Nightwing
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For the current and most prominent holder of the Nightwing title, see Dick Grayson
Nightwing is a name used by at least six characters in the DC Comics Universe. Although originating with the Superman mythos, Dick Grayson (the first Robin) is the character most associated with the name "Nightwing". The alias is also frequently paired with "Flamebird", another title taken by several DC Comics characters.
The name is originally used by the pre-Crisis Superman, when he and Jimmy Olsen act as vigilantes during trips to the bottle city of Kandor. Later, Superman's cousin Van-Zee uses the name. Post-Crisis, Superman attributes the name to a historic Kryptonian crimefighter. The Superman-related heroes serve as an inspiration for Dick Grayson when he sheds his Robin identity and assumes the name and a new costume in Tales of the Teen Titans #44 (1984).
In the Nightwing comic book series, Grayson trains a killer who goes by the name of Nite-Wing, but later must capture him when he realizes Nite-Wing's violent nature. "One Year Later" storylines in Nightwing and Supergirl feature characters Jason Todd, Cheyenne Freemont, and Power Girl using the name "Nightwing".
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Character history
Superman
As first depicted in the story "Superman in Kandor" in Superman (Vol. 1) #158 (January 1963), Nightwing is an alias used by Superman in Edmond Hamilton-penned pre-Crisis adventures in the city of Kandor, a Kryptonian city that was shrunken and preserved in a bottle.
In Kandor, Superman has no superpowers and, in the story, is branded an outlaw there due to a misunderstanding. To disguise themselves, Superman and Jimmy Olsen create vigilante identities inspired by Batman and Robin. Because neither bats nor robins lived on Krypton, Superman chooses the names of two birds owned by Superman's Kandorian friend Nor-Kan: "Nightwing" for himself and "Flamebird" for Olsen. The Dynamic Duo of Kandor create costumes evocative of the birds' plumage. Nightwing and Flamebird rename Nor-Kan's underground laboratory as the "Nightcave", and use it as their secret headquarters. They also convert Nor-Kan's automobile into their "Nightmobile", and use "jet-belts" to fly into battle.
In Superman Family #183 (May-June 1977), Superman's look-alike second cousin Van-Zee and his niece's husband Ak-Var take up the Nightwing and Flamebird identities. The vigilantes take on crime in their city as had Superman and Olsen before them.
In 2001's Superman: The Man of Steel #111, Superman and Lois Lane travel to Krypton. Labeled as criminals, Superman and Lois become fugitives, adopting the Nightwing and Flamebird identities to survive, just as had Superman and Olsen in Superman #158.
Dick Grayson
Fast Facts
- Name:Richard (Dick) Grayson
- Known Relatives: John and Mary Grayson (parents deceased)
- Group Affiliation: Teen Titans
- First appearance as Robin: Detective Comics #38
- Height:5'10"
- Eyes:Blue
- Hair:Black
The teamup between both Nightwing and Flamebird teams along with their inspirations, Batman and Robin, for an adventure in Kandor proves important to the young Dick Grayson. When Dick later gives up his role as Robin in 1984, he recalls the Kandorian adventure and renames himself Nightwing, in homage to both Batman and Superman. After the events of Crisis on Infinite Earths re-boot the DC continuity, Superman no longer has knowledge of Kandor; instead, he remembers Nightwing as an urban legend of Krypton, which he shares with a young Dick Grayson. Grayson, who considers Superman his favorite superhero, takes the identity in his honor.
In Blüdhaven, a sociopath named Tad Ryerstad becomes a superhero, inspired by the retired hero Tarantula. He takes his name, Nite-Wing, from an all-night deli specializing in chicken wings. Unstable, Nite-Wing beats people for minor offenses. Nite-Wing is shot on his first night out and Dick Grayson, as Blüdhaven's protector Nightwing, defends him from Blockbuster's gang, who think it is Nightwing who has been injured. After Nite-Wing is released from the hospital, he kills the gang who put him there. Not realizing how violent Ryerstad is, Grayson agrees to train him. The two attack Blockbuster's organization but are captured and separated. After an undercover FBI agent frees Nite-Wing, Ryerstad beats him to death, and when he realizes what he has done, Ryerstad flees. Nightwing tracks him down and incarcerates Nite-Wing.
