Warning: Contains spoilers forNightwing #116!
Summary
BatmanandNightwingwere the original dynamic duo, back in Dick Grayson’s Robin days, but their relationship has had plenty of ups and downs. Dick built a life for himself in Blüdhaven while Batman continued his work in Gotham. Now, as Heartless has pushed Grayson out of his own city, Bruce Wayne is stepping up for his son in the biggest way ever — by acting as Nightwing in his place.
Nightwing#116 by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo kicks off with the aftermath of Heartless framing Dick Grayson as the masked villain and poisoning him to induce a fear of heights. Unable to remain in Blüdhaven, he sets off to find Deadman and overcome the effects of the poison. In his absence, Heartless (calling himself Dick Grayson)issues a call for Nightwingto come and settle their “unfinished business,” leading toa shocking costume change for Batman.
Bruce Wayne sees the chance to finally repay Dick for all the times he’s stepped up and taken over the cowl or shepherded the Bat-Family.He casts aside Batman to become Nightwing,acknowledging that Blüdhaven needs its hero.
After 84 Years, Nightwing’s Greatest Enemy Ever Has Finally Learned His Secret Identity
Nightwing’s greatest enemy has finally learned his secret identity, but will he survive long enough to use it as leverage, or will he be killed off?
Batman Honors Dick Grayson by Transforming Into Nightwing
This Scene Mirrors Nightwing’s Time as Batman
Dick Grayson has worked tirelessly to turn Blüdhaven into a safer place to live, withNightwing acting as its protector. The city is his home, and its success is a testament to the blood, sweat, and tears he’s poured into it. Despite his always-full plate, the former Robin is still frequentlythe first in line to help others, andBatman has been a witness to Dick’s dedication from the beginning. While Bruce is rarely open about his feelings, he’s fiercely proud of his eldest son and well aware of what Blüdhaven means to him. Protecting the city is the least Bruce can do for Dick.
Heartless means to dismantle Nightwing’s life brick-by-brick, but he hasn’t accounted for how many people he has willing to come to his aid.
Since Batman’s creation, the Caped Crusader has been the most central, core part of Bruce’s identity, and he frequently casts other people and commitments aside to fulfill his self-imposed duties to Gotham. The image of himlaying down the Batsuit to put on Nightwing’s costumeis an incredibly poignant moment, encompassing every ounce of respect and love he has for his son. Many times, Dick has proven that he’ll make incredible sacrifices to uphold Batman’s vision and values while asking for little in return, and Heartless' scheme created the perfect opportunity for Bruce to do the same.
Nightwing Doesn’t Need to Fight His Battles Alone
Batman’s Involvement Proves That Heartless Is Outmatched
Heartless means to dismantle Nightwing’s life brick-by-brick, but he hasn’t accounted for how many people he has willing to come to his aid. Though Dick insists on undertaking a solo quest to face his fears, he never has to face any fight on his own. However, Bruce rising to the occasion in such a major way shows how farBatman and Nightwing have come. The move allows him to showcase Dick’s best qualities by, effectively, doing what he would do.Batmanchooses to fight Heartless with his heart on his sleeve as he steps in to become the newNightwing.
NIGHTWING #116 (2024)
Nightwing
Nightwing is the superhero moniker taken up by Dick Grayson, upon his aging out of the Robin role and becoming a superhero of his own. Inspired by the original Kryptonian hero of the same name, Grayson has risen to comic book immortality with the identity, earning respect as one of the greatest leaders in the DC Universe.
