Confident: Not Arrogant

A post I loved was going around on how confident Dick is.

I just wanted to add that he’s confident but there’s also a humbleness to his confidence that is very uniquely Dick Grayson.  Dick is confident without the arrogance.  He’s confident with a purpose.  Even when he’s not confident he exudes it to lift other people up or at least is usually open to talk about how unconfident he is which in itself takes a certain amount of confidence.

He expresses a very ‘us’ mentality and uses that phrasing a lot when talking to people unless he’s blaming himself for something.

“We’re going to have to learn.”

When Dick is Batman we as the reader know how unconfident Dick is but he still wears the cowl and goes out there as well as mentors Damian with as much confidence and humbleness he needs to admit his own shortcomings and works through them with Damian. 

When Tim feels down about screwing up Dick answers in a very Dick Grayson way, “Everyone’s made mistakes on this one.  But we’ve come this far and we’re in this together.”  He acknowledges Tim’s mistakes but he reminds him that everyone has made mistakes even himself, and that he’s not alone here.

You can even tell this trait in him just by his positioning and body language, he lets the kids sit in the Batchair, he talks things out with them, he leans casually even in the Batsuit.  A lot of time’s in comics it seems that the batfamily is on Bruce’s mission but with Dick he clearly shows ‘we’re’ on a mission ‘together’.

That humble confidence is also what allows him to be able to see things from other peoples perspectives, and especially why he’s usually written as not condescending towards young heroes and speaks up for them against the Justice League even.

“Flash, you were one of us.”

“Stop looking at me like I’m one of those statues.  I’m a Titan like you.”

Dick has shown multiple times he can talk people down from fighting or doing bad things or talk people up when they need to step up to the plate and it’s because he’s confident enough to say it but humble enough to say it right.

It’s again because of how humble he is that Dick is not opposed to getting help when he needs it, 

Being picked up or carried,

Or saying thank you to anyone that helps him.  

He gets angry, he makes mistakes, yet Dick also doesn’t hold back on apologizing for things when he’s done something wrong.

Multiple times he’s snapped at people and then snapped right back and said he’s sorry for it because he’s strong enough emotionally that he can apologize if he’s wronged them.  

Lastly we see that Dick can work with the big guns, heck he can lead the big guns, but he’s never arrogant when he stands beside them.  One of my favorite moments that shows this so clearly is when Dick and Superman are in the park together and the police officer that finds them only cares about getting a picture with Superman. 

Dick doesn’t even hesitate, he doesn’t think or say anything about it because he doesn’t need that validation from people, he knows how amazing he is and how amazing Superman is.  There’s no jealously there, actually he doesn’t stop smiling the whole time.  

“Style, grace… and a bit of flamboyance, but without the obtrusiveness and pitfalls of arrogance.”

It’s shown even in the way he fights.

Yes there are other characters that have some of these traits as well but for Dick there are SO MANY examples of Dick doing these things, it’s very much ingrained in his character.  That’s Dick Grayson.  He may have insecurities but for the most part he is confident but not arrogant, from what I’ve seen even though he’s one of the most loved characters he’s also one of the most humble characters in the DCU.  

This is like my most favorite post ever. Makes my love for Grayson grow more every time I read it.

Dick Grayson tries to be what people need him to be

A post was going around about Dick being happy and social-able when it comes to the batfamily but more serious when with others but I think he changes based on the people he’s around and the situation.  

He is what they need him to be whether it be 

a partner

[Under the Red Hood]

a brother

[Young Justice: Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1]  

a friend

[New Teen Titans #14]

a leader

[Teen Titans (2003) #22]

a mentor

[Batman and Robin (2009) #22] 

a mediator

[Young Justice]

a shoulder to cry on

[Nightwing #147]

[Nightwing #139]

an open ear

[Robin (1993) #61]

[Year One: Batman/Scarecrow]

a supporter/encouragement

[Teen Titans (2003) #33]

a ‘fool’

[Nightwing #50]

a ‘bad guy’

[Nightwing #113]

or a sacrifice

[Forever Evil]

He changes his demeanor in order to best accommodate the people he’s working with/for and that’s why he gets along so well with so many different vigilantes.  He’s very aware of their positions versus his own.

