Warning! Contains preview pages of Nightwing #89!
While Batman taught his former ward and trusted ally, Nightwing, almost everything he knows about crimefighting, the latter has one skill that he certainly didn't pick up from Bruce in DC Comics. A new preview for Nightwing #89 features a flashback of Dick assisting Batman track down a wayward Jonathan Kent, then known as Superboy. As it turns out, what Dick lacks in his fighting abilities compared to Batman, he makes up for in empathy.
Dick Grayson is renowned in the DC Universe for his charm and easy-going nature, easily making him one of the most friendly heroes. From his fellow Robins, to his friends on the Titans and even members of the Justice League, Nightwing is fantastic at creating lasting bonds with the people he spends time with. Writer Tom Taylor and artist Bruno Redondo have shown in their run on Nightwing how beloved Dick Grayson is among his friends and family, and in turn, how well Dick connects with the people around him.
This extends to a preview shown in Nightwing #89 by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo and Adriano Lucas. Set in the not-to-distant past, Nightwing assists Batman in tracking down what turns out to be a terrified Jon Kent. Knowing the boy is lost and upset, Dick takes the proper steps to calm him down, removing his and Batman's masks and introducing himself. Nightwing continues to try to lift Jonathan's spirits even after his father, Superman, is notified. Dick gives the young man a lollipop, cracks a couple of jokes and even demonstrates his juggling abilities until Jonathan is laughing and smiling.
Dick Grayson's ability to put himself in someone else's shoes may not be a superpower in the traditional sense, but it was exactly the sort of thing needed to defuse the tense situation. For some time, Nightwing has been able to recognize the emotional states of others, especially children, and respond in the most helpful way he can. When Batman was presumed dead and Grayson assumed the title, he took on Bruce's son, Damian, as his Robin, knowing the boy needed guidance and a stable father figure.
While Bruce isn't the most antisocial person in the world, he is often portrayed as a bit colder and struggles to develop bonds as easily as someone like Dick. While Batman may have trained himself to be one of the world's greatest detectives and martial artists, being able to empathize with others is usually a gift that's harder to master. It's rare to see Dick Grayson find the solution to a case, but his empathetic nature told him the obvious. It isn't enough just to save a child, they also need to be comforted. Nightwing's special power might not make him a better fighter than Batman, but it allows Dick to resolve situations in a way Bruce can't. Nightwing #89 is on sale in stores and online February 15, 2022