The BIZARRE Death Of Nightwing

Nightwing dies in an odd meta tale penned by Dan Didio who infamously wanted to kill the character off decades prior. The anthology 'I Know What You Did Last Crisis'' contains tales from Crises past and Nightwing's is a more tongue in cheek outing. Is it funny or petty? And why did Dan Didio want to kill Nightwing anyway? We discuss here on Casually Comics!
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[@CasuallyComics]

Do You Know What You Did Last Crisis?

[@kemmdog4444]

Yes,I read it.😊

[@Magmaster13]

Well Prime Earth is supposed to be our earth so probably killed by antimatter wave

[@mariah519]

Was Getting erased from existence

[@joeker5208]

Barry Allen/Pandora/Dr. Manhattan took my family and replaced me with a different ethnic version of myself who was also like 10 years younger, only for me to reappear about five months later and explain like three different continuities to all my friends and family

[@TheVetoSkreeemer]

I Skipped it, Final Crisis was my Last Cisis.

[@wdcain1]

Making Dick Greyson's death a multiversal constant sounds like a parody idea from someone making fun of Dan Didio.

[@NathanWeeks]

Mysterious Narrator: “I'm not sure what reality is anymore.” Nightwing: “Hal?”

[@Demona9999Marluxia]

Dan Didio's obsession with killing Dick Grayson and not seeing the point of Nightwing and everything has the same energy as Jim Starlings obsession with killing Jason Todd and not seeing the point of Robin, I think they come from the same root of guys who cant handle Bruce Wayne being a dad lol

[@titheproven954]

They just have very negative views on orphans.

[@Demona9999Marluxia]

@@titheproven954 maybe they need a reminder that Bruce is an orphan??? as if seeing the Waynes dying a thousand times isnt enough lol

[@soulare]

Dildo really likes Nightwing in one way or another

[@tracyboarder4603]

The difference is, Starlin wrote one of the best Jason Todd Robin stories in Batman: The Cult. This story was just absolute pettiness and hubris on Didio's part.

[@Demona9999Marluxia]

@@tracyboarder4603 oh man I love that comic!!! its such a great Jason moment too, him saving Bruce from the sewers and willing to die defending him if he has to, amazing. Its weird how a lot of the things people like about Jason came about because Jim Starling hated him and was trying to make people hate him?? like?? the whole Garzonas thing, Im sorry, I was with Jason on that one, screw that guy lol

[@ishmiel21]

That night wing story was one of the most petty things I've ever read in my entire life. It made me laugh with its pettiness, and it also showed the complete lack of understanding that Dan had of the character and his importance.

[@AussieDragoon]

I think the bigger issue, outside of the rational behind why Dick needs to die, is how bad this story makes Connor look. Like honestly the story would have worked better as dark comedy if it actually had just been Dan DiDio self inserting himself into the narrative. With all the references dropped to Dick after Cassie shows up, whoever it'd be in the Dan version, they'd lean into the meta and go "Dan, it'd been years, you need to get over Nightwing's death already."

[@zelamorre1126]

For most other hero characters, this scenario would be a tale of WHY it's important that they don't kill for the 'greater good.' (Let alone kill innocent people.) Because it'd be an exploration of how it's not just one Nightwing. It is every Nightwing across every universe, all dying in horrific ways. And Connor is now some sort of despot swearing that just wiping out all the people with this one particular trait will be what purifies their society. The story needed to either lean more into the horror of Connor's actions or the absurd humor of the premise. The half-way point it ended up with just doesn't work.

[@KOFNY]

Yeah as a huge Connor Kent Superboy fan that made me die a bit on the inside, especially since Connor would never act like this and his best friend is literally Tim Drake. But since it’s Dan Didio just venting through a character as an outlet (and since it’s an elseworlds) it’s totally fine tbh. I wish he just took off the hood to reveal Dan Didio just screaming at Nightwing though lmao

[@dazzlethestar151]

I think the idea that killing Nightwing will make everything in the DC universe better is a bit silly. Also I really don't think Conner would do this, especially to someone as kind and beloved as Nightwing.

[@hatandbeardmedia5925]

I found it hilarious in how petty and salty it was. The delusion that killing Nightwing would have ushered in a new golden age because they could promote new characters instead of the legacy ones in particular.

