Followers usually checklist Nightwing as probably the most beloved characters printed 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 persistently cast new territory as a personality.
At his finest, Nightwing is portrayed as one of many gifted martial artists within the DCU, a crafty strategist, and constant pal. Sadly, DC hasn’t at all times targeted on this sort of characterization and have allowed plots to remove Nightwing’s potential as among the finest characters at DC.
10/10 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 a substitute of being the robust 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 staff he based, Barbara Gordon is displayed because the chief, even though she’s by no means been a member of the staff.
9/10 Nightwing Would not Deal With Emotionally Devastating Previous Storylines
Whereas followers usually need the Nightwing comics to be filled 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 kids of his finest mates 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 flexibility to make Dick develop as a extra advanced character. Characters sorting by their trauma could make them higher characters, however DC hasn’t allowed that development for Nightwing.
8/10 DC Makes Nightwing Into A Second-Alternative Batman
A part of Dick Grayson’s journey to develop into Nightwing entails him realizing he does not wish to be Batman. As an alternative, he turns into Nightwing and efficiently transitions into his personal grownup hero. Regardless of a significant 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 grew to become Batman in 1994, after Bruce Wayne’s again was damaged by Bane. The second time Dick grew to become Batman was in 2009 after Bruce Wayne’s obvious loss of life. Frequently making Dick take up a mantel he by no means wished makes him a second-rate Batman and makes him a perpetual sidekick — continuously ready to take his mentor’s place.
7/10 Nightwing Ought to Have Graduated To The Justice League Completely
Nightwing is likely one of the high martial artists at DC, and his acrobat skills are virtually unmatched. He is been continuously studying from the very 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 preventing 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 out there when Bruce Wayne was unable to be there. Nightwing has earned a spot himself, like his contemporaries Roy Harper and Wally West.
6/10 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 virtually 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 adjustments to stay. Whereas most of the drastic adjustments have been met with fan resistance, the storylines nonetheless allowed the character to develop in new instructions exterior of Batman’s shadow. By frequently taking part in it secure and refusing to broaden upon these dangers, DC has missed out on Nightwing’s potential.
5/10 Nightwing Has Been Written As A Disloyal Pal And Accomplice
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 printed since, Dick cheats on Kory with Barbara the night time earlier than his wedding ceremony to Kory is meant to happen.
Dick has additionally had some issues being a loyal pal in sure comics. He is referred to 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.
4/10 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 faculty and within the Titans.
Within the Nineties, Chuck Dixon retcons all of that character development for Dick and has him spend his whole life since puberty having a crush on Batgirl. Making Dick’s whole private life revolve round somebody he knew as a child sticks him ceaselessly within the shadow of being Batman’s sidekick.
3/10 Dick’s Friendships Have Been Erased Or Ignored
All through the Outsiders, Dick’s friendship with Roy Harper grew to become the point of interest. Dick advised him at one level that there was no person else Dick would reasonably go into battle with than Roy. But, DC erased and ignored that friendship virtually completely within the New 52, as a substitute deciding to make Roy finest mates with Jason Todd.
Dick additionally referred to Donna Troy has his finest pal, but when he was shot within the head, the storyline allowed Barbara Gordon to observe him round and bizarrely assert that she was his finest pal. Likewise, throughout Dick’s time undercover with Deathstroke, he fashioned a detailed mentor relationship with Rose Wilson. That relationship was fully ignored. Consistently erasing Dick’s friendships made his storylines much less fulfilling.
Each good hero wants their very own supporting solid. Superman, Batman, and The Flash are good examples of heroes whose supporting casts are identified virtually in addition to the heroes themselves are by followers and the general public.
The overwhelming majority of Dick’s supporting solid are Batman’s supporting solid. 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 totally attain his potential as a superhero, Dick’s supporting solid must be unrelated to Batman.
1/10 The Bludhaven Storyline Is Retconned
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Bludhaven is Dick Grayson’s metropolis, and at one level, he needed to watch the town blow up with out having the ability to cease it. After rescuing Rose Wilson from her father and issuing orders for Slade to depart Bludhaven, Slade determined to get revenge. Wilson dropped Chemo onto the town a mere 34 hours later.
This storyline ought to’ve had main repercussions in Nightwing’s storyline, very similar to John Stewart’s failure to avoid wasting a world did within the Odyssey storyline. As an alternative, Dick relocates to New York and does not appear to have any concern with the very fact his metropolis is destroyed. Later, all the storyline of Bludhaven’s destruction is retconned.