three-semicolons

[three-semicolons]

Feeling absolutely diabolical rn walking to work to give a coworker who collects comic art Nightwing (2016) #87 in hopes that they accidentally read it and become attached.

[three-semicolons]

that panel of tommy pinching dick's cheek while he sits at the table is so cute, i wish tommy and sophia had more appearances in later runs

Imagine it. After her mom dies due to his gang affiliation, Sophia resolutely decides to never join the life and becomes a social worker or something, to help kids in similar situations as her (ie: taken into the system and left without a safety net after family tragedy). She’s helping some kids during a villain fight and runs into Nightwing, and is like “oh shit that’s totally Crutches”, but not because of facial shape. She sees the way he handles the scared children and is reminded of how he saved her after the fallout of her dad’s work coming home to roost.

Her dad, meanwhile, has also completely renounced the life since it costed his wife hers. So Sophia subtly pulls Dick aside as the villain attack is being wrapped up and invites Dick to dinner. He comes over and is reunited with the two, and it’s just like the same time nearly half a decade ago except Dick is notably sunnier and seems to be doing much better.

The first thing Tommy does after seeing Dick again is pinch his cheek in the exact same way.

My heart.

[three-semicolons]

ohmygodddd yeah the mirage arc is DISTRESSING and AWFUL (i don't even like remembering how the rest of the team handles that particular conflict) and it pisses me off when people use that arc (probably because fandom telephone + they've never actually read it themselves) to talk about dick being a cheater or whatever. HE DIDNT WANT IT

I’ve read through all of Nightwing, and this was easily on par with Tarantula on the tier list of Fucked Up Shit™️. I cannot fathom how anyone could interpret this as anything other than unabashed assault.

Again, I have to reiterate: I have had job training administered by HR where the scenarios for sexual assault were more dubious than this. And the answer was still “yes — that is assault”.

If this reading experience has taught me one thing, it is that I have never been more thankful for HR in my life. Because apparently if we operated on the logic of the layman as to what qualifies as rape, we’d all be done for.

[three-semicolons]

On Mirage: After Reading the Arc

Okay so I finally reached that infamous set of panels, and they’re terrible for sure…

But honestly I think the lead up is worse. Note, prior to all of this, that these events are usually used to paint Dick as a cheater.

We have Dick begging for Kory not to leave him during a fight (context is not important for this; just that Dick is uncomfortable AF being around Mirage right now):

And Mirage’s face. I fucking hate her. Jesus Christ.

But then the very next panel she jumps on Nightwing. After Dick made his disinterest very, very clear. I would not get this close to a lover in the early stages, let alone a stranger, let alone a stranger who has stood their ground about how uncomfortable they are in prior issues. His discomfort with Mirage has been building for half an arc by now.

You can see him shove her off. He does not want this. It has never been made more clear that a person is not consenting. I have watched mandatory sexual harassment training for my job that is less obvious. But she just doesn’t let it go.

Dick’s abject disgust at the whole situation is horrible.

And it is in this context, right after, that the first panels above are shown.

It is after Dick has made it unequivocally obvious that he does not want Mirage to touch him, after physically forcing her off him and telling her that she’s crazy and he doesn’t want her, that he is called a slut.

Mirage is now on my top 5 ops. I legit didn’t think it was this bad until now. Like I knew it was bad, but I figured it was one of those things where you could kind of imagine a writer from the 80s not intending this to be interpreted as assault because of time-appropriate misogyny or something.

No. This is undeniable assault by the standards of any era. There is not even the implication of consent, retroactive or otherwise. This is horrible.

[three-semicolons]

Hey fun idea — what if we all killed ourselves?

I have never wanted to strangle a comic book character more in my life.

Pantha didn’t just make light of what Mirage did to Dick. She eviscerated him.

The first panel shows that she knows how fucked up it all was. But she just rubs it in like a monster. Holy shit.

[three-semicolons]

Two Kory’s.

It’s over it’s over it’s over it’s over it’s over I can’t please it’s so over

…fuck. I think I know where I’m at now.

Mirage is mentioned as a collaborator with the villains. I’m on that arc.

I knew the Dick and Kory scenes were too cute. It’s over guys 🫡🫡🫡

[three-semicolons]

…fuck. I think I know where I’m at now.

