As Batman, Dick Grayson confronted off towards Professor Pyg, a twisted villain with an identical previous, who ought to return as Nightwing’s private Joker.
With Dick Grayson proving himself equal to Batman in Blüdhaven, it’s time for his private Joker, Profesor Pyg, to return as a Nightwing villain. Launched as a sadistic foil for Nightwing after the occasions of Remaining Crisis, Professor Pyg proves that Dick Grayson’s Batman villains are scarier than Bruce’s.
First showing in Prime Earth continuity in Batman & Robin #1 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, Professor Pyg grew to become an everyday antagonist for Dick Grayson’s Batman all through the collection. Oddly sufficient, Dick Grayson and Professor Pyg shared many traits in frequent. Like Dick, Pyg claimed to have been created by an emotionally distant dad or mum. He leads a gang known as the Circus of Unusual, mirroring Dick’s previous with Haly’s Circus. Nonetheless, the similarities between the 2 ran deeper than simply their previous. Pyg was a villain that thrived on transformation, famously kidnapping individuals and turning them into Dollotrons that obeyed his will. On the similar time, Dick was mentoring Damian Wayne as Robin, influencing his morals and hoping to distance him from his League of Assassins coaching.
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Ultimately, Bruce got here again from the lifeless, and Dick returned to being Nightwing. Sadly, as a result of villain’s introduction throughout Dick’s time as Batman, Pyg has turn out to be simply one other member of Bruce’s rogues gallery. Nonetheless, Professor Pyg has the potential to be Nightwing’s true nemesis, as a result of he gives a darkish counter to Dick’s hottest facets. Compared to Bruce’s Batman, Nightwing is understood for being a gentler, extra approachable vigilante, whose amenable character and attractiveness make him good within the eyes of many. In distinction, Pyg doles out grotesque violence as he seeks to attain “perfection” by mutilating the faces of harmless individuals.
Though he nonetheless retains his twisted nature, Professor Pyg doesn’t have the identical pressure with Bruce that he had with Dick’s Batman. Nighting could also be Batman’s equal, however this doesn’t imply their villains are interchangeable. Bruce’s counterpart is the Joker, and when paired with Bruce’s Batman, Pyg loses his terrifying similarities to the hero and as an alternative looks as if an try at making a alternative Joker. In opposition to Dick Grayson’s compassion and humor, Pyg’s madness is all of the extra jarring. Because of this, Professor Pyg doesn’t work as a member of Bruce’s rogue gallery and will as an alternative be a part of Nightwing’s.
Given their historical past and similarities, Professor Pyg simply makes extra sense as Nightwing’s private Joker. It’s time for the villain to depart Batman’s rogue gallery and return to his roots as Dick Grayson’s darkish foil. Nightwing has confirmed he deserves to regain his good nemesis.