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| Robin | |
|---|---|
| |
| Information | |
| Real name: | Richard Grayson |
| AKA: | Robin The Boy Wonder The Teen Wonder Red Robin Nightwing |
| Species: | Human |
| Homeworld: | Earth |
| Universe: | Earth-1A |
| Hair: | Black |
| Relatives: | John Grayson (father) Mary Grayson (mother) Bruce Wayne (foster father) Mar'i Grayson (daughter) |
| Base: | Hall of Justice |
| Affiliations: | SuperFriends Batman Family Teen Titans[1] |
| Weaponry: | Utility Belt has a wide range of devices |
| Voiced/Played: | Casey Kasem[2] Arturo Mercado[3] Burt Ward[4] Aldo Stella[5] |
| Dick Grayson Gallery | |
Junior SuperFriends Team Member
Teen Titans Team Member
New Teen Titans Team Member
Dick Grayson
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Season 9 Appearance.
The Dynamic Duo!
Dick Grayson was the young ward to Bruce Wayne, aka the Batman. Bound together by the tragedy they share, Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson's lives are distinctly similar. He was born to John and Mary Grayson, skilled acrobats who worked at Haly's Circus until they were murdered in the middle of their act. He joins up with the Batman to fight crime. As he grew older, graduated from high school, worked with the Teen Titans and enrolled in Hudson University.
Background Information
In the parallel-universe of Earth-One, Dick Grayson was the youngest of a family act called the "Flying Graysons". They were part of traveling carnival called Haly's Circus. On one evening when Dick just 10 they were performing in Newton, a small community outside of Gotham City, when a gangster named Boss Zucco who was trying to exhort money from Mr. Haly killed Grayson's parents, John and Mary, by sabotaging their trapeze equipment as a warning against his defiance.[6] Bruce Wayne was in attendance that fateful evening, and took pity on the boy. He decides to disguise himself as the Batman and to explain to the boy that he lost his parents at a young age too. The boy is eager to take revenge so Batman takes him to his Batcave. While there, he walks through an ‘oath’ with the boy who promises to fight crime. He then (inexplicably) confides in the boy by removing his cowl, thus revealing his identity. The next day Bruce takes the boy to the courthouse to adopt the boy, but because he is a bachelor he can only become the boy’s legal guardian with family approval. He does so, and immediately begins to train the boy, gives him a costume and within a short time they are able to bring down Zucco and his gang.[7]
Together they shared adventures with allies including Batwoman, secretly heiress and former circus performer Kathy Kane;[8] Bat-Girl (Kathy's niece, Betty Kane);[9] and Batgirl, who was secretly Commissioner Gordon's daughter Barbara.[10] For several years, they also had an ardent — if frequently obnoxious — supporter in the form of Bat-Mite, an other-dimensional imp with seemingly limitless magical powers.[11]
Young Robin was also on-hand at the formation of the Justice League,[12] helped take down Earth-Two villain, Solomon Grundy in a cross-universe adventure with his doppelganger from Earth-Two. The older Grayson gives a war-torn younger Dick his old grey uniform, which may have played a part in the inspiration for his later adventures.[13]
Teen Titans and College Years
As an early teen and "junior Justice Leaguer", Robin is joined by two other sidekicks (Aqualad and Kid Flash) to stop the menace of Mr. Twister in the small town of Hatton Corners.[14] Later, the three sidekicks join forces with Speedy and Wonder Girl in order to free their mentors in the JLA from the mind-control of an alien energy-being called the Antithesis. They defeat this foe and together the five teens decide to become a real team, calling themselves the Teen Titans.[15] Robin, by virtue of the tactical skills gleaned from Batman, is swiftly recognized as leader.[16] Bruce even allowed them access to the empty silo. The teens used it as their first secret headquarters – the Titans Lair. The Titans Lair was located in a cave outside of Gotham City. The team expands over the next few years and they meet Mr. Jupiter who sets them up with a training facility and resources.[17]
(In 1976, in the Earth-1A universe) Robin's ‘full-time’ stint with the Teen Titans ended dramatically after the Titans were involved in the accidental shooting and subsequent death of world-famous philanthropist, Dr. Arthur Swenson at peace rally. In response to this tragedy, the team searched for meaning. They were offered the opportunity to engage in a training program with Mr. Jupiter (friend of Bruce Wayne and millionaire industrialist). Dick however (now 18), has decided to attend college in the fall[18] and devote more time to the SuperFriends when Snapper Carr gave up his duties as a Junior SuperFriends Member.[19] Dick subsequently moved out of Wayne Manor to attend Hudson University in New Carthage, New York, leaving his partnership with Batman behind.[20]
