The favored Batman sidekick, Dick Grayson, aka Nightwing, has been on an excellent run of type over the previous couple of years. The character not too long ago squared off with Lex Luthor in Titans and with a portion of Rogues Gallery in Harley Quinn. Within the comics, Nightwing has established himself because the mentor of the brand new Superman, John Kent.
Due to the mentorship storyline, Nightwing’s enchantment has saved rising on the DC pages, however nice arcs aren’t the one issues that make him a tremendous character. An extra cause why Nightwing stays ever-cool within the comics is that he at all times delivers memorable strains.
10/10 “Talks Like Jane Seymour, Fights Like Bruce Lee.”
Nightwing (Vol 2) #5: Story By Chuck Dixon/ Artwork by Scott McDaniel and Roberta Tewes/ Letters by John Costanza
Nightwing blends a Hollywood popular culture reference with one from British historical past when his battle with Elaine Marsh-Morton, aka Woman Vic, ends in defeat. He is amazed at how she manages to take care of her royal poise and nonetheless manages to offer him a beat down.
With Woman Vic coming from a protracted line of noblemen, the Jane Seymour reference is ideal as a result of it’s in regards to the former Queen of England and the spouse of King Henry VIII. The Bruce Lee reference, however, reveals Nightwing acknowledges how nice a martial artist Woman Vic is.
9/10 “I Was At all times The Backside Half Of Batman And… Now I am Nightwing.”
The New Titans #71: Story By Marv Wolfman/ Artwork by Tom Grummett, Al Vey, and Adrienne Roy/ Letters by John Costanza
Throughout his days as Robin, Dick Grayson was content material with being seen as nothing extra Batman’s helper, however as Nightwing, he grows a lot that he turns into a pacesetter. For a second, he takes time to acknowledge how far he is come.
Technically, Nightwing continues to be one among Batman’s many DC sidekicks, and the 2 usually hyperlink up throughout moments of disaster in Gotham. Nonetheless, Nightwing will get to have far more solo adventures in comparison with Robin and for that cause, he is not mistaken for feeling like he is lastly gotten out of Batman’s shadow.
8/10 “Can You Put Me Down Earlier than You Begin Calling Me ‘Lois’?”
Motion Comics #771: Story by Chuck Dixon/ Artwork by Pascal Ferry, Alvaro Lopez, and Moose Baumann/ Letters by Comicraft
The power to leap from one constructing to the following is one among Nightwing’s biggest expertise. Whereas Nightwing is sprinting rooftops and chasing one among DC’s most evil gangs, The Intergang, Superman catches him midair, pondering he is a citizen falling from a constructing.
Quite than be grateful, Nightwing mocks Superman as a result of his transfer was pointless. He has the whole lot underneath management and by catching him, Superman solely offers The Intergang extra time to flee. Nonetheless, Nightwing’s reference to Superman’s penchant for carrying Lois Lane is hilarious.
7/10 “I Need You To Be Proud Of Me, However Even Extra Importantly, I Need To Be Proud Of Myself.”
The New Titans #114: Story by Marv Wolfman/ Artwork by Rick Mays, Karl Story, Jason Martin, Keith Champagne, and Gina Going/ Letters by John Costanza
In what is likely one of the finest comics about psychological well being, Nightwing chooses to take a break when he realizes his profession is overwhelming him and all vital missions have been achieved. He admits that his absence can be disadvantageous to the Titans, so he does his finest to clarify.
The twist about Nightwing needing a trip is refreshing as a result of comedian characters are largely depicted as superhumans whose engines by no means run out of steam. This time, the hero acknowledges that, to ensure that him to proceed being the very best model of himself, he might want to take a while off.
6/10 “Can We Please Go Again To The Days When All You Wanted To Be A Hero Was A Grappling Hook?”
Nightwing (Vol 4) #46: Story by Benjamin Percy/ Artwork by Chris Mooneyham, Lalit Kumar Sharma, Klaus Janson, Scott Hanna, and Nick Filardi/ Letters by Carlos M. Mangual
As a hero that’s used to leaping over partitions, Nightwing loses his endurance when he and Batgirl battle to undergo a wall that requires one to key in codes to ensure that it to vanish. His frustrations result in a rant about how sophisticated superhero work has turn into.
