As Batman's first Robin, a former Teen Titan, and an Outsider, Dick Grayson has had an extensive career as a prominent player in DC's canon. While he often usually works solo as Nightwing nowadays, he's not opposed to team-ups with other members of The Bat-Family, Titans, and his former lovers (all of which often overlap).
RELATED:Nightwing: Everyone Who Knows Dick Grayson's Secret Identity
With his impressive acrobatic feats and highly advanced martial arts training (courtesy of both Batman and Wildcat), Nightwing has a lot going for him. Over the years, he's gone up against the likes of Joker, Deathstroke, and Ra's Al Ghul, and though he hasn't always won his fights, they've always been entertaining.
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10 Nightwing (& "Friends") Vs. Freeze
The Batman Who Laughs was probably one of the most anticipated and acclaimed villains DC ever released, mostly due to the circumstances of his existence. Batman had killed the Joker in an alternate universe but was exposed to a chemical that gradually transformed him into a Joker-fiedversion of himself. When he first appeared inDeath Nights: Metal, he empowered several of Gotham's supervillains with reality-altering powers, including Mr. Freeze.
Through chaos and circumstance, Nightwing found himself in the company of Harley Quinn, Killer Croc, Green Arrow, and Robin (Damian Wayne). Fighting together, they encountered the sub-zero supervillain, who'd attained a new mastery over cryokinesis, calling himself "Freeze" and conjuring Ice Giants. Unearthing the Court of Owls' armory, the group was able to overwhelm Freeze's newfound powers.
9 Nightwing Vs. Ra's Al Ghul
Though Nightwing would overtake Batman's identity and position following Bruce Wayne's death, the switch wasn't immediate. When he finally came to terms with Bruce's demise, Nightwing planned on rebuilding the Batcave from the ground up. Attacked by Ra's Al Ghul's ninjas, Ghul proceeded to invite Nightwing to "talk."
Though peaceful at first, Ghul inquires about Batman's fate, and the two engage in a swordfight. Ghul disregards Nightwing's attempt at filling Batman's shoes and states that he regrets not being the one to have the honor of killing him. Despite not having the same millennia of experience, Nightwing used his rage to best Ghul, telling him he'd have never been able to kill Batman.
8 Nightwing Vs. Deathwing
During theNightwing Must Die!storyline, Nightwing and his girlfriend Shawn Tsang were targeted by Deathwing, who was revealed to be a Dollotron of Prossefor Pyg. Pyg had mutated and brainwashed Deathwing into believing that he was the real Dick Grayson. According to Nightwing himself, Deathwing even had his voice.
The stakes were high in their fight, as Shawn told Nightwing there was a possibility that she was pregnant. Nightwing, accompanied by Damian Wayne, set out to find her. Deathwing taunted the two before sealing Damian in a coffin, continuously toying with Nightwing's emotions. With Shawn, Damian, and possibly his child's lives on the line, the fight was high stakes and intense, especially because Deathwing possessed all of Nightwing's training.
7 Nightwing Vs. Raptor
A freelance assassin, Raptor was a frequent employee of The Court of Owls. When Nightwing infiltrated the Court to spy on them, they often partnered him and Raptor together. Like Nightwing, Raptor was a former circus performer, and in his youth, he met and became enamored with Mary Llyod, Nightwing's mother. When Mary fell in love with Nightwing's father, John Grayson, Raptor stalked her all across the world as her "protector."
Raptor did not initially reveal this Nightwing when they formerly met, but it quickly became apparent why he spared Nightwing in the moments he did: Out of respect for his mother. When the truth eventually came out, Nightwing attempted to use Raptor's love for Mary to sway him to the side of justice, though Raptor never got the chance thanks to Blockbuster.
6 Nightwing Vs. Punchline
Following a traumatic brain injury, Nightwing was left without most of his memories, and he started life over as Ric Grayson. Following several more personality and identity swaps (including where he was controlled under Joker's influence), Dick Grayson fully restored himself to his real identity and Nightwing persona during the events of Joker War.
Joker's newest girlfriend, Punchline, was fully involved in controlling and manipulating Dick as Joker's pawn, so it was only fitting he got back at her for it. Though young, Punchline had been able to best and incapacitate Batman, Harley Quinn, and Catwoman (though it may have been because they were underestimating her). Regardless, Nightwing's experience seemed to give him a lot more edge over the latest Joker groupie.
