Warning: Spoilers for Nightwing #112

Summary

• Nightwing had anger issues due to his traumatic past, but has since evolved into a calmer leader.
• Batman's perspective sheds light on Nightwing's hidden darker side and how he helped other Robins.
• Dick Grayson's experience with anger led him to assist other Robins in navigating their own darkness.

Despite anger usually being associated with other Robins, Nightwing has long had anger issues of his own. While he's now usually a calmer leader, his history with darkness shows another, more hidden side of his character. Nightwing's little known "darker side" isn't too far off from the darkness other Robins have faced. These past issues with anger also give readers insight into how he helped other Robins.

In a preview for Nightwing #112 by Tom Taylor and Sami Basri, readers are given a look into the beloved vigilante's past and present from the perspective of his mentor, Bruce Wayne. The preview includes glimpses of Dick Grayon's childhood with Bruce as Batman trained the future leader of the DCU.

This preview gives an alternative perspective on how Dick Grayson is seen by those around him. Batman's point of view allows a different look at a character who has a relatively well-known backstory. Not to mention, this flashback scene offers a look at an aspect of Dick Grayson he himself might not realize is even there.

Nightwing's Anger Has Deep Childhood Roots

Before he became Nightwing, Dick Grayson had anger to work through following the deaths of his parents. In this preview, he takes out this anger in his training routine with Batman. Dick continues fighting after his mentor tells him to stop, reacting to the situation emotionally rather than logically. When Bruce finally gets him to stop, Dick is surprised at himself. Both his actions and how strongly he felt were out of his control. Surprisingly, Bruce, who often has poor emotional control, isn't angry over it. Rather, Batman proceeds to help Dick reflect on controlling his emotions.

Not only is Nightwing a light in the darkness for the people he's saved, but he was his own light in the dark, learning to cope with his trauma.

This is juxtaposed with Dick Grayson's present as Nightwing. In the present day, he's a leader and has acted as a mentor to many others, including the Robins who came after him. He has helped Blüdhaven and its citizens in countless ways. However, he had a long way to go from the angry child he once was. While anger is understandable for a young child, how much Nightwing has developed since being Robin speaks a lot to his character. Not only is Nightwing a light in the darkness for the people he's saved, but he was his own light in the dark, learning to cope with his trauma.

Nightwing Speaks from Experience with Other Angry Robins

Because of his own experience with anger and resentment, Dick has helped other Robins fight their own darkness. In the past, Nightwing has helped — or tried to help — both Tim Drake and Damian Wayne with their anger and desire for revenge. Now, it's obvious that when Dick was helping them and teaching them how to get through their darker moments, he was speaking from experience. He may have been reflecting on this moment with Bruce in the Batcave — or the other moments when Nightwing had to fight through his own buried anger.

Dick Grayson's deep well of anger from his time as Robin has occasionally cropped up in other stories, but it's not often explored in current continuity. The death of his parents affecting Nightwing in this way shouldn't be surprising, but it does show a different side to his character and how he handles loss. Given the Nightwing #114, it wouldn't be surprising if Nightwing started feeling a different type of loss that brings his anger to the surface.

Nightwing #112 is available March 19th from DC Comics.