Followers typically record Nightwing as one of the vital beloved characters revealed by DC Comics. Since Dick Grayson’s debut as Robin in 1940, the character has performed an essential position in main occasions on the firm. Whether or not leaping into battle as Batman’s first sidekick, serving to to ascertain the Teen Titans, or going undercover to research a nefarious spy group, Nightwing has constantly cast new territory as a personality.
At his greatest, Nightwing is portrayed as one of many proficient martial artists within the DCU, a crafty strategist, and constant good friend. Sadly, DC hasn’t at all times targeted on this sort of characterization and have allowed plots to get rid of Nightwing’s potential as the most effective characters at DC.
10 Dick’s Management Expertise Are Downplayed
Dick has been portrayed as chief of the Titans as Robin and as Nightwing. Nonetheless, the fixed push to middle Nightwing’s story round Gotham and the Bat Household has resulted in storylines the place Dick has deserted the Titans when he wants them most. Dick is portrayed as a part-time member of the Titans, as an alternative of being the sturdy chief he was established as being within the Nineteen Eighties.
Makes an attempt by Tom Taylor to insert the Titans into the Nightwing solo comedian proceed to downplay Nightwing’s pure management skills. As an alternative of Dick directing the crew he based, Barbara Gordon is displayed because the chief, even if she’s by no means been a member of the crew.
9 Nightwing Would not Deal With Emotionally Devastating Previous Storylines
Whereas followers usually need the Nightwing comics to be stuffed with hope, earlier storylines depicting the character have had probably devastating ramifications. Nightwing has watched his metropolis be destroyed, he is been sexually assaulted by Tarantula and Mirage, he is seen a number of brothers die, three youngsters of his greatest associates have died, he misplaced his adopted father, Alfred has died, and Nightwing’s circus has been revealed to have been a part of the Court docket of Owls. All of those storylines have the power to make Dick develop as a extra advanced character. Characters sorting via their trauma could make them higher characters, however DC hasn’t allowed that development for Nightwing.
8 DC Makes Nightwing Into A Second-Alternative Batman
A part of Dick Grayson’s journey to turn into Nightwing includes him realizing he would not need to be Batman. As an alternative, he turns into Nightwing and efficiently transitions into his personal grownup hero. Regardless of a serious a part of Dick Grayson’s character revolving round by no means eager to observe in Bruce Wayne’s footsteps, DC has made him take up the mantle twice.
Nightwing first turned Batman in 1994, after Bruce Wayne’s again was damaged by Bane. The second time Dick turned Batman was in 2009 after Bruce Wayne’s obvious loss of life. Frequently making Dick take up a mantel he by no means needed makes him a second-rate Batman and makes him a perpetual sidekick — continually ready to take his mentor’s place.
7 Nightwing Ought to Have Graduated To The Justice League Completely
Nightwing is without doubt one of the high martial artists at DC, and his acrobat skills are nearly unmatched. He is been continually studying from one of the best fighters within the DCU since childhood, and has sparred with Amazons, Deathstroke the Terminator, and all of the super-powered beings who’ve been Titans. Grayson is aware of all of Batman’s weaknesses and has seen Batman’s combating skills up shut.
In each approach, Dick Grayson proved worthy of being a everlasting member of the Justice League. Whereas Dick briefly labored with the Justice League, they have been quickly positions and solely obtainable when Bruce Wayne was unable to be there. Nightwing has earned a spot himself, like his contemporaries Roy Harper and Wally West.
6 DC Takes Dangers With Nightwing However By no means Permits Them To Stick
All through his historical past, Nightwing has taken some surprising turns. He is labored with Deathstroke undercover whereas pretending to be a villain. He is additionally labored as a spy making an attempt to take down Spyral. He is nearly married an alien princess. He is had his public identification uncovered, and he is misplaced his recollections.
Regardless of these dangers, DC is unwilling to permit any of the modifications to stay. Whereas most of the drastic modifications have been met with fan resistance, the storylines nonetheless allowed the character to develop in new instructions exterior of Batman’s shadow. By regularly enjoying it protected and refusing to broaden upon these dangers, DC has missed out on Nightwing’s potential.
5 Nightwing Has Been Written As A Disloyal Good friend And Associate
Dick Grayson has described himself as a one-woman man, and it took him a very long time to recover from the truth that Kory needed to have a political marriage. In comics revealed since, Dick cheats on Kory with Barbara the evening earlier than his wedding ceremony to Kory is meant to happen.
Dick has additionally had some issues being a loyal good friend in sure comics. He is known as Roy Harper a “junkie” whereas the latter was sober and changed Tim Drake as Robin with out even discussing it with Tim first. The loyalty and devotion Nightwing followers need from him has been ignored in storylines about his friendship and his romantic partnerships.
4 DC Refuses To Let Him Have Grownup Relationships
Dick Grayson’s first “crush” on Barbara Gordon was unrequited. She was an grownup nearer in age to Batman, and he was a teenage sidekick. The infatuation was temporary; Dick grew up and had grownup relationships in school and within the Titans.
Within the Nineties, Chuck Dixon retcons all of that character development for Dick and has him spend his total life since puberty having a crush on Batgirl. Making Dick’s total private life revolve round somebody he knew as a child sticks him eternally within the shadow of being Batman’s sidekick.
3 Dick’s Friendships Have Been Erased Or Ignored
All through the Outsiders, Dick’s friendship with Roy Harper turned the focus. Dick advised him at one level that there was no one else Dick would slightly go into battle with than Roy. But, DC erased and ignored that friendship nearly completely within the New 52, as an alternative deciding to make Roy greatest associates with Jason Todd.
Dick additionally referred to Donna Troy has his greatest good friend, but when he was shot within the head, the storyline allowed Barbara Gordon to observe him round and bizarrely assert that she was his greatest good friend. Likewise, throughout Dick’s time undercover with Deathstroke, he fashioned an in depth mentor relationship with Rose Wilson. That relationship was fully ignored. Continually erasing Dick’s friendships made his storylines much less fulfilling.
Each good hero wants their very own supporting forged. Superman, Batman, and The Flash are good examples of heroes whose supporting casts are identified nearly in addition to the heroes themselves are by followers and the general public.
The overwhelming majority of Dick’s supporting forged are Batman’s supporting forged. This consists of Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, and Jason Todd. Main storylines revolve round Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce Wayne. Even Dick’s girlfriend is Batgirl. To completely attain his potential as a superhero, Dick’s supporting forged must be unrelated to Batman.
1 The Bludhaven Storyline Is Retconned
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Bludhaven is Dick Grayson’s metropolis, and at one level, he needed to watch town blow up with out having the ability to cease it. After rescuing Rose Wilson from her father and issuing orders for Slade to go away Bludhaven, Slade determined to get revenge. Wilson dropped Chemo onto town a mere 34 hours later.
This storyline ought to’ve had main repercussions in Nightwing’s storyline, very like John Stewart’s failure to save lots of a world did within the Odyssey storyline. As an alternative, Dick relocates to New York and would not appear to have any challenge with the actual fact his metropolis is destroyed. Later, the complete storyline of Bludhaven’s destruction is retconned.