The New Teen Titans part Twenty Six ... Richard Grayson, A New Hero is Born of Kryptionian Heritage

Last time we left Dick Grayson coming to terms that not only had the woman he loved along with his closest friends had been kidnapped by the mercenary and assassin  Deathstroke The Terminator. Dick's had had his own life turned upside down by a the ex wife of the said kidnapper breaking into Titans Tower announcing  that she knew his greatest secret. The secret that He was or had been the Hero Robin was known to very few outside the Super Hero Community . The fact that Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke was working for the secret organisation HIVE was also a shock as was the fact that Wilson was only doing this to settle a contract that had originally been undertaken by the now deceased Ravager , Adeline's other son Grant.

Adeline had informed Dick that she had little love for her former husband after his passed cavalier attitude to her or their sons. And was responsible for blinding him many years ago.

Adeline Kane had offered to help him track down and save his friends, and although Dick had tried his best to say that she was mistaken  that he was or had been the Boy Wonder, he knew that he needed her help and would have to put trust in her and with that her silent son Joseph Wilson.

As Dick was no longer Robin, as that mantle had now been passed onto another, he knew he could not risk taking on Deathstroke or his employers as himself. Dick Grayson needed as disguise.

Retiring to his quarters in the Titans Tower, thoughts of what had happened ran through his mind. Was Kory, Donna, Raven, Gar and Victor still alive ? Was Wally safe ?  Did Terra play a part in this ? or was she innocent of deception and betrayal ? Could be depend on asking Batman for assistance ?  Was he now to pre occupied in training Jason Todd, Dick's replacement ? Had Slade Wilson told anyone else of his secret identity ? If so what would happen to Bruce ? Was this the end of the Titans ?

Trying to make sense of what was happening to him.

As these thoughts flooded through his head, he reached under his bed and pulled out a locked trunk. inside was something that may help at least help equip him for the task ahead of him.

Opening the case he gazed inside.

A box full of memories of the past, and memories in the making.

There were many things and memories of his past life. A torn and faded Photograph of his late Parents and him on the day of their Murder, Some of his own Bat-arangs, and weapons he had used in his former life, There was a Press clipping on his debut as The Boy Wonder. There was a letter from Alfred, the closes thing Dick had a a Grandfather. There was a picture of his friend Kal-el and his best Pal Jimmy Olsen during one of their adventures in the Bottled City of Kandor. And two symbols a gift from the same Kal-el, who had inspired him to look to his own future. To become his own Hero.

Along with all these memories of the past, was a strange garment, a colourful costume. Maybe NOT as bright and colourful as his Robin uniform, but A New and unworn Costume more in keeping with the way Dick wished his future to move, A costume that was to be a very big part in Dick's future.   Dick Grayson was no longer Robin the Junior partner of the Dark Knight Batman. He needed a new identity, he needed to make a name for him self, and that name would be inspired from a Kryptonian legend, told to him by Superman himself, that itself had been inspired from his mentor Batman and his own as Robin escapades. Something old, something new, something borrowed and something BLUE. . This was something that he had not even shared with his beloved Kory.




Where his Robin identity had been inspired by the Legend of Robin Hood, and his look a nod to his Circus Acrobatic Uniform, the idea and concept of the Boy Wonder had been Batman's.

Nightwing borrowed on the Look of the Batman, without the fussy Cape and Cowl. The Name was a nod to the Kryptionian Kandor Hero Nightwing, a Nome Du plume adopted by Superman on visits to the Bottled City.  ( For the history behind Nightwing & Flamebird see my previous posts about Kandor, Superman and Braniac.)

Nightwing and his inspiration

No more Red, Green and and a Gold Coloured Cape. No more pixie boots and bare legs. It was now Mix of Dark and Light Blue and a flash of yellow. Dick Grayson was no longer a boy wonder, he was now a man on a mission.

Dick Grayson a New Hero born from the legend of his own past.

Putting on the costume, Dick returned to the control room at the Tower and announced himself as NIGHTWING.

A NEW HERO IS BORN



However, This shock announcement was soon forgotten as yet another new Hero entered the fold.

Next Time we meet that new hero and the New Nightwing makes CONTACT with him !

Until then ENJOY !

THE NEW TEEN TITANS part Twenty Five Deathstroke's Past is revealed

Last time we learnt that Deathstroke along with Terra has managed to successfully capture all of the active Teen Titan's

Only by the skin of his teeth did the former Boy Wonder dick Grayson manage to avoid capture himself.

