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April 26, 2023:
I have been a DC Comics fan since the 1970s, but only in the last ten years have I started reading more about the so-called "Batman family.” Every family has its characters, but let's face it, the patriarch of this one is at best a borderline personality, at worst a functional psychopath. Aside from his willingness to terrorize, Mame and torture in the name of stopping crime, Bruce Wayne/Batman has another disturbing legacy: his habit of adopting and weaponizing orphaned boys.
If you’re not familiar with this part of Batman Lore, let me brief you on the major players...
April 26, 2023:
I have been a DC Comics fan since the 1970s, but only in the last ten years have I started reading more about the so-called "Batman family.” Every family has its characters, but let's face it, the patriarch of this one is at best a borderline personality, at worst a functional psychopath. Aside from his willingness to terrorize, Mame and torture in the name of stopping crime, Bruce Wayne/Batman has another disturbing legacy: his habit of adopting and weaponizing orphaned boys.
If you’re not familiar with this part of Batman Lore, let me brief you on the major players...
BRUCE WAYNE, A.K.A. BATMAN
Let's start with the patriarch himself. Bruce Wayne was the one and only son of Dr. Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane. When he witnessed their senseless murder as a young boy, it launched him on a lifelong quest to seek out and punish criminals of every description. Using his vast wealth and genius intellect, he created an alter ego known as Batman, a brutal vigilante who is sometimes seen as the hero of Gotham City, and sometimes as a major menace. A lifelong bachelor and playboy, Wayne seemed an unlikely candidate to become the legal guardian of an orphaned boy named Richard "Dick" Grayson. Although his motivation to help the grieving boy may have been sincere, Wayne was a poor parent. Ultimately, Grayson grew closer to the family butler, Alfred Pennyworth, who often shielded him from Wayne’s temper and demanding nature. Grayson eventually stumbled upon Wayne’s secret identity, and convinced that they shared a similar history (both witnessed the violent death of their parents) and an insatiable thirst for justice, Wayne trained the teenager as his sidekick, Robin.
Let's start with the patriarch himself. Bruce Wayne was the one and only son of Dr. Thomas Wayne and Martha Kane. When he witnessed their senseless murder as a young boy, it launched him on a lifelong quest to seek out and punish criminals of every description. Using his vast wealth and genius intellect, he created an alter ego known as Batman, a brutal vigilante who is sometimes seen as the hero of Gotham City, and sometimes as a major menace. A lifelong bachelor and playboy, Wayne seemed an unlikely candidate to become the legal guardian of an orphaned boy named Richard "Dick" Grayson. Although his motivation to help the grieving boy may have been sincere, Wayne was a poor parent. Ultimately, Grayson grew closer to the family butler, Alfred Pennyworth, who often shielded him from Wayne’s temper and demanding nature. Grayson eventually stumbled upon Wayne’s secret identity, and convinced that they shared a similar history (both witnessed the violent death of their parents) and an insatiable thirst for justice, Wayne trained the teenager as his sidekick, Robin.
RICHARD "DICK" GRAYSON, A.K.A. THE FIRST ROBIN, NIGHTWING
Richard John "Dick" Grayson was the only child of John and Mary Grayson, famous trapeze artists who worked for the Haly Circus under the name “The Flying Graysons.” When Dick was nine, his parents died during a performance in Gotham City. Grayson was subsequently placed in foster care until he's finally taken in by Wayne and becomes his crime-fighting partner, Robin. As he aged, however, Grayson became uncomfortable with some of his father’s techniques — in particular the use of torture. Once he left for college, Grayson came into his own, teamed up with the Teen Titans, and rebranded himself under the name “Nightwing.” His defection did not sit well with Wayne however, and their relationship was tense for a long time after. Giving up the title of Robin also made way for Grayson’s adoptive younger brothers — Jason Todd and Tim Drake — to enter the picture.
