Superman As Nightwing

I loved those old 100 page reprint comics that DC would put out in the 70s. They collected the best of the old gold and silver age stories. The gave maximum entertainment value to a kid who loved nothing more than reading comics in his huge leather chair after school.

I didn't know it then but looking back I guess I loved the 'Elseworld' type stories the best. Where Superman or Batman adopted other identities but were still basically who they were.

When Superman went into the Bottle City of Kandor he lost all his powers. The tiny red sun that shined in that tiny city took them away. So when he was there he became a new hero called NIGHTWING (sorta the Batman of Kandor). His outfit was very much inspired from Batman's look.


Jimmy Olsen became his sidekick FIREBIRD and took on many of Superman's powers and qualities. I always thought it helped Superman because he had to think and act like a man without super powers. I am sure that helped him understand Batman better.

When the first Robin was breaking away from Batman and becoming his own man as leader of the Teen Titans, he was looking for a new identity. The genius of George Perez came to the rescue when he created a new look/identity for Dick Grayson that we were told was inspired by his two most important mentors growing up - Batman and Superman.


His new name and look clearly showed his respect and admiration for the Man of Steel (in his Nightwing identity) and was far enough removed from his boyish Robin identity (though interestingly closer in look and tone to the guy he wanted most to get away from at the time) to allow him to walk his own path as a hero.


The new identity for Robin came in what can be argued is the greatest Teen Titan saga ever - 'The Judas Contract'. I remember that story so clearly from back in high school when I would visit the comic store at least twice a week.

It's unfortunate that the animated version of that tale (which was in development) recently was shut down as were all of DC's proposed animated projects. I have already ranted about how shortsighted I think that was for the company to do. Maybe one day in the future it will be revived.

So now I need to buy this figure to go with my other versions of the NIGHTWING character in my collection. We live in the golden age of action figures people.