I’ve said this before as well but when Dick has an issue with one other vigilante he tries really hard to be a partner and if he needs to be then a mentor, when it’s a three person or more issue then many times he feels the need to lead.  It all depends on who he’s with.

I would even argue that when he has conflict it’s mostly because he’s stretching himself too thin when trying to fulfill all of these roles at once, or when he has to pick one role over another.  

[Teen Titans V3 #6]

When he was the leader of the Titans and it conflicted with his partnership with Bruce that was when they really started having problems, when Dick had to become Batman and watch Damian there became a rift between him and Tim, when Jason was killed he was angry at himself for being away with the Titans instead of with the batfamily, etc.  All people do this to a certain extent but many superheroes actually don’t or don’t do it as well as Dick does.  Dick has many, sometimes conflicting, roles to play in many peoples lives and he tries his best to accommodate for those roles.

I think he’s probably not very conscious about the way he acts too much but it’s just very ingrained in Dick’s personality that he assesses what the people around him need and his relationship to them and then he molds himself and his behavior to best suite the people around him in his own way, whether it be to balance out the dark grim outlook that some of the batfamily members have or to tone down the eccentrics of a young team when necessary.

This just proves how important he is in the fandom and the DCU.

How they'd react to Batman getting the Hollywood star

Thank you you're so right

Finally got done with this bit of my Super Sons animation ✌️ based on Superman #10 by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason

This is amazing!

This is James Baxter level of amazing!

Alright, THIRD generation of Titans! Bring it on!!

Ultimate Teen Titans Poster #1! It took a little time to pin down who was gonna make the Final Cut, but I’m happy with the results. :)

Poster #2 👇

Previous generation 👇

(Fyi - The full-size version of these is over 13 feet/over 4 meters tall. There's a smaller stand-up version, plus a wall-hanging version too.)

Damian Wayne was scrolling through his social media feed one day when he came across these giraffe chandeliers. He immediately ran to his father's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Damian walked up to his father's desk and held his phone out to his Father.

"I need these."

"You definitely don't, Damian."

"But I need more light in my room!"

"We'll buy you a lamp."

"But they perfectly complement my aesthetic!"

"We'll buy you a lamp with an animal on it. You don't need that, Damian."

"Fine!"

Damian stormed back to his room and slammed the door. He had to get those giraffes! He had an idea and dialed a secret number.

"Damian."

"Hello, Mother."

They spoke for a few minutes about Damian's siblings, the goings on at the League of Assassins, school, and assorted untraceable poisins. Damian noticed that his mother had yet to mention his Father. Perfect.

"Father's doing well."

"Hmmph."

"Are you upset with him?"

"Very."

And now for the hook.

"Yes, I am as well. I need more light in my room to study and I found the perfect lamps, but Father said they were too extravagant."

"WHAT??? What could possibly be too extravagant for my son?? Your father gives money to everyone, but withholds things from you??  HIS SON?? WHO WAS BORN TO LEAD THE WORLD?? INEXCUSABLE!"

Damian sent the link to his mother.

"We'll just see about this."

DAMIAN 1, FATHER 0

The following afternoon, two dozen full-sized giraffe chandeliers arrived at Wayne Manor. Damian was positively giddy, so much so that he offered one to each of his siblings, even Tim.

Bruce was so impressed that he wasn't even that mad. Then a smile crept up on his face. A devious and dangerous smile. He would NOT be beaten by a teenager. As plans started to form in his brain, he thought to himself...

I AM VENEGEANCE.

Yessssss

I drew the bat family

Neat

As of Batman: The Brave and the Bold #12, local precious-gremlin-who-I-would-die-for, Maps Mizoguchi, is now officially(?) the sixth Robin. Or at the very least, she's now "in" on The Secret™.

If this isn’t a set up for her taking up the Robin mantle officially then I genuinely don’t know what is.