Mirage is mentioned as a collaborator with the villains. I’m on that arc.

I knew the Dick and Kory scenes were too cute. It’s over guys 🫡🫡🫡

[three-semicolons]

I give Nightwing #129 an ‘aight out of 10.

Beautiful art, as always. One or two lines of funny banter. Interesting plot progression.

Keep in mind that it’s just setting up the finale that’ll be released next month though, so like, can’t be too mad at this issue being minor conflict resolution with a larger heap of set dressing.

Also dialogue isn’t quite as fun because Dick has no one to bounce off of, but like again, it’s set up. And imo it was wayyy better executed than the first few issues of this arc. I was starting to get worried that act one was a fluke and the rest of this would be garbage but I’m feeling okay about it now.

Another problem is just that I’m used to reading trades. I’m decidedly *not* used to reading 24 pages of set up and then waiting a month for another 24 pages of set up. I like having the whole arc unfold.

But apparently Nightwing monthly purchases are down and I will give every last dollar to make sure Nightwing isn’t cancelled. Even if that means buying issues instead of trades. I’m loyal like that.

[three-semicolons]

SPOILER WARNING

@faramirsonofgondor, this was done specifically by Dan Watters and Dexter Soy for you.

I know how much you lose your shit at people acting like YJ/2003 Teen Titans Dick is a knockoff of Tim for using a bo-staff and shit.

Here you go:

Nightwing with a bo-staff. Send this to the haters. Godspeed.

[three-semicolons]

WE FUCKING DID IT CHAT!!!

Made it with HALF AN HOUR until closing.

Also finally managed to find #87 for my work friend that collects comic book art. Hallelujah!!!

[three-semicolons]

Yeah, idk. I’ve also been in the position of my parents forgetting to contact me during birthdays and majors holidays as a teen, and I remember that shit kinda hurt. It means a lot more when you’re a kid. I never complained like this to anyone, but that’s just because there was no one around to listen lmao.

This also isn’t the first time. I just wrapped up a NTT comic where Bruce literally goes “oh yeah forgot about your birthday a few weeks ago. Happy birthday.” And Dick is internally groaning with a “Some things never change.”

I wouldn’t go to “asshole” here. Maybe melodramatic.

Also I’ve gone through almost all the New Teen Titans run by now and I’m pretty sure 90% of all “teenage Dick was an asshole” takes are founded on out of context panels of this one arc where Dick was being subtly mind controlled by Brother Blood. That’s where basically all of the asshole Dick screenshots come from, but the end of the arc is literally him getting out of Brother Blood’s control and being like “holy shit guys I’m so sorry” and then the Titans being like “bro you were literally mind raped by our big bad for half a year explicitly to make you an asshole it’s fine”.

Besides that, where I think he has a pretty valid excuse, the only other major instance of assholery I can think of is when he was in his final days of Robin, where he could tell his relationship with Bruce was falling apart. But like again, he’ll have instances of snapping to his friends and then immediately going “oh damn sorry. I’ve been having a tough time lately.”

Dick is not nearly so much of an asshole in his teen years as he’s made out to be imo. That’s just my interpretation tho.

(Early 2000s Outsiders Dick, though? That guy is a piece of work. Pretty sure it’s not canon anymore, thank god, but holy shit. I couldn’t finish it.)

Angsty teenage dick grayson who is actually just a jerk and unbarable to be around

Like i was reading urban legends #10 where and teenage dick on christmas in titans tower is just like:

(The next pannel is victor trying to console him like "bruce called you two days ago" and dick is crying into his pillow like "but its christmas eve")

Like that is my favourite little crashout boy

Like i wanna see dick who just blows up at absolutely anyone because he is a complete crashout, arguing with bruce anytime he is at the mannor, super sad and mopey and a lil drama queen XD

Okay but a totally valid crash out to not get a call on Christmas/Christmas Eve!!! I’d be depressed too!!

But yes I love angsty teen titan Dick he’s my favorite he’s so fun he’s such an asshole

[three-semicolons]

I’m not going. I’m gonna feign illness like a fourth grader on a snow day because Jesus fucking Christ if the last four months of issues have no pay off I’m crashing tf out.

