Every Version of Nightwing Across DC Continuity

There is only one Dick Grayson, but there are several versions of Nightwing across the DC Omniverse. Everyone is familiar with the original Robin’s ascent to becoming Nightwing, but not everyone is familiar with how he came up with the name Nightwing for himself. He was inspired by Superman to adopt the Nightwing namesake, a name that originates from a legendary Kryptonian hero.

The Nightwing name existed years before Dick decided to use it for himself and continues to be used by other characters after and even during his current run. Not only does his impact as Nightwing inspire others in the future to use his name, but a vast array of characters from other universes are proud to carry the name Nightwing for themselves as well. Here are some examples of not just the best characters to be Nightwing, but also the strongest.

11 Nite-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 level wouldn’t be that different from Dick’s Nightwing, in theory, but what makes him worse is that Dick is actually trained in the art of crime-fighting. While Nite-Wing taught himself how to fight as a product of the streets, it’s not exactly formal training. That, alongside his misguided morality, makes Nite-Wing’s run as Nightwing’s forgotten sidekick more of a failed experiment than anything else. If anything, his problematic edginess and unhinged violent streak make him the kind of character that Red Hood gets stereotyped for being.

10 Dick Grayson, The Most Famous Nightwing

First Appearance: Detective Comics #38 by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and, Jerry Robinson.

Nightwing being ranked among the weaker entries is not an indictment of him. Dick Grayson is still one of the most skilled heroes in the DC Universe, hence why he’s currently leading the hero community into the Dawn of DC as its centerpiece. One can even argue he’s surpassed his mentor Batman as a detective, a leader, a crime-fighter, and an overall hero. The only reason he (and many of his preceding Bat-Family members) aren’t ranked higher is because, as humans, their power levels don’t rank as strong aso the metahumans and Kryptonians this list will focus on later.

9 Jason 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 debut in DC lore saw him as an outright copycat of the Robin before him, appearing as the son of two acrobats murdered by a supervillain. However, during the “One Year Later” story arc and beginning in Nightwing #118, those copycat comparisons from Pre-Crisis become far more intentional and overt when 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.

8 Damian 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 best Robin, let alone a better hero. However, in the Injustice Universe, Damian Wayne manages to take over the Nightwing mantle for himself after killing his predecessor. Granted, Damian does so accidentally in DC’s most controversial death, but being shunned by his biological father is enough to set him on a new path entirely. Even after joining Superman’s side, Damian adopts Nightwing’s identity and genuinely tries to atone for his mistakes to become a better hero.

7 Barbara 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 the Smallville television series’ line of sequel comics. In a world where Batman never meets Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon is his ward, fighting crime under the name Nightwing. What separates her from most members of the Bat-Family trained the same way is that she receives the ultimate power boost thanks to a Blue Lantern Ring. Barbara was already a badass, but becoming a Blue Lantern in a move too daring for the main DC canon is enough to help her reach her full potential.

6 Cheyenne 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 isn’t the only female Nightwing on this list, but in the main canon, she’s the first. Even before becoming a hero, the psionic powers she develops from her metahuman parents make her something of a powerhouse in her own right, even if she prefers lying low and living a normal life. That is, until she becomes Nightwing’s love interest. Dick’s influence on her inspires the telekinetic to create a Nightwing costume for herself. Her heroine career is short-lived, but she inserts herself in DC’s history books the moment she puts her costume on.

5 Power Girl Becomes Nightwing

First Appearance: Supergirl (2005) #6 by Greg Rucka, Ed Benes, Norm Rapmund, Rod Reis, and Comicraft

When Ultraman takes over the bottle city of Kandor, pretending to be Superman in order to champion his own dictatorship, a new Dynamic Duo steps onto the scene to save the day. The unlikely pairing arrives in the form of Kara Zor-L and Kara Zor-El. Most commonly, the two are best known as Power Girl and Supergirl, respectively, but to save Kandor, they adopt the identities of Flamebird and Nightwing. They’re not the first pair to adopt those names (more on that later), but they make a formidable threat together. This is especially true for the rebranded Power Girl, who, as Nightwing, sports an armor that, for defense purposes, makes her all the more of a tougher opponent.

4 Van-Zee

First appearance: Superman’s Girl Friend, Lois Lane #15 by Otto Binder and Kurt Schaffenberger

The name Van-Zee may not ring a bell to most readers today, but in DC’s original Pre-Crisis Earth-One continuity, Van-Zee is instrumental in adding to the legacy of Nightwing. Van-Zee is a Kryptonian scientist living in the bottle city of Kandor before using his skills to grow himself to full-size. With his uncanny resemblance to his cousin, Superman, he is often asked to play the hero 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.

3 Chris 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 crash-land on Earth from the Phantom Zone once his father, General Zod, sends him in a rocket ship to carry out his dastardly plans. However, under the adopted care of Superman and Lois Lane, Chris grows to take a different path down a more positive moral road. With the help of Kandor’s Thara Ak-Var, the two become Flamebird and Nightwing. Their names are based on two Kryptonian gods, but after being imbued with the powers of manifesting fire and telekinesis, respectively, they become stronger than the average Kryptonian.

2 Superman 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 introduces the bottle city of Kandor, with Superman determined to figure out how to re-size them. However, once the inhabitants turn on one of DC’s strongest heroes in favor of a scientist who claims to know how to re-size Kandor himself, Superman seeks the help of Jimmy Olsen to investigate the matter. Togethery they adopt the superhero disguises of Nightwing and Flamebird, with their names inspired by Kryptonian birds. When their efforts are over, they pass their mantles to Van-Zee and Ak-var to carry on their legacy as heroes of Kandor.

1 A Kryptonian God Officially Begins the Legend of Nightwing

First Appearance: Action Comics #886 by Greg Rucka, Eric Trautmann, Pere Perez, Fernando Dagnino, Javier Mena, and Rob Leigh

In the current canon of DC Comics, Superman still inspires Dick Grayson to adopt the name Nightwing, but the name’s origins come from a Kryptonian god rather than a legendary hero. The mythos of Krypton suggests that Nightwing’s sole purpose, afforded to him by the Kryptonian god of the Sun and Nightwing’s father, Rao, is to ward off any trace of evil hiding in the shadows. However, the deity finds an entirely new purpose upon meeting and falling in love with the goddess Flamebird. It’s been theorized that Dick Grayson could be destined to become a Kryptonian god himself. If he fulfills this cosmic potential, it woudl truly bring the name and lineage of Nightwing full circle.