Spoilers ahead for The Other History of the DC Universe #5!
Nightwing has a reputation as a womanizer in the DC Universe, and a new comic puts the blame squarely on Batman’s training. In The Other History of the DC Universe #5, on sale now in print and digital, Thunder (Black Lightning’s daughter) narrates the issue, and she has plenty of thoughts on Nightwing and Batman’s relationship, and how it may have impacted Nightwing’s attitudes towards relationships.
For the past five issues, The Other History of the DC Universe has taken readers on a journey through DC history. Written by John Ridley, with art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Andrea Cucchi, with colors by Jose Villarrubia and letters by Steve Wands, the book reframes DC history through the eyes of DC's characters of color, providing for fresh insight into some of the company’s most lauded characters and stories. The most recent issue is told through the perspective of Anissa Pierce, AKA Thunder; she would serve with both Nightwing and Batman in various incarnations of the Outsiders, giving her an opportunity to observe them and learn what makes them tick.
After being recruited to the team by Arsenal, Thunder calls him and Nightwing “testosterone-raging, womanzing man-boys” and that they were trying to work out their “mentor issues” from their days in the Teen Titans. Thunder later reflects on the team’s constantly shifting lineup, including the Huntress and Starfire. Both of these women have had relationships with Nightwing over the years—a fact Thunder notes. Finally, when Batman comes to reassert his leadership over the Outsiders, everything is put into perspective. Shocked by Batman’s gall, Thunder confesses she use to give Nightwing a hard time about his posturing and womanizing, feeling they were poor ways to hide his insecurities. After meeting Batman, and seeing how he operates, she now understands why Nightwing acts the way he does.
As mentioned earlier, Nightwing has a reputation for being a “ladies man” in the DC Universe, but it is usually treated in a light-hearted, fun fashion. Here, however, readers learn that Nightwing’s behavior may be the result of the trauma he experienced as Batman’s sidekick. Thunder portrays Batman as a cold, calculating, and ruthless taskmaster, saying he set “the standard” for all the psychoses heroes experience. Obtaining validation from Batman is difficult for anyone, but Nightwing, being Batman’s former sidekick, may have had it worse. As a result, he seeks validation in other relationships—romantic ones being prime among them.
The Other History of the DC Universe has forced fans to confront some harsh and unpleasant truths about the heroes and villains of the DC Universe. Nightwing’s womanizing, previously played for laughs, is revealed to be the result of trauma inflicted upon him by Batman.