Childhood and early history Robin's origin and history begins the same as the classic version except the timeframe occurs when
Detective Comics #38 was originally printed in 1940. After his parents, the
Flying Graysons, are murdered, Dick confides in Batman. The hero advises him not to go to the police concerning what he overheard
Tony Zucco's men planning. Batman feels a kinship to the boy, a period of training ensues, and the young Dick Grayson becomes Robin. Robin participates in the war-time only
All-Star Squadron.
Silver Age History Eventually, Robin assumes Batman's position as
Gotham City's premier crime fighter. Unlike his Earth-One counterpart, who distances himself from his mentor's shadow when he adopts his
Nightwing persona, this version adopts a costume which mimics several elements of Batman's own uniform (including an insignia with an encircled "R" surrounded by two bat wings). While his younger doppelganger attends and then leaves college prematurely, Grayson pursues further education to attain his law degree. Eventually, he becomes a practicing attorney in the law firm that eventually becomes Cranston, Grayson and Wayne. Robin was initiated into the
Justice Society of America, assuming the membership vacated by Batman's retirement. During his tenure, he developed friendships with several members, most notably
Johnny Thunder, while developing some animosity towards
Hawkman who expressed reluctance towards his membership. Years later, Robin, along with his heroic colleagues, perished at the hands of the
Justice League due to the involvement of Earth-Prime resident turned supervillain
Cary Bates, however he was soon restored to life. After this experience he reverted to a variation of his traditional uniform's style and colors. During his post-Gotham City career, Grayson left Gotham to become the
United States Ambassador to South Africa during the mid-1970s while continuing his crime fighting career for a brief period in that country. His inclusion in the new Justice Society series, according to writer
Gerry Conway, "was a nod to the present". After his involvement with the Justice Society of America when the villains
Brainwave and
Per Degaton attempt to destroy the world at several key points including
China,
South Africa and
Seattle in the United States, he returns to Gotham City. Robin assists the Justice Society and Bruce's daughter
Huntress (Helena Wayne) in dealing with Bill Jensen, a white-collar criminal apprehended by Wayne having attained mystical abilities. Robin leaves Gotham after this incident, returning years later when the
Joker attacks several prominent Gothamites. At this point, he developed unexpressed feelings towards the Huntress, but left Gotham once more before pursuing them further. In the limited series
Crisis on Infinite Earths, the
multiverse is destroyed. Among the lost worlds is Earth-Two. Following this crisis Earth Two "never existed" and retroactively removed Earth-Two Robin from history, blending elements of his past with Earth-One, effectively creating a new modern continuity. Shortly afterward, Robin and Huntress are killed in battle with the
Anti-Monitor's shadow demons.
52 In the final issue of
52, a version of Earth-Two appears among the alternate universes after the multiverse is restored. This universe is similar to, yet distinct from, the original Earth-Two. The series
Justice Society (2008) confirms that the post-
Crisis Earth-2 is completely separate from the pre-
Crisis Earth-Two. In the new Earth-Two, Bruce Wayne was killed by the Joker and Dick Grayson and Helena Wayne had mutual feelings for each other. == Other versions ==