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About Those Nightwing Rumors…
Frequent readers of my blog know that I am a huge Robin fan. Super huge. Distractingly so. I legitimately like the Robin parts of Batman Forever, so that’s telling you something. Being such a Robin fan, I feel it’s kind of my duty to comment on the rumors that Dick Grayson might appear in the upcoming Batman/Superman movie. What’s the point of a pop culture blog like this one if I don’t talk about pressing pop culture rumors that interest me?
According to both Latino Review, which has a good track record about movie rumors, and The Wrap, which I assume considers itself a legitimate news organization, Dick Grayson is going to appear in the Man of Steel sequel. He’s going to be older, and he and Batman won’t have spoken to each other in a few years. I don’t usually like to comment on these types of rumors because there’s always a million of them. How many of us believed that the Riddler was going to appear in The Dark Knight Rises? Or that Philip Seymour Hoffman was going to play the Penguin?
But I don’t care about Riddler or Penguin. I care about Robin. Or Nightwing, as the case may be.
When sidekicks grow up
So what do I think? First of all, like I said, these are only rumors at this point. Likewise, there are rumors that Wonder Woman’s going to appear as well. I don’t cotton to rumors, and this could easily be disproven within a week. If that’s the case, so be it. But as of right now, if we take these Internet news reports for fact, then Dick Grayson might appear in the Batman/Superman movie, and that is awesome!
Seriously, this is the best possible news! This is something I never thought possible, like something from my wildest dreams. The world still thinks Robin is silly. Not even Christopher Nolan’s take on the character could truly save Robin from his embarrassing reputation. But this? This would be a dream come true! That backstory screams respect and seriousness, and of course, why bother setting up a split between Batman and his sidekick if you’re not going to resolve it in the movie?
I even like the look of the actor rumored at the top of the short list to play Dick: Adam Driver.
I think he forgot how to person
I’ve never seen him in anything, but he looks the part, at least mostly.
I don’t know if these rumors are going to come to pass or not. I don’t know what the future holds. But if they’re true, if Dick Grayson makes a respectable appearance in Batman/Superman, then I will be one happy geek. Please, universe, do this for me. I don’t think it’s too much to ask.
Punishing Dick Grayson, and Why It Could Be a Good Thing
Dick Grayson can’t seem to catch a break. And I don’t just mean the murder of his parents when he was still a boy. I mean Dick Grayson as a comic book superhero can’t seem to catch a break in DC Comics’ New 52 universe. In less than two years, Dick found out that his childhood home, Haley’s Circus, was actually a front for the villainous Court of Owls secret society, and that Dick himself was in line to become one of their undead assassins (until the whole Batman and Robin thing happened instead). Then he found out his childhood sweetheart was a psychopath who betrayed him and tried to kill him, only for her to then be murdered by the Joker as a means of punishing Dick.
Then when he inherited Haley’s Circus and sunk all of his life savings into fixing it up, that too was destroyed by the Joker. Then Dick found out that Batman was keeping secrets from him, leading to an angry split between the two heroes. Then he found out the man who murdered his parents was still alive and hiding in Chicago!
And now Nightwing has been chosen as the sacrificial lamb for the new Forever Evil event.
So that’s why they put him in red
Don’t worry, he’s not dead…at least not yet.
But something almost as huge happened to Nightwing in this week’s Forever Evil #1. As a big Robin and Nightwing fan, I’m worried about any major change to one of my favorite characters. But I’m here to tell you that this change might not be all that bad. In fact, this could work out very well in Nightwing’s favor.
As long as DC manages to use it to tell some good stories. That part is questionable.
But this isn’t the end of the world. Join me after the jump for full SPOILERS and why I think this could be good for the character.
Batman Does Not Understand Why He Needs a Robin
Batman needs a Robin. I already went over that earlier in the week. And it’s also my theory that Bruce Wayne doesn’t really understand why he needs a Robin. He just doesn’t get it. Oh sure, he can recognize the strategic benefits of having a partner. And maybe he even enjoys being a teacher and mentor. But Batman doesn’t really understand the crucial motivations that go into becoming a successful sidekick to the Dark Knight.
The key issue is whether or not the new sidekick wants to be Robin or whether they want to be Batman’s partner. And the difference will determine whether they are a success or a failure as the Boy Wonder.
One big happy family
There have been five different Robins in standard DC continuity. And it is my claim that when you look at the origins and outcomes of each of those Robins, you will see that their success or failure can be predicted based on what role Batman played in how they became Robin, and whether they were in it for the glory of the being Robin or whether they just wanted to help Batman. There’s a big difference between the two, even if it doesn’t sound like it at first.
When Batman picks the Robin, it ell ends in disaster. But when the Robin picks Batman, it works out great!
Join me after the jump as I explain why Batman doesn’t understand his own sidekick. Also, there will be SPOILERS after the jump! So be warned.
Why Robin Matters
Robin the Boy Wonder is the most maligned superhero in the world of comics. He gets no respect. His mentor, Batman, is one of the most beloved and iconic heroes in the entire world! But poor little Robin gets picked on and teased to no end. It’s a travesty. And it’s going to change.
I’m here to tell you folks that Robin is one of the best superheroes in comics and he doesn’t deserve all the hate. Forget the 1960s Batman TV show, push all of the gay jokes out of your mind, and let’s just pretend that 1997’s Batman and Robin never happened. Because if all you’re going to do is focus on the worst interpretations of the character then you’ll never see the whole picture.
And Robin is a deeper and far more interesting character than anyone gives him credit for. Until now. It’s time to give Robin all the credit.
Robin’s importance to the Batman mythos can be summed up in four key points that we’re going to explore in this article. The first idea is my own, the second I got from noted Batmanologist Chris Sims from Comics Alliance. The third idea comes from artist Tim Sale. The fourth is just kind of obvious.
1.) Robin represents approval of Batman’s costumed crimefighting. Characters like Commissioner Gordon and Alfred will only ever accept that Batman exists, but Robin is not only someone who approves of the life, but has flourished in it.
2.) Robin is a reflection of Batman, in that this is what happens to a child who loses his parents when there is a Batmanaround to help him.
3.) Robin is visually and psychologically the opposite of Batman, creating an inventive and appealing juxtaposition and balance between the two characters.
4.) Robin can change; Batman can’t.
Join me after the jump and we can get started!
Robin’s Pixie Boots Are No More!
Today’s Nightwing #0 retells the origin of original Robin, Dick Grayson, and it reveals that the old, classic Robin costume of pixie boots, bare legs and green short shorts is not part of the New 52 rebooted universe! This is awesome news! Granted, it’s not going to suddenly change public perception of Robin, but it’s a strong step towards finally putting that embarrassing costume away for good.
Behold, the new original Robin costume!
Superhero artists love to add arrows that point to the crotch
Personally, I think it’s a little too futuristic. Batman is still wearing a pretty standard costume, design-wise, so why Robin suddenly has to have all these curves and rounded edges is beyond me. But I still like it. I like it loads more than the original Robin costume.
There are a few other new wrinkles to Dick Grayson’s origin, but I’ll consider them spoilers and put them after the jump.
Henchman-4-Hire 