Dick Grayson: Perfectionism, Guilt, and Obsession

Today I'm going to talk about one of Dick Grayson's biggest psychological issues, and how it creates a cycle of unhealthy behavior in him. I call it the "Perfectionism, Guilt, Obsession" cycle. Dick holds himself to the highest of standards, often unrealistic ones, then becomes massively guilty when he doesn't live up to his own expectations or what he perceives to be the expectations of others, and then he becomes obsessed with correcting his failure. He takes on too much responsibility, and works himself into the ground until he burns out.

This cycle is illustrated many times throughout Dick's history. During the New Teen Titans era, Dick was working with Batman, attending college, and leading the Titans. This put him under tremendous stress, and negatively affected his personal life. He would often go days without sleeping, and this is a pattern that continues for much of his career.

New Teen Titans #28

Dick also acknowledges that he has a "tendency for self blame" in this era.

The New Titans #57

He tends to take responsibility for everything, particularly his teams or the legacy of Robin. This leads to constant worry and guilt when things don't go well.

The Titans #9

Grayson #15

Guilt and Obsession as Nightwing:

In Nightwing #89, Dick's apartment building is blown up on the orders of Blockbuster, killing almost all the residents, who were friends of Dick. Dick immediately blamed himself, and began tearing through Bludhaven to find out who destroyed his home. He became more brutal, and his speech bubbles even changed. He became a truly terrifying one man army to his rogues.

Nightwing vol. 2 #89

Nightwing #90

Eventually he had to rest, but without a home or change of clothes, he ended up sleeping on a fire escape under newspapers. It was a dark time in his life, and he was punishing himself for his perceived failure as much as he was punishing his enemies. Alfred visits him and remarks on his propensity for self blame, gives him a change of clothes, and tells him he is expected to visit home when he's done with his business of hunting down Blockbuster. Given his years of experience with both Bruce and Dick, Alfred knows the best thing he can do is offer support and comfort.

Nightwing vol. 2 #92

Things get worse before they get better, and in the ensuing months Blockbuster dies at the hands of Tarantula. Dick felt he could have stopped hit, but he was in shock and immobilized. His compounding guilt for all his perceived failures pushed him down a dark path, but he eventually got out of it. 

Several years later, Dick was living in New York City, where he helped clear the name of Jace Lorens, who had been using an armored suit and going by Raptor. Lorens died in the story, but Dick was able to prove that he was not a murderer. During this time, Dick became close to Lorens' wife Dahlia, and his children, Phillip, Roger, and Kelli. He helped Dahlia get a job with Wayne Enterprises, and gave advice to Phillip to help him move on from his father's death. Unfortunately, two new villains in New York called Bride and Groom killed Dahlia, Roger, and Kelli. Dick became intensely angry at his failure to save them, and once again tore through the town, beating on criminals for any information.

Nightwing vol. 2 #131

Dick takes the Lorens' death personally, and remarks that he can't be made of stone like Bruce. He goes up against a super strong opponent, and unlike his usual quips, he simply beats him and questions him.

Nightwing vol. 2 #131

Several months later, Two-Face comes to New York seeking out Nightwing. Harvey wants him to defend the New York DA, Carol Bermingham from the plot of Two-Face (split personality). Dick reluctantly agrees, but he knows Two-Face is up to something bigger. Dick and Two-Face have a history, Dick's first great failure as Robin was at the hands of Two-Face, and that failure haunts him well into his Nightwing years.

Robin #0

Due to their history, Dick takes this one personally. He pushes himself into the ground, and Barbara even remarks that he's starting to sound more like Bruce (this is a common theme when Dick starts getting obsessive). Thankfully, Dick is able to defeat Two-Face before he goes too far.

Nightwing #150

Most recently, in the New 52/Rebirth continuity, a new/old nemesis of Dick's was introduced. The Judge, a villain that has eluded Dick since he was Robin, returns to Bludhaven and begins corrupting people into killing others for him. Dick takes this case very personally, and repeatedly takes responsibility for The Judge's body count.