5 Nightwing Vs. Hush
This particular battle is rather interesting considering the circumstances. Batman and Catwoman were set to be married, but their public identities would not be. Nightwing and Superman celebrated the occasion by taking Batman, with Superman intending to use a Lightning Door to access a pocket dimension where the three could go fishing in peace.
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However, before that could happen, Hush— Bruce Wayne's childhood friend— arrived on the scene, attacking Nightwing and Batman out of jealously. Using a bazooka, Hush damaged the Lightning Door and caused it to be unstable, resulting in him and Nightwing being transported to a dimension known as The Betwixt. Inhabited by beings known as Gone Men, Nightwing had to hold his own against them and Hush at the same time.
4 Nightwing Vs. The Talon
Over the years, one of the most enduring enemies of The Bat-Family has been The Court of Owls, an organization composed of Gotham's most wealthy elite who've existed since Colonial times. They have a habit of abducting circus children and training them to be their personal assassins, and one of Dick's own ancestors fell victim to this fate. Afterward, they become known as "Talons" and are preserved through cryostasis in the Court's sanctum.
Nightwing's great grandfather, William Cobb, came into conflict with Batman several times, and the Talon ultimately ended up captured and brought to the Batcave for examination. Other Talons later attacked the Batcave and would ultimately set Cobb loose, and he set out to track down and attack Nightwing. Their fight saw them matched in terms of skill and experience. Still, because of Cobb's regenerative abilities, Nightwing was forced to get creative, breaking a pipe to release a stream of liquid Nitrogen to make Cobb "sleep" once more.
3 Nightwing Vs. Saiko
Born Raymond McCreary, Saiko was originally a member of Haly's Circus, the same circus that Dick Grayson and his parents performed in. During his youth, Dick was actually being scouted by the Court of Owls to be their new lieutenant but lost their chance to recruit him when Bruce Wayne officially adopted him. Saiko was their backup choice. The Court ultimately abandoned Saiko to die, and he eventually came to blame Grayson for what had happened to him.
Saiko first appeared inNightwing #1 (Vol. 3), arriving in Gotham to kill Grayson out of vengeance. He first investigated Haly's Circus, which Dick had coincidentally visited for the first time since his parents' deaths. Saiko would fight Nightwing on several occasions, but their final battle during a memorial show for Dick's parents truly took the cake. Saiko set the circus on fire and revealed his identity to Nightwing, adding a layer of emotional weight to their final fight.
2 Nightwing Vs. Lady Shiva
Shiva's well known throughout the DC universe to be one of the most (if notthemost) skilled hand-to-hand fighters in the world. Often killing her targets with nothing but her bare hands, anyone fighting against her pretty much signs their own death warrant. Though she holds a great amount of respect for the Bat-Family members, she does not hesitate to fight them when they get in her way.
InNightwing #13(Vol. 3), Nightwing learned that Shiva was reportedly working in Gotham. After a few sidetracks to finding her (including helping to keep hitmen off her), Shiva confronts Nightwing in#14. She seems to treat their fight as more of a test of Nightwing's abilities than anything else, and though he is clearly outmatched, he can land a few blows on her thanks to a surge of courage. It's really a testament to Nightwing's graceful fighting style and quick strikes, something Shiva states she respects.
1 Nightwing Vs. KGBeast
A highly trained Russian assassin, KGBeast first made a name for himself as one of the many members of Batman's rogue gallery. Though his popularity as such notably faded over time, he was recently brought back into the caped crusader's sights when Bane hired him to kill Nightwing. KGBeastnearlysucceeded, shooting Nightwing in the head, which resulted in amnesia.
Though he'd eventually regained his memories and his title as Nightwing following the events of Joker War, KGBeast learned of Grayson's apparent survival, as did many others. Tracking him down once more, the assassin threatened Nightwing's girlfriend, Beatrice Bennet, and after a brief hostage situation, their rematch began. It quickly became evident that Beast was no match for the Bat's former protégé, though Nightwing himself made it loud and clear: He wasn't like Batman, not in the slightest.
NEXT:Nightwing's 10 Closest Allies
FAQs
Has Red Hood ever beaten Nightwing? ›
1 Winner: Red Hood
However, the ultimate reason why Red Hood wins has to do with what happens in Outsiders #44. In the issue, Red Hood and Nightwing inevitably end up in what Dick thinks is a stalemate. Really, though, it's Jason who has the upper hand here, because he's still able to land a fatal blow with his gun.
