New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 5 HC
New Teen Titans Omnibus Vol. 5 HC
Cover Credits
Artist: Eduardo Barreto

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Title: "The Secret Origin of Nightwing"
Pages: 20

Feature(s):
Nightwing (Post-Crisis)

Writer: Dan Mishkin
Penciller: Erik J. Larsen
Inker: Mike DeCarlo
Letterer: John Costanza
Colorist: Carl Gafford

Reprinted From:
Secret Origins #13 (1987)

Feature Character(s)

Supporting Character(s)

Villain(s)

  • Anthony Zucco (first name not revealed in this story; first post-Crisis appearance; in flashback; appearance concurrent with Batman #436; next appearance in Batman #437)
  • Zucco's men (no further appearances)

Guest Appearance(s)

Other Character(s)

  • John and Mary Grayson (first post-Crisis appearance; both die in flashback; appearance concurrent with Batman #436; no further appearances)
  • Mr. Haly (a circus owner; first post-Crisis appearance; in flashback; appearance concurrent with Batman #436; no further appearances)
  • Karras (first post-Crisis appearance; next appearance in New Titans Annual #6)

Flashback Appearance(s)

Cameo Appearance(s)

  • Tweedledee and Tweedledum (in flashback to an old case)
  • Flash (Barry Allen; depicted as Wally's mentor)
  • Aquaman (depicted as Aqualad's mentor)
  • Green Arrow (depicted as Speedy's mentor)
  • Changeling (depicted as a Titans member)
  • Cyborg (depicted as a Titans member)
  • Raven (depicted as a Titans member)
  • Robin (Jason Todd; in flashback to receiving his costume)
  • Trigon (in flashback)
  • Brother Blood (in flashback)

Comments:
This story takes place on Dick Grayson's 20th birthday while Nightwing, Jericho, and Starfire were in the Vega star system. Though this adventure appears to coincide with events depicted in New Teen Titans #17, those events occurred on Earth-1. These characters are considered to be entirely independent from their Earth-1 counterparts.

This story went on sale the same day as Blue Beetle #11 which also features Nightwing and Starfire. Both stories technically qualify as the first post-Crisis appearance for both characters. However, this story is set chronologically several months earlier than the Blue Beetle story. Nightwing is also the feature character, not just a guest. Therefore it shall be considered the first post-Crisis appearance of both characters.

This story makes mention of two details consistent with the post-Crisis universe. Wonder Woman was not part of the Justice League or Wonder Girl mentor, and Superboy didn't exist.

This story contains several flashbacks including:

  • Pages 3-5: Dick Grayson age 5 trains with his parents
  • Pages 5-6: Dick age 10 sees his parents murdered
  • Pages 7-8: Dick becomes Batman's ward
  • Pages 9-10: Shortly before age 11, Dick becomes Robin
  • Pages 11-13: Robin forms the original Titans
Pages 14-17 contain cameos depicting the disbanding of the original Titans, Robin's solo career, the formation of the New Teen Titans, and Dick passing his costume to Jason Todd.

A more complete accounting for the murder of the Graysons is shown in flashback in Batman #436. Still more details are provided in Secret Origins #50.

Synopsis:
On the planet Okaara, Dick Grayson reflects on his life on the occassion of his 20th birthday. He tells Jericho about the death of his parents, the Flying Graysons. He explains how Batman took him in and helped him avenge their deaths by becoming Robin. Dick continues by telling Joey that he and Bruce began drifting apart after the original Titans were formed. As Nightwing, Dick now has a home with the Titans. He is heartbroken that Starfire has married Karras, but Joey's friendship helps him stay positive.

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