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Summary
There is only one Dick Grayson , but there are several versions ofNightwingacross the DC Omniverse . Everyone is conversant with the original Robin ’s ascent to becoming Nightwing , but not everyone is conversant with how he total up with the name Nightwing for himself . He wasinspired by Superman to adopt the Nightwing namesake , a name that originates from a fabled Kryptonian hoagie .
The Nightwing name existed years before Dick decided to employ it for himself and continues to be used by other characters after and even during his current running game . Not only does his shock as Nightwing inspire others in the time to come to use his name , but a vast raiment of characters from other universes are gallant to conduct the name Nightwing for themselves as well . Here are some examples of not just the best characters to be Nightwing , but also the strongest .
11Nite-Wing, The (Rightfully) Forgotten Nightwing
First Appearance: Nightwing#8 by Chuck Dixon, Scott McDaniel, Karl Story, Roberta Tewes, and John Costanza
As a human , Nite - Wing ’s power spirit level would n’t be that different from Dick ’s Nightwing , in theory , but what create him unfit is that Dick is actually prepare in the art of crime - fighting . While Nite - Wing learn himself how to contend as a product of the street , it ’s not just formal training . That , alongside his misguided morality , makes Nite - Wing ’s run asNightwing ’s forget sidekickmore of a failed experimentation than anything else . If anything , his debatable edginess and distract violent streak make him the kind of character that Red Hood gets stereotyped for being .
10Dick Grayson, The Most Famous Nightwing
First Appearance:Detective Comics#38 by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and, Jerry Robinson.
Nightwing being grade among the weaker entries is not an indictment of him . Dick Grayson is still one of the most skilled Italian sandwich in the DC Universe , hence why he ’s presently leading the Heron community into the Dawn of DCas its centerpiece . One can even argue he’ssurpassed his mentor Batmanas a investigator , a leader , a crime - fighter , and an overall sub . The only reasonableness he ( and many of his predate Bat - Family members ) are n’t rank higher is because , as humans , their ability level do n’t rank as strong aso the metahumans and Kryptonians this list will focus on afterward .
9Jason Todd, The Nightwing Copycat
First Appearance:Batman#357 by Gerry Conway, Don Newton, Alfredo Alcala, Adrienne Roy, and Ben Oda
Jason Todd ’s original Pre - Crisis debutin DC lore control him as an unlimited imitator of the Robin before him , seem as the Logos of two acrobats dispatch by a supervillain . However , during the " One class Later " story arc and beginning inNightwing#118,those copycat comparisons from Pre - Crisis become far more designed and overtwhen Jason impersonates a more murderous side of Nightwing . Initially , he hopes to strike something of a partnership with the original Nightwing , but when Dick refuses , Jason seeks instead to replace him .
8Damian Wayne Kills Dick and Takes His Identity
First Appearance (Injustice Universe):Injustice: Gods Among Us#4 by Tom Taylor, Tom Derenick, Mike S. Miller, Alejandro Sanchez, David Lopez, and Wes Abbott
In the main canon of DC Comics , Damian Wayne still has a long way to go before he surpasses Dick Grayson as the better Robin , let alone a good hero . However , in theInjusticeUniverse , Damian Wayne manages to take over the Nightwing mantle for himself after drink down his predecessor . Granted , Damian does so accidentally inDC ’s most controversial expiry , but being shunned by his biological father is enough to determine him on a new path entirely . Even after join Superman ’s side , Damian adopt Nightwing ’s identity and genuinely tries to atone for his mistakesto become a better grinder .
7Barbara Gordon Sports a Blue Lantern Ring
First Appearance:Smallville Season 11#5 by Bryan Q. Miller, ChrisCross, Marc Deering, Carrie Strachan, and Saida Temofonte
Often the object of Dick ’s affection , Barbara Gordon is far different in theSmallvilletelevision series ' line of sequel comics . In a world where Batman never take on Dick Grayson , Barbara Gordon is his ward , fight criminal offence under the name Nightwing . What separates her from most member of the Bat - Family trained the same way isthat she receive the ultimate power supercharge thanks to a Blue Lantern Ring . Barbara was already a badass , but becoming a Blue Lantern in a move too daring for the independent DC canon is enough to help her pass her full potency .
