Once he shed his green short pants and donned the blue/black uniform of Nightwing, Dick Grayson was no longer Batman's sidekick. He was a hero in his own right. Especially when he took on the cause of tackling crime in Bludhaven.
It's been this way since the early 1980s. Yet, every so often, fans wonder if Dick is still a secondary hero when he works with the Dark Knight. To prove he's not, here are 10 Nightwing fan art pictures that prove Dick Grayson is no longer a sidekick.
10 Ready For Battle
When he was the Boy Wonder, Dick would have to wait for Batman's signal to act. This took a long time to happen in some cases. So, he hung out in the dark until called.
As RavernClouk displays in this piece of art, things have changed. Dick no longer waits to be called. Instead, he's always ready for action. Today, he's sometimes the one who asks Batman to wait.
9 From Boy To Man
Dick has been Nightwing for decades. Due to this, some millennials may not realize he was the first Robin unless they catch an origin issue or specifically want to know more about the hero.
Fortunately, Peter v Nguyen sheds some light on the matter with this piece of art. It perfectly illustrates, pardon the pun, Dick's two sides. One as the child hero, the other as the adult savior of Bludhaven.
8 Looking At You
Nightwing may not put the fear of death into villains as Batman does. However, he has "the stare" down pat. It's the one the Dark Knight uses to make criminals second-guess their choices and run away.
The expression is detailed in this piece from Havok Arts. Dick's mask may not be the same as he normally wears, but the look is on target. Particularly when it's used on a dark, stormy night. When he displays this stare, it petrifies you.
7 Suited Up
Fan artists are known for their redesigns of superhero costumes. It's an opportunity to display their skills and interpretations. ForeignFlames does this by showing Dick's independent streak.
Rather than go with a look similar to his mentor, he decides to armor up. Considering he regularly faces superhuman criminals, the additional protection is required. As a result, he doesn't have as many broken ribs as the Dark Knight.
6 I Go My Own Way
There's a scene in the animated film Batman and Harley Quinn that implies Nightwing and Joker's former girlfriend get quite intimate. Though this hasn't occurred in comic book continuity, it does provide a possible idea.
RollingGiru takes on the challenge and reveals how a potential relationship between the two former sidekicks would look. As Dick was always the lighter side of the Dynamic Duo, a pairing between him and Harley isn't a far stretch.
5 First Love
As Batman's partner, Dick never had a long-term relationship with anyone. Even when he left the protection of Bruce's cape and ventured on his own, his relationships were short. It wasn't until his leadership of the New Teen Titans that he was able to forge a lasting and loving relationship with Starfire.
It's revealed in Fossils' interpretation of the couple. It doesn't matter if the color of Nightwing's mask is off or Starfire's costume has a minimalist feel. It's the looks the heroes display that reveals what they once meant to each other.
4 Two-Face Goes Down
Two-Face has been a thorn in Nightwing's side since he swung around as Robin. Yet, when teamed with Batman, he rarely got a chance to beat the stuffing out of Harvey. That was left for the Dark Knight to handle.
Alex Reid provides an example of how Dick would react today if he came face-to-face with Harvey. There would be a lot of kicking and punching. Much of it done by Nightwing. Hence, the reason Dick has a satisfied grin on his face.
3 The New Dynamic Duo
Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson were the Dynamic Duo through the Golden and Silver Ages of comics. It wasn't until the Modern Age that Dick ventured out on his own. During this time, he began to pair up with Batgirl.
He didn't do this much when he became Nightwing due to Barbara's paralyzation. However, he's had plenty of opportunities once Bab's health was restored. Artist Miguel Blanco profiles this new version of the Dynamic Duo in his piece.
2 Showdown
Nightwing has a problem with Jason Todd. One, he decided to become the anti-hero Red Hood. Second, that he rose from the dead without any notification. Needless to say, he and Jason do not see eye to eye.
CalmseerArt looks at this rivalry through battle. In the artist's interpretation, Jason has similar traits to one of the Black Hats from an old Western. Guns out, he's prepared to take Nightwing down. Fortunately, Dick knows Jason well enough to be prepared.
1 In The Lead
As we mentioned, Dick was at the beck and call of Batman whenever they encountered a dangerous foe. Today, it's quite the opposite. There are some moments where Dick is the one who takes the lead.
An example of this is shown through this piece by PhillieCheesie. Here, Nightwing takes point while Tim Drake's Robin and Batman follow. Not only does it show Dick separated from his sidekick role but also the generational shift in authority.