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WhileNightwing ’s first attempt at being a self-aggrandizing brother blew up in his face ( literally ) whenRed Hooddied , their other alliance showed potential , if the nickname Dick Grayson break to Jason Todd upon their first coming together is anything to go by . Although Jason has since been resurrected , the guilt surrounding his death has never leave alone Dick , and it shows in how he handles his kinship with the current Robin , Damian Wayne .
The last two offspring of the six - partNightwing : Year Onestoryline published in 2005 and written by Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty with art by Scott McDaniel , focalize on Dick Grayson ’s first interaction with Jason Todd . Dick Grayson has recently been fire as Robinwhen Batman believe he is prioritizing the Teen Titans and neglecting Gotham . Therefore , Dick and Bruce Wayne are n’t on in effect terms , to say the least . Dick flee Gotham for a while , but when he returns , he discovers that Batman has anointed someone else with the role of Robin : Jason Todd .
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Dick quickly warms up to Jason on their first joint ( albeit unplanned ) mission , and he easily slips into the big brother role , complete with Jason ’s own cognomen . Of naturally , Dick is illogical and upset once he sees another kid take for granted the identity operator of Robin . However , his anger is directed at Bruce , not Jason . In fact , despite a somewhat rocky commencement , Dick apparently lead off to enjoy showing Jason the ropes and explaininghow Robin ’s job should be done . He mesh in easy banter , laughs at the account of how Jason became Robin , reminds him to never let a clandestine identity slip of paper in world , and cap it off by giving Jason his very own nickname:“Little Wing . ”
This nickname paints a bright future for the Julian Bond between Dick and Jason . As fellow Robins , they share a unique connection , and Dick is understandably eager to take Jason under his wing . Unfortunately , since he is n’t on speaking terminal figure with Bruce Wayne at the meter , Dick does n’t pass much time with Jason during his short tenure as Robin . He avoids Gotham and regularly goes on off - humanity missionswith the Teen Titans . This is the case when Jason is killed by the Joker . Upon his return to Earth , Dick immediately blames himself not only for overlook Jason ’s death , but also for seldom being present when he was active . A human relationship with Dick likely would have positively impacted Jason . If Dick had been useable to mentor Jason and to reassure him that he does n’t have to be a perfect Robin right away , perhaps Jason would n’t have rivet so to a great extent on proving himself to Batman , and maybe he would n’t have died in the first property .
Despite Jason ’s resurrection , Dick ’s on-going guilt has determine how he view his relationship with Damian Wayne . When Darkseid apparently kills Bruce Wayne inFinal Crisis , Dick becomes Batman and choose Damianas his Robin for the same reason Bruce chose Jason : to teach him to channel his anger and use it for good . Recognizing the similarities between Jason and Damian , Dick is driven to not make the same fault twice . He makes it his mission to be there for Damian in a mode that he could n’t be for Jason . He gives Damian positive reinforcement and shows him emotional vulnerability that directly contrast with Damian ’s bringing up within the League of Assassins and truly makes him both a better Robin and a better person . Even when Bruce returns to the present and Dick riposte to being Nightwing , he share aspecial adhesion with Damian Waynethat is oddly reminiscent of his initial , inadequate - lived bond with Jason Todd .
Dick and Jason are still essay to repair their relationship in November 2021’sNightwing Annual 2021 # 1,written by Tom Taylor with art by Cian Tormey and Daniel HDR . The pair reaffirm their status as brothers , but it is percipient that their bond could have been much stronger if Dick was there for Jason from the beginning . Every appearance of Dick and Damian ’s relationship will bear on to leave fan wondering what could have been forNightwingandRed Hood ; or , as Dick dubbed him,“Little flank . ”
More : Nightwing and Red Hood ’s Brotherly Bond Explored in 2021 Annual
