Nightwing as popular as Spiderman

[flamemasterelan]

By the way, I'm not sure if "everybody" knows that.

That happened back in the firt half of the 1980's, and I think that was dropped after Crisis on Infinite Earths and the massive reboot of Superman occurred.

Long time fans and/or die-hard fans may know it, but I'm not sure about "everybody".

According to Nightwing: Year One, he got the name from Superman, who was telling him about a Kryptonian hero. I'm pretty sure that's still canon, but with DC these days...who knows?

Though, I do agree, that not *everybody* knows where he got the name from, especially since it took over 100 issues of his solo comic to get that explanation.

[alexd]

I believe Nightwing could be as big as the man of steel. Like anyone else he would need a really big marketing campaign.

[Bonemachine]

Of course he could never become nearly as popular as Spiderman. No matter what they do, however many good writers they get for it and how well it's received, Nightwing will unfortunately always be known as what the original Robin became. He won't be able to shake that stigma. Robin was always Batman's sidekick. Spiderman isn't a sidekick. Could Nightwing become as popular as Venom? Possibly. Not Spiderman.

[World's_Greatest_Detective]

By the way, I'm not sure if "everybody" knows that.

That happened back in the firt half of the 1980's, and I think that was dropped after Crisis on Infinite Earths and the massive reboot of Superman occurred.

Long time fans and/or die-hard fans may know it, but I'm not sure about "everybody".

A valid point, and if so it falls more in line with the main point I was going for. That Nightwing is moreso Dick's identity than anyone else's.

[Badou]

I guess you could change the argument a little and say that while the characters don't carry the same weight Nightwing/Dick Grayson is still probably DC's best counterbalance to what Sipderman/Peter Parker is to Marvel as far as being their premier young charismatic hero that they can use in a lot of situations.

Of course he could never become nearly as popular as Spiderman. No matter what they do, however many good writers they get for it and how well it's received, Nightwing will unfortunately always be known as what the original Robin became. He won't be able to shake that stigma. Robin was always Batman's sidekick. Spiderman isn't a sidekick. Could Nightwing become as popular as Venom? Possibly. Not Spiderman.

I'd say Nightwing is already more popular than Venom, and while obviously Nightwing will never be as popular as Spiderman on a universal scale, I don't think there is any arguing that, I think within certain fandoms, like within the comic book industry, the character can come close to Spiderman levels. Something like a Deadpool type push is possible. That is a character that really jumped in popularity over the last several years.

Nightwing's stock wasn't help by shoehorning him into being Batman. Seemed like that was treated as some great prize for the character instead of making his own identity that he is solely responsible for the great prize.

Nightwing's might not have been but Dick Grayson's stock was. Some really great stories came out of that short period and Dick was used probably more then than he has been in a long time. Plus there was some carry over when he went back to being Nightwing with the New 52. Although because of the reboot a lot of Nightwing/Dick Grayson's history was lost, so maybe it is a wash in the end. :/

[MajorHoy]

I agree. Peter Parker is nothing more than a whiny, angsty, teenaged-brat.

I thought Peter Parker has been an adult for a while now?

(Of course, I haven't read an issue of his in over fifteen years.)

[Superman_The_Man_Of_Steel]

I thought Peter Parker has been an adult for a while now?

(Of course, I haven't read an issue of his in over fifteen years.)

Personality/Maturity-wise.

[carabas]

I thought Peter Parker has been an adult for a while now?

(Of course, I haven't read an issue of his in over fifteen years.)

The actual teenage Ultmate Spider-Man (both ones actually) have been acting more like an adult that the twenty-something 616 version since he gambled his wife to a devil.

Slott just doesn't get the character.

[Godlike13]

Of course he could never become nearly as popular as Spiderman. No matter what they do, however many good writers they get for it and how well it's received, Nightwing will unfortunately always be known as what the original Robin became. He won't be able to shake that stigma. Robin was always Batman's sidekick. Spiderman isn't a sidekick. Could Nightwing become as popular as Venom? Possibly. Not Spiderman.

I think one could make a strong argument that Nightwing is already as popular, if not more popular than Venom.

[Shingen]

I think one could make a strong argument that Nightwing is already as popular, if not more popular than Venom.

Especially with how far Venom has fallen from his 90s peak.

[SquidSquod]

In your dream...

a) Spider-Man actually have some cool superpowers and personality. The quipper superhero personality is patented by Spider-Man. Nightwing is just a human vigilante with tools - from a lay person standpoint, what's so different between him and Batman?

b) Red and Blue costume is iconic and should look cooler to young fans.

c) Peter Parker is a certified science genius.

d) Well this the punchline -> Legacy or should I say Derivative vs Standalone character: Spider-Man is his own character from the very beginning. Same with Daredevil, an own character from the beginning. They are the master of their own domain and don't need/owe a Bruce Wayne telling them to do something.

[Lord Bravery]

d) Well this the punchline -> Legacy or should I say Derivative vs Standalone character: Spider-Man is his own character from the very beginning. Same with Daredevil, an own character from the beginning. They are the master of their own domain and don't need/owe a Bruce Wayne telling them to do something.

Neither does Dick. He's actually been developed as his own character more than Bruce over the last decade or so. Batman has stayed static really, whilst Dick has grown from a teenage sidekick into his own hero into eventually filling the role of Batman, a very different Batman to Bruce, albeit temporarily. He's like Wally West in that regard. It's quite clear you haven't read much of the character. I'd also say he's been allowed to grow and develop more than Spidey, who has also remained static in terms of characterisation.

That said, Nightwing will never be as popular as Spider-Man. He's a comic book icon, has been for decades. He's a part of pop culture. That doesn't necessarily mean he's a better character though.

[Rakiduam]

In your dream...

a) Spider-Man actually have some cool superpowers and personality. The quipper superhero personality is patented by Spider-Man. Nightwing is just a human vigilante with tools - from a lay person standpoint, what's so different between him and Batman?

b) Red and Blue costume is iconic and should look cooler to young fans.

c) Peter Parker is a certified science genius.

d) Well this the punchline -> Legacy or should I say Derivative vs Standalone character: Spider-Man is his own character from the very beginning. Same with Daredevil, an own character from the beginning. They are the master of their own domain and don't need/owe a Bruce Wayne telling them to do something.

But isn't all that generic Marvel? A bunch of them are certified science genius, masters of their own domain, that keep having freaky accidents that left them with cool superpowers.

[Zeeguy91]

I think Dick is already as popular and well known as Spider-Man. Thing is, he's well known as Robin. Not so much as Nightwing.

[SquidSquod]

Neither does Dick. He's actually been developed as his own character more than Bruce over the last decade or so. Batman has stayed static really, whilst Dick has grown from a teenage sidekick into his own hero into eventually filling the role of Batman, a very different Batman to Bruce, albeit temporarily. He's like Wally West in that regard. It's quite clear you haven't read much of the character. I'd also say he's been allowed to grow and develop more than Spidey, who has also remained static in terms of characterisation.

That said, Nightwing will never be as popular as Spider-Man. He's a comic book icon, has been for decades. He's a part of pop culture. That doesn't necessarily mean he's a better character though.

Batman and Spider-Man are rather static in their personality because they have snugly fit in their own roles. In their own comic universe and comic-dom as a whole.

Who's talking about which is a better character? I'm sticking with the thread. It's about popularity. Better character is subjective. Popularity is not.