Despite never getting his own live-action theatrical film or even small cameos amidst the wave of superhero movies, Dick Grayson remains one of the best characters in comics. He’s had some animated appearances and an appearance in the four-season DC series Titans. But still, we want more! So while we’re still holding out hope for his big-screen debut, here are some of the best Nightwing comics to keep you busy.
Best Nightwing comics as of 2025
Nightwing first showed up back in 1940 in Detective Comics #38, and he’s come a long way since then. What started as Batman’s sidekick gig turned into a whole career as a superhero in his own right. He’s got plenty of great stories out there, but we pulled together a list that’s easy to jump into if you’re new, while still hitting the favorites longtime fans love.
Teen Titans: The Judas Contract
Dick Grayson, who eventually becomes Nightwing, is one of the rare superheroes we actually get to see go from kid to adult. There have been some other comic characters who have grown old, and that’s always a satisfying journey to go along with our fictional heroes, but Nightwing is unique in his age progression. His very first appearance back in Detective Comics #38 showed him as a ten-year-old kid, and over the years, he’s gotten a true coming-of-age story on the page.
Published in 1984 as a four-issue arc in The New Teen Titans by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, The Judas Contract is not only one of the most famous Teen Titans storylines, but also a massive milestone for Grayson himself. Up until then, he’d been best known as Batman’s sidekick, Robin. But a betrayal is as good a catalyst as any, and sees Dick finally stepping out of Batman’s shadow for good. It’s a pivotal moment in the series we have to include on this list, when the sidekick becomes the leader.
The Black Mirror
In addition to showing Dick Grayson entirely moving on from his life as Robin, The Black Mirror also gives us a fascinating chapter where he takes on the role of Batman himself. And let’s say he’s a very different Dark Knight than Bruce Wayne. As for why Dick becomes Batman, we’ll leave the full details for you to enjoy by reading the comics (please don’t go online; it’s too good!), but what you need to know is that Scott Snyder wrote this storyline, which spans three interconnected arcs. What makes it so compelling is the way writer Scott Snyder writes Gotham through Dick’s point of view.
There’s a lot that’s so clearly different about this Batman take because the character is so different. It’s a fascinating look at what happens when a different character, we mean in terms of personality and psychology, carries the same mantle. Many fans consider The Black Mirror one of Snyder’s best works, and honestly, it proves that Dick might be the best Batman we’ve ever had. Sorry, Brucey boy!
Nightwing: Year One
Nightwing: Year One was initially published in 2005 as a six-issue arc in Nightwing #101–106. This sold-out collaboration featured Chuck Dixon and Scott Beatty as the writing duo, with art by Scott McDaniel. The story picks up after Dick is fired by Batman, forcing him to confront what life looks like beyond the role he has held since childhood. But sometimes fate intervenes, and Dick isn’t the type of guy to stay away from crime-fighting for very long. And out of that, we’ll get a very entertaining story that takes Dick from Robin to Nightwing. Though sometimes considered the weakest of the Year One trilogy when ranked with its other parts, Robin: Year One and Batgirl: Year One, it’s excellent in its own right. Just read the whole trilogy.
The story also gives us some great moments when Dick crosses paths with Superman, the Teen Titans, and one of this writer’s favorites, Barbara Gordon. Additionally, he now has to figure out who he is without a certain identity. Think of this as a mix of coming-of-age odyssey, a search for the self, and, of course, superhero adventure.
Leaping into the Light
Published in 2021, Nightwing: Leaping into the Light (issues #78–83) kicked off a new era for the character under writer Tom Taylor and artist Bruno Redondo. One of the best Nightwing runs ever, you’ll see it on nearly any Nightwing essential comic reads list you’ll come across, and for good reason. Plus, it’s something you can jump right into, even if you’re new to the comics.
Dick is back in Blüdhaven, a city Nightwing mostly hangs out in, a few hours away from Gotham, geographically speaking. He’s also inherited a fortune from Alfred Pennyworth after the events of Joker War, another comic well worth reading, where the Joker messes with an amnesic Nightwing. A fortune is great, but what do you do with it when you’re Dick Grayson? He’s still young, so buying pizza for the homeless population probably (obviously) won’t save the city, but if anything, we can see glimpses of Dick’s heart and youthful naivete.
As far as other relationships go, Nightwing is also reconnecting with Barbara Gordon, who, at this point, was not doing so hot. Barbara Gordon really gets put through the wringer by these writers, even just between Joker War and Killing Joke. But as a breath of fresh air, Leaping into the Light gives us one of the best friendships (and a budding romance) between these two. Of course, there’s a terrifying new villain to deal with: Heartless.
The Boys
Published by DC Comics in October 1998 as part of the second volume of Nightwing, #25, also known as The Boys, is one of the standout Nightwing comics from writing legend Chuck Dixon, who basically wrote every Batman comic in the ’90s. The art by Scott McDaniel is phenomenal, too. Unlike some issues that lean heavily on action, this one is very much character-focused, centering on the bond between Nightwing and Robin (Tim Drake). It’s a very brotherly story with a simple plot. Reading it feels more like an extended, filmic sequence than a traditional comic action-adventure.
Back in the day, Dick and Batman used to do a training exercise on top of a moving train. In The Boys, Dick brings Tim Drake, the current Robin, along for the same exercise while blindfolded. As they navigate this tricky training regimen, they talk and reflect on their lives and fears. While it may not sound like the most explosive comic to add to this list, it’s good enough that it was ranked at #67 in Wizard Magazine’s list of “100 Best Single Issue Comics Since You Were Born”. Although that magazine is now defunct, it ran during the peak of the 90s comic era, so it might be worth trusting if you won’t take our word for it.
How we chose the best Nightwing comics
We typically try to keep these best-of lists well-rounded, meaning there’s a good mix of the best writing, best artwork, strong character development, origin stories, or relaunches. We also try to make sure the comics we pick are accessible to newcomers while still giving something worthwhile to longtime fans. Always bonus points for rereadability.