Like Batman, Nightwing’s coaching largely concerned martial arts and different types of bodily duties. Not like Batman, Nightwing doesn’t have a ardour for know-how, however due to Batgirl, getting over the obstacles that pop up through the comedian concern turns into simpler.
5/10 “What You See In Different Individuals… It is Your Personal Reflection.”
Nightwing (Vol 4) #14: Story by Tim Seeley/ Artwork by Marcus To and Chris Sotomayor/ Letters by Carlos M. Mangual
From time to time, Nightwing has tried to speak to criminals as an alternative of punching them. He does this once more when coping with the chief of the Run-Offs, Jimmy Good, who he advises to alter his perspective as a result of the unhealthy issues he sees in different persons are all inside him.
Few heroes dive into the philosophical greater than Nightwing, and he does effectively by declaring that it’s individuals who have been harm that additionally find yourself hurting others. Due to his therapeutic speech, Jimmy agrees to alter how he conducts enterprise.
4/10 “Batman Lives. At all times.”
Batman #687: Story by Judd Winick/ Artwork by Ed Benes, Rob Hunter, Ian Hannin, and J. D. Smith/ Letters by Jared Ok. Fletcher
Batman’s loss of life within the comics not often occurs and when he disappears once more, it’s presumed that the grim reaper has taken him. Nonetheless, Nightwing refuses to simply accept it. He then decides to don Batman’s costume and proceed his work.
It’s a smart transfer as a result of the residents do not know Batman is useless, and so they additionally don’t know the person behind the masks. Due to this, anybody can take over the mantle as long as he’s able to doing many of the issues that Bruce Wayne does and abides by the character’s beliefs.
3/10 “I’m The Stuff Of Nightmares.”
Batman #416: Story by Jim Starlin/ Artwork by Jim Aparo, Mike DeCarlo, and Adrienne Roy/ Letters Augustin Mas
Totally different heroes instill completely different ranges of dread in criminals. Sadly for Nightwing, he occurs to be amongst people who aren’t taken too significantly. Since he isn’t one to let himself be underrated, Nightwing makes positive to concern a risk to a bunch of drug sellers.
The quote is much more stunning as a result of Nightwing occurs to be saving Robin (Jason Todd) from the criminals. Having already handled Todd, they determine Nightwing can be a chunk of cake, however true to his promise, Nightwing reveals them what he is made from.
2/10 “I Do not Even Know If I will Be Alive Tomorrow, However If I Am, Will You Marry Me?”
Nightwing (Vol 2) #117: Story by Devin Grayson/ Artwork by Brad Walker, Rodney Ramos, and Gregory Wright/ Letters by Pat Brosseau
Nightwing pulls off what is maybe probably the most memorable proposals within the historical past of DC Comics when he asks Barbara to marry him on the airport. He does this proper earlier than he leaves to go and battle Deathstroke.
Hidden contained in the proposal is Nightwing’s worry of the famed murderer. He is aware of that the battle may go both approach, so he makes positive to let Barbara know that he needs her in his life, proper earlier than he leaves. To followers, seeing such a second between two Bat-family members is actually heartwarming.
1/10 “There’s A Slight Credibility Hole When You are A Hero In A Hooded Sweatshirt And Tennies.”
Nightwing (Vol 2) #102: Story by Scott Beatty and Chuck Dixon/ Artwork by Scott McDaniel, Andy Owens, Gregory Wright/ Letters by Phil Balsman
Most of Dick Grayson’s costumes within the comics have been excellent, and Superman can take credit score for the design of one among them. All of it occurs when a costume-less Grayson, who has simply been fired by Batman, visits Metropolis to hunt recommendation from Superman.
The teen precisely factors out that in a world the place the good superheroes are all in tights, each criminals and members of the general public would battle to take him significantly if he doesn’t have one thing cool to put on. Fortunately for Nightwing, Superman simply so occurs to have tons of nice concepts.