How and why John Blake should have been Dick Grayson

How and why John Blake should have been Dick Grayson

An orphan boy inspired by Bruce Wayne as a child who becomes a cop and ally in adulthood? John Blake was an unnecessary new character when he could have EASILY been a nolanized boy wonder.

Editorial Opinion
By Drittenz - Aug 01, 2012 04:08 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman

In The Dark Knight Rises, Chris Nolan understandably avoids giving Bruce Wayne a 10 year old ward to help him fight crime. This is understandable with the high priority placed on reason and realism. Nolan strives for purpose in his epic trilogy - WHY does scarecrow wear a mask? HOW does two face become obsessed with duality? WHY a bat costume? WHY adopt and train an orphaned child? I appreciate the nod to robin at the end, but frankly it seemed like an afterthought. How could Nolan all but ignore such a massive part of the cared crusader's mythology? Well, here's how I would have done it:

Before disappearing, Bruce Wayne had a vested interest in supporting orphaned children. Young Dick Grayson remembers meeting him once, remembers the hidden anger behind his eyes. A rage that burns in everylittle boy after losing everything he loves. He remembers that moment where he knew they were the same.Bruce inspired all the other orphans that ethey could do great things, even without parents. Dick was inspired by the Bat Man. He saw how Bruce took action against the world that robbed him and everything and vowed that when he grew up, he would do his part to rid gothic of crime. To be the Bat Man's greatest ally. Bit after the Dent Act passed, Bruce and the Bat disappeared, and Gotham City was left cured of its darkness. Dick later on joins the police force of the nearest crime infested city - Bludhaven. When Bane and his forces rise up, he immediately transfers back to Gotham.

The rest of the story can remain intact, even the final reveal of his name being Robin Richard Grayson. Other Easter she could be Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Stephen Brown named as other orphans in some way. Or mentioning the circus in some way, conversationally. Even some romantic link with Gordon's daughter to explain the expedient transfer, and add tension. What do you think? Is this an acceptable way to interpret the Bat Family in Nolan Universe? How about sequel with Nighttime and Barbara as Oracle?

Hayden Christensen Responds To BATMAN Rumors And Explains Why Darth Vader Would Beat Thanos
Related:

Hayden Christensen Responds To BATMAN Rumors And Explains Why Darth Vader Would Beat Thanos
Glen Powell Says He Has A Wild Take On BATMAN After Revealing Superhero Role He Missed Out On
Recommended For You:

Glen Powell Says He Has A "Wild Take" On BATMAN After Revealing Superhero Role He Missed Out On
DISCLAIMER: ComicBookMovie.com is protected under the DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) and... [MORE]

ComicBookMovie.com, and/or the user who contributed this post, may earn commissions or revenue through clicks or purchases made through any third-party links contained within the content above.

Do you have what it takes to write for us?
Want to contribute?
BarnaclePete
BarnaclePete - 8/1/2012, 4:23 PM
Cold have been Dick. Could have been Tim. Could have been Jason. Wouldn't have to change much of anything other than his name. But he's none of them. He's John Blake. I was not crazy about the Robin reveal, but it's so minor to the story. It really doesn't matter and does nothing to change the rest of the story.
Tainted87
Tainted87 - 8/1/2012, 4:32 PM
I think it's funny how Nolan and Bale and pretty much everyone involved in the movies has said that THEIR BATMAN doesn't belong in a shared universe where other superheroes are flying around, or doing their thing....

But this movie has such a strong supporting cast, it is ridiculous.

John Blake could have been just about anyone, from any Robin, to the Martian Manhunter, to Jim Corrigan... in fact, he was a better detective than Batman.

Likewise with Selina, just with a few minor changes.

Batman is so quick to partner up with people in the Dark Knight Rises, so quick to let go of his Batman identity altogether, that I really can't imagine why he wouldn't be able to work with another superhero.
Dignition
Dignition - 8/1/2012, 4:34 PM
He made it John Blake because people already knew who Dick Grayson was. Nolan wanted to keep it a surprise, that's why it was revealed at the end.
Drittenz
Drittenz - 8/1/2012, 5:38 PM
Really though, Dick became a cop and Nightwing in Bludhaven, and would have worked much better than the other robins, their stories overlap pretty nicely from a fan perspective. Call him john Blake and have the big reveal be his name is Dick Grayson...it just seems ridiculous to create a new character for no reason who is so close to an existing one.
Drittenz
Drittenz - 8/1/2012, 5:40 PM
I think having him as a returning Gothamite would have made his promotion more dynamic and brought some more tension to his interaction with others...especially if he had a past relationship with Gordon's daughter :)
ironpool007
ironpool007 - 8/1/2012, 5:48 PM
He seemed like a good mix of Dick Grayson and Tim Drake, so I am not too bothered by it.
golden123
golden123 - 8/1/2012, 5:54 PM
I see the how, but where is the why?
RidiculousFanBoyDemands
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 8/1/2012, 6:23 PM
Two Faced wasn't obsessed with duality in The Dark Knight, and the Scarecrow only wears a mask when people have succumb to his fear toxin. In TDK and at the end of the Begins he became a crazy person so it fits his persona to wear it then.

