The student is finally starting to sur the master, at least in the court of public opinion, as fans are starting to prefer Nightwing over Batman. Batman has spent several decades being the premier hero and leading face of DC Comics. In more recent memory, however, that honor is being bestowed upon none other than his former sidekick, Nightwing.
Dick Grayson originally made his comic book debut in 1940, about a year and a half after Batman first appeared. Power dynamics were clearly established early on with Dick being positioned as Batman's first underling, Robin. Their dynamic would eventually weave its way into the narrative. After being fired by Batman, Dick would spend some time determined to break out of his mentor's shadow. This would put him on the path to leading the Titans and, eventually, adopting the Nightwing persona in 1984. Both the Titans and Nightwing have since become DC's new premier heroes ever since Nightwing was positioned at the center of the Dawn of DC. The new promotion for Nightwing and his team does not come without merit as the spots have been earned. For years, Nightwing's popularity has continued to grow immensely. His fan base has expanded to the point that he's starting to become favored more positively than even Batman. There isn't a singular reason as to why this has happened. Instead, there are multiple reasons contributing to Nightwing's overwhelming success in the comic space.
Batman Fatigue is Real
There are currently 10 DC titles (both limited and ongoing) with "Batman" in the title that are either active or due to begin publication within the next couple of months. That does not include spinoff titles of other Bat-Family or other titles that feature Batman among the cast of recurring characters. Such titles, though, significantly add to the pile of Batman content currently running at DC.
As the saying goes, too much of a good thing can spoil it. As much as Batman is adored by so many people, it's easy to get tired of the character when there is so much of him to go around. Keep in mind that this is a character who has existed in DC lore for 84 years. That means there are 84 years, plus countless new materials that fans are expected to keep up with to enjoy Batman.
Nightwing, on the other hand, has yet to be exposed to the same level. Even now, as Nightwing leads DC into a new era, he only stars in two titles, Nightwing and Titans. This means that the character can still be enjoyed in a digestible way that's easy to keep up with, without fans feeling overwhelmed or overexposed.
Nightwing's Journey Continues to Evolve
It's worth stating that there's something satisfying about watching Nightwing constantly evolve over time. Batman made his first appearance in Detective Comics #27's "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate" by Bill Finger, Bob Kane, and Vincent Sullivan. There, Bruce Wayne is already established in his identity as "The Bat-Man." It isn't until much later on that readers are made privy to his origin story. In fact, it isn't until the very end of this issue that Bruce Wayne is revealed to be Batman's secret identity.
Meanwhile, the introduction of Dick Grayson in Detective Comics #38 (presumably by Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson, as the issue doesn't credit anyone) serves as the origin story of Robin. Across several decades, readers have watched the character grow from humble beginnings to face new challenges that go far in developing his identity to who he is today. He has evolved from a sidekick who looks up to Batman into a hero in his own right who set out to from his own path independent of his mentor. Seeing that growth in real-time is rewarding for readers who check in every month. He's quite literally been seen growing from a Boy Wonder to a teenager figuring out his place in the world, to an adult hero who happens to be the face of DC.
Nightwing is Relatable and Modern
The connection that the Nightwing character has made with his readers cannot be underestimated. Batman is hard to relate to, as he is someone who cuts himself off from the bulk of society. Nightwing, on the other hand, refuses to cut himself off from the key aspects that life has to offer. His romance with Barbara Gordon continues to blossom as they have evolved from teens with crushes to full-grown adults navigating a healthy relationship, all while raising a pet puppy, no less! What's just as relatable is seeing how Nightwing tackles modern discourse more directly and joyously than Batman is in either of his current runs right now.
While Batman can be humane and vulnerable in his own right, he has always been seen as more of a mythic figure than a person who could really exist. He is emotionally withdrawn and naturally distrusting of most people around him. On the other hand, Nightwing's humanity is a key character trait. Batman likens Nightwing to being more of a pure version of what Batman has tried to be. Rather than simply being a figure for criminals to fear, Nightwing can inspire hope in everyday citizens.
In of public opinion, Nightwing is slowly starting to overshadow Batman as everyone's favorite DC hero. Of course, thanks to his cinematic success, Batman remains the bigger overall pop culture figure. For that reason alone, the court of public opinion could change back in Batman's favor at any time. Still, in the comics realm at least, Nightwing is killing it, particularly in his most current Nightwing series by writer Tom Taylor and primary artists Bruno Redondo and Travis Moore. As movie adaptations often imitate the comics anyway, Nightwing could just as easily sur Batman in pop culture overall. After all, love for Nightwing isn't exclusive to comic fan bases. He has mainstream appeal as well, with audiences frequently asking to see him on the big screen and even helping him achieve viral social media attention (albeit Nightwing's butt is often the main talking point).
Nightwing is a hero for the modern age. He's inspirational, he's funny, he's confident, he's sexy, he's relatable and everybody loves him. Nightwing's success is truly Batman's greatest achievement, and now he's becoming DC's greatest asset.