It has been setup after setup after setup and I’m ready for this arc to GO SOMEWHERE.

Idk what this says about me but I’m planning to leave work early tomorrow to pick up the new Nightwing issue on release day despite not taking any time off work for holidays or my birthday.

[three-semicolons]

Someone unironically just scheduled a 90 minute meeting with me for 4:00pm today. I’m going to kms. I just wanted to get the fucking Nightwing comic before the fucking comic book store fucking closes 😭

Idk what this says about me but I’m planning to leave work early tomorrow to pick up the new Nightwing issue on release day despite not taking any time off work for holidays or my birthday.

[three-semicolons]

Hell hath no fury like a Dick Grayson mid-crashout. His mob era fighting is absolutely legendary.

Our guy:

Begins by managing to hurtle his crutches at just the right angle to choke a man out.

Proceeds to perform masterful acrobatics with a bum leg, ending with him bursting his second windpipe of the night. I think people need those to breathe, bud.

The fucking “thank you” 💀

More breathing appendages wasted, but I guess at least it’s a nose this time so there’s an alternative. More blood has been spilt in the last five panels than has been depicted in like 10 normal Nightwing issues.

And then the shoulder sweep. Because fuck you, that’s why.

[three-semicolons]

Okay I lied, one final final thing.

Dude is incredibly touchy around other women for a while. Inexplicably. As soon as anyone shows interest in him, he shies away.

Legit think it’s a Tarantula thing. It happened like weeks ago at this point.

That Time Dick Joined the Mob

This is one of my all-time favorite arcs, so I decided to re-read it again.

Right after Blockbuster ruins his life and War Games happens, Dick returns to Blüdhaven depressed, alone, and destitute. He’s no longer a cop and he fucked up his leg during a gang standoff back in the War Games event.

So obviously he joins the mob.

This whole arc is amazing because 2/3 of it is Dick slowly unraveling under the weight of his perceived sins and inadequacy. He is crippled, not from the leg wound, but by the idea of Bruce never loving him again after Blockbuster’s death.

…And the other 1/3 of it is him being adopted by the mob family who took him in.

In fact, the whole dynamic between him and Tommy Trevino is explicitly Dick’s perceived inevitable abandonment by Bruce, a morally righteous man who has failed to provide him comfort and affection, versus a bonafide criminal who manages to be more warm and inviting than anyone has been to him in years.

Take this exchange. Dick is absolutely reeking of isolation and self-loathing. And then the mob boss guy pinches his cheek and calls him his son. This is S tier shit.

Incredible. Fantastic. The Trevinos are underrated GOATs and I love them.

Dick is also constantly stuck in internal monologues of how much he hates himself and how doomed he is. Bro hates being alive right now. If you think people were exaggerating about Devin Grayson’s writing style being actual torture, you’d be wrong. This man does not smile.

And, to top it all off, Dick is not just associated with the mob. He’s an enforcer. And he’s fucking terrifying.

Look at him lurk behind his target.

Crutches in hand (hence the nickname), Dick fucking obliterates this poor dude in front of his kids. Not that he knew the kids were there in the first place — he was pretty pissed to learn that afterwards. But still. Ruthless.

And again, just this astounding contrast between Dick actually wanting to die — those expressions are grim; Dick looks horrified at what he’s done — and Tommy doing his darndest to be the most wholesome crime lord on this side of the United States.

Fughedabowdit indeed.

Sharing this in the hopes that the Crutches arc gains more love because holy shit do I need this in my veins.

[three-semicolons]

Two Three more things:

1.) I need a Tevis in my life to call me “the princeliest” after my fourth abandonment-fueled crashout of the week

2.) I can’t tell if Dick’s mob getup is adorable or threatening, so I choose to perceive it as both.

(Also: note that the other mobster calls him “Dick” here. Crutches is his nickname, but Dick was so far off the deep end at this point that he didn’t even bother to make an alias. The whole ass underground knew Dick fucking Grayson, ward of Bruce Wayne, was mobbing it up. Legend.)

3.) This explanation of his recent past kills me. The mobster with the cigar looks like he’s about to issue a 5150 on my man. Put him on a 72 hour psychiatric hold because god damn. You know it’s bad when “I got shot” is the lightest part of the explanation.

