Don’t Get It Twisted. This Was No Act Of Revenge.

Don’t get it twisted. This was no act of revenge.

Recommeded reading for Dick Grayson / Robin and Nightwing

This is an updated repeat of a couple of lists with reading recommendations with Dick as Robin and Nightwing (Pre-Flashpoint) that I’ve made earlier. But since I wrote them as answers to asks, the posts don’t have a headline, and I find that they can be easy to miss (for me, when I want to look something up…) So I thought I might as well make a new, single post of them.

The stories are in what I imagine would be an in-universe chronology. They are from all periods, ignoring that the Golden/Silver age stories and Bronze/modern age stories have at times been considered two different universes. Most of them are stories that, at the time of their publishing, were canon and in continuity. None is explicitly Elseworld, so you can certainly imagine that they have happened ;-)

To be honest, not all of these comics are examples of great storytelling. Older superhero comics, for instance, are definitely something else compared to modern comics, for better and for worse. I’ve picked some because they are “the first time” or significant in some way (e.g. the first time Dick was almost killed, when Bruce has to fight to keep custody, an infamous fight between Dick and Bruce, the most well-known different origin stories, panels that are often quoted); others because they have a cute or fun moment. I have also included some books that I don’t like myself but are well-known.

Storytelling has changed a lot since Dick was Robin. Back in the Golden and Silver age, with very few exceptions, comics were stand-alone short stories. In later decades, it’s usually arcs that span at least a couple of issues and some stories have consequences for years.

Dick has been an active team member since the 1960s, and he has arguably been at his best in some team titles, but I still don’t have a lot of team books here. I find it difficult to, off the top of my head, recall any “special Dick issues”.

Obviously, these are very personal preferences, and the list is based on what I’ve read and remembered best.

Robin the Boy Wonder. Detective Comics # 38 (The original origin story. There has been maaany more since then – I’ve made a list just with origin stories….) (1940).

Batman: Year Three. Batman # 436-439. (An origin story where Dick spent some time at a nice orphanage before he came to Bruce.) (1989)

Robin Annual vol 2 # 4. (Another origin story, where the Gotham authorities remove Dick him from the circus, and he is put in the Gotham City’s Youth Center. Not my preferred but it’s well known.) (1995)

The Gauntlet. The Batman Chronicles #1. (The test before Batman let Dick start out as Robin.) (1997)

Grimm. Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight #149-153. (A story set when Dick is new as Robin and still uncertain about his place. For a while, he wants to leave Batman and stay in a children’s underground paradise.) (2002)

Robin: Year One. (Traumatic events during Dick’s first year as Robin. He was nearly beat to death by Two-Face. When Bruce said he was not permitted to continue as Robin, Dick ran away because he didn’t think there was a place for him at the Manor any more.) (2001)

The case of the honest crook. Batman #5. (1941)

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First meeting

When Jason woke up on a school bus, not memories, a handsome boy playing with his hair saying he was his boyfriend, a pretty girl looking at the window, declaring herself as his best friend.

Then things got weird, their schoolmate was a cloud, trying to kill them, the coach was a satyr, he could fly.

When the angry blonde girl carried them in a chariot, he was lost, Piper and Leo were looking at him, the boy holding his hand, warm.

Then Jun… no Hera, sending them on a mission, Leo over a mechanic dragon, looking really hot, they traveling to save the goddess.

And now, mid-January, Leo and him were sitting near Hestia's fire, having a date, Jason playing with the fog, making figures, Leo jiggling.

Focus on each other, they didn't notice the shadows blooming in front of them, a boy stepping out, falling on his knees, wheezing, rolling to his side.

"Are you okay, kid?"

The boy growled, raising his head, an angel face looking at them, raven hair, pale skin, big and dark eyes, full rosy lips.

"I'm not a kid." Said the boy, with an adorable Italian accent.

Raising on his feet, the boy kept sending bad looks at them.

"I'm sorry, " said Jason "I'm…"

"I know you're the roman boy, and the both of you saved Hera."

His tone was bitter like he didn't like Hera.

"If you talk that angry about a goddess things won't go well."

"She didn't care about me being sealed to the Titan army."

"She tried to kill me when I was a toddler, we're on the same boat." Leo winked, patting the bench at his side "Come her, least talk about annoying gods."

"I'm Nico, by the way"