Batman Characters - Publication History of Dick Grayson, Alternate Versions of Robin, Alternative Versions of Batman, League of Assassins (Paperback)

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 33. Chapters: Publication history of Dick Grayson, Alternate versions of Robin, Alternative versions of Batman, League of Assassins, Alternative versions of Barbara Gordon, Super-Sons, Music Meister, Batman Jones. Excerpt: This article is about the publication history of the DC Comics fictional character Dick Grayson, who has been portrayed in comic books as Robin, Nightwing, and Batman. He was first introduced in Detective Comics #38 (1940) by Batman creators Bill Finger and Bob Kane. Robin's debut was an effort to make Batman a lighter, more sympathetic character. DC Comics also thought a teenaged superhero would appeal to young readers, being an effective audience surrogate. The name "Robin, The Boy Wonder" and the medieval look of the original costume are inspired by the legendary hero Robin Hood, as well as the red-breasted American Robin, which parallels the "winged" motif of Batman. Dick Grayson was born on the first day of spring, son of John and Mary Grayson, a young couple of aerialists. Detective Comics #38 (April 1940), the first appearance of Robin. Art by Bob Kane and Jerry Robinson.In his first appearance, Dick is an 8 year-old circus acrobat, and with his parents make up the "Flying Graysons." While preparing for a performance, Dick overhears two gangsters attempting to extort protection money from the circus owner. The owner refuses, so the gangsters sabotage the trapeze wires with acid. During the next performance, the trapeze from which Dick's parents are swinging snaps, sending them to their deaths. Before he can go to the police, Batman appears to him and warns him that the two gangsters work for Tony Zucco, a very powerful crime boss, and that revealing his knowledge could lead to his death. When Batman recounts the murder of his own parents, Dick asks to become his aide. After extensive training, Dick becom...