Warning! Preview pages ahead for Batman/Superman: World's Finest #12 ahead!It seems that Dick Grayson's iconic identity as Nightwing has a surprising connection to Supergirl. A date between the two was so bad, it helped shape the former Boy Wonder's life in ways fans never saw coming.
Any DC Comics fan worth their salt knows about the history of Dick Grayson. Born and raised in Haley's Circus and a member of the world-famous Flying Grayson trapeze act, Dick was a thrill seeker since he could walk. But after tragedy took him away from the circus, he was taken in by Bruce Wayne and turned into the very first Robin. And while Dick excelled in the role, years as Batman's sidekick began to chafe Dick, causing him to branch out on his own and become the hero known as Nightwing. While he's one of the most well-known Boy Wonders, Dick's come into his own under his Nightwing identity.
Robin Designed His Nightwing Persona After a Terrible Date
And it seems like the hero Dick actually has to thank isn't Batman, but Supergirl. In a preview for Batman/Superman: World's Finest #12 by Mark Waid, Emanuela Lupacchino, Wade Von Grawbadger, Tamra Bonvillain, the bad blood between the two young heroes is finally coming out. After hints at an incident between Robin and Supergirl, Batman discovers Dick shortly after a date that went extremely poorly. Dick refuses to talk details, but Bruce presses his ward on revealing what went wrong. Robin blames Batman for not teaching him the skills he needed for a successful romantic evening, but Bruce insists that whatever happened can't be that bad. However, whatever transpired between the two was so bad that Dick wants to change his heroic identity. He's even begun working on a new costume, that Batman discovers is actually Dick's classic 'disco-inspired' Nightwing outfit.
Interestingly enough, Dick’s decision to become Nightwing is actually a result of Supergirl’s cousin, Superman. Clark inspired Dick during a crucial point in his life and told him a myth of a Kryptonian legend known as Nightwing. Inspired by the story, Dick chose the name for his new life. And it seems like Kara also played a role in Dick’s transition into his own hero. But where Superman helped Dick embrace the Nightwing identity as a mark of pride, Dick's date with Supergirl turned his costume into a mark of shame.
Dick Wanted to Use Nightwing to Hide From Supergirl
Dick becoming Nightwing is usually portrayed as a positive thing for the hero. It showed that he was growing out from Batman’s shadow and becoming his own man. But apparently, all Dick really wanted out of the outfit was a way to hide from the girl he seriously blew it with. Granted, Dick doesn’t actually become Nightwing to hide from the Girl of Steel. But seeing the Nightwing identity rooted in a bad date is a pretty heavy reveal, especially for someone considered the biggest ladies’ man of the DC Universe. Fans can see all about Nightwing and Supergirl’s horrendous date in Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #12, on sale February 21st, 2023.