[@halfmettlealchemist8076]

The fact that DC invited Didio back to guest-write a story in one of their anniversary specials as what I assume was a show of good faith after he left the company, and then he used that opportunity to write _this,_ is honestly one of the funniest displays of pure spite I've ever seen. Reverse-Flash levels of pettiness on God

[@nightwing1491]

Lol I completely agree, someone should make a comic and make Dan Didio a Nightwing villain lmao

[@betterstories]

Rewriting history? Yeah, exactly as petty as Reverse Flash, haha

[@huntertezz]

Ironically didn't the comoc release on the announcement of the Dick and Jason movie ?

[@brentwalker9576]

Exactly. Funny AND petty

[@twincast2005]

@@halfmettlealchemist8076 I mean, if you ask DiDio for a short story for a DC Crises-themed anthology, it's pretty much guaranteed to be about Dick dying. And it's not like he could still force them to publish what he's given them.

[@ladyoftheabyss13]

The problem is Didio never understood how much Dick Grayson means to everyone in the Multiverse and to fans. This story proves that completely.

[@r4z0rv1n3]

When Dan Didio left DC I did a literal dance... He's always been terrible at understanding what to do with the DC characters. We stan Nightwing in this house. As for Didio, the less we hear from him the better.

[@EdmondDantes224]

Isn't Dan Didio the same out-of-touch airhead who claimed DC Comics were "for 40 year olds?" (he meant that in the sense of the comics were supposed to be intelligent and grown up, something the content at the time definitely did NOT live up to).

[@pengwin_]

@@EdmondDantes224 he also notoriously said "I want to wipe the smile of the face of DC comics" hes a moron.

[@dreaming_caiman]

Injustice, Dceased or dark multiverse; they all kill Nightwing to show how dour that universe is.

[@akebalanetzioni2204]

Lmaoo good point 😂

[@AussieDragoon]

And the DCAMU, they killed him and brought him back just to die again.

[@titheproven954]

lol I never noticed but you are right. You can't have the darkest timeline without killing Nightwing it seems.

[@kailevil3444]

Yeah, also on the comic of Batman created by the creator of Hellboy.

[@mitch-TO]

Imagine where DC Comics could be today if Dan Didio didn’t fundamentally misunderstand that universe.

[@pengwin_]

it should have been him dieing over and over again in every universe

[@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115]

I love when Alvin loudly co-hosts! 😹

[@CasuallyComics]

Lol he tried to do it during my Absolute Batman review as well. He just has lots of opinions about current day DC.

[@CTheng]

Didio's delusion that him getting to kill Nightwing will somehow make everything in the DC universe better is very laughable.

[@thegoddamnedbatman2138]

He’s not wrong icl

[@brunocatao821]

He thinks it will make himself younger.

[@HandofOmega]

More or less than Joe Quesada's obsession with annuling Peter and MJ's marriage?

[@popeye697]

​@@thegoddamnedbatman2138He was extremely wrong. Nightwing is the only Robin that actually matters.

[@thegoddamnedbatman2138]

@@popeye697 YAWWWN, he’s the least interesting and most boring Robin

[@CurlyInsaneGuy_]

DiDio's hatred of Dick Grayson needs to be studied in a lab.

[@CasuallyComics]

lol it's truly legendary

[@betterstories]

It's so weird! The idea that the universe should stop resetting around Diana, Clark, and Bruce -- perfect, makes sense. The idea that killing Dick is the way to do it? Lolwut?

[@lastsonoftennessee9895]

Honestly, I think it would have worked better if Didio had appeared as the villain. If you're making a meta story, commit to it.

[@dherna12]

I’m relieved this was a “What If…” story. I was not going to stand for them doing my boy Conner dirty like that.

[@gundamnuggers8978]

Those aren't shards of reality in connors basement. They're hunks of cosmic rocksalt formed from Dan's tears.

[@calebcardinal3867]

Conners monologue just screams the writer saying “I DONT WANNA WRITE NIGHTWING ANYMORE, I DONT WANNA, I DONT WANNA”

[@Jebbtube]

This came across as mean spirited, like "I couldn't kill him when I wanted, so I'll just kill him over and over again!"

[@Dougeb7]

I just read Absolute Power #4 and I liked the way Nightwing was portrayed. A natural leader with a solid, tactical mind. Absolutely essential to the DC universe. Even Alvin knows it. Of course he does! You've trained him well.

[@HandofOmega]

there's a great scene in an old JLA/TT crossover where Batman starts giving orders, but giving all the assignments to the wrong people...until Nightwing can't stand it anymore, and steps up, putting the right heroes on the right missions...Batman just goes "don't look at me, follow him", and you realize he did all that deliberately, to PUSH Dick into taking charge of all the heroes! Great moment for them both...

