RIC GRAYSON: Was DiDio's Character ASSASSINATION Successful?

Support Thinking Critical at Ko-fi. Monthly subscriptions receive bonus content and early access to some channel content. Ko-fi.com/thinkingcritical Thank you for supporting the channel! Thinking Critical Discord:   / discord   Twitch Channel   / thinking_critical_yt   Nightwing: How the DC Hero Turned Into Ric Grayson Via CBR.com DC Rebirth has seen Batman greatest ally Nightwing take on a dark new personality after suffering a devastating personal tragedy. Dick Grayson has taken on many different personas and alter egos in his lengthy superhero career. Since becoming Batman's first Robin, his most enduring legacy for over the past 30 years has been as Nightwing. The original Robin and co-founder of the Titans' most recent change, however, was shaped by personal tragedy after a fateful encounter with KGBeast, leading the young man to take on the identity of Ric Grayson as he struggles to remember who he exactly is. Now, we're taking a look back at how Dick Grayson transformed into Ric, the lasting effects of the traumatic incident and what the former Boy Wonder has been up to in the DC Universe ever since. Upon his recovery, Dick now referred to himself as "Ric Grayson," moving back to Bludhaven and taking up a job as a taxi driver. Ric's personality was more hardened and aggressive than usual, having developed a sudden affinity for hard drinks and gambling, usually through high-stakes, backroom poker games. In addition to hanging out in shady bars and underground fight rings, the extent of Ric's traumatic episode showed even more disturbing details. Despite his claims to Barbara that he had no interest in reclaiming his past life as a crimefighter, Ric found himself assisting the Bludhaven police nevertheless, in addition to instinctively stopping any crime he happened to stumble across as almost a sort of reflex reaction. In the meantime, the void left by Ric's semi-retirement as a superhero had been filled by an unsanctioned faction of the city's police officers using old Nightwing costumes they had recovered to become the Nightwings. Eventually, his association with the police department would lead Ric to reclaiming the mantle of Nightwing, albeit reluctantly, when Scarecrow attempted to take over the city with his signature fear toxin. Entering an illicit partnership with the police, Ric resumes defending his city as Nightwing from threats like the Joker's Daughter and random street crime. However, as much as Ric attempted to evade his forgotten past, he appears to be on a collision course with it when his ancestor, William Cobb, a notable Talon within the Court of Owls arrives in Bludhaven with his own designs for the city and his descendant. Even The Joker Knows NIGHTWING Fans Hate 'Ric' Grayson Via screenrant.com The Joker is obsessed with all things Batman-related, and wants it on the record: he’s not happy with ‘Ric’ Grayson allowing his Nightwing persona to wither away. While some comic fans may clamor for traditional Dick’s return, depending on the Joker for help in that arena... is probably a mistake. The infamous 'Ric Grayson' manifested after Nightwing was shot by the KGBeast while on patrol with Batman as Nightwing. After waking from a medically induced coma, he returned to Blüdhaven, became a taxi driver and began referring to himself as 'Ric.' Barbara Gordon reached out to him, but with severe memory loss and no recollection of his past fighting alongside the Dark Knight, Ric rejected his past life and attempted to destroy his time as Nightwing. Nightwing May Have Finally Lost His 'Ric' Flair Via CBR.com As Ric's confrontation with Cobb reaches its climax on a suspension bridge in Bludhaven in Nightwing #68, Grayson's memory finally came flooding back. As Ric recovers from his recent ordeal and the sudden resurgence of memories, he is unsure whether to continue going by Ric or Dick Grayson. Instead, Grayson decides to focus on the moment, specifically on his new girlfriend Bea as the two watch a beautiful sunset over the Bludhaven skyline before retiring for the night. In the end, the hero gets the girl and his memories back. The advance solicitation information for subsequent issues have implied that Grayson will not only continue to use his Ric moniker -- one given to him before his mother before her death -- moving forward, but that the sudden rush of restored memories could have negative consequences on his psyche. Still, Ric has finally gotten his happy ending, closure on the Court of Owls, and the means to reclaim his past life if he so chooses eventually. And with fan response on the Ric Grayson persona decidedly mixed, the full return of Dick Grayson and Nightwing can't come soon enough. #dccomics #nightwing #batman Contact Thinking Critical: Twitter:   / wes_from_tc   Email [email protected]