When Chuck Dixon launched Nightwing in 1996, it quickly became clear that he had a goal in mind for developing a romance. The previously platonic relationship between Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon rapidly became a romantic one. After Dixon left Nightwing and Birds of Prey, future writers continued to push the relationship.
Unfortunately, the relationship between Dick and Barbara wouldn't just be explored in the present. It was also subject to a variety of retcons, each designed to rewrite the history of the two characters and turn them into some sort of grand love affair. However, the constant retcons, ignorance of the characters' histories, and disrespect paid to other characters make Dick/Babs Nightwing's worst relationship.
10 To Portray Babs As The Love Of Dick's Life, They Make Dick Into A Cheater
The beginning pages of Nightwing Annual #2 (2007) depict Dick confessing how madly in love he is with Barbara. The rest of the book is a complete retcon of their histories together, proving they're not just in love in the present, but have been since the days when they were Batgirl and Robin.
The book also depicts Dick showing up the night before he's supposed to marry Starfire and spending the night with Babs. Not only does he cheat on Kory, but Dick also gives Babs an invitation to his wedding after they spend the night together. This annual completely destroys Dick's integrity, all to build a tale of how madly in love he's supposed to be with Babs.
9 Barbara Is De-aged And Her History Erased So She Can Be Paired With Dick
Before Dick and Babs were written as soulmates, Barbara had been Batgirl, a Congresswoman, and a librarian. She'd also led the Birds of Prey and had worked with Amanda Waller. Barbara originally said of Dick, a man seven years younger than herself, that, "He's too young" and, "My mind is only on Batman."
But when they become a couple, Dick Grayson is supposed to be in his early twenties. So, to be perfect for Dick, Babs is de-aged, the questionable age gap between them is erased, and many of her accomplishments are removed from her history. She's no longer the older woman she should be, and her characterization and history are sacrificed for a retconned love story.
8 Black Women Have Repeatedly Been Used As Place Holders And Disregarded To Support Dick And Babs
Working deeply undercover for the spy organization, Spyral, Dick begins to form a relationship with Helena Bertinelli, who's a Black woman. The two break up after the story states that Babs is the only woman Dick has ever loved.
After Dick is shot in the head and no longer Nightwing, he falls in love with Bea Bennet, a kind, generous, and supportive Black community activist. The story forces Bea to compete with Babs in a love triangle for Dick's affection. Bea is quickly discarded when Nightwing makes a triumphant return because the "best" version of Nightwing decides to date Babs again. The use of Black women as simple placeholders and lesser love interests for the "perfect" white love interest is problematic at best.
7 Writers Keep Retconning Kory As Someone Dick Didn't Truly Love
In the original run of the New Teen Titans, Dick is madly in love with Koriand'r. They're deeply committed to one another and their desire to get married is a real one – interrupted only by exploding priests and demonic possessions.
Writers such as Chuck Dixon and Devin Grayson have tried to make Dick and Kory's relationship less significant and imply that Dick's relationship had only ever been a physical one. Tearing down both a well-loved character like Kory to prop up a retconned relationship shows the weakness of Dick and Babs.
6 The Dick/Babs Relationship Keeps Showing Up In Places It Doesn't Belong
There is no reason for the Dick/Babs relationship to show up in Teen Titans-related media. Yet, shows such as Young Justice and Titans keep forcing Barbara into Dick's life as a love interest during a time he should be in a relationship with someone else.
Even modern stories that have Dick and Babs together emphasize their relationship at inappropriate times. During DC vs. Vampires, Barry Allen – the father figure of one of Dick's closest friends – has died and the Justice League is infested with vampires, yet Dick and Babs still have time to flirt like teenagers. It makes them look like cold-hearted and incompetent heroes.
5 Barbara's Constant Jealousy Compromises Her Heroism
As Barbara puts together the Birds of Prey for the first time, she considers Starfire. When she decides not to include Starfire, the only reason Babs gives for not including Starfire is because she's Dick Grayson's ex-fiancée.
On another occasion, Babs contacts the Titans and has no problem talking to Victor Stone, but when Starfire asks a question, Babs hangs up on her – out of jealousy. Purposefully excluding one of the most powerful heroes in the DCU out of jealousy puts a negative mark on Oracle's heroism.
4 Barbara Does Not Respect Dick's Boundaries
The earliest issues of Chuck Dixon's Nightwing and Birds of Prey have Barbara constantly watching Dick on "the Grayson cam." The Grayson cam is a series of cameras that Babs has installed in Dick's residence in order to spy on him. The text makes it clear that she has the "Grayson cam" because she enjoys watching him in scantily clad attire. She does this without his permission.
More recent comics also have her ignoring his boundaries, whether it's something as simple as naming his dog or something as significant as calling in the Titans to do his job. The constant overriding of Dick's agency and decision-making would be signs of abuse if they were real people in a real relationship.
3 The Relationship Has Ableist Elements
When Dick and Babs break up in Nightwing (1996) #86, it's because Barbara can't handle Dick talking about their old days as Batgirl and Robin. It's completely tied up in her feelings about being in a wheelchair and no longer being able to be the Batgirl she once was.
When Tom Taylor once again puts Dick and Babs together during his run, Babs is no longer disabled. Conveniently, the two of them are also suddenly free of any relationship problems. Essentially, the only "obstacle" in their relationship seems to have been the fact that Babs was in a wheelchair – a storyline that's potentially offensive to those who enjoyed the representation Oracle brought them.
2 Dick/Babs Makes Nightwing Too Insular To The Batfamily
The New Teen Titans is one of the most successful comic book runs DC has ever had. The New Teen Titans allowed Nightwing to be a character who bridged the gap between the Bat Universe and the rest of the DC Universe.
When Dick is with Babs, he's no longer flying the universe with an alien princess and having children with her. Wally West, Roy Harper, and Donna Troy are no longer written to be his best friends – instead, it's suddenly Barbara Gordon. A Nightwing with such an insular character is merely a rewrite of Batman, which ruins Nightwing's potential.
1 Babs Is Part Of His Adoptive Family And Wears His Father's Symbol On Her Chest
In the original canon, Babs was 25 when Dick was 18. In the retconned version of the modern canon, they grow up together and Barbara is part of the "Bat-Family." She is also part of the Wayne Family Adventures, and every day, she wears the symbol of Dick's adoptive father on her chest.
At best, it's uncomfortable to see two members of the same "family" dating. DC is unlikely to publish a comic with Jason Todd dating Dick Grayson because they're part of the same family. Yet, Babs is also a part of that family, which is supposed to be acceptable.