[@vullord666]

Nightwing feels like the perfect progression of DC. He's been influenced so greatly by all of the trinity and has picked up on all their best traits. If you ask me Dick should be pushed more as the center of DC. More so than Batman or Superman. I don't want either character to be gone away with, but it'd be nice if DC would stop being greedy (and terrified) for a second and put Nightwing at more of the forefront.

[@Dougeb7]

@@vullord666 I agree. He's a strong character with a rich history. I think DC can only gain by featuring him more.

[@HandofOmega]

@@vullord666 One of the few things I actually liked about Loeb's reinvention of Supergirl was exactly that take, that she was being groomed by the trinity (taught to fight by WW, how to think by Bats, and the use of her powers and ethics by Supes) to eventually be The Ultimate Hero! Unfortunately, it went nowhere. Did they carry that over with New 52 SG?

[@jimwhitt]

It comes off as petty and a bit sad, and a little like he’s throwing a tantrum because someone told him no

[@VerdantRange]

To me, it really reads as DiDio being super petty. "Everything would just lead to a lot of better comics if they just let me fucking kill off Nightwing! Everything would be better in MY universe!" And considering a lot of meddling in books done by DiDio that seem to be done solely to fuck over certain legacy characters like Wally West (see Heroes in Crisis), I have zero reason to trust a single word he says about actually loving these legacy characters.

[@samwill7259]

What is it with some writers and saying characters need to have a "point" He's a character with a long history, a defined personality and the ability to tell strong stories about him That is the "point" of EVERY comic book character. You gain much less than you lose killing off literally any character in comics history

[@insupportofjunhado]

Why exactly would heroes "uniting" end all crises? Darkseid would want to conquer/destroy the universe all the same. Time fly would still be hungry. Nekron was still going to try and kill the life entity. Barry Allin would still have a mother to save. Perpetua would still have a vendetta against the hands. Antimonitor would still resent the source wall. Pariah would still be stuck in the dead original multiverse. It's not like the heroes were so divided during those events, or that Conner would have done so much better without Clark. I find it hard to believe the universe really can't kill Nightwing, but it can somehow kill Superboy. Superboy's a little harder to kill than Nightwing. Just smother Dick in his sleep with a pillow!

[@ProfessorHurt]

As a fan of Cassandra Cain and Stephanie Brown, I'd disagree on DiDio's hate for certain characters. CAUSE MAN he was their greatest foe.

[@zabeerfarid7687]

What’d he do to them?

[@EdmondDantes224]

I second the other person's question: what did he do to them?

[@Thunderbender18830]

As huge Cassandra Cain stan, I gotta know, what’d Didio do them?

[@huntertezz]

​​@@zabeerfarid7687 regress and for awhile erased them to make Barbara Batgirl again.

[@twincast2005]

