Spoiler: Dick Grayson Reveals His Ultimate Goal Is to Be Better Than Batman

In the Gotham Knights video game universe, it is revealed that Nightwing doesn’t want to be like Batman, but to be better than his mentor. Written by Evan Narcisse and illustrated by ABEL, Batman: Gotham Knights: Gilded City is a miniseries set prior to the events of the game’s story, in which Batman/Bruce Wayne is murdered and his protégés must step up in his absence. The series explores one of Batman’s final cases, bringing him to Nightwing’s adopted city, Blüdhaven. Nightwing/Dick Grayson shows anger towards Bruce for stepping on his turf and later reveals to one criminal that surpassing Batman is his goal, not being like him.

After trading blows with Batman and ordering him to leave Blüdhaven, Dick stops an abusive man before he can hurt his former girlfriend. The man is struck by Nightwing and yells at the hero, “This isn’t any of your business, you freakin’ Batman wannabe!” Dick corrects the man and shares two thoughts, the first being that it is his business to stop people from hurting others. For the second, Dick says, “I don’t want to be Batman.” I want to be better.

Once the criminal is apprehended, Batman admits his faults to Dick about not understanding the situation his adopted son was dealing with, and they later work together to take down the Scarecrow goons. Gilded City revolves around two different issues at different points in time. In the present, Batman and his allies investigate a new strand of the Scarecrow’s fear toxin, while in the year 1847, the hero Runaway protects people of color and faces a strange illness spreading around Gotham.

Gilded City comprises six issues total, each containing a different code granting in-game content for players of Gotham Knights. Redeeming codes for all six issues will provide players with a special seventh item. The game allows gamers to play as Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, and/or Red Hood in the wake of Batman’s death, forcing the young heroes to go up against the Court of Owls, Mr. Freeze, Harley Quinn, and other villains.

Along with Narcisse and ABEL, Batman: Gotham Knights—Gilded City #2 is colored by John and lettered by Steve Wands. The main cover art for the issue is done by Greg Capullo, Jonathan Glapion, and Dave McCaig, with variant cover artwork contributed by Mike Perkins and Mike Spicer. The issue is now available for purchase from DC Comics and to read on DC Universe Infinite.

Gotham Knights is now available for purchase and to play on PC and next-generation consoles, including the PlayStation 5 and Xbox One S.