Making his first debut in 1940 Dick Grayson labored by Batman’s aspect for a number of years earlier than adopting the superhero identify Nightwing in 1984. Dick turned the primary official DC Comics sidekick and later turned one of many few to efficiently transition into his personal grownup superhero id. Dick went on to change into a founder and chief of the Teen Titans.
These feats are actually spectacular, and Dick Grayson often tops lists of favourite DC Comics characters. With an extended historical past of heroics behind him, Nightwing has had some actually wonderful comedian storylines. However not all of Nightwing’s comedian plots sit nicely with followers.
10 Greatest: The Nice Leap Focuses On Nightwing’s Competence
“Nightwing: The Nice Leap” was written by Peter Tomasi with artwork by Rags Morales and Don Kramer. As a author on the title, Tomasi had the unenviable process of cleansing up previous tales that weren’t well-received whereas additionally setting Dick as much as be the subsequent Batman.
To show Dick Grayson is worthy to take Batman’s place, Tomasi highlights the character’s goodness and competency. Dick takes on concern toxin and defeats Two Face, whereas checking in with the numerous connections he has all through the DCU. This Nightwing story reminds everybody that Dick is not simply revered by the Bat Household, however by the DCU as an entire.
9 Worst: Nightwing Annual #2 (1997) Exhibits Dick Dishonest On Starfire
The plot of Nightwing Annual #2 — written by Marc Andreyko with artwork by Joe Bennett — focuses Nightwing and Oracle retelling their on-again, off-again relationship. A lot of the story entails important retcons as a way to match into both character’s beforehand established historical past.
In a single notably apparent retcon, Dick Grayson visited Barbara after the occasions of The Killing Joke and the 2 of them spent the evening collectively. This story passed off instantly earlier than Dick was about to marry Starfire. The plot was designed to additional cement the “nice love” between Barbara and Dick, however it made Dick look horrible and did not match with earlier canon.
8 Greatest: Grayson: Brokers Of Spyral Provides Nightwing A New Begin
Within the Without end Evil storyline, Dick’s id was revealed to the world, and he was seemingly murdered on stay tv. After escaping, Dick went undercover as a part of the Spyral group.
Whereas the Grayson comedian was good in its fully, the primary 4 points (written by Tim Seeley and Tom King with artwork by Mikel Janín) uncovered Dick to a wholly new world than the one he was acquainted with. He was launched to spies, new expertise, and emotions of isolation not like he’d recognized earlier than. Grayson’s reactions to those new conditions illustrated why he tops so many followers’ lists of favourite heroes.
7 Worst: Brothers In Blood Is The Worst Nightwing Crew-Up With Jason Todd
Dick Grayson was purported to die on the finish of Infinite Crisis. When he survived as a result of his sheer reputation, Bruce Jones was given the duty of writing the storyline that turned “Brothers in Blood.” The storyline pitted Dick in opposition to Jason Todd, who was going round New York impersonating Nightwing.
All through the story, Jason grew tentacles and Dick used racial slurs in opposition to Native People when Roy Harper confirmed as much as provide help. Jason Todd additionally ate somebody throughout his time as a tentacle monster. Understandably, nothing on this storyline was ever talked about once more.
6 Greatest: The Judas Contract Lets Nightwing’s Management Qualities Shine
The New Teen Titans: The Judas Contract was liable for long-lasting storytelling adjustments at DC Comics, together with the prominence of Deathstroke as a supervillain, serialized story-telling arcs, and surprising plot twists. However for the Nightwing fan, the Marv Wolfman and George Pérez story was necessary as a result of it was Dick’s debut in his new function.
As Dick Grayson takes on the function of Nightwing, he turns into an much more outstanding chief than he’d been as Robin. For followers who wish to see Nightwing as one of the best chief the Titans have ever had, Teen Titans: Judas Contract is a must-read.
5 Worst: Battle For The Cowl Exhibits The Whole Bat Household At Their Worst
In 2009, DC printed Batman: Battle for the Cowl, a narrative designed to wrap up threads from Closing Crisis and Batman: R.I.P. Written and penciled by Tony Daniel in partnership with Fabian Nicieza, the story got down to reply the query: which Bat Member of the family ought to take over for Bruce Wayne after his “demise?”
Sadly, the reply to the query was Dick Grayson. Dick spent years claiming the very last thing he needed to do was change into Batman, and he nonetheless ended up there. Battle for the Cowl included violent infighting with Jason Todd, Tim Drake, and Damian Wayne, going as far as to stab one another.
4 Greatest: “Nightwing Should Die!” Was A Obligatory Rebirth
Following their try and reboot characters with the New 52, DC determined to return their characters to their traditional kind. This line of comics was titled Rebirth and included Tim Seeley and Javier Fernandez’s “Nightwing Should Die!”
“Nightwing Should Die!” takes Dick away from superspy tales and focuses on his every-man adventures in Bludhaven. It additionally offers him a contemporary romance with Shawn Tsang, a former foe from his Robin days. The story stands out from different Nightwing tales as a result of its theme of redemption and maturity relationship worries.
3 Worst: Knight Terrors Eradicated Dick Grayson From The Story
Nightwing: Knight Terrors depicted a narrative the place Dick was shot within the head and misplaced his reminiscence. Written by Benjamin Percy, Scott Lobdell, and Fabian Nicieza with artwork from Garry Brown, Christopher Mooneyham, and Travis Moore, the story gave Dick the brand new identify “Ric Grayson.”
The story failed to permit Dick’s precise greatest associates — Wally West, Donna Troy, Roy Harper, and Koriand’r — to be there for him at his lowest second. Regardless of having the best security internet within the DCU, “Ric” was routinely homeless and alone, making it clear the story had forgotten what made Nightwing such a well-loved character.
2 Greatest: A Knight In Bludhaven Gave Nightwing His Metropolis
Earlier than Chuck Dixon’s pivotal Nightwing run started in 1996, Nightwing was restricted to showing as chief within the Teen Titans or as a supporting character in Batman or Motion Weekly comics. That modified with “A Knight in Bludhaven,” an eight-issue begin to Nightwing’s first solo comedian run.
Within the story, Dick went to analyze a homicide in Bludhaven, a metropolis much more corrupt than Gotham. Whereas there, Dick realized town wanted defending greater than Gotham did, and he determined to make it his house. “A Knight in Bludhaven” fully redefined who Nightwing was going to be transferring ahead, and continued to outline his character in trendy comics.
1 Worst: Renegade Misplaced Sight Of What Makes Nightwing Gratifying
Followers have lengthy loved Nightwing due to his extra light-hearted contributions to the Batman universe. Dick is historically generally known as somebody with connections all through the DC Universe, and one of the best storylines for Nightwing take his universe-wide friendships into consideration.
These optimistic attributes have been ignored through the 2005 “Renegade” story. All through Renegade’s plot, Nightwing took the identify Renegade and pretended to be a villain. The story fully deconstructed Nightwing’s character to the purpose the place he was punching former teammate Roy Harper, solely to finish with a weird marriage proposal to Oracle that did not match the remainder of the story’s tone.