Dick Grayson, Boy Wonder: On 75 Years of Robin, Nightwing & Batman by Kristen L. Geaman

[gilda_elise]

Dick Grayson--alter-ego of the original Robin of Batman comics--has gone through various changes in his 75 years as a superhero but has remained the optimistic, humorous character readers first embraced in 1940. Predating Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, he is one of DC Comics' oldest heroes and retains a large and loyal fanbase. The first scholarly work to focus exclusively on the Boy Wonder, this collection of new essays features critical analysis, as well as interviews with some of the biggest names to study Dick Grayson, including Chuck Dixon, Devin Grayson and Marv Wolfman. The contributors discuss his vital place in the Batman saga, his growth and development into an independent hero, Nightwing, and the many storyline connections which put him at the center of the DC Universe. His character is explored in the contexts of feminism, trauma, friendship, and masculinity.

There was a decades long gap in my comic book reading, so, as a longtime Dick Grayson fan, I was thrilled to find this book. Informative, and easy to read, it caught me up on all the years I’d missed. Especially with the recent changes to the DC Universe, it was great to relive the stories when Dick was still a part of the Batfamily. Will he be again? I certainly hope so, because I can’t imagine Bruce Wayne’s life without him.

But not just his place in the Batfamily was explored. His connections to all the other DC heroes, some of them I knew well, others hardly at all, were scrutinized, rounding out his life and legend.

If you have any interest at all in the original Robin, this is the book for you.

And since this is a book I found recently while skulking through Amazon, it's not part of my TBR Challenge. It did, however, help my reading of The Teapot Dome Scandal as I switched over to it when I'd start getting bogged down in Teapot.

Comments

[bradygirl_12]

Glad to see our boy getting his due! People tend to forget his importance in the DC Universe and how long he's been around.

Of course Dan Didio wanted to kill him off about five years ago. Said he was Batman-Lite or some such nonsense.

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Yeah, they mention that in the book. Considering all the gyrations they've put him through, sometimes I think it's like they're still trying. With Grayson, they've certainly put him way out in left field.

[bradygirl_12]

They are eager to shunt him aside, when ironically the general public thinks of Dick when they think Robin. They haven't a clue nor care who Jason Todd or Tim Drake are.

They should have used the classic costume for that book cover! :)

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I certainly didn't know who the other two for a long time. I remember when I first heard about the poll DC took asking whether to kill Robin or not (it was either in the paper or on the news,) and I thought they were talking about Dick! What a relief to find out that wasn't so.

And I'm not even sure that costume was one Dick ever wore.

[bradygirl_12]

I thought that at first, too, then found out it was some kid named Jason Todd. VERY relieved! :)

Whenever they dress him like Tim, I wonder which one it is. DC, embrace the classic costume, pixie boots and all! Dick did, even when he was in college. ;)

[hsv-fangirl.livejournal.com]

To me, he IS the only Robin. Sounds like a book I need to add to my list. xx

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I think you'd like it. No Bat, but still. :-) And there's a lot of information in it. It certainly filled in lots of holes in my knowledge of him.