STATS

Real Name: Richard John "Dick" Grayson

Age: 24

Height: 5 feet, 10 inches

Weight: 175 pounds

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Black

Marital Status: Single

Occupation: Adventurer, bartender

Known Relatives: John Grayson (father; deceased), Mary Grayson (mother; deceased)

Group Affiliation: Former leader of the Teen Titans, and the New Titans. Former partner of Batman.

Base of Operations: Bludhaven, USA

First Comicbook Appearance: Nightwing was created by Bob Kane and first appeared as Robin I in Detective Comics #29. Nightwing identity created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez and first appeared in New Teen Titans Vol. 1 #39.


HISTORY

Richard Grayson was born into the circus and at four years old became a premier acrobat along with his parents in CC Haly & Norton Bros. Circus. Dick was a member of the famous acrobatic team The Flying Graysons of the Haly Circus. Before one appearance in Gotham, in which The Flying Graysons were the main attraction, they were asked to pose for a photo opportunity with the Drake Family, including their young son Tim. From that time on Tim's one and only hero in the world was Dick. During the Graysons' portion of the show, Dick's parents John and Mary, fell to their death after their trapeze snapped. All while many of Gotham's elite, including billionaire socialite Bruce Wayne, and the young Tim Drake watched on.

Their deaths were not an accident, but actually planned by the gangster "Boss" Zucco, who was running a local protection racket and Haly refused to pay. Dick overhears gang members warning Haly of further accidents and makes a vow to avenge his parents death. Dick was then relocated to the Gotham City Youth Center where he first met Batman trying to escape. He was then adopted by Bruce Wayne. Bruce Wayne revealed his identity to Dick. Six months later Batman takes Dick to the batcave where Dick asks to become Batman's partner in crime-fighting. Getting the consent of Dick's nearest relative, Bruce Wayne becomes Dick's legal guardian. He then proceeded to train Dick to the peak of physical and mental perfection. When the time was right, Bruce gave Dick a costume and dubbed him Robin. As Robin, the Boy Wonder, Dick captures Zucco, and who is sent to the electric chair.

After many adventures with the Dark Knight and establishing himself as a crime-fighter in his own right, Robin soon met other teenage adventurers and formed the first group of Teen Titans. The original Titans was composed of the most well known sidekicks in the DC Universe: Kid Flash, Wondergirl, Speedy, Aqualad, and Robin as the leader. Through the Titans, Dick gained additional experience through adventures against new criminals, both at home and on other worlds.

Soon after his graduation from high school he left Gotham City and Batman for college at Hudson University. After a few months Dick dropped out and drifted around for a while, finally returning to Gotham City. Upon his return he went to Bruce and struggled to get Bruce's respect as an adult. It was during this time period, that Robin was shot in the shoulder by the Joker, after which Bruce deemed the life of a superhero too dangerous for Dick. Thus ending Dick's career as Robin. Upon leaving the cave, and Robin forever, He moved to New York to became leader of The New Teen Titans. Adopting the name Nightwing and a new costume Dick set out to face a deadlier and darker world.

While serving with the New Titans, Dick was searched out by an older Tim Drake, who had only one goal on his mind, for Dick to return to Robin. It was Dick's refusal to return that Tim started down the road toward becoming the new Robin. After weeks of persuading and proving his potential, Dick then returned to the Batman to plead Tim's case, with help from Alfred. Due to their arguments and the realization that the Batman needs a Robin, Tim Drake becomes the fourth to wear the red and green (following a young Bruce, Dick, and Jason Todd). And, Dick gains a little brother.

In recent history Nightwing has returned to Gotham on more than one occasion to lend a hand. The most notable time was following the breaking of the Bat by Bane. After Bruce's injury he asked the vigilante formerly known as Azrael, Jean Paul Valley, to fill in as the Dark Knight. Dick returned to investigate the new guy in town, and to find out why Bruce would entrust the job to an outsider. He even helped to bring in Jean Paul, after he had let a criminal die, while as Batman. After Jean Paul was finally defeated by a recovered Bruce, Dick was asked to fill in as the Batman, so that Bruce could sort out some things. This time as the Batman was probably most beneficial for Dick. He finally realized he and Bruce's differences, and that he had to be his own man.

Nightwing can currently be found as the new, and overwhelmed, protector of Bludhaven, a city worse than Gotham in many ways, and "big brother" to Robin III (Tim Drake). Bludhaven is far enough away from Gotham for Dick to be his own man, yet close enough to the Dark Knight if needed.


POWERS and WEAPONS

Nightwing possesses no superhuman powers. Raised as a circus aerialist by his parents, the Flying Graysons, Nightwing is a near-flawless gymnast and acrobat. Taught and trained by the Batman, Nightwing is a highly skilled detective, a born leader and a superb hand-to-hand combatant. He is perhaps a greater natural athlete than the Batman himself. His current costume houses numerous concealed devices: swing lines, med.-kit, tazer, etc., all of which are contained in his gauntlets and boots. Also included in the suit are holsters, located on his back, for a pair of escrima fighting sticks.

Among Nightwing's means of transportation are his customized car and boat. For a long time Nightwing also had a costumized motorcycle.


NIGHTWING GALLERY

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