Nightwing Fans Won’t Mock His First Suit Once They See Its Inspiration

When fans see the character that inspired Nightwing, they might be slow to mock his original “disco” costume again. With the superhero’s main influence in mind, it seems like the suit could have been much worse.

Not many readers remember that before Dick Grayson became Nightwing, there was a Kryptonian legend that went by the name. Although the intergalactic hero has played more of a part in Superman stories, he had some inspiration on Dick’s journey away from his Robin persona. At one point, Superman took on the Kryptonian Nightwing’s identity in Superman #158 (January 1963), written by Edmond Hamilton with art by Curt Swan and inks by George Klein.

In comparison to the first costume that Dick Grayson wore as Nightwing, Superman’s take is significantly less cool. The “Dynamic Duo of Kandor” features Nightwing and Flamebird, which look like another world’s regional version of Batman and Robin. Nightwing’s suit include black tights, a blue cape, and finned boots and gloves that look like a visual reference to the Boy Wonder. The bulky belt and black wing symbol on his chest aren’t an original look put beside Dick’s disco suit. Although the original Nightwing costume looks dated to some, it was seen as modern at the time. These days, the design has a charm to it, as it represents the era through its color scheme and 70s collar.

It would have been an interesting direction for Gotham’s Nightwing if he attempted to resemble the Kryptonian legend. By choosing his 70s suit, he embodied a more fashionable approach to fighting crime. He didn’t look quite right next to the Dark Knight, but alongside the Teen Titans, he fits his fellow former superhero sidekicks. However, compared to the current mainstream suit, there is a definite winner that is strengthened by its timeless design.

With Batman and Robin’s emphasis on their human strength and lack of powers, it wouldn’t have been right for Dick Grayson to graduate as a sidekick and wear a super-powered belt. Such a change would have made it seem that he didn’t take anything away from his time fighting crime alongside the Dark Knight. The Kryptonian Nightwing’s design also has significant overlap with Superman, which would have made Dick look like he was deferring from Batman’s legacy to the Man of Steel. As he created his own unique look, Dick became his own man as Nightwing, only taking inspiration from the other world’s legendary hero.

About The Author