Warning: SPOILERS for Nightwing #51
Dick Grayson may be retiring from his role as a Bat-Family superhero, but a new Blüdhaven police officer has stepped up to become DC's new Nightwing.
It isn't the first time that a member of the Batman family decided to call it quits, only to have another civilian take on the responsibilities. But it is the first time that Bruce Wayne's original Robin has decided to cut ties to his old life, and start living for himself (taking a bullet to the head will do that to you). And for Dick Grayson-- sorry, Ric Grayson these days, that means burning his Nightwing costumes and weaponry, and starting fresh.
At least that was his intention... but DC's newest Nightwing has different plans for the hero's legacy.
- This Page: The Identity of The New Nightwing
- Next Page: Dick Grayson isn't Actually Quitting, Right?
Nightwing's Base is Found by a (Good) Cop
When we say Grayson meant to burn what remained of Nightwing, we're not using metaphor: Nightwing #50 ended with Batman's former sidekick setting fire to his costumes, his tech, weapons, motorcycle, everything. The first scene of Nightwing #51 shows that the arson was less than flawless, and Blüdhaven firefighters were able to put out the blaze before it actually consumed all, or from the looks of it, even most of the contents. The smoke kept the firefighters from identifying the base for what it truly was - but not Detective Sapienza, the first member of Blüdhaven police to arrive and discover the former headquarters of Nightwing.
RELATED: Dick Grayson Survived a Bullet, But Nightwing Didn't
Sapienza offers a new perspective on Dick's brain injury, recovery, and retirement by revealing that four months have passed without any sign of the city's former protector. And considering that Blüdhaven has often been seen as corrupt and dangerous enough to make Gotham look good, the criminal element has flourished in Nightwing's absence. And when the fire chief reassures Sapienza that he's doing everything in his power to keep the city's worst elements at bay, the gears being turning in the detective's head.
Looking out at a city desperately in need of its high-flying, vigilante guardian angel, and standing in front of Nightwing's arsenal without any sign of the hero's return... the answer is clear.
DC's New Nightwing is Born
The Epilogue of this issue returns to the scene, as Detective Sapienza (whose first name is not yet given) dons the costume and mask made famous by Nightwing. The detective's accompanying dialogue boxes confirm he's doing this job for all the right reasons, looking to protect the citizens of Blüdhaven that he can't protect as just a police officer. Where that line is going to be drawn is the biggest question moving forward, especially given the one major difference between Sapienza's Nightwing, and Dick Grayson's.
The biggest difference in their costumes is the holster and handgun - a common accessory for a police detective, but a detail guaranteed to concern some fans based on the above image alone. If it's simply to emphasize that a different kind of person has taken over as the new Nightwing, then the change could be an intriguing one. After all, Dick Grayson chose a career in law enforcement as part of creating his own path (which ultimately created the Nightwing identity).
But if the gun is a sign that Detective Sapienza is going to don the Nightwing costume so he can use force not allowed by a peace officer... well, we're sure Dick's other Bat-allies will have something to say about it. Because we seriously doubt that Dick Grayson himself will actually care...
Page 2 of 2: When is Dick Grayson Coming Back To Nightwing?
What Comes Next For Dick Grayson's Retirement?
The story of Dick Grayson taking a bullet to the brain, recovering, but possessing none of the memories - not of Batman, or his time as Robin, or Nightwing - is one that DC is clearly committed to telling for the foreseeable future. Even with the writing duties passing from Benjamin Percy to Scott Lobdell and Fabian Nicieza, the attitude taken by Dick when speaking with Alfred is exactly as it was. That with his past erased, Dick was free to make his own destiny - an idea that even Batman must concede is understandable, given Dick's painful past.
RELATED: TITANS Fan Art Turns Robin Into Nightwing
But fans of Grayson shouldn't worry too much, since no matter what Dick, Ric, or whatever else he wants to call himself may claim, the man he was is still a part of him. Even if the memories are coming back to him in strange nightmares, his muscle memory can't be shut off as easily. A point hinted at in the previous issue when Grayson used his skills to stop an armed gunman, and returned to in Issue #51, when the click of a mugger's trigger finger sends him into combat mode.
Without thinking, Grayson turns the mugger into an unconscious, bloody mess. The abilities are a bad sign, not a good one to Grayson. But to the fans reading his journey from crimefighter to self-centered cab driver, it's a glimmer of hope that Dick Grayson may not be able to ignore his true nature. And from the plot details released for the coming issues, the original Nightwing may be needed sooner rather than later.
"The Nightwings" Are Coming, But Who Are They?
From the sound of it, Detective Sapienza isn't the only citizen of Blüdhaven who decides that the city needs a Nightwing. The group of vigilantes have been referred to in solicits as both the "Knight Terrors" and "The Nightwings" (the latter being the more recent), hinting at a street-level task force of concerned citizens. But if the job were that easy, then Batman and Nightwing wouldn't have been needed in the first place. So it's no surprise to see DC's solicitations for Nightwing #54 allude to a growing need for Grayson:
The Nightwings have been picking up the slack Dick Grayson left behind, making a dent in petty crime and cleaning up the streets of Blüdhaven. But as Scarecrow’s plan comes to fruition, it looks like they may have bitten off more than they can chew…putting Grayson in a position he was not prepared for. One where he may be forced to become a hero once more…
Fans will be eager to see who these other vigilantes "picking up the slack" turn out to be, and whether they will all don a version of Nightwing's costume? Are they recruited by Detective Sapienza, or unrelated copycats? Will Scarecrow make them pay for their community service before Dick Grayson can save them?
Those questions will be answered when Nightwing #54 is released in January 2019. Until then, the biggest question isn't whether or not the original Nightwing returns to the suit and mask... but whether it will be the same Dick Grayson who wore it before. Same Dick, but a different brain, perhaps?
Nightwing #51 is available now from DC Comics.
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