Because of Bruce Wayne's immense wealth and resources, he's managed to create a Batman persona that's as creative as he is intimidating. This means that he has the ability to develop advanced gadgets to help in his crime-fighting while also going so far as to create transportation for any situation. In doing so, those that have been integrated into his crusade, like Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, and Barbara Gordon, also have access to the various means of transportation at Bruce's disposal. But when these heroes go out on their own, they have to fend for themselves.

Since these heroes desire independence more than anything, the Bat-Family has never been afraid to get their hands dirty to achieve their dreams. This will best be known in the upcoming Gotham Knights video game where each hero, including Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl, and Robin, has to find their own way to traverse Gotham City without Batman's tools. But one calls back to a classic Nightwing gadget that first appeared in Nightwing #141 (by Peter J. Tomasi and Rags Morales) - his glider. While it may not operate like how it did in the comics, it will still allow Dick to navigate between buildings in a way that fits its comic roots and the characters' values.

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Why Did Nightwing Start Using a Glider?

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During an arc where Nightwing had to discover a string of mysterious killings, it was clear that he could not cover the ground necessary without a glider cape like Batman. However, even if he could, he still needed speed to keep up with the massive area he had to cover. Furthermore, the area he had started to protect was largely flat, aside from the skyscrapers he had encountered in the city. Knowing that he needed something to help him get from point A to point B quickly, he began work on a glider that would allow him to reach each location rapidly. But the glider also carried a symbolic significance.

Dick Grayson started life with his family as an acrobat with Haley's Circus. While that life ended when his parents were killed, Dick never stopped gymnastics. In fact, it became a crucial part of his maneuvers as Robin and helped to define him from how Batman moved. However, by the time he became Nightwing, he had embraced the more dangerous side of acrobatics, falling. With an affinity for skydiving, he felt freer than ever and allowed himself to be reminded that ha net couldn't always catch him. As a result, the glider splits the difference between freedom and danger.

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How Useful Has Nightwing's Glider Been To Batman's Protege?

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While it's not seen much in modern comics, Nightwing's glider carried great importance both practically and symbolically while Nightwing fought crime. For starters, it allowed him to move just as quickly as Batman but in a way that better fit Dick's sensibilities. It may not be a super fast car or a gliding cape, but it worked for the hero as he could feel the wind on his face and get wherever he needed to, both quickly and silently.

However, the glider also showed how he had further embraced his title as Nightwing and grew more accustomed to branding himself. Now he could get the drop on people without having to make a sound and from anywhere, like a bird. Gotham Knights will likely make the most out of Nightwing's most useful gadget but will also harken back to an era of the character where all he wanted was freedom and independence. While his glider may not be prominent now, it's still tied to the character as a definitive expression of his character.