BatmanandRobinare arguably the most iconic hero and sidekick duo in pop culture history, but it seemsNightwingis now poised to encroach on the Dark Knight’s territory in this regard. Dick Grayson is introducing yet another ‘sidekick’ inspired by his own moniker. DC fans, take note—Nightwing’s legacy is starting to mirror Batman’s in a way that positions him to become a pop culture legend in his own right.
…Nightwing’s legacy is now starting to spread, much like Batman’s, as his name begins to inspire the identities of others.
On August 23, 2025, fans will be able to get their hands on the latest issue of Dan Watters and Dexter Soy’s phenomenalNightwingrun. For now, the five-page preview for issue #123 kicks off with drama as Dick’s sister, Mayor Grayson-Lin, strikes a deal with the villainous CEO of Spheric Solutions, Olivia Pearce, to help secure her spot in the upcoming mayoral reelection.
Shifting to the Nightwing side of the narrative, Watters revisits Dick’s tentative partnership with the Teddies—a gang he saved from police brutality in a previous issue. It’s during this check-up on the gang thatthe newest Nightwing-inspired character is introduced: NIGHT-HARE.
MEET NIGHT-HARE: DC’s Latest Nightwing-Inspired ‘Sidekick’
Comic Panel Comes From Dan Watters’Nightwing#123 (2025) – Art by Dexter Soy
As a recap of previous issues,Nightwing broke into Spheric Solutionsto investigate Olivia Pearce. Upon infiltrating the facility, Dick encountered their deadly security system. After dismantling the weapons, he made a horrifying discovery: Pearce was using a terrified rabbit to control one of the system’s weapons. True to his heroic nature, Dick refused to leave the creature in Spheric Solutions' hands and took it home with him. However,after discovering that his dog Haley and the rabbit don’t get along, Dick decides to rehome the animal with the Teddies.
Nightwing specifically entrusted the rabbit to one of the gang’s younger members, an eleven-year-old named Bryce, who had recently lost his brother to the brutality of the Bludhaven police. InNightwing#123, Dick checks in with Keenan, another Teddy gang member, asking how Bryce is doing. Keenan responds,“How do you think he is? He’s eleven and watched his brother get murdered by a cop. Loves that rabbit you gave him, though.”It’s here that Keenan reveals Bryce named the rabbit“Night-Hare,”a clear homage to Dick’s Nightwing moniker and a testament to the hero’s ever-expanding legacy.
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Nightwing Is Beginning to Mimic Batman’s Legacy in a MAJOR Way
Cover E Jorge Molina Connecting Legacy Variant forDetective Comics#1050 (2022)
There’s no denying that Batman is one of the most iconic heroes in all of pop culture, with a legacy that continues to expand and grow nearly every day. Part of what makesBatman so legendaryis the countless individuals and things he has inspired, all of which reflect his enduring impact. For example,Batgirl, Batwoman, Bat-Cow, the Batmobile, and Batarangs are all testaments to Bruce’s legacy—none of which would exist without him. This speaks to the immense scope of Batman’s influence, as so many things bear his name.
In recent years, fans are beginning to see Nightwing follow in Batman’s footsteps in this regard, ashis name is being ‘handed down’ and becoming a household name in its own right.This began with Nightwing’s dog, Haley, who adopted the hero moniker Bite-Wing. Now, inNightwing#123, we are introduced to Night-Hare, a rabbit named by a young boy that Dick saved. Clearly, Nightwing made enough of an impression on the child for him to want to pass on the moniker to his new companion. In this way, Nightwing’s legacy is now starting to spread, much like Batman’s, as his name begins to inspire the identities of others.
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What’s Next for Nightwing’s Legacy?
Cover E 1:25 Variant by Dexter Soy forNightwing#123 (2025)
While Nightwing has now had two animals named after him, he’s still not quite on Batman’s level in terms of legacy. However, it’s clear that DC is steering Nightwing toward a path that could match Batman’s. This was especially evident when the Justice League stepped down and theTitans rose as DC’s premiere superhero team, with Dick at the helm. Adding to this are small but significant details, such as Dick gaining animals named after him, mirroring Bruce’s own Bat-Cow and Ace the Bat-Hound. It will be interesting to see howNightwing’slegacy continues to grow—perhaps the next step will be Dick adopting his own permanent sidekick.