Dick is a master martial artist mastering dozens of fighting styles, including Eskrima, Aikido, Savate, Muay Thai, Boxing, Capoeira,Kendo, Tae Kwon Do, Jeet Kune Do, Bojutsu, Hapkido, Ninjitsu, Tai Chi, Jujitsu, Judo, Kenpo, Wing Chun, Krav Maga, and Kobubudo.
Who has Nightwing beaten? ›He beat Jason in battle for the cowl. Beat Batman, Ra's, Deathstroke, Cassandra Cain and Talon.
Who is more skilled Red Hood or Nightwing? ›Even in the New 52 version. Nightwing is still a better fighter with more skills than Red Hood who is rather physically (most of the time in the comics) stronger.
Who would win Nightwing or Daredevil? ›Boomstick: Look, I'm sure there were several possible scenarios where Daredevil could've pulled off the win. But more times than not, Nightwing takes this thanks to his athletic skill, detective training, and high tech gadgets. All he had to do... was Dare to Wing it. Wiz: The winner is Nightwing.
Which Robin kills Nightwing? ›Damian Wayne, son of Bruce Wayne, inherited his father's temper and lack of tolerance. Joining the One Earth regime, Damian accidentally killed Dick Grayson and later adopted his Nightwing persona.
What is Nightwing scared of? ›Nightwing has a long career in crime fighting that has spanned many decades, but one thing that's remained consistent is his fear of failure, which was instilled by Batman.
Is Nightwing bulletproof? ›Advanced durability: Dick's new suit is composed of Nomex (making it flame-resistant) and Kevlar (making it bulletproof). It is also electrically insulated (preventing shock) and light-sensitive (allowing it to change when exposed to light).
Can Nightwing beat Iron Fist? ›Much like against Shang-Chi, Nightwing would put his agility and mobility to work. Iron Fist is no slouch and has a lot of experience, but Nightwing is just all around better. It's going to be another nail biter of a fight but Nightwing would win.
Who murdered Nightwing? ›Damian angrily responds, "You're not Robin anymore! Stop telling me what to do!" Robin throws an escrima stick at Nightwing while he's busy with the Arkham inmates. It hits Dick's temple, and as he becomes disoriented, he trips and breaks his neck on a rock, killing him instantly.
Who would win Nightwing or Spiderman? ›
Spider-Man is one of the most agile superheroes of all time and his spider senses would give him a massive advantage against Nightwing in a fight. While a hand-to-hand fight might be close between the two heroes, Spider-Man's superhuman abilities ultimately would win him the battle.
What are Nightwings weaknesses? ›And even before that, Heartless unintentionally exploited Nightwing's other weakness: the lingering damage from being shot in the head.
Who would win Nightwing or Deathstroke? ›Deathstroke would win in a fight against Nightwing. This is because he is stronger, faster, has more stamina, and is incredibly more durable than Nightwing. What's more, Deathstroke has enhanced brain activity which allows his mind to operate at peak efficiency.
What is Nightwing better than Batman at? ›While it's more than possible that anger drove Nightwing to a point where he could beat Bruce, the simpler answer is that he's just a better fighter than Batman. Bruce Wayne may have been trained by martial arts masters all over the world, but Dick Grayson was trained by someone better: Batman.
Which Robin is a better fighter? ›Tim Drake is basically the best Robins in term of fighting ability. He's beaten every other Robin in 1v1 combat and regularly tangles with Lady Shiva (the undeniably best martial artist in the DC Universe) and Ra's Al Ghul.
Can Nightwing beat gambit? ›Nightwing has been fighting evil since he was a young boy and his years of experience will serve him well. He's agile enough to avoid Gambit's charged cards and get in close enough to do a lot of damage. Close up, Gambit wouldn't be able to compete with Nightwing's overwhelming fighting skill.
Who is the strongest vigilante in DC? ›Black Canary AKA Dinah Drake Lance is one of DC's strongest vigilantes and has been using her powerful canary cry and martial arts skills to fight crime and punish those who deserve it for quite some time now.
