Dick Grayson's new Nightwing costume is changing how he operates as the protector of Blüdhaven, giving him new 'powers' that enhance his attempts to uplift the disadvantaged. Now, an amazing piece of art from Jamal Campbell shows how the costume is subtly redefining the 'Nightwing' name.

Nightwing's new costume was created by Mr. Terrific and the Flash, two genius engineers and scientists who were able to pack a surprising amount of protection into his simple vigilante suit. Nightwing's costume is now bulletproof (within reason) and can be used as a wingsuit for gliding around the city. While it may lack protection for Dick's head (an oversight it's hard to believe Flash would make after Nightwing was recently shot by Russian assassin KGBeast), the suit is a huge upgrade - one he's needed as his civilian identity has become a target for those who want Blüdhaven's corruption to continue.

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In epic art by Jamal Campbell, recently shared by League of Comic Geeks, Nightwing takes flight with his new underarm 'wings.' What's interesting about this image is how it characterizes Nightwing in contrast to his past, and especially in comparison to Batman. Surrounded by birds and leaping into flight, there's a definite avian theme here in the same way that Batman is often depicted surrounded by bats. This is significant because in DC canon, Dick's superhero name isn't taken from any reference to birds, but rather to a Kryptonian hero whose story was told to Nightwing by Superman shortly after Dick acrimoniously split from Batman. It's always been an unusual part of Nightwing's personal canon that he got his name from Superman, but the imagery at play here suggests DC is thematically leaving that behind, recasting Dick as a hero of both the air and the light. The art will appear on select copies of Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo's Nightwing #97.

Night 97 variant cover

This shift comes as DC continues its new era for the hero - one in which he's being treated less like an extension of Gotham's Bat-Family, and more like an A-list hero in his own right (something Taylor has stated is his intention in writing Dick.) Emphasis has been placed on the idea that while Batman is a warrior of darkness, Nightwing's optimism and empathy make him a hero of the light. Bird imagery is a great way of communicating this, depicting him as a noble protector gliding over the city, rather than another vigilante hunting in the city's alleyways and abandoned buildings. For a former acrobat, the idea of Dick achieving flight as a hero also suggests the Nightwing persona as his best self.

Nightwing is beloved by fans and other heroes, and he's had many of his own titles in the past. However, his acclaimed new era is doing the best job yet of depicting him as a solo hero with his own mission and status quo. For that to last, Nightwing needs his own aesthetic and imagery in a way that heroes like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman have accrued over the decades, and Jamal Campbell's cover is a great example of exactly what Nightwing needs to thrive. While it's unlikely DC has any interest in dropping Superman's role in naming Nightwing, embracing his avian theme with bird imagery and his new costume 'power' of flight is a fantastic way to keep building Dick Grayson up as one of Earth's greatest heroes, not just Batman's grown-up sidekick.

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Source: League of Comic Geeks

Nightwing #97 is coming from DC Comics October 18.