For those asking: Oh boy, buckle in for a wild ride. Prior to DiDio's arrival, Steph had first spent about 5 years IRL/about 1 year in-universe flirting with Robin in costume while he had a girlfriend, Ari, in his civilian life, followed by roughly the same amount of time as Tim's girlfriend, which had some bumps, most notably when Bruce was being his manipulative self and told Steph Tim's identity, but eventually settled into a stable and healthy relationship, particularly in Robin Vol. 2 Nr. 101~120. Meanwhile, Steph was getting more serious about vigilanteing and asked Babs and Dinah to train her, joining the Birds of Prey series. DiDio (and allegedly other unnamed people in editorial) found Steph thoroughly uninteresting, which put a target on her back on his mission to "trim the fat" (cf. subsequent rampant slaughter of (former) Teen Titans), which is stupid enough in and of itself, but how they did it was just... ugh. First, they brought back her old character flaw of pathological jealousy at a time when she had zero reason to feel insecure in her relationship with Tim. Then we got the tiny highlight of the whole mess, in that the writers had successfully lobbied to at least give her a stint in the limelight as Robin before her scheduled end. However, that only lasted for a few issues (a couple of weeks in-universe) and ended with Bruce (and thus the story) painting her as more incompetent than she had actually been shown to be. And so, to prove herself, [SPOILERS for the ending of a 20-year-old crossover event - War Games - that had actually been a great read IMO until it was ruined by that] Steph decided to put one of Bruce's contingency plans into motion, in this case curbing crime via a manufactured gang war, which went completely out of control because it lacked the crucial part of Bruce manipulating events undercover. At the end of which she died with Bruce watching over her on Leslie's operating table from injuries from Black Mask torturing her (after he had already made Selina's sister go catatonic from torture and watching him torture her husband to death). And that's not even the worst of it. They had Leslie Thompkins of all people actively let Steph die "to teach Bruce a lesson" about his teenage sidekicks. When he (and we) found out, he exiled her from Gotham. And thus, yet another female supporting character removed, with her character thoroughly assassinated, to add insult to injury. Cass had debuted during Gotham's previous gang war in No Man's Land, was the third "real" Batgirl overall, the second in that continuity (as Bette had been retconned from Batgirl to Flamebird), and the first to ever get her own solo series (both limited and ongoing, although Babs did have her own features in DC comic magazines back when they still commonly had two or more stories). And she was the second person ever adopted by Bruce (after Jason, R.I.P.) - Dick was the third right before the climax of Infinite Crisis, as Bruce wanted to make sure there'd be no issues with his inheritance if he were to die in it, which only took a modicum of genre savviness to see the giant flag of "tragic irony" that this raised on Dick, even if you weren't aware of DiDio's mad obsession. One Year Later after Infinite Crisis, Cass, who had been by far the most committed to Bruce's moral code, was suddenly a murderous villain in Robin. The Steph thing happened in 2004, the Cass thing in 2006. In 2008, Steph was "revealed" to have her death faked by Leslie and spent the last circa two years with her in Africa (sans telling her parents that she was alive), and that suspecting this (as if he couldn't have checked) was why Bruce didn't erect a memorial for her in the Batcave like he had for Jason - something that was put in purely to gaslight the fans who had complained about it, as in the years between, nobody in the Batclan had ever been shown on-panel to give a damn. Around the same time, Cass was "revealed" in Teen Titans to have been mind-controlled and eventually managed break out of it. Yay, I guess. For the big Batbooks revamp of 2009 (when Bruce was thought dead by everyone but Tim), Cass left to find herself, and Steph became the new Batgirl (and entered college). Cass did guest star for a bit in Red Robin and ended up patrolling Hongkong as Black Bat for Batman Incorporated. Then DiDio's N'ew 52 reboot hit in late 2011 and erased Steph and Cass from continuity while he finally got his wish of reinstating the "iconic" Batgirl, Barbara Gordon. A few years later, far inferior rebooted versions of them got introduced in Batman Eternal and Batman and Robin Eternal, respectively. Everyone had a worse personality during those five years, so that was par for the course, but what really stuck out was that they both got deaged from a bit older than Tim to a bit younger than him (a consistent pattern under DiDio also seen with Babs and Dick as well as Lois and Clark), and how the original Steph and Cass used to have complicated relationships with both of their respective biological parents (Cass obviously more so than Steph), but in the N'ew 52 they went utterly vile with Cassandra's parents not caring about her at all, and Steph's actively trying to kill her for having spoiled a plot of theirs. They did star in the DC Rebirth run of Detective Comics starting in 2016, but that whole initiative was creatively spearheaded by Geoff Johns, not Dan Didio, and after this series ended and DiDio was once again spitting on what had been set up universe-wide by Johns (the previous time having been the N'ew 52 kneecapping Brightest Day), this time mostly by changing what Heroes in Crisis was supposed to be, putting Death Metal into motion, and forcing "Bendis Is Coming" on a readership that decidedly hadn't asked for it, Steph and Cass were once again neglected until the (hard to read) Batgirls series after he left. (I had to force myself to not go on tangents about Tim, Jason, Dick, Babs, and how the creation of Kate was the one good thing to come out of this.)

[@FandomFactss]

I think this story kind of paints Conner in a bad light in order to make “it’s point” which is disappointing

[@manis1551]

It's crazy that Dan Didio is still bitter over Nightwing being popular with the fans and that he's still angry that he couldn't kill off Nightwing. He clearly doesn't understand the character at all.

[@Just_Some_Guy_with_a_Mustache]

Very in-character things for Conner Kent, family of Superman, to say.

[@Dunybrook]

Dan DiDio hates Nightwing almost as much as he hates people getting married. Clearly he's not a cake lover either.

[@GabePuratekuta]

Clearly he hates comic book characters being happy.

[@pauljohnson271]

I know that these are fictional characters, not real people, but……you wanted him to DIE?!? He goes back to the 40s, grew up first and best with Batman, then grew into to a tough leader in the Wolfman-Perez Titans era, and came out as a popular reinvention, but you wanted to KILL HIM!?! Harsh. Extreme.

