Two of the most successful costumed vigilantes of all time are Daredevil and Nightwing. Neither character is an A-lister- Daredevil has always been in the shadow of Spider-Man in terms of street-level heroes and Nightwing may be the most successful sidekick of all time, but there's a giant bat-shaped shadow he'll always be under.
The two characters have legions of fans and some of the biggest names in the comic industry have worked on them. Over the years, the two characters have had very different superheroic careers but there are also some striking similarities between the two of them. This list is going to a look at both the differences and similarities between them.
10 Way They're Different: Daredevil Has Superpowers
Right off the bat, a huge difference between Nightwing and Daredevil is that Daredevil has superpowers. The accident that took away his sight when he was younger also enhanced his remaining senses to superhuman levels and enhanced his agility.
This is a very big difference between the two characters- Nightwing is very much a normal human in world full of superpowered beings while Daredevil has a unique advantage over many of his foes and the criminals he fights.
9 Way They're The Same: Ladies Love Them
A huge similarity between the characters is that the ladies are all over them. Both men have had long term relationships and short term dalliances and are known for their lady killing ways. Nightwing is well known for his extremely recognizable asset (Batgirl and other women he's been with can always identify him from his behind).
Daredevil has always been more of a one-woman man, with long term relationships with Karen Page, Elektra, and his ex-wife Mia, but that doesn't make any less of a ladies' man.
8 Way They're Different: That Time Daredevil Gaslit Everybody About His Secret Identity
During Brian Michael Bendis' seminal Daredevil run, one of the biggest developments was Daredevil's secret identity becoming known to the citizens of New York City and honestly, Daredevil was pretty scummy about the whole thing. He denied everything, even to people who knew the truth and basically acted like the worst stereotypes of the lawyer profession.
Nightwing's secret identity was also revealed but he dealt with it in a much better way, joining SPYRAL and traveling the world as a secret agent but definitely not gaslighting his friends.
7 Way They're The Same: Similar Weapons
Nightwing, as a student of Batman, has been known to use all kinds of weapons over the years but his main weapons are his Escrima Sticks- shatterproof polymer sticks that he uses to even up the odds in his fights.
Daredevil isn't known for using as many weapons as Nightwing or other Batman trained vigilantes, but his main weapon are his billy clubs which are extremely similar to Nightwing's Escrima Sticks. These weapons allow both men to even up the odds in their fights.
6 Way They're Different: Daredevil Has Always Been More Of A Loner
Nightwing, going back to his time as Robin, has always been a part of a team and defined by his relationship with other heroes. Whether it be Batman, the Teen Titans, his friendships with the Robins who came after him, or his time with SYPRAL, Nightwing works very well with others.
Daredevil, on the other hand, isn't much of a joiner. He has friends and has worked with other heroes, but he's not been a member of teams as much as Nightwing or being a leader like Nightwing has been.
5 Way They're The Same: High-Flying, Acrobatic Fighting Styles
A very big similarity between the two characters is their fighting style, which take advantage of their acrobatic skills. Both men are known for flipping around, jumping over their opponents, and fighting in a fluid, balletic style.
This also extends to how they travel through their respective cities. Neither man is afraid of heights and it shows as they swing through the night, making use of their acrobatic skills and sheer fearlessness to get around and get the drop on their enemies.
4 Way They're Different: Their Attitudes
Both Nightwing and Daredevil have been through a lot of tragedy over the years but one of the biggest differences between the characters is how they've dealt with those tragedies. Often times, Daredevil has been a morose, sometimes unpleasant man driven more by his anger than anything else.
Nightwing, on the other hand, has always been more of a chipper dude, quick to make a joke or wisecrack. He's also known for being one of the easiest heroes in the DC Universe to talk to, always ready to give advice or just listen to his superheroic compatriots.
3 Way They're The Same: Cool Costumes
One of the things that it's impossible to deny with both characters is that they have very cool costumes. Nightwing went through different costumes over the years before settling on his current look, which is quite iconic. Daredevil hasn't went through nearly as many costume changes over the years, but he also had some very cool costumes.
Yes, even the '90s armored look was pretty cool and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise.
2 Way They're Different: Daredevil Is Ridiculously OP
While both Nightwing and Daredevil have won a lot of fights over the years, Daredevil owns some wins over people that are kind of inexplicable. Daredevil has defeated guys like Spider-Man, Wolverine, Beast, Captain America, and Hercules. Yes, the demigod who can go punch for punch with Thor.
Nigthwing has won some fights that can be kind of questionable, but for whatever reason, all kinds of writers have given Daredevil some frankly unbelievable victories over the years.
1 Way They're The Same: Tenacity
The biggest similarity between Nightwing and Daredevil is their tenacity. Both heroes never give up and keep fighting no matter what. It doesn't matter how big the threat is- these two are always going to give it their all. It's this tenacity that has allowed them to overcome the odds over the years.
These two men have persevered in a very dangerous line of work and a huge part of that is that they are tenacious.