DC Relaunch: Nightwing

As people, one of the more difficult things we often have to accept in our lives is that we have outgrown something. Whether it be something as simply watching a show that's not quite our age level as we progress up, or something more complex, where we feel embarrassed for our old attachments.  But we move on, and create new pieces for ourselves, new molds for us to grow in. In comics we often want our heroes for freeze in time and stay that same age we remember forever. But what ended up being a surprise move was the day that Dick Grayson grew up, threw off the pixie boots, put on some damn pants, and became Nightwing.

Nightwing is the Dick Grayson coming into his own. While many people may argue that his brief tenure as Batman would be this, I would say that his time as Batman is him holding up the mantle, waiting for the true bearer to come pick it up so he could go back to the life he felt he should be living. Nightwing represented Dick's freedom from the Bat, no longer being the necessary sidekick to the bat and cowl. And while at the time of the original self-transformation, there was an argument between him and Bruce, Dick has maintained his friendship with his old chum .

Usually as Nightwing, Dick Grayson has stayed somewhere other than Gotham for his personal adventures. Often early on this was wherever the Titans were. As time went on, he established himself as protector Bludhaven, and later in New York City when Bludhaven fell under a nuclear attack. This time he'll be staying in Gotham, and the dark mirror than was placed under him as Batman will only warp slightly in image. Despite these new villains, Dick's personality always shines through. Extremely friendly and light in mood at just about all times, Dick has been there as adopted son, surrogate older brother, mentor, and even lover. So now Nightwing dons again the shoes that feel most comfortable, albeit with a slightly different design, and returns to us as Nightwing.


Taking us through Nightwing's high wire act will be writer Kyle Higgins. Higgins is still establishing his credit as a writer, but he's been doing a great job, providing backups to David Hine's controversial "Nightrunner" storyline, and co-writing with Scott Snyder Batman: Gates of Gotham. Joining Higgins on art will be Eddy Barrows, most recently having worked with J. Michael Stracyznski and Chris Roberson on the Superman walk-a-thon, "Grounded." Prior to that, he had worked on Action Comics with Greg Rucka during the "World Without a Superman" storyline, and with Sean McKeever on Teen Titans.

Today I'm going to note one each from the creators who I think did the best work on the Nightwing title:

Nightwing: Year One by Chuck Dixon, Scott Beatty, Scott McDaniel & Andy Owens
Nightwing: Mobbed Up by Devin Grayson, Phil Hester, Andre Parks, & Cliff Chiang
Nightwing: Freefall by Pete Tomasi & Rags Morales

Tomorrow, we'll take a look at Red Hood & the Outlaws, and avoid current Freudian discussion about what sometimes, is just piping.