Street-level heroes are some of the most popular heroes in comics and two of the best are Nightwing and Daredevil. Nightwing has been doing the job since he was a child and has become one of the best heroes in the DC Universe. Daredevil defends the city both as a vigilante and a lawyer and is one of the best pure fighters in the Marvel Universe.
While both heroes have more than proven themselves many times over, both of them are often in the shadow of others, namely Batman and Spider-Man, respectively. However, each of them has the skills and accomplishments to be in consideration for the best street-level hero of them all.
10 Nightwing Is The Best: His Unique Offensive Style Has Won A Lot Of Fights
Nightwing's fighting style has evolved over the years and it's helped him a lot in fights. His acrobatic background gave him a leg up in training, as he was already skilled and strong when he began his work with Batman. His time with the Caped Crusader and on his own made him even better, allowing him to punch way above his weight class.
Nightwing has been in some tough battles over the years and he's been able to win against foes who should have ended him because of his unique fighting style, which mixes high-flying acrobatics with martial arts.
9 Daredevil Is The Best: He's A Ninja With An Impressive Skill-Set
Daredevil's ninja training is one of his most important skills. Daredevil has been in a lot of fights over the years and his fighting skills have gotten him through all of them. In fact, Daredevil has been able to beat some people that he most definitely shouldn't have, like Spider-Man, Wolverine, and Hercules, all because of his fighting skills.
Being a ninja is basically what makes Daredevil so formidable a vigilante. Without his amazing fighting skills, he would have been killed years ago.
8 Nightwing Is The Best: The Sheer Breadth Of His Experience Is Incomparable
Nightwing started crimefighting at a very young age, much younger than most heroes out there. In that time, he's worked with Batman, founded and led the Teen Titans and Titans, defended his own city, and took over as Batman. He's done way more than just fighting street-level criminals and villains.
Nightwing has been all around the superhero block in ways that Daredevil just hasn't. He has experience with all kinds of foes and all kinds of situations, which has served him well in his years as a costumed hero. There are few out there who can compete with the kind of experience that Nightwing has.
7 Daredevil Is The Best: He Knows How To Fight Smarter Not Harder
Daredevil's improbable wins have a lot to do with his ninja skills but another factor is just how smart he is. Daredevil has been fighting evil for a long time and while he isn't scientist smart, he's quick-witted and has a keen strategic mind, a legacy of his skills as a defense attorney.
His time in the courtroom has readied him for just about anything- he's learned to think fast to overcome his foes, whether it be with a logical counterargument or a kick in the face when his opponent least expects it. Daredevil fights smart and this has allowed him to persevere in a tough line of work.
6 Nightwing Is The Best: He Defends A Dangerous City All On His Own
Gotham City is the most dangerous city in comics, but a close second is Bludhaven. A port town known for its legal gambling, it attracted a whole lot of criminals, from street toughs to gangsters. The municipal authorities were notoriously corrupt and the city was generally bad news. Nightwing chose it to protect and he does it all on his own.
While he's not above asking for help, Nightwing faces down the trials of one of the most dangerous cities in comics all on his own. Sure, Hell's Kitchen is tough, but New York City is home to a plethora of vigilantes. Bludhaven isn't- it's just Nightwing.
5 Daredevil Is The Best: His Radar Senses Give Him A Huge Edge Over His Foes
Daredevil's blindness is made up for his by his super senses. His sense of touch is so keen he can read books with it. His sense of smell is one of the greatest in comics but his most important sense is his hearing, which is the one that gives him his fabled radar sense.
Daredevil can see because of sonar- the sound waves bouncing around allow him to visualize a room in his mind. He can hear heartbeats and know where his foes are and if they're lying. This sense can also allow him to anticipate his foes' moves a split second before they make him, allowing him to dodge blows and counterattack, giving yet another edge over his foes.
4 Nightwing Is The Best: He Is The Best Connected Hero Around
One of the unwritten rules of the DC Universe is that everyone loves Nightwing. Every hero around respects him and he has cordial relationships with everybody in a way his mentor Batman doesn't. He's the elder statesman of the Titans team and if he needs help he can call on heroes as diverse as fellow former Robin Tim Drake to Superman.
These connections have helped Nightwing a lot over the years. When things are at their worse, Nightwing knows he can call on all kinds of help if he needs it.
3 Daredevil Is The Best: His Foes Are Truly Some Of The Dangerous Men And Women Around
Daredevil's greatest enemy is Kingpin, the biggest criminal in America. Kingpin's web of criminality makes him one of the most dangerous men around- anyone who can afford to keep Bullseye on retainer is raking in the cash. On top of that, Kingpin himself is no slouch in the fighting department- he's a mountain of muscle that has even challenged Spider-Man.
The fact that out of all the heroes in New York City Kingpin has labeled Daredevil his greatest enemy speaks to just how formidable Daredevil is. Anyone who can so thoroughly earn the ire of Kingpin is one of the best heroes on the streets.
2 Nightwing Is The Best: He's Learned From The Best And Went His Own Way
Nightwing has one of the best mentors in all of comics- Batman. His time as the Dark Knight's protege gave him all manner of skills, making him a keen detective, cunning strategist, and one of the toughest, most skilled fighters around. His time as Robin exposed him to the greatest heroes around and he learned all he could from them.
Instead of sitting on his laurels and trading on the reputation of his mentor, Nightwing followed his own path. He forged his own identity and made his own reputation, even taking over as Batman for a time. Nightwing has learned his lessons well but he's his own man.
1 Daredevil Is The Best: He's The Man Without Fear And That Gives Him An Advantage
Daredevil is known as the man without fear and that's pretty much the best way to describe him. It doesn't matter what he's up against- nothing daunts him. As much as anything else, this is the quality that has made him such a great hero. A man without fear is a man who can't be beat.
Daredevil will throw himself into fray, no matter what the odds against him are and keep fighting, using all of his skills and abilities to triumph. This approach to crimefighting has earned him his fierce reputation and has allowed him to stand out in a city full of crimefighters.