In the 2006 One Year Later storylines, multiple characters join Dick Grayson in using the name "Nightwing". Bruce Jones' Nightwing run features Jason Todd prowling the streets of New York City under the guise of Nightwing, copying Grayson's costume. Additionally, a metahuman fashion designer named Cheyenne Freemont dons a modified Nightwing costume to help Grayson. In Greg Rucka's Supergirl (Vol. 3) #6, Power Girl and Supergirl assume the identities of Nightwing and Flamebird in a story set in Kandor, just as in the original stories featuring Superman.
In other media
Dick Grayson is the only character to use the codename of "Nightwing" in media other than comic books.
Dick Grayson appears as Nightwing in The New Batman Adventures, voiced by actor Loren Lester, the actor who had voiced Grayson as Robin in Batman: The Animated Series. The episode "Old Wounds" explains that Grayson, as Robin, fought with Batman over the latter's controlling nature and what the former saw as an unnecessarily harsh approach, causing Grayson to leave Gotham as a result. However, he returns years later as Nightwing. Although he works with Batman several times during the course of the series, he never fully reconciles with his former mentor.
In the television series Batman Beyond, which is set many years in the future, the Nightwing uniform (or at least one copy of it) still hangs in the Batcave. Terry McGinnis (the new Batman) borrows the mask from that costume in the episode "Lost Soul," when the Batsuit is reprogrammed with the personality of a dead businessman. In Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker, McGinnis asks Commissioner Barbara Gordon (the former Batgirl) if all of the original Batman's associates were bitter when they left. She replies "...look up Nightwing someday. Has he got stories," implying that he is still alive and using the identity in the timeframe of the series.
In the film Batman Forever Dick Grayson (Chris O'Donnell) suggests "Nightwing" as a name for himself. In the next film Batman and Robin, the costume Robin wears is just like the costume in the comic books with Nightwing, except the main symbol across his chest and arms is red instead of blue in the comics.
Nightwing also has a cameo as a silhouette in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Grudge Match". As Black Canary enters Blüdhaven, Nightwing can be seen on a rooftop next to two gargoyles.
In the Teen Titans animated series episode "How Long is Forever?", Nightwing appears as the future identity of Robin. He also appears in the Teen Titans Go! comic series based on the series. [1]
The Batman animated series episode "Artifacts", set in the year 3027 with flashbacks to the year 2027. The flashback sequences feature Nightwing, voiced by Jerry O'Connell. Although Dick has been active for ten years as Nightwing, Batman and Oracle persist in calling him "Robin." Nightwing later appears in season 5 in the episode "The Metal Face of Comedy" in his original Nightwing costume. In this episode, he is Dick Grayson's video game character in an online role playing game.
The Teen Titans story arc The Judas Contract in which Robin becomes Nightwing, is currently being adapted as a direct-to-video movie. It will be released in 2008.
In several Six Flags amusement parks, there is a ride called Nightwing located in the DC Superheroes area.
Powers and Abilities
Nightwing (like his mentor Batman) has many different gadgets that he uses to defeat his enemies. Most of the gadgets are in the form of small boomerangs; some of them explode, some spread liquid nitrogen to freeze objects, and some are just sharp, which he uses to disarm but not kill. Along with his boomerangs he has a grappling gun, and a retractable quarter staff which measures at six feet long at maximum length and one foot long at minimum length. Nightwing has trained in many different martial arts including Aikido, Jeet Kune Do, Escrima, Karate, Jiu-jitsu, Taekwondo, Tai Chi, Kendo, Hapkido, Wing Chun, Ninjitsu, Kempo, and Judo. Nightwing is also an experienced gymnast and spent several years of his youth in the circus. Along with skills with gadgetry and martial arts, Nightwing is exceedingly intelligent. He uses his detective skills and tactics to out think physically superior opponents.
Other uses in comic books
- In the DC Comic "Tangent Comics" fifth-week event, "Nightwing" is a mystical society.
