For a few years, Dick Grayson loved a slightly profitable tenure as Batman. As the unique Robin, Nightwing was actually a worthy successor to Bruce Wayne’s cape and cowl. One main step in claiming the title of The Dark Knight got here in 2009’s Nightwing #152-153, by Peter Tomasi, Don Kramer, Jay Leisten, Sandu Florea, Rodney Ramos, Hello-Fi Design, Travis Lanham and Sal Cipriano, when Grayson defeated Ra’s al Ghul in single fight.
Throughout one of many ultimate problems with Nightwing, Ra’s sends a gaggle of his assassins to abduct Dick. After simply dispatching these henchmen, Dick goes to fulfill Ra’s within the desert. Because it seems, Ra’s wished to verify what he suspected: Bruce Wayne was useless, following the occasions of Closing Crisis. When Nightwing makes an attempt to go away, Ra’s challenges him to a sword combat, just like one in all his well-known duels in opposition to Batman. All of the whereas, Ra’s bemoans that it wasn’t he who killed Batman, as he believed he was meant to. Throughout this combat, Dick lives as much as his mentor’s requirements in a number of methods.
First, Nightwing responds that Ra’s may by no means have overwhelmed Bruce, additionally insisting that Ra’s knew that deep down. Furthermore, Dick wins the combat, cementing Ra’s’ respect for him. Ra’s even needs Dick to maintain his sword after the duel, within the hopes that their paths would cross once more. At this second, Ra’s basically acknowledges Dick because the true successor to the Caped Crusader.
Dick refuses the sword, however by the point he returns to the Batcave, he finds it ready for him. In his thoughts, Ra’s even thinks, “Welcome to the black gap, detective.” It is a big second, as Ra’s calls Dick by the traditional nickname that he is solely ever used for Bruce earlier than. After beating Ra’s, incomes his respect and incomes the title “Detective,” it appeared that Nightwing was properly on his approach to changing into the following Batman.
The next subject furthers Dick’s journey in direction of the cape and cowl, echoing some traditional Batman tales. Nightwing makes his transfer to Gotham Metropolis, in a web page that evokes the opening pages of the 1987 traditional Batman #404, by Frank Miller, David Mazzucchelli, Richmond Lewis and Todd Klein. This web page homages “Batman: 12 months One,” with Dick Grayson taking the practice into Gotham identical to a younger Jim Gordon. Dick even likes taking the practice, considering “I wished to be nearer. So I can see the enemy,” simply as Gordon did.
Apparently, this echoes the extra down-to-Earth journey of Jim Gordon, slightly than Bruce Wayne, who flew into Gotham in his first yr as Batman. Moreover, Dick thinks that he additionally needs to see “the individuals I am right here to guard and serve,” displaying that he has a brighter, extra optimistic perspective than both Batman or Gordon.
A number of related moments on this subject present how, whereas Dick is actually worthy of the Batman mantle, he’s dedicated to doing issues his personal approach. Close to the tip of the problem, there’s a tribute to 1976’s Detective Comics #457, by Dennis O’Neil, Dick Giordano, Terry Austin and Ben Oda. On this tribute to “There may be No Hope in Crime Alley,” Dick muses concerning the Wayne murders.
On the similar time, nevertheless, Nightwing thinks about all the nice that Bruce’s campaign did for him personally, making certain that Dick would not need to endure the identical loneliness and isolation. It was Bruce’s affect on Dick that made him worthy of changing into Batman, whereas making certain he could be a really completely different type of Caped Crusader. In these ultimate problems with Nightwing, Dick is seen surrounded by mates, together with the JSA, Wally West and the larger Bat-Household.
It was this bigger sense of connection and group which Bruce gave Dick that allowed him to develop into the optimistic, good-hearted hero that he’s. It is true that Dick did not formally take up the Batman mantle till the ending of “Battle for the Cowl.” Nonetheless, these ultimate problems with Nightwing play out like the start of “Batman: 12 months One,” making ready Dick to develop into Batman earlier than he even placed on the go well with.