In DC Comics’ new annual concern of Nightwing, the key historical past of Heartless and his shock connection to Dick Grayson’s origins are revealed.
Warning! This publish incorporates SPOILERS for Nightwing Annual 2022 #1
One among Nightwing’s most private and terrifying foes has been part of life for years, and Dick Grayson has no concept. As seen within the new annual concern of Nightwing, the key historical past of Blüdhaven’s latest villain Heartless has been revealed, confirmed to be a really disturbing foe whose origins are secretly tied with Grayson’s. Horribly, the worst evening of Nightwing’s life was one in every of Heartless’ greatest.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY
Having come to Blüdhaven within the first few problems with DC’s latest period of Nightwing, Heartless debuted as a really darkish foe who rips out the hearts of his victims with the intention to add them to his frighteningly giant assortment. Most lately, the masked foe was seen within the aftermath of Blockbuster’s battle with Nightwing, ripping out the crime boss’s coronary heart with out Dick Grayson’s information. Now, his sinister background has lastly been revealed.
The brand new Nightwing Annual 2022 #1 includes a assortment of tales starring the titular hero, although Tom Taylor and Eduardo Pansica’s story is all about Heartless. Coming from a wealthy household not in contrast to Bruce Wayne, Shelton Lyle not often spoke as a toddler although he is shortly revealed to be fairly disturbed. Sadly, the Lyle Household’s new butler Gerald inspired Shelton’s habits (a secret sociopathic killer himself). Moreover, a fateful evening at Haley’s Circus darkly introduced Shelton out of his shell whereas one other boy’s life was devastated by the loss of life of his mother and father: The Flying Graysons.
Heartless and Nightwing Darkly Share Origins
Seeing Dick Grayson shedding his mother and father motivated Shelton’s darkness even additional whereas below Gerald’s wing. Moreover, the story additionally confirms that Shelton was the bully Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon stood as much as throughout their first-ever assembly as youngsters. Following Gerald’s homicide of Shelton’s mother and father and the unintentional accidents the boy sustained, Shelton apparently wants a continuing provide of hearts to maintain residing. This leads to his transformation into Heartless as an grownup the place he steals them from the innocents he murders. Having solely fought Heartless as soon as, Nightwing would not appear to know any of this historical past nor the darkish private connections the 2 share.
Aided by his darkish mirror to Alfred Pennyworth, Heartless himself is clearly a twisted mixture of Nightwing and Batman whereas additionally resembling Bruce Wayne’s childhood friend-turned-rival Tommy Elliot (aka Hush). The truth that the deaths of the Flying Graysons impacted each Dick and Shelton is extremely dynamic, proving that Heartless will turn out to be one of the crucial private and disturbing villains Nightwing has ever confronted. Nightwing Annual 2022 #1 is on sale now from DC Comics.