[@dero_oan]

So many words from Didio but all I got from the quotes and the comic itself was "Dan Didio hates Nightwing"

[@johnskrip7174]

I always hated that he wanted to kneecap Dick and Wally. You can not understand characters, but being an editor in chief means you need to let people do what they want with all the characters because many people are fans and you won’t be. Rebirth made me feel incredibly angry because they were meant to bring both back to prominence and instead instantly we got Heroes in Crisis and Ric Grayson. Absolutely terrible. It felt like he was just doing this to spite people. He did help some good stuff get written, but good riddance. He thought that pile of crap Countdown to Crisis comic was going to be 52 done right. Yucko.

[@GrandArchPriestOfTheAlgorithm]

We can't lose Nightwing, what will we do without his butt?

[@CasuallyComics]

Look at Hal's I guess lol?

[@HandofOmega]

It would live on without him!! (salutes the Nightwing butt)

[@LEAFtea57]

Well Cassie does describes Conner as having "the cutest butt" later in the story, maybe the real reason he did it was to steal Dick's crown.

[@GabePuratekuta]

@@LEAFtea57 Or to steal his butt.

[@davidcope5736]

Something that strikes me about older dc stuff from the Golden and Silver Ages is how important Dick was as Robin. He wore the suit when robin wasn't an after thought, when you couldn't have batman without him. They were two halves of a package deal. Dick isnt a problem to ignore, he's got way too much history for that.

[@mysticdigital5936]

Wow this comic feels extremely salty. I guess it works as a tragedy or horror for Halloween, but the tone just feels *petty.* The art was nice and it definitely invokes horror with the presentation of a """happy""" ending. Like no, DC would not have some Renaissance if the writers killed poor Dick Grayson. If anything the constant Crises are more linked to the Trinity and the company/fan refusal to let any mainstays permanently die/retire/change. I do love the reference in the title.

[@catlawyerwilldefendfortrea6038]

That was weird... I'm more upset at treatment of Connor since I grew up with that character and his sacrifice felt massive.

[@robertwwallii1357]

These "writers" have been killing Nightwing off in EVERY show & comic book THAT HE IS IN!!!!! Usually for COMIC RELIEF!!!! So, YES!!!!It's out of pure spite & pettiness!!!!!!!!!

[@snorpenbass4196]

I think the guy who wrote Dick Grayson becoming Nightwing should write a response story where a character created by Dan Didio goes through the exact same nonsense. Complete with all characters going "It's great that you're dead now, because you're bad and should feel bad" like in the Didio story. Fair's fair, after all. 😉😁

[@k9feline2]

DiDio isn't talented enough to create his own characters.

[@twincast2005]

​@k9feline2 Ironically enough, the handful of series he has written (starring niche and new characters, so naturally none of them lasted long) have actually all been great. It's his editorial vision for the overall universe and its major IPs that is thoroughly broken, which is telling edgy '90s Marvel/Image stories in a perpetual "iconic" late '60s status quo DC Earth-One universe.

[@GabePuratekuta]

@@k9feline2 How about a bad hero called "Didiot" that gets told off by Nightwing then dies trying to stop the first crime he sees?

[@blackphoenix77]

One of the pettiest stories I've ever seen. Hopefully Didio won't be writing anything else for DC for awhile.

[@nightwing1491]

Dan Didio was not slick when he was making this lmao, and @CasuallyComics while you were explaining the comic to me it sounds a lot like that Dan Didio was really and just only inserting his own beliefs on why Nightwing should die, and its obvious that Dan Didio is definitely and probably Nightwing's number #1 hater.

[@GenerationWest]

Dan "Dead Dick" Didio.... Wait.

[@totz_the_plaid9625]

Killing off characters is almost always a waste in an unending medium like western superhero comics. There will never be a planned definitive end for the Marvel or DC multiverses, so killing off a character fans have grown to care about just limits future storytelling opportunities. There are times when it absolutely works and deserves to stick (Captain George Stacy in Spider-Man), but 90% of the time, if it wasn't a case of "death by origin story" (Uncle Ben, Thomas and Martha Wayne, Jor-El & Lara), it's not gonna stick if people like the character. Even most of the ones that actually really work (Norman Osborn, Barry Allen, Aunt May during the otherwise shitty Clone Saga, Hal Jordan) are going to get retconned, making the emotional investment moot. And as Linkara points out, even generally hated characters can be someone's favorite. Danny Chase is his favorite superhero. Why alienate those readers? So, yeah, killing characters in these types of stories is generally a shitty idea.

