Nightwing has a fashion history that is nearly as epic as his heroic feats. Now, Dick Grayson is adding yet another style to his repertoire with a pirate-themed upgrade that leaves him ready to sail the high seas in style. The swap signals some swashbuckling adventures are ahead for Blüdhaven’s hero.
On Twitter, Tom Taylor revealed art of the new costume, designed by Dan Mora, and it’s slated to appear in Nightwing #108 by Tom Taylor, Stephen Byrne, and Wes Abbott. The costume features Nightwing’s classic blue and black combo with a few seafaring twists, including a frock coat, high boots, and a weapon swap; Nightwing’s escrima sticks are now swords. The wardrobe change comes amid Dick’s investigation of the Hold, a secret society with links to the sea and the city he’s sworn to protect.
Nightwing Is Investigating Blüdhaven’s Oldest Mystery
Blüdhaven has been Nightwing’s base for years, but it still has many secrets to uncover. The mysterious organization, the Hold, was first introduced in Nightwing #99 by Tom Taylor, Geraldo Borges, and Bruno Redondo, acting as a secret vault for the city’s unseen world. Dick follows Anthony Zucco to the old fishing district and prevents him from stealing the Eye of Khandaq from the Hold’s ship, only to learn from the Quartermaster that he has a vault with his name on it too. During Zucco’s attempted theft, the Quartermaster informed him, “We are older than the city. The Hold does not let go.” The depth of that statement has been on the back burner as Dick works with the Titans, mentors Jon Kent’s Superman, and handles other issues around Blüdhaven, but Nightwing’s new look proves that the Hold will soon have a hold on his attention.
The Hold Could Unlock Secrets that Go Beyond Blüdhaven
As of now, little is known about the Hold or those behind it. Nightwing’s initial encounter was as brief as it was intriguing and suggests that the Hold stores items of immense value and power for those with the right connections. Gotham is no stranger to secret societies, and Blüdhaven often seems to be in step with its sister city, which likely means learning more about the Hold won’t bring good news. Dick Grayson’s unknown ties to the Hold add another layer into the mix, and it looks like he’s finally ready to get to the bottom of it – along with figuring out what waits for him in vault 538.
The pirate-themed getup suggests that Grayson will be launching his investigation from the inside, too, rather than observing the Hold from afar. Considering he has a vault with them already, he may have readymade admission waiting for him. Dick has given his all to Blüdhaven and continues to do everything in his power to clean the city up and turn things around for its residents. He believes in its ability to change, but secret societies lurking beneath the surface in the past and present could jeopardize the future he envisions. Nightwing will do what’s necessary to protect Blüdhaven, and that includes playing pirate with the Hold.
Catch the cover on Nightwing #108, available from DC Comics on November 21, 2023!
