Spoilers for Shazam #1 ahead!
Nightwing is taking on a new role in the DC Universe: surrogate father to Shazam. Both are orphans who found greatness thrust upon them at an early age and since Shazam’s powers have been in flux recently, in Shazam #1, he turns to Nightwing for advice—and the interaction shows Nightwing becoming a stand-in for the father Shazam never had.
Nightwing, Starfire, and the rest of the original Teen Titans recently opened Titans Academy, a special school designed to teach the next generation of heroes, and one of their first recruits was Shazam. Billy Batson has not had an easy time lately, both in his personal and superhero lives: his powers are in flux, sometimes shorting out mid-battle. Shazam is also on the outs with the rest of the Shazam Family—he has not spoken with his foster brother Freddy in weeks, and then learns Freddy is dying. All of this has left Shazam needing a shoulder to cry on, and he may have found it in Nightwing.
In the issue, written by Tim Sheridan, with art by Clayton Henry, colors by Marcelo Maiolo, and letters by Rob Leigh, Shazam joins the rest of the Titans fighting the toxic waste villain Chemo over the Pacific Ocean. Midway through the battle, Shazam’s powers fail him. Chemo almost falls into the ocean, but Raven is able to teleport him away. Later, Shazam, back as Billy Batson, is brooding over what happened. Nightwing approaches him and reminds him that no one got hurt, but Shazam wonders what happens when he is no longer able to fight? He also fears becoming stuck in Shazam’s form forever and no longer being able to go back to being a kid. Nightwing tells him that is what growing up is, but Billy is still shaken.
With Shazam’s powers failing him at the moment, he needs as many allies as he can get. Nightwing and Shazam are both orphans, giving them a common ground on which to build a foundation. Shazam needs people in his corner, especially right now, and someone with Nightwing’s experience would be the perfect mentor for him. While Nightwing did not bounce from foster home to foster home as Shazam did, he has been fighting crime since Shazam was little, giving him more insight and wisdom. Nightwing also has access to resources Shazam may not have and he is already taking advantage of what is available to him at the Titans Academy. Finally, an affable personality like Nightwing’s is exactly what a bundle of nerves like Shazam needs.
Nightwing has had many roles in the DC Universe, and now he is taking on the role of surrogate father to Shazam, and it may be the perfect match. Shazam #1, on sale now in print and digital.