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Nightwing #88 demonstrates how Batman’s best protege is using his newly acquired fortune in ways that honor his real father figure.
WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Nightwing #88, on sale now from DC Comics.
Dick Grayson, aka the vigilante/hero Nightwing, has recently come into a fortune as the beneficiary of Alfred Pennyworth’s estate. In Nightwing #88 (by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Adriano Lucas, and AndWorld Design), Dick opts to use his money to shelter the homeless citizens of Bludhaven by creating a philanthropic foundation in Alfred’s name.
Aside from the good work that he is doing with his newly acquired fortune, this also allows the former Batman sidekick to pursue a more independent direction while simultaneously highlighting just how much the Wayne family butler meant to him.
Nightwing has always been one of DC’s most selfless heroes. He is the first to jump into the line of fire to save others, even total strangers. So, it’s really no surprise that his first thoughts when acquiring the money weren’t about what he could do for himself, but rather of how he could use it to help others. To him, this money was the last gift of a man who was possibly more of a father figure to him than even Bruce Wayne. This wasn’t a gift he would dare to squander on material things, and the young hero knew in his heart that it had to be used for a greater purpose than himself.
This is a sign of just how much Alfred impacted Dick’s personal growth. Batman may have taught him how to be an effective fighter, but Alfred was the more stable parental figure of the two and made sure to nurture Dick’s caring nature. In his absence, Grayson has chosen to honor his surrogate father, extending the kindness he was shown as a child out into the world.
On another note, Alfred also probably gave this money to Dick because he was the best suited to utilize it. At the time, Bruce Wayne was still a billionaire, so the secret fortune Alfred had would mean little to him. Dick, on the other hand, would find a positive use for the money and bring honor to the Pennyworth name. Alfred leaving his fortune to Grayson is a declaration of how proud he has always been of Dick, as well as a showing of great trust.
On a slightly less important note, the fortune left to Grayson could have also been Alfred’s way of pushing Dick to become more independent. While he undoubtedly loved Dick as a son and was happy whenever he came back to Gotham, he also understood how much the former Robin wanted to be his own man. This inheritance is no doubt Alfred’s way of helping Dick find the independence he’s always wanted and in doing so, nudge him a little further along in using his new superpower to do the most good in the world.
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