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Chad · 10-28-2009, 08:41 PM

"You ask me why I want to make Dick Grayson my ward? You ask it as if this were just some momentary whim that a well-known playboy has decided upon.

My parents were killed by criminals as were his. I know what it's like. I know the loneliness. The fears. The nightmares. I know it all. Nobody understood what it does to you. But I do. I watched as his parents died and my heart went out to him. Your honour, I care for the boy. I want to help him. He needs someone to understand and to love him. Please...allow me that privilege."

I think this pretty succinctly sums up why Bruce Wayne took Dick Grayson in as his ward. It's from Year Three incidently and beyond serving as that explanation, it also clarifies that Dick Grayson entered his life not because Batman needed a soldier, but because Bruce Wayne was willing to be a father to a boy that needed him. This series stood as the Post-Crisis origin for Dick up until 1995 when that year's Robin Annual was released. In this re-envisioning of Robin's beginnings, Bruce is cold towards his new ward. When Dick reaches out to him Wayne goes into his idle playboy routine and explains that he has a date with a tennis model and that if he's lonely he can go see what Alfred's doing. This behaviour towards Dick is consistent enough that the young boy decides to escape Wayne Manor since Bruce doesn't seem the least bit interested in hearing about how Dick is coping since the murder of his parents. Even after he learns of his guardian's other identity, Wayne explains that while he'll be his mentor and partner, he will not be his father. It's fairly clear that understanding and loving him is not part of the role Batman intends to take on with Grayson.

Of course, LOTDK 100 offered another origin for as I believe Dark Victory did as well. Nightwing Year One and Robin Year One may have done the same and I'm sure there's been a few other intrepretations here and there over the past 15 years or so. At any rate, what is the general consensus when it comes to the early relationship between Batman and Robin as it stands today? Did Bruce Wayne adopt Dick Grayson (or make him his ward) or did Batman acquire a soldier in his war on crime? The last time I closely followed the titles was about 12 years ago and I recall Nightwing making a few comments to Tim about how "Bruce won't open up to you or let you know he cares? Welcome to what things were like in my day". I realise that I may be accused of making too much out of a single monologue, but I remember Year Three and Lonely Place of Dying establishing that Bruce's relationship with Jason was markedly different from the one he had with Dick. Different enough anyway, for Tim Drake to notice it when he was a child following Batman and Robin on the news. As I view it now (and I admit this is the perspective of someone who doesn't really follow what's going on today) Batman is Batman and has always been Batman. The same Batman Dick grew up with was the same one Jason did and the same one Tim did. He's the best guy to talk to when you want to learn a new fighting technique, but when it comes to anything dealing with a remotely personal matter, you'll get a grunt, him disappearing to patrol the city, and Alfred coming out of the shadows with his own assistance usually preceeded with "You'll have to forgive the Master, you understand that he is not one for topics of such an emotional nature".

nepenthes · 10-28-2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad

Nightwing Year One and Robin Year One may have done the same and I'm sure there's been a few other intrepretations here and there over the past 15 years

All Star Batman & Robin?

This will probably disgust you but ASBR is easily my favourite version of the Dick Grayson origin now. It folds all the elements you describe into one cohesive and believable arc that contains more grit, desperation and pathos than any other.

It starts with Batman recruiting a soldier and doing the deranged Cint Eastwood act on him. The cold shoulder, the rats and everything. Batman is clearly still proccessing his own problems here. Part of the Robin idea was always that Bruce needs the companionship just as much as his wards do.

By issue 10 Batman has adopted Dick Grayson the child and this is where their genuine relationship begins. As yes I do believe Dick should be his "ward". If it was merely a pragmatic or tactical alliance then Dick wouldn't have to live in the mansion, they wouldn't be best friends, they wouldn't be family. If the term ward describes a relaionship where they depend on each other then that's what it is.

**Captain Jim** · 10-28-2009, 09:04 PM

Who wrote that Robin Annual?

