Warning: Spoilers forNightwing #115
Summary
WhenRobinis faced with an emergency in a packed building, he proves just how much he’s surpassedNightwingas a tactical genius.Damian Wayne’s hatred for formal occasions lends itself well to his tactical abilities: he immediately identifies the best exits when the fire alarm is pulled at a charity event. However, Damian isn’t the only Robin who prides himself on effective escapes.
Damian attends theAlfred Pennyworth Foundation fundraiser, begrudgingly wearing a tuxedo as a favor to his older brother (and Robin predecessor), Dick Grayson. His displeasure is evident (and slightly amusing) to his family in attendance. But Robin’s distaste for the formal setting benefits everyone at the event when the fire alarm goes off and the building needs to be evacuated.
InNightwing#115 by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo, Barbara asks with impressed surprise ifDamian knows the best escape routes out of every building he enters. Channeling his father, Damian replies with a brooding and severe “yes.”
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Robin Proves He Learned Some Essential Tactics from Nightwing
Panels fromNightwing#90 by Tom Taylor, Geraldo Borges, Adriano Lucas, and Wes Abbott
As founder of the Alfred Pennyworth foundation, Dick Grayson runs multiple affordable housing programs, and as a result, owns a few buildings in Blüdhaven. Dick even owns his own apartment block, andNightwing demonstrates how well he knows the routes through his own buildingsin emergencies. InNightwing#90, for example,Nightwing rescues his residentsfrom an attack. With only a moment’s notice, Dick clears his building of residents and gets everyone to safety.
Robin’s duty in an attack is often getting civilians clear while Batman goes after the villain.
This skill with mapping escape routes doesn’t only benefit humans. In the landmark issueNightwing#87(“Get Grayson” by Taylor, Redondo, Lucas, and Abbott), hitmen after Dick Grayson - not Nightwing - kidnap his dog Haley in an attempt to draw him out.Nightwing’s agility as he swings throughthe apartment building, taking out thugs as he goes, demonstrates an intimate familiarity with the space. This crucial ability is particularly important for Dick and Damian, as aRobin’s duty in an attack is often getting civilians clear while Batman goes after the villain.
Damian Wayne Has Expanded On Nightwing’s Skill At Escapes
Dick Grayson Trained Damian as Robin inBatman and Robinby Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
Despite his experience with escapes, Dick doesn’t lead the evacuation himself inNightwing#115. Instead, Dick places Damian and Barbara in charge of getting people to safety. Here, he relies onOracle’s established skill with clear communicationand leadership, but he’s placing all his faith in Damian’s evacuation route. Trusting his younger brother’s expertise, Nightwing literally hands off the leash - not just to his “adorable dog,” but to the Gotham gala crowd, which he’s likely led to safety himself dozens of times in the past.
Nightwingmay be taking point on the danger, but when it comes to the crowd, he’s confident in Damian’s knowledge and ability. With Bruce and Dick searching the interior,Damian Waynewill be in charge of the safety of the attendees as they make their way clear of the fire asRobinfinally steps up as the tactical expert he was always meant to be.
NIGHTWING #115 (2024)
Robin
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.