As one of the twelve Gotham Academy enjoyers in existence, I am having the extremely normal reaction of "FUCKING FINALLY! LET'S FUCKING GOOOOO--!"

bruce: everyone this is mia mizoguchi, she —

jason: okay we need to host an intervention, this is getting ridiculous

damian: i thought when he brought the starfish home he would realize his problem

tim: this is bruce we’re talking about, bruce who collects robins like pokémon, of course he doesn’t see his problem

steph: hopefully this one won’t die, we all have at least once and it’s making me think the mantel is a curse

dick: i think bruce needs to go to the child hoarding equivalent of alchohlics anonymous - nothing against you though mia!

duke: honestly it’s not that bad, you get free housing, a vaguely parental shaped figure, food, and a complimentary red head or super when you join this child bird-hero militia

mia: i have parents, why am i even here??

maps ily

a veritable flock of Robins

clap and cheer for me pls this took 75 hours

see explanations for the designs here

From 02.2022. Sons from the webtoon adaptation! 🖤

Headcanon that Bruce’s kids have all pulled the ‘you're not my father card’ at some point or the other and by the time steph rolled around he didn't even take it seriously

Of course, the first time dick said it, bruce cried himself to sleep. But by the eighteenth time, he was numb to it. “Dickie just eat your peas.” 

The first time jason did it Bruce pulled him aside and said “i know Im not, but that doesn't mean i don't care for you jason.” by the twenty fifth time he just held up the adoption papers

The first time Tim said it Bruce laughed. “Tim, you literally forced me to adopt you. Yes I am your father.” Tim didn't bother to say it from then on, maybe muttering ‘you're not my dad!’ under his breath at the computer, just for bruce to whisper ominously ‘yes i am.’ 

When Steph said it, full of anger and hate and sadness and fear, bruce just followed her and said “you're right. Im not your father. And i will never be your father. But, if you'll let me, id like to be better.” After that any time steph said ‘ur not my father’ bruce would just respond with ‘never will be’

Cass said “your are my father” and left no room for argument

Babs said “ur not my dad or my father or even close to being any of it, but you are my mom.” bruce just had to accept that

When damian said it bruce just stood there for a solid fifteen minutes rebooting. Dick and jason fell out of their chairs laughing. 

Duke specifically went “ur my dad! My dad! Boogie woogie woogie!’ and bruce was just like ‘bet aight.”

Crack hc: any kid who says "you're not my dad/father/parent!" To Bruce's face triggers his adoption instincts.

like those poor beavers with the water pipe

and while i’m on a self indulgent thing? i think that any of the kids calling Bruce “dad” changes his whole demeanor. it helps him know that whatever they’re talking about is serious.

hearing his name shouted across the house does nothing for him. a hundred people say his name all day, including his kids. whatever the situation is can be fixed.

but hearing “Dad!”, cried out in battle or screamed from the other room, has him rushing to their side. what is it love and i’m here you’re alright and shh i’ve got you

“Bruce, I need help” = can’t open this large jar, have a question about math homework, need someone to look at this case file for me

“Dad, I need help” = I am hurt. I am scared. I am in danger. I need you to make things better. I need you to protect me.

I love this idea! It's strangely both sweet and heartbreaking!

So.......today has been a day of arguably horrifying discoveries

Maybe in the main DC universe Mari could be with Jon Kent instead.

Jake and Mari meeting Damian for the first time

Jake: *watching Dick struggling to piggyback a 260+ lb man* Dad who is HE?!

Mari: Why're you carrying a man twice your size?!

Dick: *Wheezing but refusing to let go of his hold on Damian's legs* He's...he's my son...s-say "Hi, Damian."

Jake: I'm your son!

Mari: Jake's your son!

Dick: *gasping* Yes...but Damian's my first born."

Jake & Mari: *turning to look at Damian*

Damian: *looking back at them then turning his nose up and smirking*

Jake & Mari: *instantly activating their powers* This means war.

Dick: *jerking his head up* Wait-what?

--

Jake and Mari complaining to their Uncle Tim about Damian

Jake: You won't believe what he did! He hit me on the head with dad's eskrima!

Mari: He also punched me!

Tim: *snorting* Let me guess, he also stuck his tongue out at you two while Dad-DICK-wasn't looking?

Jake: Yeah! And then dad scolded all of us but when he was scolding me and Mari, Damian took dad's eskrima, put into his pocket-

Jake & Tim: *finishing together* -and mouthed "Mine."

Jake: Uncle Tim, you get it!!

Mari: *narrowing her eyes* speaking from experience?

Tim: *scowling at her*

Tim: .......hmm.

--

Tim and Jason forced to team up for a family mission

Tim: ...So I heard something interesting today.

