Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for DC K.O.: Knightfight #1
DC Comics has officially revealed Nightwing’s final evolution in which Dick Grayson has remarkably surpassed Batman himself. In the main DC timeline, Nightwing is his own hero in the city of Blüdhaven. However, the new DC K.O. crossover has revealed a very different reality, one where Grayson takes on the cape and cowl as a brand-new Dark Knight.
Following Batman’s apparent defeat in the ongoing tournament of heroes to determine a King Omega capable of taking on Darkseid, The Dark Knight had tech in his suit meant to transport him home from Apokolips if he were to lose a round. However, the Gotham he’s returned to is not the one he left.
Set in a distant future, Batman discovers that Nightwing has become a new Dark Knight in this timeline, though his crusade against crime has greatly expanded beyond that of his mentor.
DC’s Newest Future Timeline Reveals Nightwing’s Ultimate Evolution, Becoming Batman
Mistaking “our” Batman for his own former mentor, who apparently went insane seeking to prolong his crusade via a Lazarus Pit, Dick Grayson’s Dark Knight reveals how he took the original mission to the next level, creating a central Bat-Tower in Gotham alongside an entire global network of sidekicks known as Robin Inc. in partnership with the Titans.
With Dick Grayson’s new Batman trusting others and sharing with his allies in ways the original Batman never could, it’s quite an impressive expansion of the classic Gotham crusade.
Despite seeing the full scope of what the former Nightwing has accomplished as Batman, it does make sense that the main DC Batman is dismayed by what he’s seeing. After all, Bruce Wayne was proud of his Dick Grayson and his work as Nightwing, having formed his own mission and identity apart from himself.
Bruce never wanted Dick to take on the burden that is Batman, asking this version of Grayson if he himself would ever allow one of his numerous Robins to ever become Batman after him. Unsurprisingly, Dick can’t answer the question, which is quite telling in and of itself of where the OG Batman is coming from.
Nightwing Was Never Meant To Take On Batman’s Burden, But The Crusade Has Still Been Improved
Despite Batman’s concern with this reality and this life that he never wanted for Dick, it doesn’t change that the former Nightwing has nevertheless improved the crusade in some pretty compelling ways.
Revealing by the issue’s end that his darker version of Batman killed the other Robins (Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne), it’s going to be fascinating to see what else our Batman discovers as this series continues.
After all, it’s already been teased that Batman will soon be facing more of his Robins turned Batmen, perhaps in other realities apart from the one where Grayson donned the cowl. Being Nightwing is much better for Dick Grayson on a personal level. However, this new issue absolutely proves Grayson could easily become a far greater Batman than Bruce himself.
DC K.O.: Knightfight #1 is on sale now from DC Comics.
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- Alias
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Dick Grayson
- Created By
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Edmond Hamilton, Curt Swan, Marv Wolfman, George Perez
- Franchise
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D.C.
- Race
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Human
- Alliance
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Teen Titans, Titans, Outsiders, Justice League, Batman Inc., Birds of Prey, Young Justice
Nightwing is the superhero moniker taken up by Dick Grayson, upon his aging out of the Robin role and becoming a superhero of his own. Inspired by the original Kryptonian hero of the same name, Grayson has risen to comic book immortality with the identity, earning respect as one of the greatest leaders in the DC Universe.
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- Alias
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Bruce Wayne
- FIRST APP
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Detective Comics #27 (1939)
- Created By
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Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- Franchise
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D.C.
- Race
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Human
- First Appearance
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Detective Comics
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
