#dc raptor

[kelaeri]

"Nightwing isn't *really* Romani. It was only mentioned in one or two issues and then basically never again." ... Seriously?

I can only imagine this kind of statement comes from people who don't actually read Nightwing comics. But for all the deniers out there...

Nightwing (Vol. 2) Annual #1 (1997)

The Titans #16 (2000)

Batman: Gotham Knights #20-21 (2001)

Nightwing (Vol. 2) #91 & #100 (2004)

Batman & Robin (Vol. 1) #9 (2010)*

Secret Origins (Vol. 4) #8 (2014)

Nightwing (Vol. 4) #8 (2016)**

Nightwing (Vol. 4) #82 (2021)

Friendly reminder that Romani people-- not to mention mixed Romani-- can have a huge range of skin tones, including light or 'white-passing' as we so often see with Dick. His father was alluded to being of Italian-Romani descent in Post-Crisis and New 52, and his mother was stated to be a French-Romani immigrant in Rebirth. It's unclear whether his father being Rom is still canon with the whole Gray Son of Gotham thing, but it's entirely possible it is, leaving the safe assumption that Dick is somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 Romani.

*His "barely decipherable accent" could simply be due to the fact Dick was raised surrounded by many people with all kinds of accents so he didn't learn a definitive one (think not Gothamite, Midwestern, etc. but a blend) or this could be Grant Morrison attempting a nod at his Roma heritage without really considering Dick did, in fact, grow up speaking fluent English rather than purely a Romani dialect which wouldn't be surprising considering their writing of other minority characters (*cough* Talia). Given this would be a strange comment to make of an otherwise white American character, I'm inclined to believe the latter assumption.

**The Cirque Romanès is a real French-Romani circus Mary Grayson and Raptor were canonically part of. For extra clarity, however, Tim Seeley confirmed on Twitter that Mary is indeed Romani.

[malfiora]

Jason's gonna lose his shit when he learns about what Raptor told Dick about Mary Grayson. Breaking into rich guys' houses to steal their shit to redistribute the wealth? Yeah, he's so into that and prays to God everyday Dick inherited that.

[vodrae]

In a dark alley in Bludhaven, an out of her wheelchair Barbara is trying to patch Nightwing, guts only half inside and a Red Hood in no better shape.

A new vigilante who came out of nowhere to fight Raptor. He was as numbed than Raptor if not even more.

"Nightwing...Or Dick should I say...And Barbara...

Barbara is clenching her fist so hard on Dick's sticks her fingers are white.

"I don't need a partner." He says

"I don't need a friend..." Heavy breathing can be heard as he lift his helmet.

"I need my older brother and sister !"

Jason says with his eyes filled with tears.

Barbara crawls to him as Jason lift her out of the ground to hold her the thightest he could. Repressing his sobs back in his throats.

"Little wing... Is that really you?"" Dick whispers when Jason kneels next to him, holing his hand against his cheek.

"Let's go home." Jason says, pulling Nightwing out of the ground, walking aside of Barbara back in her chair.

[captainlordauditor]

Starting out spooky month with the pumpkin Talon, Raptor

[malfiora]

Dick Grayson headcanon

To set up for really stupid jokes, very cool references, and super deep cuts I want to make later:

He is both Romanian and Romani. (Yes, I learned only eight months ago that these words are false cognates of each other, and yes I am doubling down on my ignorance rather than admitting fault and moving on.) Here's how it works:

Mary (nee Lloyd) Grayson is Romani. She grew up in central/western Europe, traveling with her family and the circus.

John Grayson is of Gaelic descent and his family split and moved out of Ireland/Scotland – some went to the United States (settling in and near Gotham; this is documented by the Court of Owls), while others traveled east to Romania. This is where he meets Mary. This Gaelic lineage plays out in two ways: one, the surname Grayson derives from Middle English, and two, people of Gaelic descent often had dark hair and blue/violet eyes (as opposed to later Ires who are associated with red hair and green eyes).

