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Nightwing is one of the most beloved heroes in the DC Universe, with Oracle even having an entire strategy to protect him.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Nightwing #82 by Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, Rick Leonardi, Neil Edwards, Andy Lanning, Scott Hanna, Adriano Lucas & Wes Abbott, on sale now
The heroes of the DC Universe have fostered some strong bonds over the years, but some of the most impressive are the ones between Nightwing and his closest allies. His status as the glue that holds together multiple heroic groupings makes him one of the most valuable figures within the hero community, so it makes perfect sense that Oracle has a plan to protect him in case of an emergency.
One such occasion just occurred in Nightwing #82, and although the plan doesn’t fully have to go into motion, it does reveal which heroes are on-call to drop everything and rescue Nightwing if he’s ever captured — and it’s a perfect assortment of heroes who answer the call.
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Nightwing has recently returned to Bludhaven, reaffirming his place as the protector of the city. Along the way, he has discovered that he has a half-sister, known as Melinda Zucco. After being captured by her and her partner, Nightwing learns the truth — and quickly realizes how bad things could get for her if Oracle’s rescue plans go into effect. Nightwing is able to alert Oracle before it gets out of hand though, allowing her to put a halt to the plan: nicknamed the Big Bird Extraction Protocol, it turns out that when Nightwing is captured or in danger, Oracle has set up a backup plan that involves calling on heroes from across the DC Universe to assist in his immediate rescue.
By the time Oracle alerts everyone that Nightwing is safe and communicating with her, it turns out that Donna Troy, Starfire, Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, and Batman had all dropped everything they were doing and flew straight to Bludhaven at top speed. Meanwhile, Tim Drake is already in town alongside Oracle, and it’s likely that at least Damian Wayne (who forged a particularly close bond with Dick during their time as crime-fighting partners) would also arrive if called upon. The Big Bird Extraction Protocol seems designed to protect Nightwing, who is often held up as one of the most beloved members of the DC heroic pantheon.
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This is especially relevant following the events of the Tom King run on Batman, which saw Nightwing almost assassinated by KGBeast and left with amnesia for a time. For a period, the heroes were unsure if the brain damage done to Nightwing in the attack would ever be undone, leaving his status in question for a time. It makes perfect sense that after Nightwing’s mind was restored over the course of “The Joker War” that the rest of the hero community would be prepared to contend with any such possibility occurring again.
It’s a perfect move for Oracle to also arrange, given her position as the digital arbiter for the heroic community. Nightwing has often been described as the true heart of the DC Universe, the true sign that Batman’s mission can have good results and turn an angry and heartbroken boy into a heroic and noble man. It’s a great revelation to learn how the other heroes not only recognize this aspect of Nightwing, but are willing to drop everything they have on their plates to rush to his aid and ensure he gets to continue being that beating heart of the hero community — especially after the loss they all felt after his recent near-death experience.
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