Nightwing
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- For the Marduk album, see Nightwing (album)
| Nightwing | |
|---|---|
 Cover to Nightwing #122 (2006), featuring Grayson, Freemont and Jason Todd as Nightwing. Art by Jock. |
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| Publisher | |
| First appearance |
Superman as Nightwing:
Superman #158 (January 1963) |
| Created by |
Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan
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| Characters | |
Nightwing is a name used by at least six fictional 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.
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".
[edit] Character history
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 Jimmy Olsen #69 (June 1963), "The Dynamic Duo of Kandor" introduces Nightwing's dog Nighthound. In "The Feud Between Batman and Superman" in World's Finest #143(August 1964), Batman and Robin themselves visit Kandor with Superman and Olsen and the two Dynamic Duos team up.
In Superman Family #183 (May-June 1977), Superman's look-alike second cousin Van-Zee and his nephew Ak-Var take up the Nightwing and Flamebird identities. The vigilantes take on crime in their city as had Superman and Olsen before them.
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, 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. On Nite-Wing's first night out, he is shot and Dick Grayson as Nightwing, Blüdhaven's protector, 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 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.
In the series 52, while Dick Grayson, Robin and Batman are away, Nightwing comes to Gotham and meets the new Batwoman. On Christmas Eve, he gives her an official batarang.
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.
[edit] 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 film Batman Forever Dick Grayson (Chris O'Donnell) suggests "Nightwing" as a name for himself.
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."
[edit] Other uses in comic books
- In the DC Comic "Tangent Comics" fifth-week event, "Nightwing" is a mystical society.
| Robin | |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Bob Kane and Bill Finger |
| Secret identities: | Dick Grayson • Jason Todd • Tim Drake • Stephanie Brown |
| Allies: | Batman • Alfred Pennyworth • Batgirl • Nightwing • Oracle • Teen Titans |
| Antagonists: | Tony Zucco • The Joker • Catwoman • King Snake |
| Locations: | Batcave • Gotham City • Wayne Manor • Blüdhaven |
| Miscellanea: | Other media • Alternate versions of Robin |
| Batman | |
|---|---|
| Creators: | Bob Kane • Bill Finger • Other writers and artists |
| Supporting Characters: | Robin (Tim Drake) • Nightwing (Dick Grayson) • Batgirl • Batwoman • Alfred Pennyworth • Lucius Fox • Barbara Gordon • Commissioner Gordon • Harvey Bullock |
| Villains: | Bane • Catwoman • Clayface • Harley Quinn • Joker • Killer Croc • Mr. Freeze • Penguin • Poison Ivy • Ra's al Ghul • Red Hood (Jason Todd) • Riddler • Scarecrow • Two-Face • Other villains |
| Locations: | Arkham Asylum • Batcave • Gotham City • Wayne Enterprises • Wayne Manor |
| Miscellanea: | Batarang • Batmobile • Batsuit • Popular media • Publications • Storylines • Alternate versions of Batman |
