From his critically-acclaimed and beloved solo sequence to his large function within the Dark Crisis occasion, Nightwing had a huge effect on the DCU in 2022.
Warning: SPOILERS for Dark Crisis #7 and 2022’s Nightwing pointsDC Comics‘ most necessary hero of 2022 was most positively Nightwing—and 2022 was solely the start. From his fan-favorite and critically-acclaimed solo sequence to his large function within the Dark Crisis occasion (and finale), no different hero had such a huge effect on the DCU final yr.
There isn’t any questioning why DC picked Nightwing to be its new main man, seeing as he is one of many writer’s oldest and most beloved legacy characters. Launched in 1940’s Detective Comics #38—solely a yr after Batman’s debut—Dick Grayson started his vigilante profession as the primary Robin. His historical past, like lots of Batman’s allies, is tragic: Bruce Wayne fostered him after Dick’s trapeze-artist mother and father have been killed; Dick watched them fall to their deaths throughout a circus efficiency. However that tragedy hasn’t stopped Dick Grayson from being the sunshine to Batman’s darkness. As Robin, he based the unique Teen Titans, and as soon as he took on the Nightwing mantle, he led that group to new heights whereas additionally defending Blüdhaven, a metropolis of his personal after leaving Batman and Gotham behind. Dick even had his personal flip as Batman, coming full circle as he educated Damian Wayne to be his personal model of Robin.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
Regardless of his stint as Batman, Dick Grayson really got here into his personal because the hero Nightwing in 2022. He started his historic yr with a model new (effectively, new-ish) costume in Nightwing #88 by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Adriano Lucas, and AndWorld Design. From there, Dick’s solo sequence noticed him reaching new heights: mentoring the latest Superman, totally committing to his relationship with Barbara Gordon, defeating his nemesis Blockbuster (with the town of Blüdhaven’s assist)—he even obtained his personal fifth-dimensional imp within the adorably heroic Nite-Mite. However his solo sequence is just the start—the finale of Dark Crisis noticed Nightwing battle the darkness inside himself, and he finally rose as much as change into the true coronary heart of the DC Universe.
Nightwing Completely Deserves to Be DC’s Huge Star
Nightwing has lengthy been a fan-favorite character, and it is greater than gratifying to see him stepping as much as lead not simply the Bat-Household, however the complete DC Universe. Past gratifying, it would simply be the one factor that is smart; Dick Grayson has stepped up within the final yr to mentor Jon Kent, to assist run the Teen Titans Academy, after which to guide the grieving heroes after the supposed “deaths” of the Justice League. Nobody else has the charisma or the ability to tackle such a task, and the truth that Nightwing was the primary Robin—and due to this fact one of many first legacy characters in superhero historical past—makes his stepping-up all of the sweeter. Moreover, 2022 noticed Nightwing step as much as change into the literal King of the Vampires; after that, taking up a management function within the central DCU ought to be a bit of cake.
Nightwing’s Future Is the Brightest within the DCU
Final yr was most positively an enormous one for Nightwing, and 2023 is shaping as much as be simply as monumental. Nightwing’s a centesimal problem is simply on the horizon, and shortly Dick Grayson’s metropolis would be the new hub for the Titans. Although DC Comics readers do not but know what else may be in retailer for Nightwing in 2023, it is sure to be thrilling, and Dick Grayson will as soon as once more be leaping to new heights.
Take a look at Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7, accessible now, and Nightwing #100, accessible January seventeenth from DC Comics!