Versus # 4 - Nightwing vs. Daredevil

The Battle of the Night Guardians... Too dramatic? 

I have to say I was a little blind sided by the last Versus where Deathstroke took out Captain America by a vote of 2-1. Kron and Sanchez outvoted me, and it was my first big surprise of the series. It was also probably one of the best match ups in Versus yet, based strictly on what kind of a fight they would give us. Watching Cap and Deathstroke slug it out would have been an epic battle for comic book pages everywhere. I think this next battle just might top it.

A battle between two highly trained martial artists, patrolling the rooftops of their city, kicking ass and taking names. This is a match up that would be decided by not the better fighter or the better hero, but by the will, intuitiveness, and reflexes of the combatant. A match of prideful hero’s who operate in the shadows, but can show up in the final battle and lead everyone to victory.

Nightwing (Dick Grayson) vs. Daredevil (Matt Murdock)

Supascoot

Dick Grayson was an orphaned circus acrobat taken in by Batman, and trained in the art of crime fighting by one of the best around. He was rigorously trained in everything from escapology to criminology, fencing, stealth, disguise, and is a master of numerous martial arts. His preferred form of hand-to-hand combat primarily emphasizes Escrima, Bojutsu, Wing Chun, Boxing, Tae Kwon Do, Aikido, and Jujitsu, but he is a master of many others. His costume consists of supplemental body-armor inlays which could be applied to his gauntlets, shoulders, mask and boots, which have utility compartments, and was made from a Nomex fire-resistant, triple-weave Kevlar-lined material. His mask is lined with optical technology and specialized lenses, and his gloves carry a communicator. He is proficient with his own form of batarangs, various gadgets and grapples, and carries a pair of eskrima sticks, which he masterfully wields and can throw with unerring accuracy.

Matt Murdock was blinded as a child, gaining superhuman enhanced senses and a unique radar sense. He was orphaned and taken in by Stick, and trained in the arts of the Chaste, a group of mystical ninja. His typical moves are unique blends of the martial arts of Ninjutsu, Jujutsu, Judo, and stick fighting combined with American-style boxing while making full use of his gymnastics capabilities, which are at an extremely advanced level due to his enhanced sense of balance, spatial awareness and his radar sense. His costume is made out of unstable molecules, which is roughly equivalent to a Kevlar vest (Some sources say spandex bodysuit with Kevlar inlays, so same general protection). His mask features two horns which hold radio technology allowing DD to pick up radio transmissions through his radar sense. He wields his personally designed billy club, which is a multi purpose weapon that contains thirty feet of aircraft control cable connected to a case-hardened steel grapnel. 

This was actually a harder choice to determine who is the better character. Both have rich histories, storylines, and supporting characters. Both are on the forefront of their respective superhero universes. But I have to give this to Nightwing. Grayson has been a part of the DCU since it’s inception, much like Murdock. The main difference between them is Daredevil has always been something of a lone wolf, while Grayson has spent his career forging relationships and growing as a powerful and respected member of the superhero community.  Superman will argue with Batman, but if Dick told Supes to sit down and shut up, he knows Dick would have a good reason, and would comply. People might fear and listen to the Batman, but nobody carries their trust and admiration like Grayson does. Murdock is a well respected superhero and the indisputable protector of Hell’s Kitchen, but is constantly held down by his constant flow of problems and insecurities. Usually this makes for a great character, and Grayson isn’t without his problems, but watching his growth into one of the premier human superheroes in the DCU is a brighter side to the tragedies and darkness in Daredevil’s.

This would be a battle fought in the darkness. One of Daredevil’s favorite strategies, usually quite effective against your regular joe, he would take out the lights and try to put Nightwing at a disadvantage. ‘Wing switches to night vision, problem solved. They would fight stick to stick, Nightwing trying to bounce his eskrima around DD, but with his radar sense they would never hit their mark. Matched in their weapons, both would abandon them and take this to hand-to-hand. Equally adept on the rooftops, their fighting styles matched and acrobatics balanced, this battle would take the most out of both combatants. Beat up, wounded and exhausted, Daredevil sets for his next flurry of moves, while Nightwing uses all the information his detective skills has gleaned in the fight, and figures out Daredevil’s weakness; his extreme sensitivity to sound. Nightwing pops out a sonic device of some kind, making Daredevil vulnerable for the first time in the fight, and Nightwing takes advantage, bowing to the downed fighter in the end.

SupaScoot’s Winner: Nightwing

---

Dr. Kronner

Alright, most of the regular readers already know about my attachment to the Bat. For my, the comic universe starts in Gotham City, and Dick Grayson is an undeniable part of that. Along with Alfred Pennyworth and Jim Gordon, Batman puts his complete trust in Grayson. Trained by the best since he was a child, Grayson grew up and graduated from Robin to Nightwing. Now taking over the cowl (for the moment) he was the only real choice to fill in for the Batman upon learning of Bruce Wayne’s death. Dick Grayson is becoming one of the most important characters, not only in Gotham, but all of the DCU.


