The Eternal Optimist: Nightwing And The Power Of A Positive Outlook

The life of a superhero is often dangerous and stressful. In addition to protecting innocents, superheroes have to balance a secret identity with their personal life, so it’s little wonder that the pressure can take a toll on mental health. But some comic characters are able to remain optimistic no matter how bad their circumstances become. Nightwing is a perfect example.

You’d think that partnering with Batman for so many years would have left a dark mark. But Richard Grayson has been able to take everything in his stride. From his earliest years, the original Robin has maintained a positive attitude that’s stayed with him throughout his life.

From a mental health perspective, that’s pretty powerful. So, let’s take a closer look at the life of the original Boy Wonder and see what makes him such a great role model for positive mental health.

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Why Jason Todd Was A Better Robin Than People Gave Him Credit For

For those of you who’ve been reading The Comic Vault regularly, you’ll have probably realised by now Jason Todd is my favourite comic character. His background, personality and lifestyle make him one of the most interesting characters in the Batman universe. As Red Hood, Jason has a dedicated following, but that wasn’t always the case. During his early years as Robin, Jason was so unpopular that fans decided to kill him off.

I disagree with the backlash Jason received, though the story of how he became Robin is worth knowing about. I’m looking into Jason’s tenure as Robin to show how he was a better Boy Wonder than people gave him credit for.

Is Damian Wayne Worthy Of Batman’s Legacy?

For years, Batman has waged war on crime, enlisting many partners into his crusade. Each person has needed to work hard to gain his trust, including his biological son Damian Wayne. As the son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul, Damian has had a complicated childhood to say the least. Raised by his mother and taken into the care of his father as the latest Robin, Damian has needed to fight against his killer instincts. It raises the question as to whether he could be worthy of Batman’s legacy.

Nightwing Vol 1: Better Than Batman Review: How To Choose The Right Mentor

“Nightwing. Do you know where that name comes from? Most people think it’s a Batman thing. Y’know, former Robin emulating his former mentor because bats go out at night. They’ve got wings. It makes sense. But actually, it comes from Superman. See, Big Blue told me about these legendary heroes from his home planet, Nightwing and Flamebird. The Nightwing was the great rebuilder. The catalyst of change. Eternally reborn to start anew.” – Dick Grayson

Nightwing is one of my favourite superheroes because of his skill, optimism and colourful history. The original Robin stepped out from Batman’s shadow and he’s been a part of several iconic stories. Nightwing: Better Than Batman, written by Tim Seeley, features Dick Grayson returning to his roots and reclaiming his former identity in order to infiltrate the Parliament Of Owls. But a new player with ties to Grayson’s past threatens to change his entire philosophy and drive a wedge between Batman.

A History Of The Robins And Their Importance To Batman

In the history of comics, Batman is one of the most enduring characters. Grim, dedicated and incorruptible, The Dark Knight wages a tireless war on crime. But even someone as formidable as Batman can’t do everything alone, and that’s where Robin comes in. Robin balances Batman out, providing a light to his darkness. Yet Robin is bigger than a single person. It’s an identity, a symbol of hope for younger heroes.

Over the years, Bruce has taken in several children and raised them to fight crime. In mainstream continuity, there have been five Robins, each different to the one who came before them. They all represent something to Batman, and here I examine who they are and what makes them important.

Batman: The Black Mirror Review

“I remember one time I asked my father why. What made Gotham so special? And my father, he looked down at me, and he said…some places just have a hunger about them, son. And you either feed them what they want…or you stay far, far away.” – Dick Grayson

Some graphic novels are powerful enough to make you feel as if you’ve left a part of yourself behind on the page. I felt that sensation after reading Batman: The Black Mirror, written by Scott Snyder and drawn by Francesco Francavilla and Jock. It follows Dick Grayson as Batman and how he deals with Gotham as a living entity that is trying to challenge him. There’s murder and mayhem around every corner and Commissioner Gordon is dragged into the fray when an old ghost comes calling.

The Pop Culture Playlist: Nightwing

After a month’s absence, The Pop Culture Playlist is back and focusing on Dick Grayson. Nightwing is one of the most richly detailed characters in comic history. The original Boy Wonder has carved out a life for himself away from Batman. He’s been a leader of the Teen Titans, Justice League and even taken on the role of his mentor. Here is a playlist that captures the life of Nightwing.