Dick Grayson is one of those eccentric that has cope to constantly germinate with the times ; he can trample the darkness while remaining a light , approachable character . He was Spider - Man before there was one . He even has his own buff - run database , which gratefully — though astonishingly — isn’t anticipate Dickipedia . Dick Grayson is one of the oldest characters in DC Comics history with almost eighty years ’ worth of escapade sweep dozens of continuities . To break down the salutary Nightwing comedian is a unmanageable chore .

There ’s a limit to the phone number of Chuck Dixon stories on this tilt , because he could have easily taken it over . The list keeps it to the comical book , which is whyBatman : The Animated Seriesclassics likeRobin ’s ReckoningandOld Woundsdidn’t make the cutting off . While primarily known for his roles as Robin and Nightwing , it ’s important to respect every aspect of his history , including his time as a spy and as Batman .

UPDATE: 2022/12/13 11:10 EST BY GEORGE CHRYSOSTOMOU

Fans continue to await Nightwing on the big screen , but with James Gunn taking over , it might be time for Dick Grayson to get the cinematic attention he deserves . These comic book narration should surely be calculate over , if the incoming originative team are looking influential stories to accommodate , establish on Batman ’s former protégé .

Batman: Prodigal

When searching for the best Nightwing comedian it ’s surd to ignore the employment onBatman : Prodigalfrom Chuck Dixon . The narrative is a part of the largerKnightfallsaga and regard Bruce Wayne fight with his back injuries , incurred from the wrath of the antagonist Bane .

The narrative control Dick Grayson don the cowl , step up as Batman in a way that perhaps only he could . He has massive horseshoe to fill up , and the story spreads across multiple comic al-Qur’an runs , with DC ’s other heroes oppose to the new kid on the block as he continues to tackle the legacy of Wayne and how he has pull up stakes Gotham .

Nightwing #140-146: Freefall

If Nightwing was to look on the screenin the DCEU thenFreefallmight be a grotesque arc to look into further . Written by Don Kramer , Peter Tomasi , and Michael Bair with art from Rags Morales , the level calls on Dick to become the cosmos ’s nifty detective in his own right .

The bodies of deceased villain have begun to disappear , leading Nightwing into a complex infernal region of experiment and the League of Assassins . Although Talia Al Ghul is a scoundrel of bank note here , it ’s Dr. Creighton Kendall who add something unparalleled to the premise , with Nightwing looking to define himself outside of Batman ’s fantasm in an iconic discharge in the fibre ’s history . Visually , the mediaeval tension permeates from the pageboy .

Batman Chronicles: The Gauntlet

The Gauntletis one of the few single issues to be specially published on its own , rather than as part of a assemblage . It details the dark that Robin actually became Robin . Batman presents one concluding challenge to a young Dick Grayson : survive in Gotham on his own for one night . If Bruce ca n’t catch him in that sentence , he ’s worthy of being The Dark Knight ’s partner .

The Boy Wonder sets out , though he ’s not only on the outpouring from his mentor , but the mafia has put a collision out on Robin . He must evade both parties and spoil the rout . take in that there are other life at stake , Dick leaves clues for Batman to regain that will direct him to the bad Guy . by nature , things go a bit sidewise , but it ’s nothing Robin ca n’t deal .

(Rebirth) Nightwing #15 & #16: Even in a Dream/Nightwing Must Die

These two stories are a microcosm of what wee-wee Dick Grayson the beloved character that he is : he ’s an every - man . Even in a Dreamtakes lieu over two months , showing his budding relationship with Shawn Tsang as the two pin in love , competitiveness , makeup , and create a strange but static living with each other . Writer Tim Seeley ’s literate and careful structure build for the lector a sense of affection for the couple , and through Grayson ’s voiceover and thematic usage of Euripides ’ tale of Hercules , a sense of dread too . Seeley connects the construct of superheroes to Hellenic myth , and underlines the ingredients of tragedy that are in the desoxyribonucleic acid of both .

Dick handles falling in love like everything else — he just dives right in regardless of consequence — but when the fruition hits him , it ’s with a good sense of both rest period and brat , particularly the latter when finding out she might be significant or when he recognize she ’s operate . The reactions are very human , and very approachable , which is implausibly rarified for superhero comics .

Battle for the Cowl

struggle for the Cowlis a Hollywood blockbuster in comic form . Bruce Wayne is make-believe dead ( taxation aim ) , Gotham is burning , and Damian Wayne stole a Batmobile to plunk up girls . Plus , Jason Todd has become a threat . He has declare himself the city ’s savior and is shooting anything that move . Tim Drake realizes that Gotham needs a squash racquet and put on the cowl himself .

