Warning: this article contains spoilers for Future State: Teen Titans #2!

One of the many reasons that Richard Grayson, aka Nightwing, has become such a beloved and popular character in DC Comics is that he's basically a well-adjusted Batman. The original Robin, he operated under that identity as a member of the Teen Titans before seeking to create his own individual identity, taking inspiration from both Batman and Superman to recreate himself as Nightwing. Although he's gone through many ups and downs, even an identity crisis or two, Nightwing endures, and it's his optimism and ability to accept support from others that separates him from his grim and emotionally distant mentor. But in Future State: Teen Titans, Grayson has taken huge steps back, allowing his guilt and anger over the current state of the world to wash away what made him so different, leaving just another Batman-alike antihero in his place.

In the Future State timeline, the Teen Titans have been revealed as being responsible for releasing the Apocalyptic Four Riders into the world, resulting in countless deaths and changing their world forever. When not paying tribute to their fallen teammates at the ruins of Titans Tower, the current Teen Titans work to correct their grave mistake, trying to avoid capture but also trying to recover items within the rubble that'll help their mission.

RELATED: The DC Universe Just Got Its Own Version of Force Ghosts

As the team pull together, Dick Grayson seems more comfortable running recovery missions and barking orders at his ex-girlfriend Starfire, when he's not making back-room deals with the Titans' mysterious prisoner behind their backs. Having issues being called by his Nightwing moniker, Dick seems more comfortable acting like their old nemesis Deathstroke, even adopting his old mask before joining the Titans in their rematch with the Four Riders. Having no issue with releasing Red X or using the H-Dial despite Starfire's strong objections, "Deathwing" believes he knows what's best for everybody, willing to gamble what's left of the world even if he has to sacrifice his principles and any remaining trust or respect his Titans teammates have for him. He sees the Titans as another group of indoctrinated child soldiers drafted into a never-ending war, implying that's now how he sees his time with Batman.

Future-State-Titans-Nightwings-failure

Nightwing's greatest strength was that despite his similarities to his mentor, he had Bruce Wayne to help him grow into a healthier person. His family background as a performer, different than Bruce's world of wealth and privilege, contributed to a mindset that embraced the shadows but on his own terms. His humor, optimism and ability to get along with almost everyone has added to rather than hindered his superhero career and reputation, unafraid to make the emotional connections that the Dark Knight resists. But by making him a broken, cynical antihero that sees the Titans like soldiers, Nightwing loses that precious individuality and becomes another grim, garden-variety Batman clone who exploits people or keeps them at a distance, even if he once considered them family.

Although the drastic changes in Teen Titans are meant to show how much different Future State's timeline is compared to the present DC universe, this issue showcases a problem where creators give Nightwing a chance for happiness or growth only to snatch it away to make him more grim and gritty. Even when Nightwing took up the role of Batman, his true personality couldn't help shining through, creating his fan-favorite brotherly relationship with Damian Wayne. What makes Nightwing stand out is that his outgoing, positive nature sets him apart from other DC and Marvel vigilantes, even if it's often tested by tragic circumstances. Twisted up by guilt and anger, Dick is just another Batman, and no-one does it better than the original.

NEXT: Shazam is Trapping One Teen Titan In Hell For All Eternity