That Time Dick Joined the Mob

This is one of my all-time favorite arcs, so I decided to re-read it again.

Right after Blockbuster ruins his life and War Games happens, Dick returns to Blüdhaven depressed, alone, and destitute. He’s no longer a cop and he fucked up his leg during a gang standoff back in the War Games event.

So obviously he joins the mob.

This whole arc is amazing because 2/3 of it is Dick slowly unraveling under the weight of his perceived sins and inadequacy. He is crippled, not from the leg wound, but by the idea of Bruce never loving him again after Blockbuster’s death.

…And the other 1/3 of it is him being adopted by the mob family who took him in.

In fact, the whole dynamic between him and Tommy Trevino is explicitly Dick’s perceived inevitable abandonment by Bruce, a morally righteous man who has failed to provide him comfort and affection, versus a bonafide criminal who manages to be more warm and inviting than anyone has been to him in years.

Take this exchange. Dick is absolutely reeking of isolation and self-loathing. And then the mob boss guy pinches his cheek and calls him his son. This is S tier shit.

Incredible. Fantastic. The Trevinos are underrated GOATs and I love them.

Dick is also constantly stuck in internal monologues of how much he hates himself and how doomed he is. Bro hates being alive right now. If you think people were exaggerating about Devin Grayson’s writing style being actual torture, you’d be wrong. This man does not smile.

And, to top it all off, Dick is not just associated with the mob. He’s an enforcer. And he’s fucking terrifying.

Look at him lurk behind his target.

Crutches in hand (hence the nickname), Dick fucking obliterates this poor dude in front of his kids. Not that he knew the kids were there in the first place — he was pretty pissed to learn that afterwards. But still. Ruthless.

And again, just this astounding contrast between Dick actually wanting to die — those expressions are grim; Dick looks horrified at what he’s done — and Tommy doing his darndest to be the most wholesome crime lord on this side of the United States.

Fughedabowdit indeed.

Sharing this in the hopes that the Crutches arc gains more love because holy shit do I need this in my veins.

[three-semicolons]

That Time Dick Joined the Mob

This is one of my all-time favorite arcs, so I decided to re-read it again.

Right after Blockbuster ruins his life and War Games happens, Dick returns to Blüdhaven depressed, alone, and destitute. He’s no longer a cop and he fucked up his leg during a gang standoff back in the War Games event.

So obviously he joins the mob.

This whole arc is amazing because 2/3 of it is Dick slowly unraveling under the weight of his perceived sins and inadequacy. He is crippled, not from the leg wound, but by the idea of Bruce never loving him again after Blockbuster’s death.

…And the other 1/3 of it is him being adopted by the mob family who took him in.

In fact, the whole dynamic between him and Tommy Tevis (lmao @srsly-idontknow) is explicitly Dick’s perceived inevitable abandonment by Bruce, a morally righteous man who has failed to provide him comfort and affection, versus a bonafide criminal who manages to be more warm and inviting than anyone has been to him in years.

Take this exchange. Dick is absolutely reeking of isolation and self-loathing. And then the mob boss guy pinches his cheek and calls him his son. This is S tier shit.

Incredible. Fantastic. The Tevis’ are underrated GOATs and I love them.

Dick is also constantly stuck in internal monologues of how much he hates himself and how doomed he is. Bro hates being alive right now. If you think people were exaggerating about Devin Grayson’s writing style being actual torture, you’d be wrong. This man does not smile.

And, to top it all off, Dick is not just associated with the mob. He’s an enforcer. And he’s fucking terrifying.

Look at him lurk behind his target.

Crutches in hand (hence the nickname), Dick fucking obliterates this poor dude in front of his kids. Not that he knew the kids were there in the first place — he was pretty pissed to learn that afterwards. But still. Ruthless.

And again, just this astounding contrast between Dick actually wanting to die — those expressions are grim; Dick looks horrified at what he’s done — and Tommy doing his darndest to be the most wholesome crime lord on this side of the United States.

Fughedabowdit indeed.

Sharing this in the hopes that the Crutches arc gains more love because holy shit do I need this in my veins.