Nightwing's 10 Deadliest Villains, Ranked | ScreenRant

Every hero has an enemy to fight, and some heroes have entire groups of foes who constantly terrorize them. Such is the case of Nightwing, DC's greatest force for good. The former Boy Wonder has a series of enemies who add some spice and excitement to his storylines as Blüdhaven's protector.

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Some of these villains are icons in DC, embodiments of all that is evil within their universe. Others aren't as famous, but that doesn't make them any less dangerous. All these criminals add purpose to Nightwing's mission, inspiring him to continue fighting against their reigns of terror.

10 Lady Shiva

The most dangerous woman in the world is a foe to several superheroes in DC. Lady Shiva is a formidable opponent, a master with the sword specializing in killing her targets with her bare hands. Lady Shiva is also one of the most intriguing characters in DC, a woman who walks the delicate light between a valuable ally and a deathly enemy.

Over the years, Shiva has become more of an anti-hero, helping the Bat-Family at times and even acting as one of Batman's mentors. Her path crossed with Nightwing's during the New 52 storylines, where she even encouraged him to step out from Batman's shadow after easily defeating him under his Robin persona. Shiva remained undefeated during all her appearances, confirming her status as one of DC's best martial artists.

9 Blockbuster

Most fans often consider Blockbuster to be Nightwing's archenemy. Roland Desmond is actually the second character to assume the Blockbuster identity. Blockbuster is a criminal mastermind who took a strength-inducing steroid that turned him into a hulking and terrifying golem.

His reign of terror in Blüdhaven put him in direct conflict with the city's new protector, Nightwing. After a series of disputes, Blockbuster succeeded in breaking Nightwing's spirit. However, it ultimately led to his death because the defeated Nightwing chose to do nothing when the city's newest vigilante, Tarantula, killed him.

8 Tarantula

And speaking of Tarantula, the creepy vigilante is one of Nightwing's most disturbing villains. Catalina Flores grew up in Blüdhaven, witnessing multiple injustices and brutalities. She eventually became the second Tarantula, developing an attraction for Nightwing that eventually turned dangerous.

Tarantula is best known for sexually assaulting Nightwing after killing Blockbuster. The act is one of the most controversial moments in DC comics and one of the most messed-up things that ever happened to Nightwing. Her character slowly disappeared after the storyline before ultimately sacrificing herself during the Secret Six storyline.

7 Shrike

Many characters bore the Shrike title over the years; however, only two were part of Nightwing's world, although they both became formidable foes to the former Boy Wonder. The martial artist known as Shrike was apparently the one who taught Dick the art of Escrima stick-fighting. While studying under him, Dick met the fourth Shrike, a boy named Boone with whom he developed a close relationship.

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The Boone version of Shrike eventually became Blockbuster's enforcer, directly in charge of killing Nightwing. He failed numerous times, further increasing the animosity between the two former friends. The personal connection between them adds another layer to their already compelling storyline, turning Shrike into one of Dick Grayson's most memorable villains.

6 Tony Zucco

Like Joe Chill with Batman, Tony Zucco's connection with Dick Grayson is brief but critical. Zucco is the man behind Mary and John Grayson's murders, which led to Dick's adoption by Batman.

Zucco is a minor villain in the grand scheme of things, but his influence is undeniable. Simply put, there's no Robin or Nightwing without Tony Zucco. Dick never actually fights Tony, and the gangster dies before Dick can confront him. His death does bring closure to Dick's life and allows him to move on. After all, Nightwing is DC's most wholesome hero and knows that there's no use dwelling in the past.

5 Raptor

Nightwing's best villains have an intense emotional connection with him. Such is the case with Raptor, a freelance assassin recruited to work for the Parliament of Owls. Raptor's real name is Richard, and he was in love with Dick Grayson's mother, Mary. He witnessed Mary's murder and blamed himself for the rest of his life. He also grew resentful against the rich and powerful, embodied by Dick's new guardian, Bruce Wayne.

Raptor works not only as an effective antagonist to Nightwing but as a poignant social critique. His immunity to pain also makes him an intriguing enemy. Raptor may be more anti-hero than villain, but he still works as an antagonistic figure for Nightwing.

4 Heartless

Despite being a new addition to the Nightwing canon, Heartless is quickly making his mark on DC comics. Heartless preys upon Blüdhaven's weakest, the homeless, literally ripping out their hearts. During one memorably brutal sequence, he burns the camp in which the orphaned children took refuge.

Heartless is DC's most savage villain in years. He is also an incredibly personal foe for Dick, creating new orphans like Dick once was. He might not be the most capable fighter in Blüdhaven, but Heartless is a worthy and menacing adversary for Nightwing, whose standing will undoubtedly keep increasing with the years.

3 Paragon

Paragon has one of the most intriguing storylines in DC comics. Not much is known about him, not even his real name. However, the man that would become Paragon becomes tired of the vigilantes running rampant in Gotham City, and he decides to take matters into his own hands.

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He creates the Republic of Tomorrow and becomes a permanent thorn in Nightwing's side. Paragon is a compelling commentary on heroics and their influence on everyday people. His storyline portrays him as a cautionary tale and a possible inevitability of vigilantism, offering a new side to DC's mostly one-sided view on superheroes.

2 Talon

The Court of Owls should be Nightwing's villains, according to many fans. The organization and its notorious enforcer, Talon, debuted during Batman's New 52 run. Still, their ties to Dick Grayson run so deep that it's easy to see why they should be part of Grayson's rogues' gallery and not Bruce's.

Talon in particular has a meaningful connection to Dick, being his great-grandfather. The assassin's loyalty to the Court of Owls put him in direct conflict with the Bat-Family. He shares a memorable fight against Nightwing, besting him, although barely. Talon is the best Batman villain in years, but his ties to Dick make him an even better Nightwing foe.

1 Deathstroke

In many fans' opinions, Dick Grayson has no greater adversary than Slade Wilson. For nearly thirty years, Deathstroke and Grayson maintained an antagonistic dynamic that ranks as one of DC's most enduring rivalries.

Deathstroke is one of the Teen Titans' most powerful villains and the central antagonist in their most emblematic storyline, The Hudas Contract. But even after he left the team, Nightwing's animosity towards Wilson remained, although their relationship evolved past its initial setup. Nightwing has even trained Slade's daughter, and during the Future State storyline, Dick even became the new Deathstroke. These two have an intricate and complicated relationship, but fans wouldn't want it any other way.

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