[@magitek09]

This kinda reminded me of "the kingdom" where Gog, keeps going back in time to kill superman is different and brutal ways

[@totz_the_plaid9625]

When you said "Cassie" I wasn't looking at my screen and my first thought was "why would Orphan be there?" As someone who's focused mostly on the Batfam, the first DC Cassandra that comes to mind is Cain, not Sandsmark. I usually think "Wonder Girl" for Sandsmark since Donna Troy has completely graduated from that particular role to me.

[@thomaswood8405]

Do people call Cassandra Cain "Cassie?" I thought she usually gets stuck with "Cass."

[@huntertezz]

Ironically even Cain is shipped with Suoerboy at times

[@twincast2005]

​@@huntertezz To be fair, she did actually have a crush on him in her solo series.

[@GabePuratekuta]

Cassandra is the new Martha.

[@kevinmalone4341]

Last panel should have been one of the shards shattering with Nightwing's fist sticking out.

[@zrswitch8434]

Feels both petty and like a parody. Sounds like Didio stood by offing Nightwing as good idea and then makes a tiny story about it being the BEST idea in all the multiverse? Like that's years of holding onto something.

[@lolstalgic9602]

"So DC comics killed Nightwing..." Again?!

[@Thunderbender18830]

It’s more petty than funny. Like who is this for? Didio is only person who wants to see Nightwing killed. So the only audience this is can really be for is Didio himself.

[@mischiefman8720]

This story ticked me off. It was the meanest and pettiest thing I’ve ever read. I hope Dan Didio got all that hatred he’s held for Nightwing out of his system. After trying to have Dick killed at least 3 times you’d think he’d take a hint. Nightwing and DC in general need creators that love these characters, who want to celebrate them and build them up, not destroy them and reverse their growth and development like Didio did.

[@Lukecash2]

Beyond petty. There was not one ounce of humor in there at all.

[@BeardManTimLaird]

It's so weird they let Didiot back into the DC offices after he was fired.

[@Someyap]

He was fired because of micro management as a boss so in a role that's not managerial he's not a problem Also many people at DC owe their job to didio so even when he's fired people still say good things about him

[@connerolmedo888]

If Alvin thinks Nightwing should stay alive so should everyone dammit

[@HandofOmega]

Since there was no context to Dan's quote, I'm just imagining Marv from Sin City writing/drawing the adventures of Nightwing...

[@CasuallyComics]

Lol Marv Wolfman, but now I want to see what Marv from Sin City would write.

[@spiderapple5839]

NOOOOOOO MY GLORIOUS KING

[@tmmle7]

We don’t need another evil Superboy!!

[@speedbumpchump6388]

You're cat's name in Alvin!?😁 You need two more named Simon and Theodore. And every video must end with you screaming "ALLLLLLLLLLLVINNNNNN!"

[@DeadpoolNegative]

This reminds me of the last issue of Waid and Perez’s Brave and the Bold where the villain is defeated and as he’s fading away says “you don’t understand, I was trying to prevent a CRISIS… a CRISIS…”

[@GitShiddy]

Sasha explaining this story left the taste of bottom of the bag salt & vinegar ships on my tongue. That's how salty it hit me.

[@AdamYJ]

Near as I can tell, Nightwing’s purpose is to be the non-powered vigilante who’s not a brooding sad sack like Bruce or a loud-mouthed frequent screw-up like Green Arrow.

[@PattheMan876-qf8ro]

That story with with Nightwing cosplayer may have been from a time hen a Nightwing cosplayer claimed they bumped into DiDio who responded by tapping his shoulder and saying 'don't worry. I won't kill you' as a joke.

[@rus.t]

That story was like making a socmed post, getting ratiod then coming back to defend the post 20 years later.

[@nishidohellhillsruler6731]

I think this calls for a sequel issue in which Cassie finds out what Conner did to Nightwing, and she makes him pay for it and bring Nightwing back, then Nightwing goes through a supervillain era because of going insane after all those deaths. It's a comic mini-series that practically writes itself.

[@insupportofjunhado]

How about instead of heroes killing each other and conspiring behind each others' backs they save people from natural disasters provide disaster relief, stop crimes, advocate for causes, raise charitable funds, support diplomacy, promote education, assist in scientific research, hang out with their friends, keep in touch with their families, work their jobs, enjoy their hobbies and fight super villains? I get that Namor The Submariner and The Human Torch was a historical moment in comic books, but those particular superheroes had good reasons to be fighting one another. Namor was told by his family that the surface world, especially New York, had to be destroyed for invading and defiling the sacred land/waters of Antartica without provocation, while Human Torch lived in New York and wanted to defend it. That makes a lot more sense than diatribe about destiny and multiverses driving Superboy to kill Nightwing.

