Spoilers for Nightwing #103!Nightwing has long been a formidable and respected hero among gods and metahumans in the DC Universe despite not having any powers. Now the former sidekick of Batman will finally get his chance to utilize an extremely powerful set of abilities in his own series. Nightwing has sometimes needed to look to his superhero friends, such as the other of the Titans, to assist him when the threats to Blüdhaven are too much for him to handle alone. But now his powers will push him beyond the limits he’s used to.
In the main story of Nightwing #103 by Tom Taylor, Travis Moore and Vasco Georgiev, Nightwing and his fellow Titans Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy venture into Hell to find a loophole in a contract that entitles the Demon-Lord Neron to the soul of the young girl Olivia Desmond. Nightwing is able to save Olivia from the clutches of Neron by g a temporary foster form that officially makes him her legal guardian. Hoping to persuade Nightwing into renegotiating the contract, Neron offers him the power to do more good than he ever could as an ordinary human. Neron then gives Nightwing superpowers, a new costume with glowing yellow lining, and the new codename "Superwing".
Nightwing Makes a Deal With The Devil
Neron is apparently unable to break a legally binding contract without repercussions, so in a last ditch effort to claim Olivia’s soul he attempts to exploit Dick’s supposed insecurities. In a big speech, Neron claims that Nightwing feels inadequate compared to the heroes of the world who have superpowers. He then asks him to imagine how much more good he could accomplish if he had the powers of a Kryptonian like Superman or if he was bonded to the Speed Force like the Flash. From this basis Neron believes he can trade the superpowered persona of “Superwing” for the soul of Olivia.
Nightwing wouldn’t be the first close ally of Batman’s to earn superpowers. Jason Todd and Damian Wayne were both previously resurrected from the dead, resulting in them both gaining enhanced speed and strength. Another Bat-Family member, Duke Thomas, inherited his metahuman father’s light sensory powers. Nightwing, however, is given the opportunity to take on significantly more power than any previous Batman sidekick or Titan has ever possessed. Neron appears to respect the bounds of contracts forged in Hell, so his offer may be sincere, although the powers of cosmic forces and extinct alien races he offers could just end up being magic powers meant to resemble the abilities of the Flash and Superman.
It’s unlikely that Nightwing would ever trade an innocent child’s life for superpowers, even if those powers would allow him to change the world; the fact that these powers are offered by an infamously villainous demon lord also makes the possibility even less likely. The ability to save Blüdhaven may tempt Nightwing and readers may even see those powers in action, but the future of the Superwing moniker may not last long as the cost for donning it is far too high.
Nightwing #103 is on sale now from DC Comics!
