Originally Posted by
dropkickjake
Alright, this is another direction for the character I've thought about for a while. This is one goes in a pretty different direction than we've been going in the thread for the most part, and for that reason, I'm sure some won't like it, for a few reasons. This, rather than have him separate himself further from Batman and Gotham, has him embracing these connections and really doubling down. First, rather than have him in Bludhaven, I'd keep him in Gotham. Give him Amusement Mile as his home neighborhood. The Mile would bring in many of the elements we've talked about for Vegashaven. Next, I'd try to give him a civilian life that mattered, that stands in line with his principles, that makes sense with the character, and that borrows from Dick Grayson publication history.
I'd establish Batjerk a bit. Batman is a loner, a gruff guy who keeps people at arms distance, even struggling to connect with his son Damian. No matter how large the Batfamily goes, No one really feels trusted by him. Dick is the glue that holds characters like Tim, Damian, Barbara, and others together. Bruce does seem to trust Dick, but he's never particularly warm to him either.
In Dick's first arc, he'd face off against Two Face. I'd have Bruce do or say something particularly surly, prompting Babs to ask Dick "how did you manage to put up with him as Robin for so long?" "He wasn't always like this, you know. There was time where he was healthier, almost optimistic, even." This time of Batman's optimism was while Dick was still Robin, and before Harvey became Two-Face. Back then, Bruce really believed that he, Gordon, and Dent working together could clean up Gotham. Dick's confrontation with Two-Face and memory of Harvey's role in Bruce's healthiest period would give him a new direction: Work to become a lawyer, a government prosecutor, in order to put the crooks away for good.
Dick would finish his Bachelor's degree quickly (there would be some line about how he only had a semester's worth of courses left or something), because him in undergrad wouldn't be too interesting. I like the idea of him in law school, working as an intern for Cranston and Wayne (or Cranston and Kane or something) law firm.
Since I'm obviously pulling from old Earth 2 Dick, this Nightwing would definitely be on the JSA. I'd spend time taking some old Nightwing villains like Lady Vic and trying to reinvent them, or flesh them out to be more meaningful characters.
I'd say the drawbacks here are pretty obvious. "Get him out of Gotham!" you say. "A lawyer? Too much like Daredevil!" Here's the thing though, Daredevil is the biggest drawback to him taking the bar. I think Dick's charisma, trustworthiness, intelligence and ability to read people could make him an excellent trial lawyer. He'd struggle a bit, I think, when it comes to spending hours researching case law, but I think doing things that are difficult for him can showcase weaknesses as well as strengths. Being in Gotham keeps him from being bigger than Batman, but respectfully, I'm not sure that he needs to be. I'd be very comfortable with him as Bruce's most trusted lieutenant and heart of the Batfamily. Plus, I think accepting his family could be the next step in his growth as a character. Going from a child who hero worships his father, to a late teen who wants to break out and make his own way, to a more mature young adult who appreciates his family and his own role within it.
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Overall, I don't really like this as much as the dual life superhero/ spy set up. This is just a plot bunny thats been collecting dust in my noggin for quite some time.
I do think that Amusement Mile is a worthwhile concept. As many of us have said, his connection to Bludhaven often feels a little forced, and if he is going to be spending most of his time globetrotting anyway, why not have his home base (Haly's Casino) in the city he has the most connection to, Gotham.