Does any one see...

[Batgirl]

Ok, I've been reading several issues now of Nightwing and just recently a few the Gotham Knight comics (btw, the one I just saw happened to be the one where Dick becomes Bruce's legal heir, thanks DG, that issue is totally cool, esp the end!) Any way, I've noticed that two particular characters have gotten VERY close (two of my favorites). Does any one think that maybe, just MAYBE the DC world, more specifically Batman's world, is about to change in a major way. Just out of curiousity, does any one think that Babs and Dick are leaning towards... I dunno, marriage? It seems to me that maybe the writer's are hinting at it. Epsecially since both are talking about how their relationship has "evolved". As for my personal opinion, I'd love to see them tye the knot. Any who, just thought I'd put it up for discussion and see what everyone else thought.

[Beyond Batman]

Batgirl, have you read the officer down series? If not, and you don't want to be spoiled, here are a few of my observations tying in with what you just posted.

Since Gordon was shot, and is no longer Commissioner, I'm wondering if Batman will reveal his secret identity. Can you imagine Batman unveiling his mask in front of Gordon, "Surprise, I'm Batman!" :D Think about it. If Babs and Dick got married, wouldn't it be a little close for comfort for Gordon, knowing how closely tied Bruce, Dick, and Babs are?

See, here's the degree's of seperation if Babs and Dick tied the knot. Dick is Bruce's heir and Babs is Dick's wife. Now that Gordon has free time on his hands no longer being Commissioner, wouldn't it be perfect to let him in on the Bat family? Technically, Bruce and Gordon would be inlaws.

[James Harvey]

The marriage of Dick and Babs would make for one helluva Nightwing #100 issue! I think this relationship is gonna get harder, and maybe even into Scott Summers/Jean Grey territory. I think it would be great if they got married. As for Gordon, I think he knows, and has known for while. Like Batman, Gordon's a detective. H emustive figure dit out by now, if he wanted to.

[Nightwing]

This is going to sound so strange, after so long....but I think I'm actually getting used to the tragic ending between Bruce, Dick, and Barbara! The only exception being where Bruce and Barbara would get together, of course. But anyway....

I think a timeline consisting of:
-Dick is Robin
-Dick is Nightwing angry at Bruce
-Dick is Nightwing back together with Bruce
-Dick is angry at Bruce leaving his side forever

really shows us what type of character Batman is, and what it's done to Bruce. Believe me, I'm as shocked as you at this post, because I wanted Bruce and Dick to remain friends. But it would show just how much of a spell the Batman persona has over Bruce. It turned him into a manipulative, bitter man, because of how rotten the world is. And he's the only one who can work to change it.

Now, there's still a part of me that wants the tide to be slightly different, in that his end shows him that helping people is what's most important and rewarding, but I now understand how the darker side could work.

Part of what changed my mind about this was reading SilentBob's fanfic, "Canon in D", a prequal to ROTJ, and it's flashback scene. I really liked how he did Nightwing.

[SilentBob173]

I've never been able to accept anything but the reality where everything ends poorly for the bat family. I could never accept a continuity where Bruce retires, and Dick takes his place, Dick and Barbara tie the knot, and have a kid (the new Robin), and Tim Drake retires and raises sheep.

If Dick and Babs got married and lived happily ever after, that'd just be plain bad stroytelling. I've always viewed the Batman alliance as being a curse, something holy tragedy filled and episodic has to happen to them in order for them to get in the club, and for years later the entire time the do what they do, they are tortured by their inner demons for revenge. You have to admit to just how repetitive and annoying the Batman plot can be, but we've all learned to live with it.

To me, there is no way that Dick and Bruce would not end up at eachother's throats. It just wouldn't be good writing. It would neat and clean for things to go as planned. When things go according to plan, that's just crap] writing. Nothing should ever go completley as the characters previously percieved.

There's far more to being a Superhero than running around in tights and busting supervillains bent on world domination. Things happen to them, and once they choose their line of work, then they are on a crash course for the rest of their life that there is almost no chance of it ending up wrapped in a neat package.

I'll give you a quote from the character Rorschach from the world renouned book, WATCHMEN:

"A life of conflict with no time for friends, so that when it's done, only our enemies leave roses. Violent lives, ending violently... We never die in bed. Not allowed, Something in our personalities, perhaps? Some animal urge to fight and struggle, making us what we are? Unimportant. We do what we have to do. Others bury their heads between the swollen teats of indulgence and gratification, plglets squirming beneath a sow for shelter, but there is no shelter, and the future is bearing down like an express train."

In conclusion, in my opinion, Dick and Babs should not marry. Ever.

Cheers.
Jason S