While at Hudson U, Dick would become involved in many adventures as Robin on the campus[21] and tried to improve it by working along with the students and local townsfolk, solving crimes and helping people in the community.[22] He also met Terri Bergstrom whom enjoyed a friendly relationship.[23] Terri was a psychic. Together they had many adventures that involved Lilith Clay.[24] In the same fashion, Robin continued working in New Carthage, solving mysteries and crimes alongside Chief McDonald.[25] When Scarecrow showed up in New Carthage, Robin managed to stop him with McDonald's assistance.[26]
Robin, Speedy, Wonder Girl and Kid Flash converge on the base a year later to help defeat Dr. Light.[27] We are soon introduced to Karen Beecher (aka Bumblebee) and Duela Dent (aka Harlequin)[28] and the Titans West’ team.[29]
Back on campus, Dick noticed that Batgirl was investigating a murder case on the campus and he started following her as Robin,[30] which led to him saving her from a death at the hands of the killer and together, they captured the criminal.[31] This chance meeting led to, Dick being summoned to help Barbara Gordon in Washington, DC. It was at this point that Robin and Batgirl started teaming-up more frequently and a flirtatious relation between them started.[32] They eventually learned each other's secret identities.[33] Afterwards, Robin and Batgirl stopped the criminal organization MAZE from murdering a foreign Princess, in what would be the first encounter against the hired killers.[34] They even captured a large faction of the organization.[35]
After a brief team-up with Robin and Man-Bat in New York City to defeat the menace of the ‘Outsider’,[36] Barbara witnesses the virtual disintegration of Kathy Kane on her front steps. Batgirl and Robin team up to find the cure and restore Batwoman to her normal form.[37] Robin and would go on to have several team-ups with Barbara over the next few years.[38]
Eventually, Dick started dating classmate, Lori Elton;[39] but his constant disappearances and his lack of dedication to his studies and his personal life caused her to end their relationship[40] and start dating fellow classmate, David Corby. One such distraction was the appearance of a new costumed villain calling himself the Raven.[41] As he investigated, Robin found a connection to an organized criminal organization.[42] Robin teamed up with former Teen Titan associate, Duela Dent[43] and together they managed to learn the identity of the criminal organization. It was MAZE (a group dedicated to political assassinations). Robin and Duela learn the location of the secret headquarters and capture the criminal organization with help from the New Carthage Police Department, but the Raven escaped. Nevertheless, Robin knew the villain's secret identity and the next day, he confronted David Corby at the Hudson University campus as Dick Grayson. Corby was exposed as the Raven in front of everyone, including Lori Elton, who realized the mistake she had made, much too late.[44]
After a few more adventures with the Teen Titans on a part-time basis, Robin and the others decided that they had outgrown the ‘Teen’ Titans and go their separate ways.[45]
Soon, Dick started dating Jennifer Ann, but his work was Robin made difficult to maintain a healthy relationship.[46] It is around this time that Dick learned that Bruce’s lawyer had hired a spy to protect him, so he travelled to Gotham and put an end to the charade.[47] While in Gotham, Dick began to believe that this is where he was meant to be, so he dropped out of college, abandoning Hudson University and his relationship with Jennifer Ann.[48]
(In the Spring of 1979, in the Earth-1A universe) Select members of the Titans (Dick Grayson, Donna Troy, Garth, Duela Dent, Mal Duncan, Roy Harper) come together at the High School graduation of Wally West.[49] They team-up again, when an alien being arrived in orbit, in an effort to move earth out of her orbit (this team up included: Aqualad, Hawk & Dove, Kid Flash, Robin, Wonder Girl);[50] and again when Batman would enlist the aid of Robin, Kid Flash, Speedy, and Wonder Girl to help him as undercover agents, infiltrating the 'Runaways,' a gang of teenage thieves under the control of a mysterious Fagin called The Man.[51]
Growing restless, Dick decided to resume his studies. This time at Gotham University.[52]
The New Teen Titans and Nightwing
- Main article: The New Teen Titans
- Main article: Nightwing
Growing restless again, Dick decides that in order to discover who he is and his place in the world, he must drop out of college.