Jason: Can we just shut up and work in silence so I can go home and eat and clean my guns in peace?

Tim: Jake and Mari told me they fought with Damian.

Jason: What? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! It must've been over Dick! It's the only thing that matters to that demon brat.

Tim: *smirking* yup. Remember when we fought over Dick?

Jason: Heh. I beat your ass. Good times, good times. I mean-what were we even fighting over, huh?

Tim: Liar, I totally won. And I know right? It's completely obvious-

Jason: Without a doubt-

Jason & Tim: *finishing confidently* I was Dick's favorite.

A ringing silence echoing in the batcave after that statement.

Tim: *smirk dropping* Did the pit wipe whatever brain you had managed to scrape by with? Dick obviously loved me more. He taught me how to analyze people, how to do laundry, and he even cooked for me! Me! He never cooks for anyone.

Jason: *sneering* And here I thought you were a detective but it turns out you were a "dumb-tective" instead. Has he ever gone skiing with you? Has he ever come up with a code-nickname for you like he did with "little wing" for me? Has he ever protected you from seeing seeing stuff cause he thought it wouldn't be appropriate?? Has he ever done that for you?

Tim: hE CALLS ME ALL THE TIME-HE LOVES ME MORE!!!

Jason: HE OPENS UP TO ME! IM THE ONE HE LOVES!

Tim: *screeching and lunging* I'LL BE SURE TO KNOCK YOUR BRAINS INTO PLACE!!

Jason: *grappling with him* AND I'LL MAKE SURE TO PUT YOURS BACK IN YOUR HEAD!!

*one hour later*

Jason & Tim: *Bloody, silent, and seething*

Tim: .....hey.

Jason: *gritting his teeth* what.

Tim: Did you and Bruce ever fight over who Dick loves more?

Jason: *mind exploding with memories of the two of them using sly, underhanded tricks to have Dick's attention for themself and sometimes even coming to blows over it* no. And I'm not the one who fought with a ten year old.

Tim: But you did.

Jason: You were thirteen.

Tim: No, I mean you and Damian fought.

Jason:

Tim: It's okay. I used to have a cold war with Bruce.

Jason: With Bruce? Why?

Tim: Because Bruce didn't want me but Dick did and Bruce is a possessive asshole who loves Dick but doesn't like sharing.

Jason: Damn. Yeah, that actually explains a lot. I'm still the favorite though.

Tim: *cracking his neck* You wanna go again?

Dick: *entering* Hey guys-woah, what's with the tension?

Jason: *Sidling up next to Dick and wrapping an arm around his shoulder* Nothin' Dickie. Heard your kiddies got into a fight.

Dick: *sighing* You heard already? It was a disaster. I'll tell you about it later. How're you doing, Tim? Everything okay, buddy?

Tim: *walking forward and grabbing Dick's hand* *furtively catching Jason's eye* Good Dick! I'm really glad you're back.

Dick: *immediately ruffling his hair and then Jason's* Awww! You're the sweetest. Both of you. I'm going to make sure the Bruce doesn't burn the kitchen down thinking he can suddenly cook in his old age.

Jason & Tim: *Turning to each other after Dick leaves* This means war.

Canon based

Dick is Tim's idol

Dick is Jason's idol

Dick teaching Tim panels I already posted before but here's him teaching Tim to fold laundry.

Dick protecting Jason's eyes from unsavory sights

Dick calling Jason Little Wing

Dick took Jason skiing when he was robin

Bruce being manipulative about wanting Dick back (another addition)

Jason is just like Bruce

And for fun XD

Absolutely love this!! However, if Jason was at the Circus, and I know that in some Continuity Tim is at the circus the day of. Imagine Tim meeting Jason day of, and none of them knowing this (That both Jason and Tim were there) until like years after Jason comes back. I'm just imagining the hilarity of like, all three of them meeting for the first time BEFORE EVER MEETING BRUCE. I don't know if that's funny to anyone else, and it doesn't work in any one continuity timeline, I just think it would be a hilarious idea for a story.

Sorry this is off topic from the original post, I just noticed the detail with Jason and it sparked ideas.

Dick's tacky Christmas sweater + giving a toast to Alfred instantly added three years to my life.

Merry Christmas in July