Richard John "Dick" Grayson was the only child of John and Mary Grayson, famous trapeze artists who worked for the Haly Circus under the name “The Flying Graysons.” When Dick was nine, his parents died during a performance in Gotham City. Grayson was subsequently placed in foster care until he's finally taken in by Wayne and becomes his crime-fighting partner, Robin. As he aged, however, Grayson became uncomfortable with some of his father’s techniques — in particular the use of torture. Once he left for college, Grayson came into his own, teamed up with the Teen Titans, and rebranded himself under the name “Nightwing.” His defection did not sit well with Wayne however, and their relationship was tense for a long time after. Giving up the title of Robin also made way for Grayson’s adoptive younger brothers — Jason Todd and Tim Drake — to enter the picture.
JASON TODD, A.K.A. THE SECOND ROBIN, RED HOOD
Todd was a street orphan whom Batman befriends when caught trying to steal the tires off the Batmobile. Todd’s impulsive and angry, but Wayne believes he can keep the boy from entering a life of crime by adopting him like he did Grayson. However, on his first outing as The Boy Wonder, Todd goes on a rage-induced rampage. This recklessness eventually sees him killed at the hands of The Joker, and his brutal murder fills Wayne with guilt. Todd’s later resurrected through the machinations of Superboy Prime and Talia al Ghul, both sworn enemies of Wayne’s. Whether due to his troubled past, violent death or strange rebirth, Todd’s changed into an anti-hero who patterns himself after Batman but has no compunction about killing others. Because he is the one disgraced Robin, he has a complicated relationship with both Grayson and Tim Drake. See Jason Todd's Empty Grave for more.
Todd was a street orphan whom Batman befriends when caught trying to steal the tires off the Batmobile. Todd’s impulsive and angry, but Wayne believes he can keep the boy from entering a life of crime by adopting him like he did Grayson. However, on his first outing as The Boy Wonder, Todd goes on a rage-induced rampage. This recklessness eventually sees him killed at the hands of The Joker, and his brutal murder fills Wayne with guilt. Todd’s later resurrected through the machinations of Superboy Prime and Talia al Ghul, both sworn enemies of Wayne’s. Whether due to his troubled past, violent death or strange rebirth, Todd’s changed into an anti-hero who patterns himself after Batman but has no compunction about killing others. Because he is the one disgraced Robin, he has a complicated relationship with both Grayson and Tim Drake. See Jason Todd's Empty Grave for more.
TIM DRAKE, A.K.A. THE THIRD ROBIN
Drake had an unexpectedly long association with Grayson, having met him at Circus Haly on the night his parents fell to their death. Although they wouldn’t meet again for many years, Tim was fascinated by Grayson and his Robin persona. When Grayson finally gave up Robin, and Todd’s time as The Boy Wonder met with a tragic end, Drake wanted desperately to take over. Grayson was reluctant to help him, but finally negotiated with Wayne to make it happen. Anxious to not repeat the mistakes that doomed Todd, Batman adopted the orphaned Drake and took a wiser approach in training him. He ultimately became the most talented, most capable Robin of all. Drake and Grayson formed a very brotherly relationship and often cooperated on missions. His relationship with Todd was more touchy — as Todd has often expressed resentment for Drake being his replacement as Robin.
Drake had an unexpectedly long association with Grayson, having met him at Circus Haly on the night his parents fell to their death. Although they wouldn’t meet again for many years, Tim was fascinated by Grayson and his Robin persona. When Grayson finally gave up Robin, and Todd’s time as The Boy Wonder met with a tragic end, Drake wanted desperately to take over. Grayson was reluctant to help him, but finally negotiated with Wayne to make it happen. Anxious to not repeat the mistakes that doomed Todd, Batman adopted the orphaned Drake and took a wiser approach in training him. He ultimately became the most talented, most capable Robin of all. Drake and Grayson formed a very brotherly relationship and often cooperated on missions. His relationship with Todd was more touchy — as Todd has often expressed resentment for Drake being his replacement as Robin.
Grayson’s Robin became the first sidekick in comic book history. He also became the most derided, due largely to his status as Wayne’s “ward.”