6Cheyenne Freemont is the First Female Nightwing in Official DC Canon
First Appearance:Nightwing#118 by Bruce Jones, Joe Dodd, BIT, Javier Rodriguez, and Pat Brosseau
Cheyenne Freemont is n’t the only distaff Nightwing on this list , but in the main canon , she ’s the first . Even before becoming a hero , the psionic baron she develops from her metahuman parents make her something of a powerhouse in her own rightfield , even if she prefers lying low and living a normal life . That is , until she becomesNightwing ’s love interest . Dick ’s influence on her inspires the telekinetic to create a Nightwing costume for herself . Her heroine vocation is short - lived , but she stick in herself in DC ’s history book the bit she couch her costume on .
5Power Girl Becomes Nightwing
First Appearance:Supergirl(2005) #6 by Greg Rucka, Ed Benes, Norm Rapmund, Rod Reis, and Comicraft
When Ultraman takes over the feeding bottle city of Kandor , pretending to be Superman to champion his own tyranny , a new active Duo steps onto the shot to salve the day . The unlikely mating arrives in the pattern of Kara Zor - L and Kara Zor - El . Most commonly , the two are best known as Power Girl and Supergirl , respectively , but to relieve Kandor , they adopt the identity element of Flamebird and Nightwing . They ’re not the first span to adopt those name ( more on that later ) , but they make a formidable threat together . This is especially true for the rebrandedPower Girl , who , as Nightwing , sports an armor that , for defence aim , makes her all the more of a tough antagonist .
4Van-Zee
First appearance:Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane#15 by Otto Binder and Kurt Schaffenberger
The name Van - Zee may not echo a bell to most readers today , but in DC ’s original Pre - Crisis Earth - One persistence , Van - Zee is subservient in sum to the legacy of Nightwing . Van - Zee is a Kryptonian scientist living in the bottleful city of Kandor before using his skills to grow himself to full - size of it . With his weird resemblance to his first cousin , Superman , he is often necessitate to play the grinder on Clark ’s behalf as his body double while Superman is in Kandor as Nightwing . In time , Van - Zee becomes the hero of Kandor himself , taking on the mantle of Nightwing in Superman ’s absence .
3Chris Kent is Stronger Than Most Kryptonians
First Appearance:Action Comics#844 by Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, Adam Kubert, Dave Stewart, and Rob Leigh
Christopher Kent ’s origin story sees him clang - land on Earth from the Phantom Zone once his don , General Zod , send him in a Eruca sativa ship to carry out his dastardly plans . However , under the adopt care of Superman and Lois Lane , Chris grows to take a different track down a more positive moral route . With the assistant of Kandor ’s Thara Ak - Var , the two become Flamebird and Nightwing . Their names are based on two Kryptonian gods , but after being interpenetrate with the tycoon of manifesting fire and psychokinesis , severally , they become stronger than the average Kryptonian .
2Superman is One-Half of Kandor’s Dynamic Duo
First Appearance:Action Comics#1 by Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster
Superman , of course , is not the average Kryptonian . The Pre - Crisis era of DC first introduce the bottle metropolis of Kandor , with Superman determined to figure out how to re - size them . However , once the denizen turn on one of DC ’s strongest heroes in favor of a scientist who claims to know how to re - size Kandor himself , Superman seek the help of Jimmy Olsen to investigate the issue . Togethery they adopt the superhero disguises of Nightwing and Flamebird , withtheir names inspired by Kryptonian skirt . When their efforts are over , they pass their mantles to Van - Zee and Ak - var to carry on their bequest as hoagy of Kandor .
