Warning! Spoilers ahead for Teen Titans Academy #1
In DC Comics' brand new Teen Titans Academy series, Nightwing might have just taken a shot at Marvel's own Strange Academy for magical heroes, which is also a fairly new series. Class is now in session for the Roy Harper Titans Academy (whose name already needs to change), and the school's first students have just arrived, ready to be taught by the original Titans themselves. However, Mr. Nightwing just made a fun joke in their first class of the day, and it could be construed as a meta-jab at Marvel's school for the magically gifted.
In Teen Titans Academy #1 from writer Tim Sheridan with art by Rafa Sandoval, the Titans' first class of students consists of Shazam, a group of Gotham teens, an Australian speedster, a shape-shifting boy who can turn himself into a tube, and Gorilla Gregg, among others. Furthermore, one of these students is determined to take on the identity of Red X, a mantle with a complicated history that was previously held by Nighwing himself, as well as two others who wore the mask after him. While these incoming freshman are taking classes and learning how to be heroes, the current Teen Titans (Kid Flash, Roundhouse, Red Arrow, Crush, Bunker, and Jakeem Thunder) serve as the Academy's upperclassmen who get to go out into the field on missions for hands-on learning, all while being taught by the original Titans (Nightwing, Starfire, Raven, Cyborg, Donna Troy, and Beast Boy).
During simulated combat training taught by Mr. Nightwing, the former Robin (and apparently Red X) welcomed his students to "Defense Against the Dark Arts." While the joke didn't land as well as he hoped for his new students, the clear reference to the Harry Potter films may also dually reference Marvel's Strange Academy at the same time, seeing as how the new series likewise depicts a new school for the next generation of heroes in the Marvel Universe, albeit with a focus on those with magical and supernatural abilities.
It's possible that Nightwing's joke was a fun meta-jab on the part of Tim Sheridan, who most likely knows that comparisons are going to be made between the two new "Academy" series in the Marvel and DC universes. However, it does seem as though there will be some solid distinction between the two titles, comparisons notwithstanding. Teen Titans Academy looks as though it will have more of a focus on the teachers than Strange Academy, despite the fact that both seem to be featuring an ongoing mystery about one of their students (the identity of Red X for DC's series and the fate of Emily Bright for Marvel's).
Regardless of whether or not Nightwing's joke was meant to be meta, fans of both DC and Marvel Comics now get to enjoy two "Academy" series with the addition of Teen Titans Academy #1 to the DC Universe. While the comparisons to Marvel's Strange Academy are likely going to be made no matter what, here's hoping dynamic stories and uniquely engaging characters will keep being provided from both as their respective series continue from Marvel and DC Comics.