[@GabePuratekuta]

@@insupportofjunhado At least half of the things you listed is just "be Bruce Wayne".

[@insupportofjunhado]

@@GabePuratekuta Does it make more sense for Bruce Wayne, philanthropist and crime fighter motivated by the shooting of his parents, two doctors who left him a family fortune, owner of a medical technology company, to be murdering Superman because shards of reality told him killing Superman was the only way to stop reality from resetting itself after a super villain driven crisis? More sense than Bruce Wayne doing any of the things I listed? Why isn't it more like we can stop all of these Crisis by getting rid of Antimonitor, since he started them all to begin with? Is it our right to alter the timeline like that, because a man did bad things? Is it worth risking damage we can't stop since we did fix the damage he did cause? Why isn't the moral dilemma of killing super villains who actually caused the problems in questions good enough? Why are we accepting stories that make up obtuse reasons for super heroes to kill one another? At least Namor The Submariner and The Human Torch had a good reason to fight! Demand better of your comic books!

[@grife3000]

All this talk of how large Wonder Woman's sword is is getting me flustered.

[@oliveragag8576]

So what does Cassie just not question the Dick Grayson death room? This is getting into Lois Lane suitor levels of creepy obsession.

[@kemmdog4444]

They turned Nightwing into Rory Williams.

[@GabePuratekuta]

But without a box to guard.

[@daelen.cclark]

Dan Didio feels like the Joe Quesada of DC. Petty-feeling decisions that nobody wants but can’t say no to. I’d love to make stories that mock their ideas, and I think they should, too.

[@belias360]

Well, considering he was fired, they clearly eventually did say "no."

[@twincast2005]

Well, their reigns of terror did start around the same time.

[@linasayshush]

I think Didio thought people would read this as, "Haha Dan! Your hatred for Nightwing is so quirky and petty!" But as usual, he failed to read the room. This was weird, mean spirited and pathetic. He fundamentally misunderstood a) fans' relationship with Nightwing, and b) Conner Kent's entire character. Goodbye forever Dan Didio, I love to see you go.

[@iceslick16]

I read that issue last week, and I was like, "Oh my, Dan Didio finally got to kill Nightwing like how he wanted." 😂 I was thinking of fans outraging on this story when I read it. LOVE THE ALVIN INTERRUPTION! 🤣🤣🤣

[@TheBechtloff]

I am so glad Didio is no longer in charge of DC. Good riddance.

[@The_Phantasm]

More Nightwing videos would be awesome.

[@scottboswell6406]

I'd call him Dan Pettio, but that sounds too close to something worse, hahaha!! Yes, I think it's petty! If this was an attempt at killing Dick and he failed again, I'd call it humorous, if it as like Wile E. Coyote trying to kill The Roadrunner, THAT would be funny!!

[@TheGreatDevlin]

I'm not one of the pre -Crisis fans are in this forever war with modern continuity... However, this is egregious. No matter when you're entry to comics was, you had a version of Dick Grayson. This guy attempted to ruin each one only to come back and gloat about it as... satire?

[@leonardomaranhao2861]

Didio is pretty much a potty guy. His hate for nightwing is equal to quesada hate for spider man marriage.

[@GabePuratekuta]

How do we know they're separate people, though?

[@SweetTuiRose]

I dont like character deaths that don't have meaning and I dont like them being gruesome and grisly so this was not funny and just unpleasant to me. Definitely feels weirdly mean. Also Conner would NEVER

[@buraddorun3043]

I'm glad Didio didn't get his way. He ruined Cassandra Cain with his One Year Later make-her-a-villain mandate. But good for him getting to do his little meta story now.

[@maciekwilkosz6377]

I agree with Alvin. On a scale of pettiness it was "Reverse -Flash level" petty.

[@TheBroganBurke]

can't believe Nightwing got punched by Gold Experience Requiem

[@EdmondDantes224]

Your cat is named "Alvin?" Do you ever yell "ALVIIIIIN!" Dave Seville style?

[@Hum0ng0us]

I'll pick that up just for Jose Luis Garcia-Lopezes art!!! He's one of my all time faves!!!

[@CasuallyComics]

I was alas wrong tis Jose Luis, I had conflicting sources cause I double-checked a couple. I should have believed the book itself, but I believed league of comic book geeks instead. It's still the most gorgeous story in it imo.