Daredevil on the other hand, though I always liked him, I certainly didn’t follow his books as closely as I did the books Grayson was in. He’s more of a loner and you don’t often see him included in Marvel’s biggest crossovers. Despite that, Daredevil is the shit. Much like Batman with Gotham City, Daredevil’s primary concern is Hell’s Kitchen. And he owns that shit like nobody’s business. And while he didn’t grow up facing off against as impressive a rouges gallery as Nightwing did, Matt Murdock wasted no time making a name for himself terrifying criminals.

Daredevil is the darker of the 2 characters, but Nightwing isn’t likely to be intimidated by the scare tactics that he himself know so well. However, Grayson is the softer of the 2 and may try harder to make peace, which might offer Murdock the opening he would need. Daredevil would actually ‘Out-Batman’ Grayson there. Fight would be epic, but in the end Nightwing falls to the Kitchen’s Daredevil.

Dr. Kronner’s Winner: Daredevil

---

Toni Smith

Instead of opting for the typical Daredevils vs. Batman, Versus opted for having Hornhead fight Nightwing; which as part of that circle of life that moves us all is truly fitting, as Daredevil is Marvel’s Batman knock off and Night wing is DC’s Daredevil knockoff. Same goes with Thanos, who is the Marvel Darkseid, and then Mongul is DC’s Thanos, and the list goes on.

The problem with pitting a guy head to head with Daredevil sucks, as Daredevil is the one hero who never fucking quits, sumbitch doesn’t stop, no matter what you do, just ask the 100 Yakuza who tried to ambush him. However, as long as you steer clear of Hell’s Kitchen, you have nothing to worry about, you could have a goddamn bomb about to blow up Times Square and Murdock wouldn’t even blink.

Nightwing has his share of advantages that make him a real formidable opponent. Dude’s spry, like super spry, and he has his fair share of gadgets at his disposal courtesy of his pappy (Eat it, Batman is just as much his father as his real one). Plus, Grayson is never truly alone, Daredevil at times can alienate his friends and won’t have any backup, Grayson is part of the Bat Family, which is just that, and stick by each other like a family should.

However, Dick is can be both too showy and unsure of himself. As a showman, he leaves himself open for more attacks from the ‘All-Business’ Daredevil, plus his insecurity of living up to his “Old Man” can leave him second guessing himself in situations where instinct is key.

Finding a proper scenario to match the abilities of said men, I selected a challenge at random from a hat to pit these two against each other:

The challenge was to be a detailed coloring book contest.

While Nightwing’s coloring ability far surpassed Daredevil’s for some strange reason, it occurred to me that Matt Murdock would have found the whole idea retarded and would of done what he does best in such a situation: bang a bunch of willing female participants. In this cross universal situation, Murdock would probably end up doing two things: Starfire, and Barbara Gordon, the latter of which would then somehow be able to walk again, as Murdock is the all time greatest when it comes to doing it. And this transgression would end up being a brawl.

In a fight, Daredevil is going to beat Nightwing’s ass, he’d even beat Batman, the real, Bruce Wayne, Batman’s ass as well, because Daredevil doesn’t think, he does. Even DD’s detective work consists of beating guys to a pulp until he gets some info that leads him to some other ass to beat until he gets to the Kingpin. Fighting is what Daredevil does, and there is no way Nightwing can take him.

But as a crime fighter, Nightwing is a thinker, and much like dear old dad, a detective. Grayson’s thinking abilities would help him find a way out of getting his ass whupped, probably by airing on the side of caution and staying the fuck out of Hell’s Kitchen. If you can’t stand the heat, stay the hell out of the Kitchen, thus no fight- it’s a Draw.






Toni Smith’s Winner: Draw 

---

A draw? What the fuck? This match has ended in a 1-1-1 tie, and since ties are BULLSHIT, we’ll have to ask the opinion of another writer: Mr. Adam Wit:

The powers that be at Versus have called for a referee to adjudicate this tie so I was called in for my opinion.


Daredevil versus Nightwing in a battle to the end over some sort of dispute. I think it started when Daredevil mocked the way Nightwing looked in the original Teen Titans comic and then Nightwing popped back mocking the Ben Affleck movie.

Now if this were the Nightwing that was a secret identity of Superman in the Kryptonian city of Kandor, it would be an easy pick, but the battle of Matt Murdock versus Dick Grayson is a whole different story.  Given that they have similar skill sets, Daredevil has an edge in this one because of his heightened senses.  Plus the guy’s a lawyer so even if Nightwing does beat him in a fist fight, Grayson will get the crap sued out of him by Murdock for assault and battery, plus punitive damages. Upon further review, there is conclusive visual evidence in the replay, Daredevil wins. The referee has spoken.

---

WINNER - Daredevil by a score of 2-1-1.

Kronner’s Closing Statement:
Marvel finally gets themselves a victory. Nightwing hangs his head in shame for gaining the first loss on DC’s record.

<--- Versus Part # 3          Versus Part # 5--->