What follows is vestal bubblegum fun with Batman vs. Batman , followed by Batman vs. Batman II . The GCPD is round , Killer Croc eats a tween because Oracle turf out her from the Batmobile , Mr. Zsasz continues to be a failure . Dogs and cats living together , aggregative frenzy ! On a quality level , Battle for the Cowlis about which one of Bruce ’s sons is suitable of taking up his mantle . While it ’s obvious that Dick is the veracious option , the mo needed to feel like a fabulous Book of Revelation for Grayson . The miniseries is quick , and place up the explosive , kinetic ride that the new Batman and Robin would become make love for .

Nightwing #25: The Boys

Back in the ' 90 , Chuck Dixon essentially write everyBatmanbook on the bandstand , includingNightwingandRobin . Here , Dick and Tim Drake hang out to do some blindfolded parkour crimefighting in Blüdhaven , Nightwing ’s city that makes Gotham look like Paradise Island . If the action was removed from the script , and excise any mention to the superhero game , they ’d be a complete and normal character story between brothers . Being the younger one , Tim feels like he must live up to the expectation Dick go under , while Grayson himself is try on to become his own man and remain sovereign . Tim is trying to understand family relationship dynamics within the family and with miss , Dick is imparting brotherly advice , and they ’re both subtly worried about the time to come .

By far the best part of their conversation is Nightwing ’s response to Tim mentioning his girlfriend was pregnant . It ’s an absolutely perfect , realistic answer , and a testament to what can be done when a author is allowed to slack down the tread for a instant and let the characters do the work .

The White Knight

This is a forgotten gem in Peter J. Tomasi ’s pre - New 52Batman & Robinrun , where Dick is still Batman , and Gotham had conformed to the Modern Dynamic Duo . The urban center they protect was definitely still Gotham , but it ’s presented very otherwise . The gothic patterns remain , but there ’s more light ; fluorescent neon turn over the series a kinetic feel , making this finger younger . Dick and Damian are Batman and Robin here , and they ’re much younger than their previous counterparts . They investigate the execution of villains ’ family members by a maniac looking for revenge ; himself literally as luminescent as the city .

Of naturally , the underlying theme hit hard ; nature vs. raising . Are the families free , or is there really something there an evil gene ? This go to a watershed between Dick and Damian , and it terminate not with Robin going too far to catch the villain , but Batman . It ’s heady material , and it ’s technically a filler arc , but the pace is firm , the character work is tops , and Pat Gleason ’s death tableaus are worthy ofHannibal .

Nightwing: Year One

Another Chuck Dixon tale ( this one co - written with Scott Beatty ) ! Many of Dick Grayson ’s adventures have been metaphors for do of age , andNightwing : class Oneis no exception . Here , dad ’s kicked him out of the theatre , and he needs to find a way to survive . By the time Dick was in his late teens , he and Bruce were not getting along . Bruce fired him , and Nightwing was tolerate .

The crux of the storyis Dick figuring out if hewants to go into the Bat - family line of work , and through his many connection to the various sections of the DCU , realise that in Barbara Gordon , Boston Brand , the Teen Titans , and the Justice League , he already has a folk . He takes the name Nightwing out of respect for Superman . The period was to give Nightwing the hero ’s journeying he require and further differentiate the former Boy Wonder from Batman . Yes , both of them are orphan because of criminals , but while Batman fights in the name of vengeance , Nightwing does it because it ’s the right matter to do .

Batman: Nine Lives

Presented in old newspaper publisher slip formatting , Nine Livesis a noir recall taking place in the 1940s , and is game than a dry out - up rock oil derrick . This is Batman by way of Raymond Chandler and James Ellroy , the sort of narration that would have made Bill Finger proud .

While it is aBatmantitle , Dick Grayson is the focus of the story ; here , a former soldier turned drunken private optic who is investigating the murder of Selina Kyle , a madam whose client serve the rich and most influential in Gotham . The miniseries reimagines everyone in the Batman oeuvre . It ’s vicious and nasty , but the essential chords of the characters remain the same . It ’s a case study — specially of Dick Grayson — show us that there are certain traits hardwired into the character . Even when he ’s a sottish , belly-up mess in a crumple , live - in suit , Dick Grayson will always try out to do the right affair . He ’ll improvise rather than plan . He ’ll put his life on the production line .

Nightwing and Batman imagery

Collage of Willow and Clash of the Titans

marvel’s sentry with his comic-book villains

Split image of Nightwing in DC Comics

Batman Prodigal Cover

Nightwing Freefall Cover

Robin on the cover of Batman Chronicles The Gauntlet

Nightwing and the Defacer in Nightwing Rebirth 15

Battle for the Cowl Batman comic

Nightwing and Robin in Nightwing 25 The Boys

Damian Wayne as Robin in The White Knight arc

Nightwing DC Comics

Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon in Batman Nine Lives

Nightwing