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Nightwing: The Unlikely Joker? Batman Knows the Truth!
Nightwing (Dick Grayson) is a legendary hero. He’s a cornerstone of the DC Universe; admired and loved by everyone involved in the universe! But even his mentor, the ever-serious and capableBatman, sees something darker lurking beneath the surface – the potential to become a villain on the level ofthe Joker,that chilling and unstable serial killer; a symbol of absolute chaos and unpredictability and is a testament to just how many capable villains actually exist! It is almost unthinkable, this notion thatNightwingcould ever go down this road; yetthis article argues otherwise; explaining how his capabilities go beyond even the Joker himself and why he should actually be viewed as an incredibly dangerous character intheDC Universebecause of all these possibilities.
This notion isn't random conjecture, there is actually evidence within DC comics. This article looks into why the Joker could become the lesser threat compared toNightwing. And the first really significant instance wasBatman #1 (written byScott Snyder, art byGreg Capullo); this issue featuredNightwingundercover asthe JokerinArkham Asylum! And this disguise was utterly perfect; neither other criminals norJames Gordonrecognizedhim! That really provesNightwing'sincredible acting and skill! EvenBatmanadmitted this skillinaconversation later back attheBatcave, making this unexpected, albeit completely plausible, idea into a full-blown discussion of why exactly Nightwing’s own behavior demonstrates those capabilities and what made it possible for such amazing moments to exist.
EveryJokerneeds a killer laugh, right? Well,Batman #682 (byGrant MorrisonandLee Garbelt) reveals thatNightwinghasthebest laugh! In that story,BatmanrecallsayoungDick Graysonencounteringthe Joker; that very brief moment where the two encounter showcasesDick'sunexpected capability; He tracks downthe Joker, not using force.Instead; a laugh contest! Dickwins.That amazing comedic ability creates those really unforgettable and memorable instances which later get utilized through storytelling to develop certain themes and aspects throughout the narrative which would’ve likely gone unused or less potent.
And it gets even more disturbing! InThe Dark Knight Strikes Again(Frank Miller,Lynn Varley, andTodd Klein),Dick Grayson(fired asRobin) gets experimental gene therapy, transforming intoanotherJoker. But this one'sfarmoredeadly: incredible regeneration—andtheonlywaytostophim?Completely destroy every single cell. It demonstrates just how dangerous even a seemingly heroic person could actually be! What kind of danger would someone this capable pose?
DC Comicshas toyedwiththeuncomfortable idea ofNightwingasthe Joker. That time whenDick GraysonwasRic?The Jokerrewrotehismind; turninghimintohisownson! This truly frightening scenario shows just how powerful such characters really are.
It really emphasizes that point, those deeply unnerving parallels between those seemingly opposing characters which really only add to those fears associated with such characters. This also suggests thatNightwing,as a character with deep internal conflict, really does pose another level of threat beyond even that associated withtheJoker. That's deeply unsettling when considering just how unpredictableand dangerous suchindividuals could possibly be!
Nightwing'sheroism is legendary. But those disturbing moments highlighted today suggest otherwise, suggesting that this legendary figure could also be someone else entirely! That dual capability to beacapable and extremely dangerous and deadly character, far beyond eventhe Joker. His potential for villainy is extremely frightening; evenBatmanunderstands the absolute level of chaosNightwingcould unleash if turned, becoming this extremely chilling threat!