Dick Grayson was part of his family's acrobatic troupe, the Flying Graysons.Dick joined the act at a very young age, having been trained in acrobaticsfrom birth. While on tour in Gotham City, nine-year-old Dick overheard "Boss"Anthony Zucco, a well-known and feared crime-lord, threaten the performersunless the circus's owner paid extortion money. The owner refused, and thatnight Dick watched in horror as his parents' high wire snapped, sending hisparents hurtling to their deaths. Young Dick felt responsible, because hedidn't warn his parents in time.
The deaths were quickly investigated by Batman, who had been in the audience in his civilian guise as Bruce Wayne. The ropes had been tampered with adissolving acid. The Graysons' death was no accident. Bruce saw much ofhimself in the young lad, and allowed Dick to stay with him at Wayne Manor.Dick was instrumental in tracking down Zucco. With the help of Batman, Dickconfronted and captured him, but Zucco died in an ambulance before he couldbe taken to the police station. Although Dick hated what Zucco had done, helamented his passing, not wishing death for him.
At this point, Bruce saw that Dick could temper compassion with a thirst forjustice. So Bruce made the young orphan the offer of a lifetime; the chanceto become his crime-fighting partner. Dick chose the name Robin, and histraining began. Bruce taught Dick fighting techniques and detective skills fora gruelling 6 months. Finally, Dick had to pass a final test "the Gauntlet"he had to evade Batman for an entire evening on the streets of Gotham. Hepassed, and a new legend was born!
Dick enjoyed his first year as Robin, regarding the job as an adventure until a confrontation with Two Face served as a rudeawakening for the young hero. Two-Face had captured the new District Attorneyand Batman, and had each suspended from a hangman's noose. Robin, in trying tosave the D.A., used a batarang to cut the rope of the noose. It worked, butRobin didn't account for Dent's obsession with the number two-- it was atwo-fold trap, and the floor gave way, dropping the D.A. into the water, wherethe man drowned. Robin was unable to prevent his death, and received a beating atthe hands of Two-Face. A beating witnessed by Batman, still tied up on theplatform trying to free himself. Eventually Batman was able to free himself and apprehendTwo-Face. This event, however, scarred the young crime-fighter, and haunts himeven today.
A few years later, Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad joined together to stop themenace of Mr. Twister.It was the first time the sidekicks joined forces. Their second meeting wasmore eventful: Robin,Kid Flash, Aqualad, now joined by Wonder Girl and Speedy, fought against theirmentors, whohad been possessed by the evil Antithesis. At this second meeting, the fiveyoungsters decided tobecome a team... and the Teen Titans were born! Robin naturally became theleader of the originalTeen Titans. The sidekicks would continue to operate with their mentors, aswell as spending time with their peers in the Teen Titans. Alas, some yearslater, the team disbanded, after numerous changes.
Dick continued his adventures with Batman, until a fateful confrontation withthe Joker. Robin was shot. The Joker escaped. Batman suddenly saw a teenagesidekick as a liability. After this event, Batman fired Dick Grayson as Robin,thinking it would be in his best interest. At this point, he feared puttingDick in constant danger and thought it was best that Robin be retired. Eighteen year old Dick Grayson left Wayne Manor after this fall-out, andattended Hudson University. At the University, Dick eventually assumed theRobin identity again, despite Bruce's misgivings. After less than a year atcollege, Dick dropped out. He would soon be given a new direction in life bythe reforming of the Teen Titans by the mysterious Raven.
The mysterious Raven summoned Dick Grayson, and several other young heroes, toform a new group of Titans. Robin again resumedleadership, and moved out of the shadow of the Batman. Robin realized at thatpoint that he had grown up: He no longer relied on Batman and, in fact, he andthe Dark Knight disagreed on crime-fighting methodology. He was able to provehimself as leader of the Teen Titans. He established himself as a strong heroin his own right.
In his tenure in the Titans, Dick went through some stages of moodiness, oftenbeing frustrated by the fact that Robin would always be associated with"Batman and". He did some soul searching and eventually decided to give up theRobin identity entirely, feeling he had outgrown it. Helping him through thisdifficult time was his fellow Titans, including Starfire, a beautiful alienDick had fallen in love with. When all his teammates were captured byDeathstroke, the Terminator, and delivered to the H.I.V.E., Dick assumed a newidentity of Nightwing and helped to free them, with the help of new ally (andfuture Titan), Jericho.
Nightwing had finally moved out of the shadow of the Bat, and would lead theTitans through some hard times. Dick endured brainwashing at the hands ofBrother Blood, his relationship with Starfire would suffer due to her marriageof state, he would be deeply affected by the fact that Batman trained a newRobin (Jason Todd) only for him to be killed at the hands of the Joker.Feeling hurt and betrayed, Bruce and Dick would remain at odds with eachother, never fully sorting out their strained relationship. Dick was involvedin a case with Batman and Two-Face when Tim Drake emerged, who would laterbecome the third Robin. Dick nurtured and supported Tim's desire to becomeRobin, and helped ease him into the role. Dick also has helped Tim in dealingwith Bruce's distant manner.
Soon after, various members of the Titans were abducted by the WildebeastSociety. This event shook up the team in a big way. The group entered intotumultuous times, where members came and went, long-time friends were maimedor destroyed, although Dick persevered through it all, and remained the heartand center of the team. But his relationship with Starfire became strained,and problems in Gotham demanded Dick's attention. Impulsively, Dick proposedmarriage to Starfire. The two almost wed, by the ceremony was interrupted bythe dark incarnation of their former team mate, Raven. Her brutal attack onStarfire triggered changes in Dick and Kory's relationship. The two grewapart, and Starfire eventually returned to her home planet of Tamaran.Meanwhile, in Gotham, Bruce Wayne had left the mantle of Batman to theunstable Jean Paul Valley. Dick intervened with new Robin Tim Drake, and whenBruce returned to Gotham, he brought Valley down and re-assumed the mantle of Batman.
When Dick returned to the Titans, he found there to be changes. The governmentinterceded, placing Arsenal as leader of the team. Dick stepped aside and leftthe Titans, concentrating on problems in Gotham City. Still recovering fromhis broken back, Bruce asked Dick to substitute for him as Batman for a time.Dick accepted. During this time, Dick was able to confront Two-Face and laysome demons to rest. He also established a wonderful partnership with newRobin, Tim Drake. Bruce eventually returned to Gotham to reclaim his role asBatman. For the first time in a long time, Bruce and Dick began to heal theirstrained relationship. Bruce's respect for Dick was at last obvious.
Soon after, a problem arose in Gotham's neighboring town of Bludhaven. Twentyone bodies washed upstream into Gotham, drawing attention to the fact thatBludhaven was just as crime-ridden as Gotham - possibly worse! Nightwinginvestigated the crimes at Batman's behest. Once that case was solved, Dickdecided to stay in Bludhaven, and become its protector. He took a job as abartender to keep his ear to the ground and works closely with Barbara Gordon(Oracle) in an effort to clean up the crime-ridden city. Since arriving,Nightwing has discovered that the police force is utterly corrupt and thetown's kingpin, Blockbuster, has contributed to the continued decay of thecity. Nightwing has been able to make some inroads in his new city, bringingdown corrupt police officer Dudley Soames and severely setting back long-termplans of Blockbuster.