Nightwing

Created by Bob Kane

NOTE: This entry mostly covers Nightwing's direct involvement with the JLA and Outsiders. For more information, see the links below.

Dick Grayson began his adventuring as Batman's first sidekick, Robin. (Detective Comics #327) He began with a leg-up on a career as a super-hero due to his family's profession: that of the circus trapeze artist! His parents were murdered during a performance and Dick was taken in as the ward of Bruce Wayne (Batman). While still a teen, he was a founding member of the original Teen Titans, and stayed with them on and off throughout most of the Titans' history. (Brave and Bold #54, New Teen Titans #1) Upon adulthood, he asserted his individuality, took the name Nightwing (New Teen Titans #44) and struck out on his own. He pursued a civilian career as a police officer in the Gotham City suburb of Blüdhaven. When the Batman's back was broken by Bane, Dick assumed the mantle of Batman (III) himself, after Azrael proved too unstable. (Robin #0). He relinquished the mantle as soon as Bruce Wayne was recovered. (Batman #515)

Recently, he was appointed (in absentee) by the Batman to lead a substitute JLA when the main team was lost in time. (JLA #69) When they returned, Nightwing returned to his work and the Titans. (#75)

Dick led the Titans during their darkest hour. He lost two of his best friends, Donna Troy and Lilith Clay to the terror unleashed by a Superman robot at S.T.A.R. Labs. Before that, the team had been offered private funding from the corporation called Optitron. They pretended to have the world's educational interests at hear, but really wanted a big tax write-off. Nightwing, as leader of the Titans, rejected their offer and disbanded the team after the death of their friends. (Titans/Young Justice:Graduation Day #1-3)

His friend Roy (Arsenal) however, saw an opportunity. Without Nightwing's knowledge, he accepted Optitron's offer and set about forming a new team: the new Outsiders. Arsenal bought a new headquarters beneath New York City and successfully recruited the veteran Metamorpho as well as newcomers Grace and Thunder. In a controversial move, he also decided to accept Indigo as a member. This girl android had been responsible for activating the Superman robot, but her memories were wiped clean and she convinced him that she wanted to atone for the horror she'd caused.

Indigo's presence would prove to be a major sticking point for Arsenal's last recruit: Nightwing. The Titans' former leader was completely unwilling to renew his involvement in a team after such a devastating loss. Arsenal argued that the Outsiders were the next logical step for them beyond the Titans. And perhaps a team of strangers would operate more efficiently (and without the emotional attachments). Though Nightwing was still reluctant, he immediately rose to the call of leadership when Gorilla Grodd crashed a luxury liner into a New York City port. (Outsiders v.3 #1)

Dick is also currently involved in a romantic relationship with Barbara Gordon (Oracle).

In the DC/Marvel Amalgam universe cross-over (1996), Dick Grayson was known as Moonwing.

Nightwing possesses no metahuman abilities. He is a superb athlete and acrobat and is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant. From his extensive training by the Batman, he has developed a quick mind and become a master detective in his own right. He uses various utilities inside his wristbands, including small boomerangs and gas pellets. He frequently uses a high-powered motorcycle to get around.

Too numerous to list.

Teen Titans, 53 issues (1966-78)   New Teen Titans, 91 issues (1980-88)   New Teen Titans v.2, 130 issues (1984-96)   JLA/Titans, 3-issue mini-series (1998-99)   Nightwing v.1, 4-issue limited series (1995)   Nightwing v.2, current (1996-)  Batman: The Gauntlet, graphic novel, (1997)   The Titans, 50 issues (1999-2003)   Robin: Year One, 4-issue limited series (2000)  Titans/Legion: Universe Ablaze, 3-issue mini-series (2001)   Nightwing: The Target, one-shot (2001)

Titans  Outsiders   JSA > Robin of Earth-2  Titans Tower > Nightwing   The BatSquad.Net  Batman: Collected Issues of the Dark Knight

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