Nightwing’s canine Haley (aka Bitewing) pays tribute to his title’s origins because the costumed avenger of Kandor within the Silver Age Superman comics.
Everybody is aware of Nightwing is the previous Boy Wonder Dick Grayson, however what number of are conscious of the origins of his title as a Kryptonian hero? Actually, Grayson’s current adoption of his canine Haley winds up paying tribute to the unique Nightwing in a roundabout method.
Though Dick Grayson adopted the moniker “Nightwing” after outgrowing his little inexperienced Robin booties, the legacy of the title goes again a lot additional than that. The primary Nightwing to look in DC Comics goes again to 1963’s Superman #158, during which Superman and Jimmy Olsen shrink down to go to the bottle metropolis of Kandor. Whereas there, the 2 don a pair of costumes clearly impressed by Batman and Robin, and start combating crime as Nightwing and Flamebird. When the time got here for Grayson to strike out on his personal, the previous Boy Wonder took inspiration from Superman and Olsen’s time in Kandor, and took the title Nightwing as a tribute to the Man of Metal.
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In his personal sequence, Dick Grayson’s Nightwing has lately adopted a pitbull pet named Haley. Grayson’s additionally taken to calling her his sidekick, giving her the nickname of “Bitewing.” Whereas cute, this additionally pays tribute to the unique incarnation of Nightwing in a moderately roundabout method. The unique Nightwing and Flamebird had their very own crime-fighting pooch named Nighthound. A telepathic canine stored in a Kandorian kennel, Nighthound made his first and solely look in Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #69. The story sees enemies the Superman Revenge Squad inflicting havoc in Kandor. Superman and Jimmy Olsen shrink down to research, and discover themselves up in opposition to the telepathic canine. Nonetheless, Nighthound noticed the goodness in Jimmy Olsen’s coronary heart, and in the end modified sides to assist Nightwing and Flamebird foil the Superman Revenge Squad’s scheme.
Following the continuity rewrite after 1986’s Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman and Jimmy Olsen’s historical past as Nightwing and Flamebird had been wiped from the DCU. Nonetheless, giving Dick Grayson his personal canine sidekick acts as a pleasant tribute to the unique legacy, whether or not intentional or not. It additionally pays tribute to the traditional trope of heroes with pet sidekicks. Superman has had a number of by way of the years, with not Krypto the Tremendous-dog and Streaky the Tremendous-cat, but additionally Comet the Tremendous-horse and Beppo the Tremendous-monkey. Giving Dick Grayson his personal canine companion is enjoying into that proud comedian e book custom, even whether it is up to date for contemporary sensibilities.
For whereas Nightwing’s place in comedian e book historical past might proceed to evolve and alter, right here’s hoping Haley/Bitewing stays round for a very long time to come back.
About The Writer
Nathan Cabaniss
(45 Articles Revealed)
NATHAN CABANISS is a author and filmmaker based mostly out of Atlanta, GA. He’s had quick tales revealed in numerous anthologies and e-zines, in each English and in French. 2016 noticed the publication of his first assortment of quick tales, Mares within the Evening, and his quick novel The Mummy’s Hand On the Middle of the Universe was launched in 2018. He holds the likes of Love & Rockets and Youngblood in equally excessive regard.
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