Ode to Nightwing
by: sidekick 1 year, 11 months, 1 week, 3 days, 6 hours, 13 minutes ago 22
Email Article Print ArticleIts time to geek out. First on my list is Nightwing
Disclaimer:
These are my thoughts and wishes for Dick Grayson and not Bruce Wayne’s Batman. I am attempting, and hope you do as well, to stay out of the current trend of having Batman verses the Universe where Batman kicks the crap out of the Universe.
It has come to my attention that currently no one in the business knows what to do with Nightwing. There is a theme that is being played out in Dick Grayson’s story line lately that portrays him as a third tier superhero. Grayson was the first sidekick of arguably one of the greatest heroes in comicdom, yet today Nightwing is seen as the next door tenet that you tell everyone he’s cool, but you never invite him out in fear of being seen with him.
I am sick and tired of the current writers portraying Grayson as a lame hero who can have his ass handed to him by anyone on the street. The storylines have Grayson barely being able to take down the common thug, but in every third issue someone shows up and reminds him he is as skilled as Batman. I know in the Batman books Bruce has to overcome obstacles that only Batman can overcome, but that should be the same for Nightwing. Dick is not a novice and he can certainly hand Tim Drake his head if he choses to do so. Dick Grayson was a skilled acrobat already in his pre-teen years. After he lost his parents Batman trained the kid from then on. Batman had to travel all over the world and train for years to become who he is, and Dick was getting all this experience in one-shot. He has trained longer with Batman than any other Robin to date. In fact, Batman put on the costume when he was 25-28 years of age, depending on storyline, and Grayson put on the costume when he was 8-10 years of age. Grayson has been fighting the good fight as long or if not longer than a handful of heroes in the DCU.
He has experienced just as many battles as Batman, yet for some reason Nightwing is consistently portrayed as inept/clumsy when crime fighting on his own. He is light hearted at times, but seriously, he is a master at what he does. He is as good as Batman, YES I SAID IT!!! He has earned the right to be considered a contender on Batman’s level. I did not say he was better than Batman, since once again Batman can pulverize a solar system if he wanted too. Grayson is a greater natural athlete than Batman in my opinion due to his up bringing, which makes him near flawless in his fighting style. He was trained as a detective by the world’s greatest detective and he posses a high I.Q. Batman has the above genius level I.Q., but Nightwing can hold his own with Batman which many a hero/villan cannot claim.
Hell, Batman even recruited him to lead the new justice league during the Obsidian age. It was short, but finally a good call on the creator’s part. They even gave Dick his own city and monthly title. In the beginning I found the book interesting and as dark as the Batman titles. Now, I just do not understand what they are trying to do? The story line with him as a model that is portraying Nightwing is LAME!! “Hey Bruce you have a big chest, can you fill out this Batman suite for the company get together?” Hum…no…! Why do the writers go for the easy story lines? I want my Nightwing to be the prodigy of Batman because that is what he is, and not the lame excuse for a superhero he is becoming. In fact, when Nightwing joined the mob as a bad guy, cleverly named crutches, the story line was almost interesting. He was taking all the training he had from Batman and was going to turn to the dark side. Don’t worry anyone working on Nightwing will lead him into a cool idea only to have it sucked away by poor story lines and crappy pacing. Besides, DC was bringing back Jason Todd, which also bothered me when it came to Grayson. Yes, it was a cool concept and yes I did enjoy the story line up to where they reveled who the Red Hood was. Then I started wondering how Jason is able to match Batman and Nightwing in physical prowess. Can Jason take down Tim, once again sure, but Batman and Nightwing?
I collect/read Robin as well, and I know that the other current trend is to make Tim the future Batman, but come on we all know that will never happen. Yes we do, in your fantasy world you can pretend that Bruce hangs up the tights and gives Tim the belt and keys to the cave, but Bruce will always be Batman. Yet he did train the Robins’, so what do you do with them? Well, Tim has a chance since he is still connected with Batman, thus an interesting story line, but old Nightwing is left out there to join or quit every super team they put him with. Mind you this occurs every six issues. Check it out you will see how many times he has been usurped in power. At least in the Teen Titan years he led for a bit…then quit…then rejoined only to quit again. I know that DC was considering terminating Nightwing but a fan base sprung up and kept him alive. Yes I am part of that fan base. I don’t have a problem with Nightwing going away, since we all know DC will bring him back anyway, but I would want him to go out like the hero I have come to love.
It is time for Nightwing to be the hero he should be. He has not become the defiant figure in comic continuum as of yet. He has been circling the drain for years, due to once again no one understanding or knowing what to do with Nightwing. He is not called Daywing, Sunwing, or Bright Shinning Bat; he is part of the Night thus dark, mysterious, strange, and dreary. Put Dick back into the element he grew up in. Give him a deeper purpose and meaning instead of the current, “I don’t have any other skills, so I guess I’ll just prowl rooftops.” Quit ignoring his roots since that is what makes him interesting and different from any other hero in the DC universe. Nightwing can be great if only someone will give him the opportunity and stop sabotaging his story at every turn. He will never find true love, home with white-picked fence, wife, kids, and little league. Why? Because he was not raised to strive for the ever oppressing American dream, he was raised to question everything, to trust no one, and to be the baddest man in the room at all times.
