Dick Grayson

Richard John "Dick" Grayson is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics, commonly in association with Batman, the Teen Titans, and the Justice League. Created by writer Bill Finger and artist Bob Kane, he first appeared in Detective Comics #38 in April 1940. Dick is the original and most popular incarnation of Robin, Batman's crime-fighting partner – together known as the Dynamic Duo. In his origin story, he is the orphaned son of master acrobats the Flying Graysons who is later adopted by Batman's alter ego Bruce Wayne.

Dick Grayson has undergone significant character development since originally introduced in 1940. In 1984, he graduated from the role of Robin to become the adult superhero Nightwing, protector of the city of Blüdhaven, Gotham City's economically troubled neighbouring city. Since then, as Bruce's eldest son, Dick has taken on an older brother figure to his male successors as Robin – tearaway Jason Todd, teenage prodigy Tim Drake, and trained assassin Damian Wayne, who is also Batman's biological child. Among other members of the Batman Family, his closest relationships are with Batman's loyal butler and father figure Alfred Pennyworth, and with his romantic interest Barbara Gordon, who served as Batgirl alongside Dick as Robin, and who later aids Nightwing as Oracle. Dick has also taken up the mantle of Batman himself on a number of occasions when Bruce was missing, incapacitated, or believed dead.

As well as his significant role in Batman-related stories, Dick is well-connected to other characters across the fictional DC Universe, particularly in his role from 1964 onwards as a founding member of the Teen Titans superhero group alongside other sidekicks of the Justice League. Teen Titans establishes many of the character's most significant partnerships, including with his best friends Wally West (Kid Flash), Donna Troy (Wonder Girl), and Roy Harper (Speedy), and his other longtime romantic interest, the alien princess Starfire. Dick is widely recognised as one of the superhero community's greatest strategists, leading the adult Titans team, the Outsiders, and even the Justice League at various times. Dick also has connections to the Superman franchise, with Superman providing the original inspiration for him to become Nightwing and take on a different style of superheroism from Batman, with Nightwing later mentoring Superman's son Jon Kent.

Grayson has appeared as Robin in many Batman adaptations over the years. In live-action, the character appeared in the serial Batman played by Douglas Croft, the serial Batman and Robin played by Johnny Duncan, the television series Batman and its film played by Burt Ward, the film Batman Forever and its sequel Batman & Robin played by Chris O'Donnell, and the television series Titans played by Brenton Thwaites.