Nightwing and Red Hood Part 2

Continuing from the first part I'm only addressing the RHATO Annual #1 from the second volume.

One thing that struck me right away was how impatient Dick is in getting Jason to tell him why he wants him there. Jason has never asked for help before yet Dick seems to need this spelled out to him.

Honestly it's awkward for them both and Dick has no idea how to process it. He never had the close relationship with Jason that he has with their other brothers. Dick isn't used to Jason asking for help and seems to get annoyed. Small wonder when he probably expected the worse. Jason doesn't know how to properly ask to hang out, admit he does care or really communicate beyond the premise of the mission. He's been so involved in crime fighting that normal stuff sometimes makes him unsure of himself. (*1) Artemis sees they both want to bond but the possibility of Dick rejecting the offer has Jason giving up.

Dick is harder to figure out, I think he got why Jason wanted him there but he needed confirmation. He makes excuses not to be there that don't really hold much weight to them. Like Dick offering to get the Titans to help which doesn't work with Jason's request. First of all we don't know if Roy and Jason are even speaking to each other. If Dick means the whole team that's overkill. Jason specifically asks for Dick because he wants to bond but beyond that Dick is the one with circus experience.

The miscommunication was shown nicely when Dick actually compliments Jason on his plan but refers to them as amateurs which Jason gets defensive about. Their situation is so bad the two don't actually spend most of the Annual talking to each other. Dick voices their problems and history with Artemis. Half because she wants to know but mostly to express what he's feeling since he can't directly address it to Jason.

Flippty Flop the clown is Jason's joke on Dick but it's really not that bad. Dick just has to wear a silly clown suit and still gets to use his acrobatic skills. I saw one site say it was amazing that Dick comes up with an act so suddenly. It is but it looks like Dick has from the end of the first day to the next night to put something together. He doesn't seemed worried which makes me think it's really not that hard of a request. When Jason presents the costume Dick doesn't even seem that upset just a little exasperated and amused.

Now I didn't know how to interpret the campfire scene at first because Lobdell said he wasn't making Jason and Artemis a couple. Given the way the scene plays out this first confused and angered me because that context made Dick look bad. But we have confirmation from RHATO #19 vol.2 that Jason at least is attracted to Artemis which makes the scene make more sense. (*2) Dick is actually multi-tasking during this conversation. He's a social creature by nature that is getting to know Jason's friends to avoid the awkwardness of trying to be direct with his adopted brother. He does this while talking up Jason. Dick does the standard big sibling embarrassing little sibling bit. While this happens he also seems to gauge Jason's reactions to make a deduction: Jason has a thing for Artemis.

Note that Dick never actually makes a pass on her nor does she flirt with him once their alone. Dick does play along a little when they leave but the first thing he asks is what her relationship status is with Jason. I don't know if I mentioned this before but I like what this scene says about Dick. It's reminds me of Roy asking Kori basically the same thing in the first issue of the first volume. Roy was less tactful and asked if Kori was Jason's girl. He meant it in more of an endearing way (*3) but for someone with Kori's background it sounded possessive.

Dick hesitates and considers his wording. He has no idea what either Jason or her would call it even if they were an item. Given what we know of Jason's past he hasn't dated before he died which means Dick never saw that part of his brother's life. If this was Roy meeting Artemis he might directly ask Jason about it. Dick pointedly doesn't because he doesn't know how Jason would react and can't risk their strained relationship over it. I think he assumes Artemis' answer means she likes Jason too but can't seem to make that connection. Otherwise his "out of his league" reply is a jerky thing to say. I saw it as Dick saying that to comfort her because he's not the type of person to be cruel.

He never discusses himself unless it's in relation to his shared past with Jason. Neither brother has much hope of ever having a strong bond and think it might be too late. There a very understated moment where Jason get a lead after everyone has left his side at the campfire. I haven't seen anyone discuss his reaction and how it relates to the scene with them sharing a trailer. Basically Jason has to take his team to a potential trap while Dick is performing. Does Jason inform him? After he got jealous about Artemis and Dick he might not want to say anything. By revealing the information he's trusting Dick to be there for him. And Dick does arrive to help the team take on Beast. Sure it didn't amount to much in the fight but showed that he'd be there for Jason when he needed him.

In the end Dick does admit to his faults as a big brother and recognizes Jason's strengths. Jason forgives him and is willing to move on. It's not perfect but it's a start at building a better brotherhood.



*1 As seen on his dates and his lack of real social interaction with normal people that aren't involved in heroics/villainy. Jason's also shown to be less vocal and at times more uncomfortable around men where he's usually more open around women. Ex. How he instantly bonded with Kori but he was more closed off with Roy even though they used to get along okay.

*2 If Jason didn't like her then he wouldn't go on what he thought was a date. He wouldn't have allowed himself to be vulnerable by telling her about his lack of dating history. And he wouldn't be upset when he learns it wasn't a date.

*3 Roy doesn't mean it in a possessive way per se just in a "you got a romantic and/or sexual thing going on" kind of way. Later on in the first series Roy says Kori is his girl even though he believes he's just her "boy toy" at the time.