Parallel Paths of Two Men - Each a Boy Wonder to the End

The Boys Wonder would not always be so... they would eventually have to grow up. As men, they would seek to venture outside the shadow of their mentors, the Batmen. Well, at least one of them did, the other relished in that relationship. And thus, a divergence in the lives of two twins named Richard Grayson born on parallel planets. While their early careers as two Robins mirrored each other in most essential ways, it was the decisions they made that charted courses that made them distinct from one another, and it is such distinctions which fascinate fans of the fictional Multiverse. In fact, it is perhaps these counterparts that offer the most in the way of both comparison and contrast, moreso than other heroes and villains residing on their distinct Earths.

For the golden age Robin of Earth-Two, his early manhood led him to university education which led him to a public face for his true passion, the pursuit of justice. Only as an attorney, who upon graduation from law school was welcomed into a firm that became known as Cranston and Grayson. At the same time, he was also continuing on his costumed career as the caped crusader, now known as the Ex-Boy Wonder. Eventually, he assumed the mantle, aside from the mask and monicker, of his master as he became Gotham City's new Darknight Detective... at the time Bruce Wayne retired into a life of leisure while raising daughter Helena alongside his wife Selina. Years later, he would be called away to South Africa to become the United States' ambassador to that country, although he would continue his dual identity when called upon.

For the silver age Robin of Earth-One, his early manhood led him to university education, only there was a significant distraction in his life course, the Teen Titans. Eventually dropping out of school and living on trust funds in New York City, he enveloped his life into that of the Teen Wonder while leading the Titans through two different incarnations. At the same time, he grew increasing iritated at his mentor the Batman's domineering attitude towards his one-time sidekick, and finally sought out his own identity. Adopting the alias of Nightwing, complete with a revised costumed while going capeless, Dick carved out a significant legend in his own right while championing a new generation of superheroes that protected both the United States and the rest of the world on several occasions.

What caused such divergent paths for these Bird Boys? Consider the following possibilities:

1. The attitude of their mentors towards them, with the golden age Batman showing a more tolerant disposition with Robin than had his silver age counterpart.
 
2. The motivations for each young Grayson, with the golden age version focusing on his civilian career while balancing it out with his alter ego... while the silver age version concentrated on his costumed career to exceed expectations placed upon him.
 
3. The influence of peers in their age group, or lack thereof. Earth-Two's Robin carried on a separate life from that of his peers Speedy (lost in time with Law's Legionnaires), Sandy (in suspended animation as a silicon creature), Star-Spangled Kid (see Speedy), Wing (see Speedy and the Kid) and Dyna-Mite (living in isolation on Earth-One). Earth-One's Robin had the accessibility and availability of befriending fellow teen sidekicks Speedy, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl,  etc.
 
4. The allure of the opposite sex, with the silver age Robin constantly engaged in romantic relationships with heroines like Bat-Girl, Batgirl and Starfire... for the golden age Robin there was only Mary aka Roberta whom he had a subdued romance with as a young man, then later in life his step-sister Helena aka the Huntress proved a distraction for him, albeit only momentarily.
   
   Interestingly, just as the silver age Robin adopted a new alias as a young man, Nightwing, so had his counterpart... though only temporarily. Still, the tale (or tail?) of the golden age Robin's grown-up persona, Owlman, and why he forsook that identity shortly thereafter is best left told for another time.