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I agree. I have always liked Dick Grayson. Nightwing has so much potential.
Indeed Mulder,
Nightwing just needs some TLC from true fans and not rookie interns trying to work their way up to Batman or Superman.
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I thought the Batman: The Animated Series episodes with Dick Grayson as Nightwing were my favorite episodes. I always liked to compare Nightwing to Batman and Superman. He seems to be have the best personality qualities of both heroes. He has the brains, grit, and sheer determination that makes Batman the most popular DC hero, yet he has Superman’s appreciation for life, morals, and good down home values. In fact, if I remember some where, Superman was the hero that Dick admired most outside of Batman. Considering the fact that Dick was brought up by the borderline crazy Batman and instead of having the near impervious Kryptonian body of Superman but a frail human body, Nightwing’s stories could be filled with dark, gritty, dramatic-heartbreaking even-stories as Dick copes with who he is, who he wants to be, and who Batman thinks he ought to be. So much potential.
Nightwing is lame because he is a whiner! Like Anakin Skywalker who whined constantly, Dick Grayson has the same affliction and will never live up to his potential!
He always reminded me of Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) from Star Trek: Next Generation which isn’t a good thing IMHO.
"Grayson was the first sidekick” and if this statement is true, there is some sad news to come.
No less then three dictionaries say this about a “sidekick”. 1. a close friend, confederate or assistant. 2. A close companion or comrade 3. a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities.
This leads me to think, being a sidekick is like having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. In the latin it is “regaliter fututus” loosely translated as “royally screwed”.
No where does it say the sidekick gets as much respect as the real Hero. The sidekick is just along for the ride. He goes where his buddies or friends go and enjoys the reflected glow from the others.
Not to say he isn’t valuable or making a contributions but he isn’t “The Man” so he will always be considered “lessor”. It is just a sad fact of life for a sidekick. Sidekicks are the “Rodney Dangerfield” of Superheros. They just can’t get no respect.
Sad, but true. :-(
Nightwing needs new writers to reinvent the character just like all the other characters have been reinvented. I remember when many a DC character who was not Batman or Superman were considered lessor. A good writer can change all of that.
Ok...to address some feedback:
“Nightwing is lame because he is a whiner! Like Anakin Skywalker who whined constantly, Dick Grayson has the same affliction and will never live up to his potential! “
The writers are the one responsible for his disposition. They have chosen to have him whine, and then kick some serious ass, and then reflect, and then have father issues. He is all over the place and that is the writers and not his fault.
“He always reminded me of Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) from Star Trek: Next Generation which isn’t a good thing IMHO.”
Wesley was lame; Nightwing is the opposite of lame. Wesley was filler who never reached adult hood on the show, and would never come out of the automated closet. Nightwing’s character has been developed into the ground, yet they do not do anything with him. He should be able to grow and continue with his development and stop regressing back to the familiar that writers keep going to.
I have to agree with Lufguy about the placement of sidekicks, but remember Robin is the sidekick and Nightwing is now his own independent character. He should be allowed and encouraged to grow out of the current stereotype he has been placed in, since DC decided to split the team in the first place. Robin is now the lackey who washes the car, but Nightwing should have his own car, cave, and possibly his own sidekick.
Remember don’t be hate’en.
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Sidekick, it may be time for you to start your own comic. I hear we have an artist looking for a job. See Nymphs post on the “The Brothers, Dabel!” article.
You guys could be the first home grown, Komikazee success story.
Can I get a copy number 1 when you make it big?
Ode to Nightwing (a.k.a. Dick Grayson):
Nightwing you are a Dick,
You whine and whine and can’t fight a lick,
Truth be told, if I may be so bold,
You’ll always be a little prick.
Curves,
Don’t quit your day job
Definitely don’t want Curve writing Nightwing; then he would definitely be a whiner.
Respond: Ode to Nightwing II
Nightwing it has been said you are a dick
That you run around and don’t give a lick
Yet truth be told, and since your are so bold
If you had to fight an X-man
He/she would get their butt kicked.
Heheheheh...and now the rebuttal.
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Script for the Nightwing Movie
Nightwing tries to comfort a runaway girl from Kentucky who is now a hooker. After whining and nagging her for one hour and thirty minutes, about how she could do so much better for herself, her pimp comes in and lays the smack down on Nightwing for the last thirty minutes of the movie. End Movie.
Casting for movie:
Clay Aiken: Nightwing
Runaway Ho: Britney Spears
Pimp: Gary Coleman
Hickory Dickory Dock,
Nightwing is strangled with a sock.
The sock got tighter,
Nightwing’s no Fighter!
Hickory Dickory Dock.
Wow. Can you feel the love tonight.... Please tell us how you really feel on this post folks.. don’t hold it in, I insist.
Curve proves terrible writing destroys a great character. Hooray!
If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?
Actually, I like the movie idea. I don’t know why but to see Coleman cut up some hookers and Clay Aiken just might make the movie worth while...I’ll have to get back to you on this one…
Luguy,
Remember, “I come to bury Caesar not praise him, for Brutus says he was an honorable man.”
And we all know what Brutus did....
-sk-
Et tu, Sidekick? I figured you for a Shakespeare kind of guy since you seem to like poetry and prose so much.