[@Hum0ng0us]

@@CasuallyComics -- Yeah it looks awesome. And you completely sold me on it.

[@dream-rose-life5422]

DC really said: Jon is the better Superboy and worthy of the Superman mantle and Conner is bitter and petty 😂

[@josegar30]

Conor being one of my favorite spuperboy being this twisted kinda hurt me I won’t lie about that and nightwing being my favorite hero this whole story hurt. But bias away it is cool. Like 1 person fate change the universe for the “worst” and Conor living was the true peace.

[@sandwichqueen]

The fact they change the style depending on what era they were writing makes me think that it's meant to be portrayed as if it was written on the past. I haven't read it, so I may be wrong. That would be what I would do though and what they seem to be going for.

[@RealElMaximo]

Player Hater of the Century Award goes to Dan DiDio for his unbridled hatred of Dick Grayson. 😆

[@mediabaron2416]

Your cat sounds angry. And given the contents of this comic book, I can't blame him.

[@HandofOmega]

I still think her cat inspired DexStarr, LOL!

[@Mikephisto]

Maybe it is a bit petty, but I got a chuckle out of it. I think if it were in an event proper I’d be a bit more exasperated but as non canon spooky story in the always fun seasonal anthology series I can’t be mad even if it does feel very bitter on Didio’s part.

[@joshuaingobo1559]

For the Batgirl part, I like that Barbara tried her best at becoming a hero during the first Crisis in 1985 before she was able to comfort a civilian and Killer Croc so that they won’t be afraid and alone during all of this. Overall, this is a good backup that continues Barbara’s conversation with Kara about how she can be able to save someone without having powers. For the Doctor Light part, I like that we get to see Kimiyo save the people of STAR Labs from the Manhunters during Millennium in 1987. Overall, this is a good backup. For the Birds of Prey part, I like that Dinah and Barbra were able to defeat Silver Banshee while having Dinah come to terms with Oliver’s death during the Final Night in 1996. Overall, this is a good backup. For the JSA part, I find it epic and exciting that the JSA were able to prepare to fight Extant. This shows that they were given the respect they deserved when battling through the very end compared to them getting killed or injured during Zero Hour in 1994. Overall, this is an epic backup. For the Nightwing part, it’s surprising (but not really, since it’s written by Dan Didio) that Conner told Dick that he was meant to die during the Infinite Crisis in 2005/2006 before it ended with Conner and Cassie (as a married couple, I assume) taking on the mantle of Superman and Wonder Woman and living at peace in the year 2025/2026. Overall, this is an okay backup. For the Scarecrow part, I like that Crane tried to scare some people in a movie theater before he was able to join the Sinestro Corps during the Blackest Night in 2009. Overall, this is a good backup. For the Lex Luthor part, I like that Lex realized that he needed Superman’s help to defeat Darkseid, since he of the only person who knows him well for decades (since their friendship when Superman was Superboy). Overall, this is a good backup. For the Midnighter part, it’s just him fighting Professor Pyg during Flashpoint in 2011. That’s it. Overall, this is an okay backup.

[@noemarin4143]

Hasn't almost every universe where nightwing died gone mostly to hell or really dark without some universe ending i.e. injustice and Batman in Bethlehem

[@Ibeatjokerwithcbs]

Bagcheck person: This is the closest I will get to joining the Justice League... Dan, hands off Dick or your bag gets it!....*Wow that sentence sounded better in my head*

[@BobbyMoore2-mp8wb]

Nightwing is awesome 😎

[@EkoBahamut]

So, they Gave Nightwing Diavolo's ending? Harsh.

[@lizziebee6728]

I imagine Didio read Dark Crisis and then immediately turned around and wrote this story with the same intensity that Regina George wrote in the burn book lol

[@kingkarnage1315]

Is this revenge for what Dick did to Roberta?

[@lizziebee6728]

Roberta’s revenge was the death of Earth 2 Dick in COiE lol

[@lhfirex]

I think Alvin could make a better Nightwing story than Dan Didio.

[@sped127right4]

Cliffjumper: first time nightwing? Nightwing:sigh yeah Cliffjumper:trust me it gets worse I've been there

[@kemmdog4444]

“My name is Talking Tina.”

[@ItsTheFizz]

Hmmm... I gonna say BOTH... Like I keep saying... EDITORIAL MIDLIFE CRISIS IS A HELL OF A DRUG

[@KittSpiken]

The retcon we arrive at doesn't matter, what matters is the careers we killed along the way. 😁