Nightwing: Every Major Version in DC Comics History

With news that Chris McKay is in final talks to direct a Nightwing solo film for DC Films and Warner Bros, fans are instantly wondering who should play the character, Nightwing, also known as Dick Grayson. While that’s an easy thing to focus on, there’s a much deeper story to Nightwing in the world of DC Comics than simply “Robin grew up.”

In fact, there are many other characters besides Dick Grayson who have been called Nightwing, from mythical heroes to parallel worlds to cheap imitations, the name has been spread around. Eventually, it tends to come back to Dick Grayson, but you can click through to learn about the other characters that have held that mantle.

Nightwing – Dick Grayson

If you know one Nightwing, this is probably the one. Dick Grayson decided to strike out on his own as a hero, and wanted to leave the Robin identity (and Batman’s shadow) behind. In modern continuity, he’s inspired by the tale of the mythical Kryptonian Nightwing, as told to him by Superman, and decides to adopt the identity. His costume used to have a bitchin’ collar, and hopefully we’ll see it in the movie as an easter egg. An acrobat, his also-acrobat parents were killed when he was young, and he was taken in by Bruce Wayne, trained as his sidekick and ward as Robin, and eventually became Nightwing. He’s given up the identity a few times, to serve a couple times as Batman in Bruce’s stead, to be a cop, and to be a secret agent (which was awesome). Dick Grayson is known throughout comics fandom for having an oustanding derrier. Seriously. Search “nightwing butt” on Tumblr, we dare you.

Nightwing – Superman

Yes, Superman, Kal-el, has been Nightwing, twice, in fact. In Pre-Crisis, he was the first ever to be called Nightwing, in 1963. While in Kandor, he had no powers, and he took on the name Nightwing, while Jimmy Olsen was the first Flamebird.

Post-Crisis, the two characters were no longer just Kryptonian birds, they were Kryptonian legends.

Superman donned the Nightwing identity on a reformed Krypton in the post-crisis world, alongside Lois Lane as Flamebird. 

Nite-Wing – Tad Ryerstad

An unstable fan of vigilantes in Blüdhaven, Tad became a misspelled version of Nightwing, Nite-Wing. He was… overzealous, more likely to beat someone down for jaywalking than take on a supervillain. After beating a gang and an FBI agent to death, his career was pretty much over.

Nightwing – Jason Todd

Yup, Jason Todd was Nightwing in New York City. It was just a few issues, and didn’t really have any impact on either Todd or Grayson. But hey, it happened! Oh, and he murdered people, so that wasn’t cool.

Nightwing – Power Girl

Much like Superman, Power Girl found herself in Kandor, and alongside Supergirl (who of course is her alternate-Earth counterpart, because comics) they took on the identities of Nightwing and Flamebird. Incidentally, her Nightwing costume was preeeeeetty terrifying.

Nightwing – Chris Kent

The son of Zod, Chris Kent was taken in by Clark and Lois. He became a true Kryptonian Nightwing, alongside a Kryptonian Flamebird, Thara Ak-Var. The pair had actual connections to the mythological creatures (more like Marvel’s Phoenix Force), and through their connections had regular Kryptonian abilities as well as additional powers.

Nightwing – Damian Wayne

There have been several other one-off Nightwings, usually in some alternate reality or another, but the most notable of these was Damian Wayne, son of Bruce, in Injustice: Gods Among Us. Having turned against his father Batman, Damian joined Superman’s regime as the new Nightwing… oh, and you know, he killed Dick Grayson in that universe to get the mantle in the first place. Somehow, Damian will be back to being Robin in the sequel game.