WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for TITANS #16!Nightwinghas officially stepped down as leader of theTitans, nominating a classic hero to take his place. However, before the transition is finalized, Dick Grayson opens it up for a vote, allowing the team to decide if they agree with his choice. Would you have voted in favor of Nightwing’s nominee, or gone a different direction?
Dick reveals that he needs a break and feels the Titans deserve more dedicated leadership.
InTitans#16, Tom Taylor, Lucas Meyer, and Adriano Lucas have officially handed over the reins to John Layman and Pete Woods, and with this creative team change, along with DC’s ALL IN initiative, the Titans have seen some major transformations.
Notably, while the Titans will remain an independent team, they are now also members of the Justice League. The roster has shifted as well, with Flash Wally West officially quitting the Titans, Tempest stepping away to help rebuild Atlantis, and Arsenal returning to the team. However, the most significant change isNightwing stepping down as leader and nominating Donna Troy to take his place.
Nightwing Officially Nominates Donna Troy as the Leader of the Titans
Donna Receives Five Out of Six Votes in Her Favor
InTitans#16, Dick calls the team together for an impromptu meeting, wherehe reveals that he needs a break and feels the Titans deserve more dedicated leadership.He admits that his focus has been divided, questioning whether Amanda Waller andthe events ofAbsolute Powercould have been dealt with sooner if he had been more present. His personal struggles, stemming from Taylor’sNightwingrun, included dealing with a resurfaced fear of heights, rebuilding Blüdhaven, and being framed as the serial killer Heartless, all of which pulled his attention away from the team.
Recognizing that the Titans haven’t always been his top priority, Dick believes it’s time to pass leadership to someone who can fully commit to the role. While this change might not be permanent, he confidently nominates Donna, highlighting her proven leadership skills, unwavering dedication to the team, courage, and strategic mind.Starfire immediately seconds his motion, with Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Raven quickly following suit.Roy initially hesitates, but his reluctance is soon revealed to be due to Clock King’s interference, not a lack of faith in Donna.
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This Isn’t the First Time Donna Troy Has Led the Titans
But It Is the First Time She’ll Be Leading Nightwing
Dick’s decision to nominate Donna as the new team leader is likely no surprise to longtime fans of the Teen Titans/Titans.This isn’t the first time the former Wonder Girl has led the team.While Dick has always been the original Teen Titans leader, Donna has stepped in to take the reins multiple times over the years. In Marv Wolfman and George Pérez’sThe New Teen Titans, Donna took over when Dick briefly left after giving up the Robin mantle. AlthoughDick returned as Nightwingand resumed leadership, he once again passed the torch to Donna when he left to save Starfire from an arranged marriage on Tamaran.
This pattern has repeated itself over the years. In every iteration of the team featuring both Nightwing and Donna, she’s always his go-to when he needs to step back. We even saw this recently in Tom Taylor’sTitansrun, where Dick asked Donna to fill in for him when he temporarily stepped away to handle Bat-Family matters. However, what makes Donna’s transition to leader inTitans#16 especially significant is that, for the first time, Dick will remain an active team member instead of leaving entirely. Hence, Donna will be leading the Titans AND Nightwing.
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Did Nightwing Make the Right Call in Appointing Donna Troy as the New Leader of the Titans?
“Nobody Was Going to Get in My Way. Not the Clock King. Not Even the Justice League. Nobody.”– Donna Troy inTitans#16
Donna’s approach to leadership will be especially intriguing, given that she’s immediately thrown into the role when Clock King attacks, leaving her the only Titan standing. Fueled by her willpower and determination, Donna refuses to let her first act as leader be a failure. Her internal monologue offers a glimpse into her vision for the team:“…[leading the Titans] was an opportunity. To do things my way. To make a difference. To make a change. And nobody was going to get in my way. Not the Clock King. Not even the Justice League. Nobody.”With these powerful closing words, do you thinkNightwingmade the right choice in appointingDonna Troyas the newTitansleader?
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TITANS #16 (2024)
Nightwing
Nightwing is the superhero moniker taken up by Dick Grayson, upon his aging out of the Robin role and becoming a superhero of his own. Inspired by the original Kryptonian hero of the same name, Grayson has risen to comic book immortality with the identity, earning respect as one of the greatest leaders in the DC Universe.