Nightwing vol. 4 #36

Dick is able to stop The Judge, but in doing so he falls into old habits of neglecting his personal life and pushing himself past a normal man's breaking point.

Nightwing vol. 4 #36

Nightwing vol. 4 #40

The Roots of the Issue:

This compulsive need to be perfect stems from a young age. Batman is probably the most intense hero in DC's wheelhouse, and he has high standards. Where other heroes were warm or emotionally supportive, Batman demanded excellence in all things, creating the illusion that Dick could never live up to his expectations. However, Dick's feelings of guilt and fear of failure go back to before he was Robin. He feels intense guilt at not being able to prevent his parent's death.

Nightwing vol. 3 #3

Later, as Robin, Dick was put through some of the toughest training on Earth, and subjected to the highest of standards.

Nightwing vol. 4 #37

While Bruce was coming from a good place (he wants to save as many people as possible, and knows Dick is extremely capable), his demanding and emotionally repressed nature caused him to treat Dick with more callousness than he should've, leading to Dick holding himself to impossible standards. During Dick's first year as Robin, Batman and the Gotham District Attorney are kidnapped by Two-Face, leaving Robin to save them. Robin underestimates Two-Face, and the D.A. dies as Two-Face beats Robin. Batman eventually works his way out of his binds and stops Two-Face, but not before Dick's arm is broken. Bruce "fires" Dick after this, due to feeling he was foolish in letting Robin into the field, but Dick thinks it's because he failed.

Robin Year One #3

Dick is of course able to start going back out as Robin again, but he keeps that fear of failure as he goes forward in life. He worries that he isn't good enough to be Batman's partner, and that he will lose his new home. 

Nightwing vol. 4 #37

This fear is so deeply held that when dosed with Fear Toxin, he sees himself as a failure, and Batman mocking him.

Batman and Robin Eternal #2

Batman has never been good about confronting emotions, and tends to default to gruffness. In the first major outing of the Teen Titans, Dick is the one to figure out how to save the Justice League from their mind controlled states, but Batman tells him he should've figured it out faster.

Teen Titans Year One #3

During his time with the New Teen Titans, Dick still held himself to an idealized standard, comparing himself against Batman. Dick is eventually able to acknowledge the fact that his intense loyalty to Bruce color his opinions somewhat, so it shouldn't be taken at face value that he won't ever be as good as Batman (Dick did BECOME Batman after all).

New Teen Titans #28

The New Titans #57

The Good and Bad:

You wouldn't think that this aspect of Dick's character could have many good sides. After all, it's unhealthy and self destructive. I've talked before on my twitter account about Dick's temper, and it's important to note than he is typically level headed, and only really loses his temper when he feels he has failed in a big way, or feels that one of his teammates is not taking things seriously enough. Basically, he can become "Mister Intense."

Young Justice #7

The Titans #39

In team settings, Nightwing expects 110% from everyone, including himself. It's led to him and Superboy not quite seeing eye-to-eye, until Superboy realized that Dick was pushing himself just as hard, and doing it to save him any extra trouble. 

Teen Titans #33

The plus side to Dick's high standards for himself are that he often DOES live up to them. Nightwing is one of the most confident heroes, he knows his business, and other heroes trust and follow him. When it comes down to the line, Nightwing can be counted on to keep pushing and never give up. 

Nightwing vol. 2 #128

Nightwing vol. 4 #35

This has earned him a ton of trust and goodwill in the hero community, and Nightwing is known as one of the absolute best heroes in the business, by everyone from the Outsiders to the JLA.

Brave and the Bold #15

JLA #69

Outsiders #37

The Return of Donna Troy #3

Teen Titans vol. 3 #33

Teen Titans vol. 3 #33

Teen Titans vol. 2 #13

Teen Titans vol. 2 #13

Thankfully for Dick, whenever he does get stuck in his own head, he has a great net to catch him in the form of his friends and family. But that's a post for another day.