Any comic book character who's been fighting evil for over 80 years is bound to experience some changes, and Nightwing, also known as Dick Grayson, is no exception. Dick led the way for a new archetype of comic book characters: sidekicks. The first and arguably the most well-known Robin was created for practical purposes: to give Batman someone to talk to, and to give the younger readers someone to relate to.
In April 1940, Robin made his first appearance in Detective Comics #38, written by Bill Finger with art by Bob Kane. Readers were introduced to an excitable, chipper child who could hold his own against the bad guys and who significantly lightened the character of Batman. Before Dick's introduction, Batman stories heavily involved violence and dark themes; in his earliest days, Batman even used guns, which would become unthinkable in years to come. Dick Grayson's existence humanized Bruce Wayne, and together, Robin and Batman became the Dynamic Duo.
Although DC Comics eventually decided that Robin would be the lighter foil to Batman, they didn't always have this figured out, as evidenced by Dick's first appearance in Detective Comics #38. In this issue, Bruce takes in Dick following the tragic death of his parents, and together they investigate Boss Zucco, the gangster behind their murders. While it reads like a traditional Batman plot, the Dynamic Duo uses methods in their investigation that are today considered taboo for Batman comics. Batman baits Zucco into paying a personal visit to a building under construction, where Robin lies in wait. Robin engages Zucco's henchmen in a fight atop the building, and in the process, he knocks one man off a steel beam with a slingshot and kicks another "off the girder into space." Both men presumably fall to their deaths. Batman arrives and threatens a henchman with death unless he confesses to the crime of killing the Graysons, which he does. Zucco then shoves the henchman off the building in a blind rage, but Batman and Robin were apparently counting on this, since Robin is perfectly positioned to snap a picture of the murder.
Dick Grayson's Crime-Fighting Methods Were Significantly More Violent In His First Appearance.
At least three men are killed, two of them directly by Dick, and the Boy Wonder doesn't even flinch. This is such a stark contrast to Nightwing's current philosophy that it's almost laughable. In Nightwing #97, written by Tom Taylor with art by Bruno Redondo and Geraldo Borges, Blockbuster, one of Nightwing's main enemies, has been killed. As Dick stands over Blockbuster's body, he says, "I wanted justice, Melinda, not... this. I wanted people to see him held able for his actions." He doesn't consider death to be justice. As he stands currently, Dick Grayson is a far cry from the boy who laughed as he kicked men off of buildings.
Of course, conventions and ideologies change over 80 years, and the Nightwing of today wouldn't even dream of doing something similar. Still, DC fans will certainly be shocked to know that in his first appearance, the Boy Wonder killed multiple men without remorse.
