Fans often list Nightwing as one of the most beloved characters published by DC Comics. Since Dick Grayson's debut as Robin in 1940, the character has played an important role in major events at the company. Whether jumping into battle as Batman's first sidekick, helping to establish the Teen Titans, or going undercover to investigate a nefarious spy organization, Nightwing has consistently forged new territory as a character.
At his best, Nightwing is portrayed as one of the talented martial artists in the DCU, a cunning strategist, and loyal friend. Unfortunately, DC hasn't always focused on this type of characterization and have allowed plots to eliminate Nightwing's potential as one of the best characters at DC.
10 Dick's Leadership Skills Are Downplayed
Dick has been portrayed as leader of the Titans as Robin and as Nightwing. However, the constant push to center Nightwing's story around Gotham and the Bat Family has resulted in storylines where Dick has abandoned the Titans when he needs them most. Dick is portrayed as a part-time member of the Titans, instead of being the strong leader he was established as being in the 1980s.
Attempts by Tom Taylor to insert the Titans into the Nightwing solo comic continue to downplay Nightwing's natural leadership abilities. Instead of Dick directing the team he founded, Barbara Gordon is displayed as the leader, despite the fact that she's never been a member of the team.
9 Nightwing Doesn't Deal With Emotionally Devastating Past Storylines
While fans typically want the Nightwing comics to be full of hope, previous storylines depicting the character have had potentially devastating ramifications. Nightwing has watched his city be destroyed, he's been sexually assaulted by Tarantula and Mirage, he's seen multiple brothers die, three children of his best friends have died, he lost his adopted father, Alfred has died, and Nightwing's circus has been revealed to have been part of the Court of Owls. All of these storylines have the ability to make Dick grow as a more complex character. Characters sorting through their trauma can make them better characters, but DC hasn't allowed that growth for Nightwing.
8 DC Makes Nightwing Into A Second-Choice Batman
Part of Dick Grayson's journey to become Nightwing involves him realizing he doesn't want to be Batman. Instead, he becomes Nightwing and successfully transitions into his own adult hero. Despite a major part of Dick Grayson's character revolving around never wanting to follow in Bruce Wayne's footsteps, DC has made him take up the mantle twice.
Nightwing first became Batman in 1994, after Bruce Wayne's back was broken by Bane. The second time Dick became Batman was in 2009 after Bruce Wayne's apparent death. Continually making Dick take up a mantel he never wanted makes him a second-rate Batman and makes him a perpetual sidekick — constantly waiting to take his mentor's place.
7 Nightwing Should Have Graduated To The Justice League Permanently
Nightwing is one of the top martial artists at DC, and his acrobat abilities are almost unmatched. He's been constantly learning from the best fighters in the DCU since childhood, and has sparred with Amazons, Deathstroke the Terminator, and all the super-powered beings who have been Titans. Grayson knows all of Batman's weaknesses and has seen Batman's fighting abilities up close.
In every way, Dick Grayson proved worthy of being a permanent member of the Justice League. While Dick briefly worked with the Justice League, they were temporarily positions and only available when Bruce Wayne was unable to be there. Nightwing has earned a place himself, like his contemporaries Roy Harper and Wally West.
6 DC Takes Risks With Nightwing But Never Allows Them To Stick
Throughout his history, Nightwing has taken some unexpected turns. He's worked with Deathstroke undercover while pretending to be a villain. He's also worked as a spy trying to take down Spyral. He's almost married an alien princess. He's had his public identity exposed, and he's lost his memories.
Despite these risks, DC is unwilling to allow any of the changes to stick. While many of the drastic changes were met with fan resistance, the storylines still allowed the character to grow in new directions outside of Batman's shadow. By continually playing it safe and refusing to expand upon these risks, DC has missed out on Nightwing's potential.
5 Nightwing Has Been Written As A Disloyal Friend And Partner
Dick Grayson has described himself as a one-woman man, and it took him a long time to get over the fact that Kory had to have a political marriage. In comics published since, Dick cheats on Kory with Barbara the night before his wedding to Kory is supposed to take place.
Dick has also had some problems being a loyal friend in certain comics. He's called Roy Harper a "junkie" while the latter was sober and replaced Tim Drake as Robin without even discussing it with Tim first. The loyalty and devotion Nightwing fans want from him has been ignored in storylines about his friendship and his romantic partnerships.
4 DC Refuses To Let Him Have Adult Relationships
Dick Grayson's first "crush" on Barbara Gordon was unrequited. She was an adult closer in age to Batman, and he was a teenage sidekick. The infatuation was brief; Dick grew up and had adult relationships in college and in the Titans.
In the 1990s, Chuck Dixon retcons all of that character growth for Dick and has him spend his entire life since puberty having a crush on Batgirl. Making Dick's entire personal life revolve around someone he knew as a kid sticks him forever in the shadow of being Batman's sidekick.
3 Dick's Friendships Have Been Erased Or Ignored
Throughout the Outsiders, Dick's friendship with Roy Harper became the focal point. Dick told him at one point that there was nobody else Dick would rather go into battle with than Roy. Yet, DC erased and ignored that friendship almost entirely in the New 52, instead deciding to make Roy best friends with Jason Todd.
Dick also referred to Donna Troy has his best friend, yet when he was shot in the head, the storyline allowed Barbara Gordon to follow him around and bizarrely assert that she was his best friend. Likewise, during Dick's time undercover with Deathstroke, he formed a close mentor relationship with Rose Wilson. That relationship was completely ignored. Constantly erasing Dick's friendships made his storylines less fulfilling.
2 DC Won't Let Him Have A Supporting Cast That Isn't Related To Batman
Every good hero needs their own supporting cast. Superman, Batman, and The Flash are good examples of heroes whose supporting casts are known almost as well as the heroes themselves are by fans and the public.
The vast majority of Dick's supporting cast are Batman's supporting cast. This includes Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, and Jason Todd. Major storylines revolve around Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce Wayne. Even Dick's girlfriend is Batgirl. To fully reach his potential as a superhero, Dick's supporting cast needs to be unrelated to Batman.
1 The Bludhaven Storyline Is Retconned
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
Bludhaven is Dick Grayson's city, and at one point, he had to watch the city blow up without being able to stop it. After rescuing Rose Wilson from her father and issuing orders for Slade to leave Bludhaven, Slade decided to get revenge. Wilson dropped Chemo onto the city a mere 34 hours later.
This storyline should've had major repercussions in Nightwing's storyline, much like John Stewart's failure to save a world did in the Odyssey storyline. Instead, Dick relocates to New York and doesn't seem to have any issue with the fact his city is destroyed. Later, the entire storyline of Bludhaven's destruction is retconned.