The movie was meant to finish Bruce Wayne's STORY. Shoehorning another hero with a back story didn't make any sense, and if you re watch the movie again he basically does everything Robin would have done. He just doesn't wear a mask. I was very satisfied with Nolan's take on Robin and the Lazarus Pit.
RidiculousFanBoyDemands
RidiculousFanBoyDemands - 8/1/2012, 6:24 PM
Now the next trilogy can do it in a more comic book way. Nolan did a great job on his interpretation and I am eager to see how the character is translated to film next.
StormLoganSummers
StormLoganSummers - 8/1/2012, 7:41 PM
*to rid gothic of crime.
o6untouchable
o6untouchable - 8/1/2012, 8:26 PM
@Dignition "He made it John Blake because people already knew who Dick Grayson was. Nolan wanted to keep it a surprise, that's why it was revealed at the end."

Ding-ding-ding! Got it in one, pretty much.

As a bonus thought, I think the "Boy Wonder" aspect was part of the reason, too. If it had actually been Dick Grayson, we'd probably have a whole host of people on here raging about the fact that he wasn't actually Bruce's sidekick at any point, he was already a child when he got into crimefighting, and so on. It seems to me like Nolan amalgamated all of the Robin characters into one super-Robin.

Sure, the Robin reveal wasn't necessary - it was a cheeky wink at the fans, I guess. But then, quite a lot of the stuff in TDKR was unnecessarily crammed in there (presumably as fan service), so it sorta fit with the theme. :P
Drittenz
Drittenz - 8/1/2012, 9:28 PM
Dent wasn't obsessed with duality, but as Two Face he left the big decisions up to fate, flipping that coin :) and the fact that Crane wore his mask for a specific PURPOSE was Kindof my point. There was no reason for Bruce to need a child sidekick, but there are certainly better ways to interpret the character than some dude who turns out to be named Robin.
queeninthenorth
queeninthenorth - 8/1/2012, 11:40 PM
Simple reason why is because Bale had it stipulated in his contract that he will not do the trilogy if Robin was anywhere near the series - and Nolan accommodated this because he wanted Bale so bad. Smart move, IMO. It's called The Dark Knight trilogy for a reason. I am though, giddy with excitement at the thought of a Nightwing movie. Doesn't have to be a trilogy - just something with another DC Comic book character other than Superman and Batman would be awesome.
IronSpider101
IronSpider101 - 8/2/2012, 12:04 AM
I actually think that it's just ridiculous how big a deal fans are making of it.

It was a little nod at the end of the movie. That's it. It's not going to continue from now. What happens afterward is for you to decide. It wasn't meant to be a big deal.
IronSpider101
IronSpider101 - 8/2/2012, 12:09 AM
Hell, I remember seeing this opening night.

Not two seconds after the credits began, two guys in theatre started arguing about whether or not he was Robin or Batman. Like GOD DAMN IT, the movie hasn't been over for 5 seconds and you're already arguing about stupid shit.

It's a wink. It's a wink and that's it. That's all it was ever intended to be and that's all it's ever going to be.
googleplex
googleplex - 8/2/2012, 8:08 AM
@ironspider101, exactly. just to think people were complaining that nolan doesn't put in more easter eggs in his movies and this is why. he makes one reference to robin and all of a sudden people get into hulk rage.
gastitdk
gastitdk - 8/2/2012, 11:49 AM
Actually I see more Tim Drake elements in John Blake. In A Lonely Place OF Dying, Tim goes to Wayne Manor, confronts Dick and Alfred while Batman is after Two-Face, and tells him that he knew that Bruce was Batman and Dick was Robin, just like Blake in the movie goes to the Manor and tells Wayne that he knew all along that he was Batman.
iamtheknight
iamtheknight - 8/2/2012, 1:22 PM
i think nolan should have added robin in the nolanverse and make him dark or nightwing chris bale is being a diva and a drama queen hasn't he ever read the comics robin is a big part of the batman mythos and nightwing that would been cool a scene with nightwing would go something like this "so dick if u ever feel like hiding your identitiy at times i have some spare suits and parts i dont use" "really bruce u know i might just take u up on that but im thinking of something w/o cape and more skin tight and really flexible just saying and also a motorbike love em" "alright we can work something out" "oh and weapons i like to stick with the old cop habit eletrical billy clubs reminnscent of u and me"
RedHeadBruno
RedHeadBruno - 8/3/2012, 6:02 AM
Shoulda been Damian, that would have been a better reveal then Robin
Related Headlines
Latest Headlines

Hot Headlines Hot Headlines

Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Anime & Manga

Gaming

Horror

Cartoons & Animated Features

Action Movies & TV

Pro Wrestling & MMA News
View Recorder