Soon a handful of the original Titans band together along with a few new faces to form the New Teen Titans, all the while being guided by a mysterious force. This line-up consisted of: Robin, Beast Boy (now going by the name Chameleon, Kid-Flash, Wonder Girl, Cyborg, an alien named Starfire and an empathy named Raven.[53]
The Titans are soon introduced a hired assassin, Deathstroke (aka Slade Wilson). He is hired by H.I.V.E. to kill the New Titans.[54]
Soon Dick and Wally decide to retire from active service. During this time the Titans have taken on a protégé Terra Markov, who has won the heart and mind of Changeling. None of the Titans suspect that she has been secretly spying on them on behalf of her partner the Deathstroke the Terminator. Terra has been feeding Terminator important information regarding the Titans including their secret identities. During a training exercise, the Titans Terra unleashes a massive attack that nearly cripples him. The other Titans calm her down, but it is Raven who realizes that there is something seriously dangerous about this girl. Meanwhile, Terra has been providing secret information on the Titans to Deathstroke, which allows him to capture the Titans one by one – starting with Donna Troy and Kory Anders (aka Starfire). He then acquires Cyborg and the Changeling. Soon, Dick discovers that all of his former teammates have been captured and returns to Titans Tower. There he is greeted by Adeline Kane, the Terminator's ex-wife. She introduces him to her mute son Joey (who possesses the power to possess other people). Adeline explains how the young protégé the Titans have been mentoring is a traitor and has been secretly working with her ex-husband since the moment the Titans first met her. Adeline's son Joey is eager to help Dick rescue the Titans as Jericho. Realizing that he can never truly retire from super-heroing, Dick adopts a new costume and identity and calls himself Nightwing.[55] [NOTE: It’s entirely possible that Dick received inspiration from Superman who once used ‘Nightwing’ as an alias on a mission to the shrunken Kryptonian city of Kandor (and then later by the Kandorian named Van-Zee). The irony would be that Superman received his inspiration from Batman and Robin, and then years later Robin would be inspired by Superman.][56] Adeline then gives the heroes the location of the H.I.V.E. command center nestled in the Rocky Mountains. Once they have snuck inside, they discover the abducted Titans strapped to a giant machine which is slowly siphoning away their life energy. After battling a horde of H.I.V.E. shock troops, Nightwing and Jericho are captured. Jericho takes this opportunity to possess his own father. Using the Terminator's body and weaponry, he frees the other Titans and begins fighting the H.I.V.E. Terra is enraged at Terminator and feels that his affection for Joey makes him weak. She loses complete control of her sanity and yearns for nothing more than the death of everyone in the room. Changeling refuses to believe that Terra has gone bad, and is certain that the Terminator has brainwashed her. Terra's powers rage out of control until finally she causes a mountain of earth and debris to collapse down from the ceiling, killing herself in the process. The Titans bring Terra's body back to New York for burial. The funeral service is small and only the Titans and the Outsiders are in attendance. The Titans let Terra's brother, Geo-Force, believe that she died heroically while fighting the H.I.V.E.[57]
- NOTE: According to Earth-1A continuity, he will remain a Junior SuperFriends Member for at least the next fifteen years. Thus, the Earth-1A Robin seems to follow his Earth-Two counterpart in his career as 'Robin, the Boy Wonder.' According to Earth-One continuity, when Dick is somewhere in his late teens or early 20yrs., he loses interest in his studies and starts to take on solo missions, finding himself to be a capable crime-fighter and moves out of the shadow of his mentor. This "parting" between Dick and Batman is entirely amicable. Dick passes the mantle of Robin over to Jason Todd voluntarily. Bruce is pleased with his ward's coming of age. In the post-crisis continuity, Dick Grayson gives up his identity as Robin (having been "fired" by Batman) and is inspired by the legend of an ancient Kandorian superhero named Van-Zee, who had also used the name ‘Nightwing’ for his superhero persona. This tale retroactively erases the notion that anyone else before Grayson held the title of Nightwing.
