. Whereas Dick and Bruce have their very own distinctive bond, it is exhausting to disclaim that Roy is essentially appropriate about Batman sacrificing Nightwing’s childhood to make him the very best sidekick and hero.
The one saving grace is that Nightwing has admitted up to now that he was crammed with rage by his dad and mom’ deaths, and believes he’d have spiraled uncontrolled with out Batman to information him. Bruce was coaching Dick Grayson to make use of his ache and rage to assist others, guaranteeing he had all the abilities he’d want to remain alive whereas preventing crime. Nonetheless, there is not any query that Batman’s techniques and selections had been motivated by his personal injury, and Nightwing has questioned whether or not being Robin was really good for him.
Dick Grayson is likely one of the most beloved and well-adjusted heroes within the DC Universe, however he had a far harsher childhood than many different former sidekicks who’re nonetheless alive and doing good on the earth. Roy Harper’s criticism of Batman raises the uncommon query not of whether or not he ought to have skilled a baby to combat crime, however whether or not he might have given Nightwing a greater life by anticipating lower than the easiest.