With Slade Wilson still looking for him, Dick  arrived at Titans Tower to find it in a mess. Putting together the clues he found, the Young detective worked out a battle had taken place at the Tower involving Terra and Raven. This added to the fact that all of the other Titans seemed also to have been abducted whilst at their own homes, lead Dick to realise that they too must have fallen foul of Deathstroke.

Dick knew who had attacked the Titans, but did not know why ? or that Terra had betrayed them.

As Dick started to make plans to locate the other Titans and rescue them a strange figure appeared from the shadows. It was a Woman, but who was she and what was she doing at Titans Tower.

As the figure stepped into the light Dick Grayson realised that he did not know who this person was, and further more who was the other person standing beside her.

The woman quickly introduced her self as Adeline Kane , and as the man behind her also stepped from the shadow introduced the other stranger as her son Joseph.

Unlike his Mother Joseph remained silent. Dick found this young man a mystery. On the outside he appeared calm and placid,  but his eyes appeared to tell a different story.

Adeline commenced to inform Dick Grayson that she knew who he was and why Deathstoke had attacked them, and his need to fulfil his late son Ravager contract with HIVE.  Dick told Adeline he knew who Ravager was and that Deathstroke was Wilson Slade...... but he was shocked to then learn that Adeline was in fact Slade's Wife and Mother of Ravager aka Grant Wilson....... and Joseph was also their son.

The news that Dick Grayson's secret identity was known by Deathstroke and his "Wife" was a worry to him. Not just the impact that would have on him, but the impact that would arise if the world got to find out this secret and his mentor Bruce Wayne's Dark Knight alter ego .

Dick tried to bluff his way around the subject of him being Robin, but he knew that Adeline was far too cleaver to believe any cover story he tried to invent.

Dick asked Adeline why should he trust her and her son, especially as they were related to Deathstroke, Adeline grabbed  ahold of the collar of Joseph's shirt and pulled it down.

This revealed a scar that went across Joseph's throat.  Adeline explained that Joseph had been hurt many years ago when Joseph was just a Young child,  by someone trying to get back at her husband, who by then had become the paid mercenary and assassin Deathstroke. Slade had refused to divulge information to the person who was threatening his son's life out of his own  mis judged loyalty to his assassins code. Adeline realised that Slade put his own needs and that of his Deathstroke The Terminator career above that of her children or herself.

The wound  did not kill Joseph, but resulted in him becoming mute as his vocal cords had been severed.  Out of rage for her husband allowing this to happen and casing both her and her family to be put in unnecessary danger, Adeline attempted to shot her husband Slade Wilson. If his enraged wife really meant to kill Slade is unknown, but the results of her actions would live with him for the rest of his life

The Original Deathstroke, a man on a mission.

THE TIME FOR TALKING WAS OVER. WHAT WAS NEEDED NOW WAS ACTION !

.


Years ago Slade Wilson, a man with no regard to anyone but himself. A Code of morality that did not include putting his family first or safe.




 

Taking Matters in her own Hands. Revenging her son.

The Bullet Hits its Mark.

DEATHSTROKE a stone cold Killer or a man with a mission.?

Only his enhanced reflexes avoided him being killed. However the bullet did manage to strike home, hitting Slade in the eye blinding him in his right eye. A wound that even his enhanced body could never repair or restore. His life forever changed. He had lost his Wife, his Children and his Eye. But he did not care, he had his career. He was Deathstroke the Terminator, what Else did he need.?

THE REVENGE OF A LOVING MOTHER AND A WRONGED WIFE



Adeline continued her story. with her marriage to Slade was over she tried her up most to make sure he had no further contact with her or her Children. However, her older son Grant would following in his father's foot steps and would join military school. He would later be co-opted by HIVE to dispose of the Teen Titans.  (details of this I have already covered) Adeline knew that although Grant's death was not Slade's fault, she realised that HIVE had used Grant to get Slade to do their bidding as if Slade had agreed initially to the contract, her older son would not have been considered or experimented on. Unlike his younger Brother Joseph, Grant Wilson was born before Slade had agreed to undertake the Military experiments that would later grant him his enhanced abilities.

Still sceptical of how he was going to help free his team mates with the help of Adeline Kane, Dick decide to leave the company of this strange and embittered  woman and her silent Son, and retired to his room in Titan's Tower. He pondered  over the information he had received and what had happened in the hours before. He knew what he needed to do, reaching under his bed he pulled out a locked trunk.

Inside was hopefully a way to help save his friends.

Next time Dick Grayson transforms and Joseph Wilson makes CONTACT !

Until Then  ENJOY !