Why this matters (to me):

We get to retain Dick's Romani identity and highlight a connection between the Romani people and Romania. For example, this fact that I love: The lăutari who perform at traditional Romanian weddings are virtually all Romani (Wikipedia). Romania is the country that has also the fourth largest Romani population.

We see this bear out in the comics a bit. We get Mary's backstory through Raptor in Nightwing (2016), and we get Dick being set up as a Dracula stand-in in DC vs. Vampires. See below (For context, Dracula is based on real-life Romanian ruler Vlad III, nicknamed Vlad the Impaler for his tendency to put his enemies' heads on spikes. Did I intentionally choose a panel of Dick impaling Bruce's chest with his fist because of this? Yes, yes I did.)

(And here's another tangent to underscore the ties that the Romani people have to Romania – in both Dracula and Nosferatu, the Romani are the ones who try to warn the main characters not to go to the castle because they know it's evil.)

[Rebirth] Nightwing (2016) #1

Text:

Raptor (narrating): She was young and full of fire. She didn't trust authority. Didn't trust anyone who thought there was more to life than jumping off something high and laughing. We went to the Hotel De Ville. We found what they'd been hiding there behind toothy smiles and empty promises. Vials of antibiotics and inoculation intended to be distributed to the poor unfortunates in the Cirque Romanes. We took what was ours. And then went to the mayor's home and took whatever else we wanted. She said he owed us. She said it was justice.

Raptor: I wasn't one to make oaths. But I made one that day. To her. To Marie the Skydancer. Mary Lloyd. Thief. Outlaw. Your mom.

DC vs. Vampires #6

Text:

Batman: [pained noise]

Nightwing: I think it's time we both stopped lying to our family, Father.

---

And we get to highlight cultural hallmarks (hopefully without stereotyping) from both communities. For example, Dick being a world-class gymnast makes a lot more sense when we remember that Romania consistently takes home gold medals for gymnastics; it is the country's top sport.

All of this to say:

This is how my brain makes sense of two seemingly contradictory pieces of information: the Grayson lineage being connected to Gotham as told in 2011 Nightwing versus Mary's backstory as told in 2016 Nightwing. While these are different canons, combining them actually makes Dick's identity more rich and realistic.

And of course I have to save face and say that in my jaydick fic Tongue Tied, I very intentionally made Dick a Romanian language instructor. (This is the first time I get to explain the rationale behind that – better late than never?)

[malfiora]

Dick Grayson and his soulmates

Source

The Friend: Donna

The best friend. The one you met and instantly knew that the two of you would become lifelong friends because it already feels like you've been friends your entire life. The one you can talk to for hours and who always has your back because they often understand you better than you do.

The Wrecking Ball: Jason

The one who rocks the boat. The one who changes your perspective, challenges you to think about your life and your plans. The one who comes in like a hurricane of love and passion. One that you willingly get swept up in because you've never felt such a rush. But just as the storm passes, leaving behind nothing but debris so does this soulmate. The only difference is you grow into a different person using the remnants of the relationship as a foundation.

The Lover: Koriand'r

The one who makes their way into your life to teach you something that will be valuable later on in life. The first love, a hidden affair, or just a passionate friend-with-benefits. The one who grows slowly with you and builds into something significant over time. And because you both taught each other so much, your bond will not dissipate anytime soon. These soulmates often stay friends for quite some time.

The Stranger: Raptor

The one you typically meet randomly on a flight, on a bus ride, at a party, or just walking down the street. You'll immediately feel as though you recognize this person, even if you can't remember from where. The one you've met in your past life. While your interaction with each other is brief, you both have words of wisdom the other person needs to hear. Whether it's validation or a nudge in the right direction, it's always intimate.

The Divine Love: Barbara

The one.

The culmination of every other soulmate listed above. Instantly recognizing one another, feeling like you've known them forever, the compassionate friendship, and, of course, the deeply passionate, miraculous kind of love you've never experienced before.

[lady-hammerlock]

Have a quick sketchy Raptor, because I’m super loving him as a villain and his weird, complicated relationship with Dick. Congratulations Nightwing on finally having a worthy nemesis!