When it comes to his long, complicated relationships with Batgirl and Starfire, an ex-girlfriend of Nightwing’s may have the most accurate assessment of the hero’s priorities. While the hero of Blüdhaven has had no problems finding partners in the dating scene, the two women closest to his heart are his fellow Bat-Family member and his Titan colleague. But one former flame has a darker opinion on Dick Grayson’s romantic entanglements.
Dick’s relationships with Barbara and Koriand’r stand above all his other love connections, largely due to the history he shares with each of them. Dick has known Barbara since his early days of fighting crime in Gotham and their time as part of the Bat-Family has given them a unique, intimate bond. Starfire, on the other hand, was Dick’s first major love interest after he set out on his own path as a part of the Teen Titans. While Nightwing’s relationships with both heroes is hotly debated among fans, a comment from a lesser-known partner of Dick’s puts these love affairs in a much different light.
Suicide Squad: King Shark #9 by Tim Seely and Scott Kolins features a dialogue between Dr. Grace Balin aka Orca and supervillain activist/graffiti artist Shawn Tsang, the Defacer. Orca makes a snarky comment about Defacer’s new apparent relationship with the Man-King, Vik Wynn. Tsang rebuts Balin’s accusations before admitting she is seeing Vik and that it isn’t anyone’s business. Orca warns her comrade about her history of jumping into relationships without thinking, likening the situation to Defacer’s past experience with Nightwing. Shawn snaps and exclaims, “Nighwing wanted me to put away my well-deserved %$#& anger at the world so someday I could make a happy, chill mommy for his super-baby“.
Defacer’s comment may come from a place of anger since she clearly has unresolved issues with Nightwing, but has she pinned down why the hero just can’t seem to choose between his two greatest loves? While Nightwing has seemingly taken the plunge with Batgirl, he’s also shared a few intimate moments with Starfire as recently as this past summer in Teen Titans Academy. There’s no indication now that Dick will cheat on or leave Barbara, but if Defacer’s opinion holds water, the couple’s relationship may be in trouble. Tsang believes Dick couldn’t accept the anger she feels at society, leaving readers to wonder if this may be why it’s taken him so long to commit to Barbara. Starfire is a naturally happy-go-lucky individual and would fit the “happy, chill” vibe Defacer accuses Nightwing of idolizing. If Grayson truly does desire someone more optimistic and vibrant, does that spell trouble for Dick and Barbara’s future?
It’s no doubt that Nightwing is going to constantly gravitate between Batgirl and Starfire, but with Defacer’s recent remarks, it seems the love triangle is destined to leave someone heartbroken eventually.
