Warning: contains preview pages for Nightwing 2021 Annual!
Two former Robins, Nightwing and Red Hood, join forces in Nightwing Annual 2021, on sale in print and digital November 30. Someone is framing Red Hood for murder, and now he and Nightwing must discover the culprit, all the while exploring the brotherly bond between them.
As the first Robin, Nightwing occupies a vaunted position in DC history. After serving in the role and setting the template for all who would come later, Dick Grayson left the role of Robin behind, becoming Nightwing in 1984’s Tales of the Teen Titans #44. However, Batman must have a Robin—enter Jason Todd, who first appeared in 1983’s Batman #357. Unlike his predecessor, Todd was harder-edged, prone to violent outbursts. He defied Batman’s orders on several occasions, and in one particularly memorable incident, let the son of a diplomat fall to his death. This made Jason Todd controversial with fans, and he was killed during the infamous “Death in the Family” storyline; Tim Drake would take over the role of Robin soon after. Viewed as a toxic character, Todd would lay dead for 17 years (a long time in the comic book world) before returning as the Red Hood, embarking on a violent crusade against crime in Gotham. Recently, Batman has welcomed Red Hood back into the Bat-Family, with the stipulation he no longer use guns; Red Hood agreed to these terms, but now someone is framing him, and he must team up with Nightwing to find out who is responsible.
In a post on their website, DC Comics unveiled a first look at the annual, written by Tom Taylor with art by Cian Tormey and Daniel HDR. The post explained that not only will the two investigate who is setting up Red Hood, but the two former Robins will also explore the bond existing between them as former sidekicks. Check out preview artwork for the issue below:
Nightwing and Red Hood could not have been more different during their stints as Robin—Dick Grayson was affable and easy-going, but Jason Todd can be mercurial and abrasive. Dick ended his time as Robin with grace and dignity; Jason’s tenure abruptly came to an end thanks to the Joker. Yet there is a great deal of common ground between the two, beyond both once being Robin.
Both Nightwing and Red Hood have fought an extremely difficult battle—that of stepping out of their mentor’s shadow and becoming heroes in their own right. Red Hood in particular has come a long way, tempering his violent impulses and abandoning the use of guns. The common experiences Nightwing and Red Hood share has formed a sort of brotherly bond between the two former Robins, and this relationship is explored in Nightwing Annual 2021.
Source: DC Comics
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