The Complicated History Between Bruce Wayne & Dick Grayson

In this episode of Variant, we get into the long and complicated relationship between Bruce Wayne/Batman and Dick Grayson/Robin. Also, get this week's comic Buy List!

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Tim (Producer)

[benjitm]

I’m not a fan of too much tension between them. My favorite portrayal of their dynamic didn’t even have them sharing the screen: it was The Apprentice arc of Teen Titans 2003 when Slade told Robin he wants him to accept him as his father but Dick says “I already have a father” and the camera pans up to show the bats flying. Coolest moment ever.

[R_eagan]

Dick Grayson is such a great character. He just deserves more respect from DC.

[shocktonic]

I try and block all Batman-Batgirl relationships out my head

[aidenkz]

We don't talk about the Batman & Batgirl hookup

[Jess.Anderson]

Dick Grayson is Bruce's favorite person in the universe. So, while I love the animated series, I reject Batman Beyond as canon. Because even if they argue and don't talk for like a year, Bruce would never do anything that would hurt Dick Grayson in that way.
Bruce might be emotionally stunted and they may argue but he shows love through actions... this is the opposite of that.
It a repeated theme that Dick Grayson is the light to Bruce's darkness and the anchor that keeps Batman from going over the edge.
As is shown in this quote of Dick saying, "He saved me and it saved him. It kept him from living in the shadows. From walking the line. From crossing it."
And also when Bruce tells Dick "The truth is I didn't save you from some dark fate those years ago. You saved *me* from one. And you're still are saving me, every day."
This dynamic is the core of Bruce and Dick's relationship in any run.

While Batman works with various other Robins, it is Dick Grayson who keeps Batman from crossing the line, not just any Robin. For example, had the Joker killed Dick instead of Jason, Batman probably would have killed the Joker. Dick's death would be one of the few things to push Bruce off the edge and into a killing spree (as shown in Infinite Crisis).

There's so much love and trust between Dick and Bruce. Some of the best quotes are Bruce saying Dick is "a better man than I ever could be." and "The only time I ever feel pride is when I look at Nightwing. Sometimes I think he's the only thing I ever did right." And when Bruce tells Dick, "Dick. I didn't fall. I jumped. I jumped because I knew you'd catch me."

I feel like this video only covers the drama, not the love between them.
Dick is Bruce's greatest accomplishment, and his designated successor. Nightwing becomes the leader of the justice league after Batman as Bruce had planned. And Dick takes up Batman's mantle when Bruce is "dead" and even raises and trains his son Damian.

Dick Grayson is the favorite. End of story. 😌

[Johnson_professor]

Batman has principles to not kill, but sleeps with his adopted son's ex?

Holy shit, that's beyond vile.

[ComicBooksandVideoGameNerd]

Who the hell sleeps with their adopted son's Ex-girlfriend

[youtubeuser]

bruce and barbara is the most blasphemous, unnecessary and illegal relationship in all of comics that shouldnt exist

[Vaehlo]

We...We don't talk about Bruce and Baraba. We pretend it didn't happen.

[shaggydee]

I hate the Bruce wit Barbara ....wish they were never a thing

[DjTonySnark]

I think Dick Grayson is the best DC hero. He’s one of the only heroes to have fully evolved from kid to adult, with multiple titles along the way. He was Batman even, a fantastic Batman, but it wasn’t his destiny. Now he’s Nightwing, Batman’s equal (in my opinion.) He’s Bruce without the emotional flaws.

[misterkid]

The Barbara-batman dating thing is creepy and should've never existed

[AndreMonster]

I never liked the Bruce and Barbra relationship I didn’t like it in the cartoon and I didn’t like it in the comics too

[theaceking]

Barbara and Bruce has always been hideous to me

[Stonerth]

It's time for Bruce to invent the Bat-condom.

[virtrolic_youtube]

If been watching this dude for 4years keep up the good work

[aldrincruz]

DCAU butchered grayson. He was nerfed so much and I hate it.

[marveldcmaaz]

I just don't consider those "Timm-verse" comics canon. There was never any romance between Bruce and Barbara in Batman the Animated Series, and Bruce clearly loved Dick as a son. No way he would steal his girl or abandon him for years, that's not the Batman I grew up with in the cartoon. It's an incredibly out-of-character and selfish thing to do for a character that's supposed to be selfless.

[SSJFutureGohan]

All of the post-Crisis versions of this just feel so wrong. They impose Bruce’s superiority on Grayson, and strip Grayson of agency.

In pre-Crisis, Grayson leaves of his own will and turns the Robin identity and mantle over to Jason Todd, giving him his blessings and approval. This is the best version, much more heart-felt and in-character for Grayson. But hey, who wants happiness and hope in their comics?

[jonathanmora]

I will never understand Dick . Bruce isnt a perfect father figure but Dick ended up great in all aspects