Who would win Nightwing or Black Widow? ›Honestly, they would probably make a solid couple. Black Widow might be one of the few people on the in any comic book universe who could keep up with Nightwing in combat. But if they faced off in a fight, it would be an incredible war that would absolutely destroy the rooftops of Gotham.
Which Robin was beaten to death by Joker? ›At the end of Batman #427, Jason was beaten by the Joker and left to die in an explosion.
What Robin kills Batman? ›When the mansion begins to collapse due to the bombs Batman detonated, the Dark Knight finds himself pinned down and reaching out to Robin for help. However, Robin embraces the darkness he believes Bruce was pushing him toward and crushes his former mentor's throat with his foot, instantly killing Batman.
Who is Batman's favorite Robin? ›
Batman has chosen his favorite Robin ever - and no surprise, it's his son. Not Damian, but Jarro the psychic alien starfish.
Is Nightwing immune to fear gas? ›After Batman's death, Jason Todd stole a sample of the fear gas from the Batcave and later used it against Nightwing during their final confrontation for the mantle of the Bat. However, Nightwing was immune to the drug thanks to his previous encounter with Two-Face.
Who has Nightwing slept with in the comics? ›Who did Nightwing cheat with? The former Batman sidekick decided to sleep with his old flame Barbara Gordon (Batgirl) shortly after she had been paralyzed by the Joker.
Who does Nightwing like? ›Many fans consider Barbara Gordon/Batgirl to be Nightwing's greatest love. The two have been through a number of trials but have consistently emerged as a fan favorite couple. Fans also cherish the great love between Starfire and Dick Grayson, but he's enjoyed a few other high-profile romances as well.
Why is New 52 Nightwing red? ›While is first non-disco Nightwing suit was all blue and grey, he eventually changes the blue part of his suit to red. The red is believed to be a nod to the Bat Family, as most members of the Bat Family have used red in their costume in some way.
Why doesn t Nightwing wear a cape? ›Grayson does not like the cape because it is large, heavy, and throws off his balance. Batman is a martial artist. Grayson is an Acrobat by design. Grayson's fighting style is very different than Batman, involving a lot more flippy, jumpy stuff.
Can Nightwing fly? ›Flying Trapeeze: Nightwing is equipped with a glider that he can grab onto and drift across Gotham. Fast Bat: Nightwing's fast-travel mechanic allows him to travel across Gotham by flying using the Fast Bat.
Who is iron fists biggest enemy? ›Steel Serpent (Davos) is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an enemy of Iron Fist.
How good of a fighter is Nightwing? ›Nightwing is an incredibly skilled fighter, and even in the battles he doesn't win, he certainly always gives comic readers an entertaining show. As Batman's first Robin, a former Teen Titan, and an Outsider, Dick Grayson has had an extensive career as a prominent player in DC's canon.
Does Nightwing fight Joker? ›But Nightwing was past the point of reason and proceeded to attack the Joker until finally, he could deliver the killing blow. He got that chance and proceeded to beat the clown prince of crime into a bloody pulp.
Why did Grayson pick Nightwing? ›
Dick Grayson became Nightwing after Batman fired him from his own mantle of Robin for getting shot by Joker. Grayson's Flamebird was Bette Kane.
Is there an evil Nightwing? ›Nightwing isn't exactly famous for his villains, but his most ridiculous nemesis is absolutely his evil DC counterpart, Deathwing.
Who murdered Robin? ›Book(s) The murder of Robin was the execution of Batman's protégé, Robin, at the hands of the Joker and his second-in-command/girlfriend Harley Quinn.
What is Red Hood weakness? ›Weaknesses: Normal human weaknesses, Is constantly plagued by nightmares of The Joker due to his past experiences.
Can Red Hood beat Ra's al Ghul? ›6 Red Hood Has Battled Ra's al Ghul Many Times
Eventually, Red Hood would face al Ghul both on his own and with his team the Outlaws. He was able to win every time, taking the League of Assassins training he was given and showing al Ghul that he was better than anyone knew.
After the former Robin was killed by the Joker and was later resurrected via the Lazarus Pit, Jason Todd became the violent hero known as the Red Hood. He couldn't forgive Batman for not only allowing him to die but refusing to kill the Joker for murdering him.
Can Red Hood beat Deathstroke? ›Deathstroke is literally stronger than Red Hood. He was chosen to be the guinea pig for a super soldier serum, one which gave him superhuman strength and agility.