In no small part, this was due to the work of psychiatrist Dr. Fredric Wertham. During the 1950s, Wertham became convinced that comic books lead to juvenile delinquency. He launched a successful nationwide campaign to ban comics and published a now-infamous book called Seduction of the Innocent (1954). To be fair to Wertham, comics of the day were often rife with images of lurid sex, racism, and violence. Batman, however, was called out for being “like a wish-dream of two homosexuals living together.” The intimation that Wayne and Grayson’s relationship was pederastic has persisted to this day, ultimately overshadowing a more persistent problem within the Batman storyline: Wayne using his adoptive children to advance his own vigilanteism.
Only recently, thanks to HBO Max’s Titans, has the Dark Knight’s behavior toward Grayson and his other children been critically examined by DC itself.
As an adoptive parent, it's always struck me how Grayson's story is the reverse of most foster/adoptive children. His birth parents were kind, supportive, and loving. Their tragic death landed him in the care of a man whose lack of qualifications to be a parent was apparently excused by his vast wealth and power. Wayne’s behavior toward Grayson after his adoption fluctuated from mild disinterest to outright manipulation. Thought of from this perspective, The Bat’s motivations were certainly exploitative, even abusive.
Yet it was probably Grayson's formative years with his birth parents which allowed him to escape, even learn from, what might've otherwise been a tragic life at Wayne Manor. As the Batman family continued to evolve, it’s been Grayson more than Wayne who supports and mentors the other Robins, including their concerns with their adoptive father. When Grayson temporarily filled Batman's cowl while Wayne was recovering from a back injury, he worked closely with Drake, and the two formed a very close bond. Even Todd, who doesn’t love easily nor can be easily loved, eventually built a grudging respect for The First Robin and even came to call him “brother.”
In the end, the three brothers learned how to survive and even work with their difficult father. It’s unlikely that Wayne will ever be asked to face the music for weaponizing his own children, and equally unlikely that he would feel much guilt for it if he did. But it still might be a storyline worth pursuing.
In no small part, this was due to the work of psychiatrist Dr. Fredric Wertham. During the 1950s, Wertham became convinced that comic books lead to juvenile delinquency. He launched a successful nationwide campaign to ban comics and published a now-infamous book called Seduction of the Innocent (1954). To be fair to Wertham, comics of the day were often rife with images of lurid sex, racism, and violence. Batman, however, was called out for being “like a wish-dream of two homosexuals living together.” The intimation that Wayne and Grayson’s relationship was pederastic has persisted to this day, ultimately overshadowing a more persistent problem within the Batman storyline: Wayne using his adoptive children to advance his own vigilanteism.
Only recently, thanks to HBO Max’s Titans, has the Dark Knight’s behavior toward Grayson and his other children been critically examined by DC itself.
As an adoptive parent, it's always struck me how Grayson's story is the reverse of most foster/adoptive children. His birth parents were kind, supportive, and loving. Their tragic death landed him in the care of a man whose lack of qualifications to be a parent was apparently excused by his vast wealth and power. Wayne’s behavior toward Grayson after his adoption fluctuated from mild disinterest to outright manipulation. Thought of from this perspective, The Bat’s motivations were certainly exploitative, even abusive.
Yet it was probably Grayson's formative years with his birth parents which allowed him to escape, even learn from, what might've otherwise been a tragic life at Wayne Manor. As the Batman family continued to evolve, it’s been Grayson more than Wayne who supports and mentors the other Robins, including their concerns with their adoptive father. When Grayson temporarily filled Batman's cowl while Wayne was recovering from a back injury, he worked closely with Drake, and the two formed a very close bond. Even Todd, who doesn’t love easily nor can be easily loved, eventually built a grudging respect for The First Robin and even came to call him “brother.”
In the end, the three brothers learned how to survive and even work with their difficult father. It’s unlikely that Wayne will ever be asked to face the music for weaponizing his own children, and equally unlikely that he would feel much guilt for it if he did. But it still might be a storyline worth pursuing.
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