Summary
- Nightwing’s attempt to be a good brother to Red Hood leads to unintended consequences: a poignant reminder of their complex relationship.
- Nightwing consistently misunderstands Red Hood, leading to worsening situations and discordant interpretations of their interactions.
- Dick’s failures with Jason and Tim highlight his imperfections, but his relationship with Damian shows growth and learning from past mistakes.
WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for From the DC Vault: Death in the Family – Robin Lives #1!Nightwing and Red Hood’s relationship is among the most complex and beloved dynamics in the Bat-Family, with fans particularly cherishing Dick Grayson’s role as the caring older brother. However, a recent comic serves as a poignant reminder that even the beloved original Boy Wonder isn’t always at the top of his big brother game when it comes to his interactions with the second Robin.
From the DC Vault: Death in the Family – Robin Lives #1 is the inaugural issue of J. M. DeMatteis, Rick Leonardi, and Rico Renzi’s new miniseries that presents an alternative storyline of what would have happened if Jason had survived his encounter with the Joker in the A Death in the Family storyline.
This issue predominantly focuses on Jason’s struggle to cope with the trauma he suffered at the clown’s hands. In an attempt to help Jason come out of his downward spiral, Dick visits the manor to spend time with his younger brother. Despite his best efforts, it becomes clear there is a significant disconnect between the two brothers.
Death in the Family – Robin Lives: Dick Grayson Tries To Be a Good Brother & Fails Spectacularly
As Dick and Jason walk the manor grounds, the narrative delves into their relationship, highlighting how Jason viewed Dick as the closest thing to a brother and the embodiment of ideals he could never achieve. He respected and admired Dick but also felt jealous. Dick’s efforts to be a good brother are evident as he talks to Jason about inconsequential things instead of directly addressing his trauma. By the end of their conversation, Dick believes Jason is on the path to healing. However, this belief is soon proven wrong.
Shortly after Dick and Jason’s conversation, the second Robin sneaks out of the manor to confront Scarecrow alone in an attempt to prove that he is still worthy of the Robin mantle. Hence, Dick’s instinct that Jason was on the path to coping better was completely wrong, showing that despite his best efforts, he failed to truly grasp the end result of their conversation and the state of Jason’s mindset. This doesn’t mean Dick is a bad brother, but it highlights that he isn’t the infallible, perfect big brother people often think he is, and sometimes he gets things wrong.
Other Times Nightwing Has Misunderstood Jason Todd on a Fundamental Level
Dick believing that Jason was on the path to recovery when the boy was actually spiraling further is a perfect example of how Dick seems to fundamentally misunderstand Jason. However, it is far from the only example. Nightwing has shown on multiple occasions that he is out of his depth when it comes to handling Jason’s insecurities, trauma, and, at times, volatile emotions, often doing or saying the wrong thing. This isn’t to say the blame is solely on Dick, but it does show that he doesn’t always know the right thing to say or do.
One example of Dick mishandling an interaction with Jason can be found in Batman: Battle for the Cowl #3 (2009), where Dick forced Jason to listen to a hologram of Bruce calling him a failure, resulting in Jason lashing out violently. This is a prime example of Dick’s approach worsening the situation rather than improving it. Other notable instances of Dick accidentally setting Jason off or misunderstanding him can be found in Batman and Robin #6 (2009) and Red Hood and the Outlaws #6 (2012), which readers can view in the above gallery.
The panel showing Bruce’s Batman talking to Jason in Arkham Asylum is from
Batman and Robin
#23. This scene highlights the questionable decision Dick made to lock Jason up in the asylum when he was acting as Batman.
Dick Grayson & Jason Todd’s Failure to Understand Each Other Has Negatively Impacted Their Relationship
The biggest disconnect between Red Hood and Nightwing across various storylines is that Jason sees Dick as this perfect, unachievable ideal that he will never be able to live up to, while Dick sees himself as anything but perfect. These differing perceptions have hindered their ability to communicate effectively and are the root cause of their interactions often devolving into misunderstandings and arguments. For instance, in Red Hood and the Outlaws #6 (2012), Nightwing offers Jason some advice. However, Jason interprets this as Dick acting superior to him, leading to the younger lashing out and disregarding everything Dick says.
Furthermore, Dick and Jason’s profound misunderstanding of each other transcends damaging their relationship—it has led to physical harm for Jason. In A Death in the Family – Robin Lives #1, Jason’s conversation with Dick compels him to prove himself, culminating in an ill-advised confrontation with Scarecrow that leaves him injured. Jason views Dick as a constant reminder of the unattainable standards he must meet, while Dick sees Jason as a younger brother to guide. Hence, their interactions consistently result in discordant interpretations, which have often lead to significant consequences.
Nightwing’s Failures With Jason Todd and Tim Drake Helped Him Become a Great Big Brother to Damian Wayne
Jason Todd isn’t the only brother Nightwing has failed in canon. Dick also faced challenges in his relationship with Tim Drake, the third Robin. Despite Dick’s intentions, his decision to take Robin away from Tim after the events of the Battle of the Cowl and pass the mantle to Damian exemplifies his imperfections as an older brother. This choice wounded Tim and drove him away, leading to one of his darkest story arcs. However, Dick’s failures with Tim and Jason weren’t in vain; it appears that he ultimately learned from these experiences and has since become a better brother to Damian Wayne.
Dick’s relationship with Damian, while not flawless, is widely celebrated as a major success in the fandom. In fact, many argue that Dick should have been Damian’s primary guardian instead of Bruce. This improvement in Dick’s role as a brother to Damian, compared to his relationships with Tim and Jason, highlights Nightwing’s ability to learn from past mistakes. Therefore, it’s hopeful that as A Death in the Family – Robin Lives progresses, there may be significant growth and deeper understanding between Dick and Jason, potentially delivering compelling content focused on the brotherly dynamics of Red Hood and Nightwing.
From the DC Vault: Death in the Family – Robin Lives #1 is available now from DC Comics!
FROM THE DC VAULT: DEATH IN THE FAMILY – ROBIN LIVES #1 (2024) |
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The Joker
The Joker is a psychopathic criminal mastermind with a warped sense of humor. Initially introduced as a remorseless serial killer, the character evolved over time, often oscillating between a prankster and a homicidal maniac. His relationship with Batman is one of the most complex in comic book history, defined by their mutual obsession. Over the decades, the Joker has become an enduring icon of chaos and madness, embodying the antithesis of Batman’s order and justice.