Warning: SPOILERS for Nightwing #96In a touching cameo appearance, Nightwing's creators Marv Wolfman and George Pérez join a crowd of citizens to save their hero and home. This is the latest in a series of Wolfman and Pérez tribuies in the current Nightwing run, and each nod is more welcome than the last. Now the two get to defend Dick Grayson's honor right on the page.
Even though Dick Grayson has been gracing the pages of DC Comics since his introduction as Robin in 1940, Wolfman and Pérez re-imagined the Teen Wonder as the independent vigilante Nightwing in 1984. Nightwing has since become a core character in the DC Universe, so much so that it appears, in new cover art for the final issue of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, that he will soon be at the center of the latest Crisis-level event. Over in his own ongoing series, Dick Grayson has been using his inherited fortune to aid the unhoused children and people of his chosen city, Blüdhaven, all while battling the corrupt and monstrous Blockbuster as the vigilante Nightwing.
Nightwing's conflict with Blockbuster comes to a head in Nightwing #96 by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Caio Filipe, Adriano Lucas, and Wes Abbott. The issue opens with Haven—the shelter and resource-heavy space that Dick founded for Blüdhaven citizens in need—burning in an attack coordinated by Blockbuster and his crew. While Nightwing is busy battling the big bad supervillain, Oracle attempts to coordinate a save for Haven only to discover that the unhoused kids and other community members have already rallied to put out the massive fire. Nightwing shoves Blockbuster out of a window, and he lands in front of that community. One of the first kids Dick helped during this run splashes Blockbuster with a bucket of water and says "get out of our Haven!"—all while depictions of Marv Wolfman and George Pérez stand proudly behind him.
This Nightwing run has not been shy with including cameos and visual gags like this one—though this moment is the furthest thing from a gag. Wolfman and Pérez are one of the most iconic creative teams in DC history, and not only because they're credited with Nightwing. From The New Teen Titans to the original Crisis on Infinite Earths, they have made an indelible mark on superhero comics and even the comic book medium at large. George Pérez's passing earlier this year was an incalculable loss, but it's a joy to see him and his writing partner represented here, helping to save one of their most enduring creations: Nightwing.
Nightwing gets to be the hero almost every issue of his own solo series, but it's not every day that his creators get to show up and save the day. Dick Grayson wouldn't be the staple character he is in the larger DC Universe without the work of Wolfman and Pérez, and their cameos in the current Nightwing run—this one included—have been a touching delight. Hopefully readers will see them again as Nightwing continues working to protect his city and all the people who need him.
Check out Nightwing #96, available now from DC Comics!