Nightwing is the original Robin to Bruce Wayne’s Batman and has fought across the multiverse countless times to save those he’s sworn to protect, with his Earth-2 counterpart having a decidedly different role in the superhero community compared to what fans are used to. Fathering a child on this Earth named John Grayson II, Nightwing’s son eventually takes over the mantle of Robin and puts Dick Grayson’s own Boy Wonder costume to shame with a design that might be the character’s coolest.

Making his debut in Earth 2: World’s End, John Grayson II is the Earth-2 New 52 son of Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon. Taken by the evil Ultra-Humanite and aged at speed while simultaneously being gene-modded with powers, John was recklessly used for Ultra-Humanite’s own gains, as explained in Earth 2: Society Annual #1.

Eventually breaking free of Ultra-Humanite’s brainwashing, John decides to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming Robin and dons a costume that combines the best elements of other Robin suits with aspects entirely unique to John, as a newly christened Earth-2 crime-fighter.

John Grayson II’s Robin Costume Has A Unique Design Hailing From DC’s New 52 Era

Earth 2: Society #22 – 2017 (Dan Abnett and Vicente Cifuentes)

Wearing a much different black bodysuit and full face-masked look while under the influence of Ultra-Humanite, once John becomes the next Boy Wonder, he adheres to the character’s tried and true black, yellow, red, and green color scheme — shades that run in vertical sections across his costume from his arms to his sides to the center of his chest. Utilizing an upside-down bat-shaped domino mask, John’s costume also sports a cloak-like cape, fingerless gloves, and a smaller “R” logo that pins his cape to the upper left side of his chest, completing a great look that needs more respect.

As unique as John’s Robin is, he’s still a Robin, with his suit taking some visual cues from past Boy Wonder costumes. Similar to Damian Wayne’s Robin, who wears a hooded cape, John’s cape falls over his shoulders like Damian’s and looks to have enough material to possibly act as a hood, with the tails of his suit’s “shorts” also mimicking Damian’s previous superhero design as well as his more recent Robin redesign. Also taking after Tim Drake’s high-collared look, John’s yellow cape pays homage to Dick Grayson and Jason Todd, effectively bringing Robin’s long visual history full circle.

Nightwing’s Son Flips Robin’s Traditional Look For Something Entirely New

So while this Earth-2 New 52-era story still matters in the grand scheme of DC’s sprawling omniverse, John unfortunately hasn’t been seen standing side-by-side with any of Batman’s “main” continuity Boy Wonders, leaving John’s inspired choice in superhero spandex an alternate Earth exclusive design… for now. Nightwing’s son carries on his father’s legacy as a reformed member of Batman’s extended Bat-Family, adding to said legacy with his own Robin costume that just might be the coolest in DC Comics history.