Ok, for those who are new to Sladick, ik that the apprentice arc from teen titans is essential watching, but if I were to pick a second most important essential reading, I would pick volume 2 issue 80 Nightwing (Devin Grayson 2003). Hoooooly shit, the amount of tension and subtle language used to convey a very complex relationship truly sends me.
Starting with the last panel of the previous issue:
I understand that Slade can be a creepy stalker to everyone, but there’s something about this specific interaction that gets me. Slade using the name “Nightwing”, instead of Dick’s name while he’s in his civvies. It could be a subtle threat, reminding the audience that he knows his secret identity, but it could also be a sign of respect— acknowledging his more important vigilante identity.
AND I CAN NEVER NOT TALK ABOUT THIS MOMENT. Bodily lifting him, no effort required. DICK ISNT EVEN FIGHTING TO GET OUT OF HIS HOLD, He knows this isn’t the fight, he knows Slade’s just fucking with him for the moment— moreover, he knows Slade’s comment is actually somewhat genuine. Slade doesn’t want to kill him, which is confirmed again and again over the next 3 pages.
Respect. Doesn’t want to kill him.
Respect. Doesn’t want to kill him.
Also, he’s getting dressed in the same fucking room?? Middle of the convo?? Bickering couple much??
And Dick can’t bring himself to drag his friends into this battle, because he’s scared they would inconvenience him in the heat of the moment, but also because Dick wants Slade all to himself. In his special, Grayson-brand Masochistic Tendencies, he can’t bring himself to ask for help up against his Villain of all Time.
On this page, it’s the fact that Slade expects anything from him at all. If Slade didn’t give a fuck, Dick would be like a fly in his ear— annoying and worthless, but Dick does matter to him. Slade carries a lot of the same expectations that Bruce does, and similarly he gets disappointed when Dick doesn’t meet them.
Also, it’s shit like this that makes the fandom convinced that Dick secretly had an appreciate arc with Slade in the comics.