Summary
Warning! Spoilers ahead for Absolute Power #1!Nothing shows off howNightwinghas replacedBatmanas the DC Universe’s biggest star more than one amazing scene.Absolute Poweris infull swing and the heroes are doing their best to survive Amanda Waller’s scheme. Amid the chaos, Dick Grayson recreates an iconic moment from the Dark Knight’s past that showcases how far Nightwing has come.
InAbsolute Power #1by Mark Waidand Dan Mora, Waller stirs the public up into a frenzy with videos made by the Brainiac Queen that show metahuman heroes attacking innocent civilians. Across the world, the heroes react in horror to the AI-generated videos.
Oracle and Cyborg work together to root out the source of the manipulated footage while the rest of the heroes hit the streets to counter the narrative Waller is crafting. Nightwing takes out a few criminals ina panel that looks remarkably similar to Batman’s first appearance on the cover ofDetective Comics #27.
Nightwing Faithfully Recreates Batman’s Debut Appearance in Amazing Easter Egg
Few heroes have had a rise as meteoric as Nightwing. Not only was Grayson the very first person to serve as Batman’s sidekick, but he made waves by leaving the Caped Crusader and leading the Titans. The last several decades have seen Grayson step up in several major ways. He became Batman when Bruce disappeared afterFinal Crisis, he mentored several next generations of superheroes, and he helped lead the DC Universe’s heroes inDark Crisis on Infinite Earths. Not to mention, when the Justice League disbanded,Nightwing led the Titans and helped them become the Earth’s premier superhero team.
Granted, it’s only one panel that shows Nightwing in the middle of his usual superhero work. But it’s hard to imagine the cover ofDetective Comics #27wasn’t in mind when this scene was crafted. Just like Batman, Nightwing is swinging in, gripping a crook by the neck as two others watch him go. One could look at this and just see a fun Easter egg, but the use of Nightwing here is important. Batman once ushered in a new age of heroes andNightwing is getting ready to do the same thing.
Nightwing is Taking Batman’s Place in the DC Universe
Nightwing has been a guiding light throughout the Dawn of DC, but right now, things seem more hopeless than ever. Amanda Waller has armies and assets that are de-powering the hero community en masse. The wink toDetective Comics #27is a subtle way of communicating that Nightwing is the hero to look for here. He’s spent his entire life working with the larger hero community and now he has the chance to step up and be the savior the DC Universe needs right now.Batmanmay be important, but it’sNightwing’stime to shine now.
Nightwing
Nightwing is the superhero moniker taken up by Dick Grayson, upon his aging out of the Robin role and becoming a superhero of his own. Inspired by the original Kryptonian hero of the same name, Grayson has risen to comic book immortality with the identity, earning respect as one of the greatest leaders in the DC Universe.
