Nightwing's history stretches back to the Golden Age of Comics. Nightwing was the first sidekick in comics, learning the ropes from Batman as Robin. Dick Grayson is an integral part of comic history, creating a mantle that has stood the test of time and becoming an amazing hero in his own right. DC didn't always give Nightwing the respect he deserves, but that has changed in recent years. Nightwing has proven just as important as members of DC's Trinity, and he's a solid leader in the DC superhero community.
Nightwing has a higher profile than ever. New fans are becoming intrigued with Nightwing and are curious about the character's history. There's a lot to go through, but there are certain pieces of lore that every new reader needs to know. This lore will help new fans understand Nightwing better so they can follow along with his greatest stories.
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10 Nightwing And The Titans Are The New Justice League
The Titans are a formidable team. The adult original Teen Titans have been through a lot over the years, but they've always been third string after the Justice League and Justice Society. All of that changed after Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman decided it was time to retire the Justice League and let the Titans take over as the main defenders of the world, with Nightwing front and center as leader.
Nightwing has been a leader for a long time, but he's gotten his biggest promotion yet, along with the Titans. The team has done pretty well so far, and it shows just how capable Nightwing and the Titans are. Nightwing has always deserved a bigger place in the DC Multiverse, and leading the Titans again is putting him on the top.
9 Nightwing Founded The Teen Titans As Robin
Dick Grayson was the first sidekick in DC Comics, but he was far from the last and eventually all of them got together to form the Teen Titans. Robin (Grayson), Kid Flash, and Aqualad were the first members, but soon Speedy, Donna Troy, and Bumblebee joined them in their battle for justice. Later, the original team expanded to include Guardian II, Golden Eagle, Lilith, and Gnaark.
Eventually, the New Teen Titans hit the scene. Original Titans Robin, Kid Flash, and Donna Troy partnered with new teen heroes like Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven, as well as Beast Boy from the Doom Patrol. The Teen Titans became a huge part of the superhero community, shaping how young teen heroes were portrayed in comics.
8 Nightwing Saved The Multiverse
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Nightwing took the lead in the battle against Deathstroke and his Dark Army during Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. He also worked to figure out what happened to the Justice League. Nightwing kept things together long enough for the Justice League to come back, which gave Jace Fox, Jon Kent, and Yara Flor the chance to defeat Pariah. However, this allowed Deathstroke to take on the full power of the Great Darkness. Deathstroke then tried to destroy Nightwing.
Nightwing was able to resist the power of darkness. His light and hope proved powerful enough to destroy Deathstroke's hatred, and Nightwing used the leftover power to fuel the return of the Multiverse. Nightwing saved existence, and he did it by refusing to give into the darkness in his life.
7 Nightwing Led The Justice League For A Time
The Justice League is a storied team. Most know about the Big Seven League: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Martian Manhunter. Over the years, nearly every great DC hero has joined the team. As Nightwing, Dick Grayson has never been on the main Justice League. He was simply on reserve. However, Dick Grayson has led the Justice League while under a different mantle.
During Dick Grayson's second tenure as Batman, he brought together a new iteration of the Justice League. This League defended the Earth from the end of Blackest Night to Flashpoint, when the DC Multiverse changed to the New 52. The team combined Teen Titans alums with many second generation heroes to create a unique team capable of handling the Earth's greatest threats.
6 The Ric Grayson Years Took Readers By Surprise
Nightwing's Ric Grayson years remain one of the most controversial portions of his history. At the time DC boss Dan DiDio was looking for a tragedy that could unite Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman. Given Nightwing's importance and influence on all three characters, Dan DiDio felt tragedy befalling Dick Grayson would be meaningful. The result was a story where Nightwing was shot in the head by the KGBeast and the brain trauma created a new personality: Ric Grayson.
No one liked Ric Grayson, but it's still an important part of Nightwing's history. Ric did his best to not be Nightwing while denying his life as Dick Grayson, and was replaced by several Blüdhaven civil servants. However, Ric was still forced to help them as Nightwing. Eventually, Dick Grayson returned after an attack on Nightwing by the Joker.
5 Nightwing Becomes A Billionaire
Nightwing is now massively wealthy, which has changed the way he works. Alfred Pennyworth was very well-compensated for his work as the Wayne butler, and amassed a fortune that was in the hundred billion range. Alfred was killed by Bane and ended up leaving his entire fortune to Dick. After the Ric Grayson years, when Dick came back, received the inheritance.
Suddenly, Nightwing had the money that allowed him to do anything. He re-devoted himself to Blüdhaven, investing in the city and trying to destroy crime. Nightwing financed all kinds of public works projects and rebuilt Titans Tower in his city. Nightwing has used his moneys to make the city a better place in ways that his mentor Batman never used his money.
4 Dick Grayson Took Over As Batman After Azrael's Defeat As The Dark Knight
Knightfall rocked Gotham City, especially after Bane broke Batman's back. Bruce chose Jean-Paul Valley, the vigilante known as Azrael, to take over as Batman. Azrael's reign as Batman was brutal. Eventually, a healed Batman came back and defeated him, but Bruce Wayne didn't come back as Batman immediately. Instead, Dick Grayson became Batman for a short time while Bruce healed a little more.
This was Nightwing's first tenure as Batman. He worked with Tim Drake, who was Robin at the time, but this run as Batman wasn't exactly spectacular for Nightwing. Eventually, Dick returned to being Nightwing, his taste of the big time spurring him into new directions.
3 Nightwing Goes To Blüdhaven
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For years, Nightwing was just the leader of the Teen Titans. However, after his first tenure as Batman, he got the solo hero bug and eventually went to Blüdhaven. The city was known for a history of piracy and crime, and Nightwing stepped in as its protector. Nightwing gained his own rogues gallery, including his arch-enemy being Blockbuster II, the super strong kingpin of the city's criminal element.
Nightwing took to being the protector of the city like a fish to water. Nightwing was never a solo hero until then, always working with Batman or Batgirl or the Teen Titans. However, he had come up protecting a city, and was very good at it. Nightwing proved he was more than capable of defending a city, and it was the true beginning of his legend as his own hero.
2 Nightwing's Second Stint As Batman Showed He Was Ready For The Big Time
Batman's "death" in Final Crisis led to a vacuum in the superhero community. Several people tried to step in, but only one person succeeded: Nightwing. Nightwing won the battle for the cowl and became Batman, working with Damian Wayne. Dick Grayson trained Damian as Robin and was a very different Dark Knight. Nightwing fought to protect Gotham, working hard to keep the city as safe as possible. Nightwing succeeded more often than not.
Nightwing's second stint as Batman lasted much longer and showed just how much he learned and changed over the years. It was a huge step forward for Nightwing, allowing him to become a bigger part of the superhero community. Nightwing made an amazing Batman.
1 Dick Grayson Becoming Nightwing Made All Of His Growth Possible
The Teen Titan's battle against Deathstroke and Terra changed the team forever. Before their attack, Dick Grayson had announced he was quitting being Robin, but wasn't stopping his superhero career. Because he revealed his identity to Terra, the rest of the Teen Titans did as well, which allowed Deathstroke to go after them. Dick Grayson escaped Deathstroke and took on his new name, Nightwing, inspired by a Kryptonian hero Superman told him about.
Nightwing was integral to defeating Deathstroke and Terra. Nightwing and Jericho, Deathtstroke's son, infiltrated the H.I.V.E., where the group was captured. Freeing them, Nightwing led them to victory against their captors. Nightwing's first battle saved his friends and the day.