Abilities
- Athletics
- Acrobatics
- Advanced Hand-to-Hand Combat
- Boxing
- Weaponry
- Investigation
- Disguise
- Acting
- Above Average Strength: Advanced human strength beyond most athletes though not superhuman.
Equipment
- Various Bat-Gadgets: Various small hand held devices usually carried in his utility belt and assembled into his costume directly, such as a cape that allowed him to glide vast distances.
Transportation
- Grappling Hooks: swinging under own power in locale areas
- Various Vehicles:
Robin's popular catchphrase
Please note that Robin doesn't include "Batman" in his every catchphrase of this type. Most Superfriends episodes have two or more "Holy" phrases. This lines can be and usually are very cheesy.
- "Holy lifelines, Batman!"
- "Holy headlines, Batman!"
- "Holy wild animals"
- "Holy mysteries, Batman!"
- "Holy silent butlers!"
- "Holy microbes!"
- "Holy penmenship!"
- "Holy monster makers!"
SuperFriends Team Members
| Members of the Justice League |
|---|
|
Justice League: Comic Book JLA Team Members: Other Known Justice Leaguers: SuperFriends Founding Members: Other Known SuperFriends Members: Junior SuperFriends: Mascots: |
Appearances
- SuperFriends (TV Series) Appearances:
- Coming soon!
- SuperFriends Comic Book (1976-1981):
- Coming soon!
- Filmation Series The Batman/Superman Hour (1969-1969):
- Coming soon!
- Filmation Series The New Adventures of Batman (1977):
- Coming soon!
- Legends of the Superheroes (1979)
Notes
- The character's first incarnation, Dick Grayson, was created by Bob Kane, Bill Finger, and Jerry Robinson.
- First Appearance (Golden Age / Earth-Two): Detective Comics, #38 (April 1940)[58]
- First Appearance (Silver Age / Earth-One): Justice League of America, #55 (July 1967)
- Robin is shown in his Dick Grayson guise multiple times during the course of the Filmation series, but we don't see him as Dick Grayson in the Superfriends series until the episode The Fear.
- Robin, in the Season 1, 1973 episode The Planet-Splitter; briefly mentions being a trapeze artist, parent’s dying and Batman taking him in.
- Although shown to be present during the foundation of the Super Friends,[59] it was revealed in the SuperFriends comic book, issue #1 that Robin is not an actual member of the Justice League, rather he is a member of the Teen Titans. By 1984, this is no longer the case, as it is revealed that he is now a Junior SuperFriend.[60]
- Casey Kasem voiced the role of Robin in The Batman/Superman Hour (1968–1969) and for all six seasons and the shorts of the Super Friends series (1973-1985).
- Burt Ward played Robin in the live action Batman series, (1966-1968) as well as the live action Legends of the Superheroes (1979), and did the voice of Robin in The New Adventures of Batman (1977).
- The Dick Grayson version of Robin first appeared as Nightwing in Tales of the Teen Titans, #43 (June 1984).
Trivia
- The character was originally created to serve as a junior counterpart to the superhero Batman.
- He was conceived as a vehicle to attract young readership. In fact, Robin garnered overwhelmingly positive critical reception, doubling the sales of the Batman related comic books.[61]
External Links
- Dick Grayson at the DC Database
- Dick Grayson at Wikipedia
- See Chronology for Earth-One / Silver-Age Richard Grayson at the DC Unofficial Guide to the Universe
References
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