Summary

• Dick Grayson's original Nightwing suit returns in From the DC Vault: Death in the Family - Robin Lives #2.
• Batman's decision to bring Jason into crime-fighting stemmed from his success with Dick Grayson as Robin, but it was a mistake.
• The alternate storyline in Robin Lives #2 emphasizes that Dick Grayson was destined to be a hero.

WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for FROM THE VAULT: DEATH IN THE FAMILY - ROBIN LIVES #2!Dick Grayson’s first Nightwing suit, commonly known as his Discowing suit, first appeared in Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (1984). Now, 40 years later, it returns for a fight that not only proves Dick was destined to be a hero but also that Jason Todd should NEVER have taken up the Robin mantle. This revelation offers a heartbreaking yet insightful look into Batman’s psyche and his decision-making in choosing Jason as his child sidekick.

J. M. DeMatteis, Rick Leonardi, and Rico Renzi’s From the DC Vault: Death in the Family - Robin Lives #2 continues exploring the alternate storyline of what might have happened if Jason Todd hadn’t been killed by the Joker in 1988.

Despite Jason’s survival, the story is far from happy. The second Robin is shown struggling deeply with his trauma, leading Bruce to get Jason a therapist and even reveal his identity as Batman, hoping she can help his son. Upon learning Batman’s identity, the therapist asks, “Why expose a child to the dangers… the insanity… of Batman’s world?” While Bruce doesn’t respond verbally, the answer is clear—because of Dick Grayson.

Nightwing Is The Reason Batman Made the Mistake of Letting Jason Todd Become Robin

Dick Grayson Is the Exception, Not the Standard, When It Comes to Child Heroes

The therapist's question is immediately followed by s of Dick in his original Nightwing suit fighting Brutale. These s are accompanied by narration that delves deeper into the question of "why?" This transition to Nightwing isn't random; it serves as an unspoken answer to the therapist's question—one that Batman can't bring himself to voice: Bruce brought Jason into the crime-fighting life because Dick, as the first Robin, thrived in it, and Bruce mistakenly assumed the same would be true for Jason.

These seemingly disted scenes—the therapist’s question and Nightwing’s fight—are actually closely connected by Bruce’s introspection about his decisions as Batman. When Bruce later asks Dick if he ever regretted their life together as Batman and Robin, it becomes evident that he is grappling with the consequences of his choices. The therapist's question about why Bruce would bring a child like Jason into the dangerous world of crime-fighting underscores Bruce’s reliance on his experience with Dick. However, Bruce’s mistake lies in assuming that Jason Todd would follow the same path as Dick Grayson, failing to recognize that each boy had unique needs and strengths.

Death in the Family - Robin Lives #2 Proves Dick Grayson Was Always Meant To Be a Hero

Dick Grayson Thrived as Robin, While Jason Todd Suffered

This scene in Robin Lives #2 not only makes it glaringly clear that Jason never should have been Robin, but it also emphasizes that Dick was always destined to be a hero. It shows that not just any child Batman takes under his wing should be exposed to the dangerous and traumatizing life of crime-fighting; in fact, most children should never be introduced to such a world. This further s the idea that Dick was an exceptional case, not the standard for what all children could become. Dick’s success as Robin and later as Nightwing is something extraordinary and exceedingly rare.

From the DC Vault: Death in the Family - Robin Lives #2 is available now from DC Comics!