Dick Grayson was trained intensively by Batman before he was allowed into the field as Robin. However, the boy who would become Nightwing studied far more than combat and deduction. He was taught other lessons by Alfred Pennyworth, which helped him do far more to save lives than throw punches.
Nightwing #109 by Tom Taylor and Stephen Byrne continues the saga of Captain Beatrice Blüd. A former girlfriend of Dick Grayson and heir to the pirate who founded Blüdhaven, Beatrice was fatally wounded in a battle with her sinister half-brother. Thrown overboard and bleeding out, this left Dick Grayson with little time to save her life. Thankfully, the tutelage of Alfred Pennyworth saved the day when the lessons of Bruce Wayne could not.
Alfred trained Nightwing as a combat medic
A flashback to Dick Grayson’s early days as Robin reveals that Alfred Pennyworth took care to give him some medical training. Using a pig, Alfred taught the young hero how to treat multiple injuries, starting with sewing a wound. Alfred recognized that this was a lot to throw upon a young boy. However, he also felt it would be irresponsible to allow Dick to work with Batman without teaching him something about how to save a life directly.
Alfred’s lessons were apparently well-absorbed. Nightwing is able to treat Captain Blüd’s injuries, determining that the sword that stabbed her “missed everything you’d want him to miss.” Despite extensive blood loss, Dick was sure she would recover in time.
Beyond clearly taking Alfred’s training to heart, Dick directly expresses his high regard for Alfred. While talking of his family, he makes reference to “the two men who became my fathers.” This is a clear nod to both Batman and Alfred, who both made Nightwing into the hero he is now.
Nightwing #109 is now available at comic shops everywhere.