Mat001 · 10-29-2009, 02:00 PM

Chuck Dixon. It was the follow-up to his work on "Prodigal" and set up "Robin: Year One" which came a few years later. In the 90's, the bulk of Robin's adventures was told by Dixon. Monech only used him when it was necessary, outside of crossover and Grant would use him in the same way.

10-28-2009, 08:41 PM	#1
Chad Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 571	Batman Needs a Robin but Does he Need a Ward? "You ask me why I want to make Dick Grayson my ward? You ask it as if this were just some momentary whim that a well-known playboy has decided upon. My parents were killed by criminals as were his. I know what it's like. I know the loneliness. The fears. The nightmares. I know it all. Nobody understood what it does to you. But I do. I watched as his parents died and my heart went out to him. Your honour, I care for the boy. I want to help him. He needs someone to understand and to love him. Please...allow me that privilege." I think this pretty succinctly sums up why Bruce Wayne took Dick Grayson in as his ward. It's from Year Three incidently and beyond serving as that explanation, it also clarifies that Dick Grayson entered his life not because Batman needed a soldier, but because Bruce Wayne was willing to be a father to a boy that needed him. This series stood as the Post-Crisis origin for Dick up until 1995 when that year's Robin Annual was released. In this re-envisioning of Robin's beginnings, Bruce is cold towards his new ward. When Dick reaches out to him Wayne goes into his idle playboy routine and explains that he has a date with a tennis model and that if he's lonely he can go see what Alfred's doing. This behaviour towards Dick is consistent enough that the young boy decides to escape Wayne Manor since Bruce doesn't seem the least bit interested in hearing about how Dick is coping since the murder of his parents. Even after he learns of his guardian's other identity, Wayne explains that while he'll be his mentor and partner, he will not be his father. It's fairly clear that understanding and loving him is not part of the role Batman intends to take on with Grayson. Of course, LOTDK 100 offered another origin for as I believe Dark Victory did as well. Nightwing Year One and Robin Year One may have done the same and I'm sure there's been a few other intrepretations here and there over the past 15 years or so. At any rate, what is the general consensus when it comes to the early relationship between Batman and Robin as it stands today? Did Bruce Wayne adopt Dick Grayson (or make him his ward) or did Batman acquire a soldier in his war on crime? The last time I closely followed the titles was about 12 years ago and I recall Nightwing making a few comments to Tim about how "Bruce won't open up to you or let you know he cares? Welcome to what things were like in my day". I realise that I may be accused of making too much out of a single monologue, but I remember Year Three and Lonely Place of Dying establishing that Bruce's relationship with Jason was markedly different from the one he had with Dick. Different enough anyway, for Tim Drake to notice it when he was a child following Batman and Robin on the news. As I view it now (and I admit this is the perspective of someone who doesn't really follow what's going on today) Batman is Batman and has always been Batman. The same Batman Dick grew up with was the same one Jason did and the same one Tim did. He's the best guy to talk to when you want to learn a new fighting technique, but when it comes to anything dealing with a remotely personal matter, you'll get a grunt, him disappearing to patrol the city, and Alfred coming out of the shadows with his own assistance usually preceeded with "You'll have to forgive the Master, you understand that he is not one for topics of such an emotional nature".

10-28-2009, 09:04 PM	#3
Captain Jim Gotham Guardian Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: northeastern Ohio Posts: 9,371	Who wrote that Robin Annual? __________________ Jim Zimmerman moderator, CBR Batman forum (1999 to 2002 and 2007 to present) co-moderator emeritus, CBR DC Universe forum (2005 to 2007) moderator emeritus, CBR CrossGen forum (2002 to 2004)

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10-29-2009, 02:00 PM	#4
Mat001 Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,693	Chuck Dixon. It was the follow-up to his work on "Prodigal" and set up "Robin: Year One" which came a few years later. In the 90's, the bulk of Robin's adventures was told by Dixon. Monech only used him when it was necessary, outside of crossover and Grant would use him in the same way.