Batman '89 Reveals Nightwing in Batman Beyond-Inspired Official Art

Summary Tim Burton's Batman universe receives a Nightwing inspired by Batman Beyond in Batman '89: Echoes #4.

Drake Winston, previously Robin, is set to become Nightwing with a fresh costume design from artist Joe Quinones.

The evolution of Drake Winston into Nightwing is explored in the Batman '89: Echoes series.

35 years after first hitting the big screen, the 1989 Batman film universe will get its own Nightwing, and his costume is heavily inspired by Batman Beyond. Tim Burton's universe has received a comic book continuation in the form of Batman '89, and its current ongoing sequel series, Batman '89: Echoes. With the Joel Schumacher movies not being canon, this series delivered Bruce Wayne his own Robin in the form of Drake Winston.

As artist Joe Quinones teases in an X post previewing Batman '89: Echoes #4, Drake Winston is finally ready to graduate to Nightwing status, sporting a look similar to that of Batman Beyond. In addition, Quinones offers readers a full glimpse of his cover art for Batman '89: Echoes #4, seen directly below and currently scheduled for release on September 4th, 2024.

As revealed in a reply to the original post, the cover art pays homage to the work of Jose Luis García Lopez. Considering that Winston is still Robin, as of the series' most recent issues, it's time to speculate about how he makes the big transition.

Related Batman Beyond's Batsuit Evolves Beyond Bruce Wayne in High-Tech Cosplay Cosplayer brings Terry McGinnis to life on the streets of Poland with a high-tech Batsuit and Batmobile that is sure to make Bruce Wayne jealous.

Nightwing Will Debut in Batman '89: Echoes #4

By Sam Hamm and Joe Quinones

As seen above, this Nightwing costume sports a color scheme that echoes Nightwing's short-lived red costume, mostly used during the New 52, with some noticeable modifications. Much like Drake Winston's previous Robin costume, this Nightwing costume sports a beak-like hood attached to a cape. Under the hood is an upper-face mask with glowing lenses. The wings of the cape are simplified, closer to the wings that Batman Beyond's Terry McGinnis uses. Besides the eyes, gone are the yellow colors. Now, he has a belt buckle closer to Terry's — and, of course, the red Nightwing emblem.

For Terry McGinnis' most recent adventures as Gotham's future Batman, fans should check out Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic by Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing, and Max Dunbar, which is available now digitally and in a collected edition from DC Comics.

Drake Winston first entered the Burtonverse in Batman '89 #1 by Hamm and Quinones, and his character is based on scrapped plans for Marlon Wayans to play Robin. When he meets Batman, Drake is already serving vigilante justice on the streets. In this world, his name comes from someone mistaking someone else's words — "...he said the dude was robbin' the store" — for the name Robin Hood. He's a smart, young mechanic working in an auto shop owned by Harvey Dent's childhood mentor. Drake gets closer to Batman through their Two-Face connection, and the two eventually become partners after Drake figures out Bruce's secret.

How Will Drake Become Nightwing?

He's Still Robin in the Most Recent Issues

In Batman '89: Echoes, Drake still has Batman's back, but he's still just Robin as of the most recent issue. Nothing seems to foreshadow a change as massive as him becoming Nightwing, and there have been no hints about him looking for a new mantle or name change. Then again, much of Batman '89: Echoes focuses on themes of identity, with more than a few characters having an identity crisis, so to speak (including Batman briefly adopting the Firefly namesake). Becoming Nightwing could be Drake's means of adopting an identity that reflects the growth of his own hero identity — even if the costume does borrow from Batman Beyond.

Batman '89: Echoes #4 is available September 4th, 2024 from DC Comics.

BATMAN '89: ECHOES #4 (2024) Release Date: September 4th, 2024 Writers: Sam Hamm Artists: Joe Quinones Cover Artist: Joe Quinones Variant Covers: Sebastián Fiumara, Jahnoy Lindsay SCARECROW AND HARLEY QUINN INFLICT FEAR ON GOTHAM! Things are heating up around Gotham as Drake struggles to cover the whole city while Dr. Crane and Dr. Quinzel's methods begin to endanger it even more! Can Batman find his way back, or will he be lost to his fear for good?!

Source: Joe Quinones (1, 2, 3)

Nightwing Nightwing is the superhero moniker taken up by Dick Grayson, upon his aging out of the Robin role and becoming a superhero of his own. Inspired by the original Kryptonian hero of the same name, Grayson has risen to comic book immortality with the identity, earning respect as one of the greatest leaders in the DC Universe. Created By Edmond Hamilton , Curt Swan , Marv Wolfman , George Perez Alias Dick Grayson Alliance Teen Titans, Titans, Outsiders, Justice League, Batman Inc., Birds of Prey, Young Justice Race Human Franchise D.C.