WARNING: Contains potential spoilers for Nightwing #121!
Nightwing is proving once and for all that he is his own hero, redefining his crime-fighting tactics and moving further away from the lessons – and perhaps even morals – instilled in him by Batman. However, the question remains: will Dick Grayson's new approach to heroism see him surpass the Dark Knight, or will it result in a fall from grace?
The acquisition of the company by Dan Watters and Dexter Soy Nightwing directed by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo ushered in a new era for the Original Boy Wonder, introducing not only new villains and challenges, but also significant changes to Dick's crime-fighting tactics – changes that he and Batgirl admit Batman would disapprove of.
These changes first became apparent in issue #119, Watters and Soy's series debut, and their latest release, issue #121, further confirms that Dick has little regard for Bruce's methodology and code. As he collaborates with the gangs of Blüdhaven, he apparently cuts deals with supervillains and abandons some of the Dark Knight's hard-won lessons.It's clear that Nightwing is forging his own path.
Nightwing abandons Batman's LAST crime-fighting tactic
Even Batgirl Barbara Gordon recognizes that Nightwing is evolving as a hero
Nightwing #121 follows Dick's somewhat botched break-in at Spheric Solutions, a weapons manufacturing company run by CEO Olivia Pearce. The company specializes in creating weapons designed to kill superheroes and has recently militarized the Blüdhaven police force. In this issue, Dick changes his approach, opting to gather information not through his Nightwing persona, but as billionaire Dick Grayson. He offers to invest in Pearce's company, going one step further by requesting a seat on the company's board—a risky move considering he would be funding the same weapons that target his own community: the superhero community.
However, it is later revealed that Dick's meeting with Pearce and his offer were simply a ruse to get close enough to his personal hard drive to make a clone of him. Although the drive is encrypted, Dick points out that Barbara Gordon is more than capable of cracking it. This clever and sneaky strategy highlights how much Nightwing is deviating from Batman's usual methods, as upon learning of Dick's accomplishment, Barbara is impressed by his subtle information gathering, observing how he once allegedly broke her window and made threats to get the information he needed.
In response to Barbara's comment, Dick points out that after many spankings, he learned that “intimidation” It is not a comprehensive solution to fighting crime. Although Batman is not mentioned directly, the use of the word 'intimidation' – in bold for emphasis –it seems like a direct reference to the Dark Knight, who often relies on intimidation as a primary tactic. Dick's statement that intimidation is not always the answer highlights his deliberate departure from the tactics he learned from Batman, as Bruce would likely have used intimidation to get answers from Pearce.
Nightwing is taking Red Hood's crime-fighting tactics to a new level
Nightwing isn't just making deals with the gangs of Bludhaven, he's helping them
Dick forgoing intimidation in favor of a more subtle approach isn't the only way Watters and Soy's trajectory showed the Original Boy Wonder evolving as a hero. In Nightwing #119, Dick faces a three-front war of rising gang tensions, a militarized police force, and spherical solutions. In an effort to avoid bloodshed, Nightwing makes a deal with each of the gangs: he will not arrest them as long as they avoid fighting each other and instead call him if there is any trouble. Dick's choice to broker deals to control crime rather than directly stop it is reminiscent of Judd Winick's decision. Red Hood wasand both Dick and Barbara agree that Batman would disapprove of this approach.
Issue #121 takes Nightwing's relationship with the gangs even further when he confronts them after a misunderstanding. During this conversation, Dick gains a new perspective and empathy for gangs. When a police raid in Blüdhaven interrupts them, Dick helps the gang members avoid arrest and actively fights the BPD. This change – Nightwing opposing local law enforcement and now helping the gangs of Blüdhaven – marks a major evolution in his heroism and highlights a shift in tactics that contrasts sharply with Batman's methods. The question now is whether Nightwing new approach will lead you to overcome Batmanor whether it will result in a fall from grace.
Nightwing #121 is now available from DC Comics!