#Van-Zee

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Nightwing And Flamebird

Art by Chris Weston

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Happy father's day

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Clark Kent's Relationship to the other Mantle Holders

Clark has a personal connection to most of the Nightwing successors.

Dick Grayson Clark’s relationship with Dick spans decades. Since very early on their relationship has been defined by mutual trust. As a friend to Batman, Dick and Clark meet soon after Dick becomes Robin. Dick hero worships Clark, which comes out less or more depending on the writer. In some cases their team-ups treat them as equals (Legends of the DC Universe (1998) #6 ) while other times Dick has much to learn from Clark. (Superman (1939) #700).

Clark inspires Dick to become Nightwing in every main canon universe by telling him about the legend, if in different ways. (More info here.) Clark checks up on Dick from time to time once he’s settled in Blüdhaven (Nightwing (1996) #30). Mostly they are brought together by cases that lead to Metropolis and once Dick operates in New York, their paths cross even more (Nightwing: Freefall (2008)). Dick thinks of Clark as inspiring and powerful while Clark appreciates Dick’s detective work and focus (The Adventures of Superman (1992) Annual #4, Action Comics (1938) #841-843). 

They know each other well, so well in fact, that Dick expects Clark to figure out the truth while Dick is forced to work for Slade as Renegade (Nightwing #115), and Dick knows Clark is the real Superman once he comes back to a distrusting community after having lost his powers for a year. (Action Comics (1938) #841)

When Dick becomes Batman Clark’s grief causes him to react in anger at first. He’s just lost his father and now his best friend. He claims Batman was the real Bruce and therefore Dick wearing the cowl is wrong. Diana and Dick manage to make him see reason and Clark begins to look forward to working with Dick (Superman/Batman #76). When Clark has to deal with New Krypton and later with the trauma of losing his home for a second time, Dick’s there for him (World’s Finest (2009) #4, Superman (1939) #703).

Chris Kent (Lor-Zod) Chris Kent is the adopted child of Clark and Lois. (Action Comics (1938) #845) When he crash lands on Earth in a Kryptonian ship, Clark immediately feels responsible for him. Clark bonds fast with the child and enjoys speaking Kryptonese with him. He also sees himself in Chris and what would have happened had he landed in a big city instead of a small town. When the government abducts Chris, Clark saves him and asks his parents for advice on how to hide him (Action Comics (1938) #844). 

When Chris’ parents try to subjugate Earth, Chris doesn’t want to go back to being their pawn. He’s grown to love his adopted parents. Despite Clark’s efforts to save him, Chris ends up sacrificing himself to make sure his biological parents are trapped inside the Phantom Zone once again (Action Comics (1938) Annual #11). 

Years later he still considers Clark and Lois his parents (Superman (1939) #696). 

During War of the Superman (2010), Clark and Chris briefly reunite. Nightwing and Flamebird are tied to the phantom zone. In order for it to remain closed forever and for Clark to be able to remain on Earth, Chris once again decides to sacrifice himself by using his Nightwing powers to trap his biological father inside the prison dimension. 

Karen Starr (Kara Zor-L) Karen Starr, also known as Kara Zor-L is the Earth-Two counterpart of Kara Zor-El and the cousin of Kal-L. Her relationship with the Clark Kent (Kal-El) of the main universes is defined by hardships but also a mutual understanding.

She first encountered Clark Kent of the main universe, the one that was Nightwing, in the pages of Justice League of America (1960) #147. She instantly preferred him to her version of Superman, which doesn’t mean she had a bad relationship with the Clark of her universe. In fact, the Clark and Lois of Earth-Two adopted her.

Karen returns to Earth-One some time later and joins the Justice League Europe. On one mission she ends up suffering a serious injury that is untreatable with normal methods. Superman helps by using his heat vision. Kara is saved but not without losing a significant portion of her powers. Clark worries she’ll hate him for it but Kara doesn’t. (Justice League Europe (1989) #9)

When the first Crisis happens, Karen’s home Earth-Two disappears and with that even her past (Secret Origins (1986) #11). Clark’s and her relationship grows strained when her memories of Krypton turn out to be fake. She is of Atlantean heritage (Justice League Europe (1989) Annual #2). Because of everything she believed was a lie, she has lost her place in the hero community. That the Kara of the main universe has finally landed on Earth, doesn’t help. She feels as if there’s no place in this universe for her anymore. Clark who was happy to have had another living relative is disappointed by the revelation (JSA Classified (2008) #1), but he’s there for her and treats her no differently (JSA Classified (2008) #2). Another Crisis event finally reveals the truth. Kal-L reveals to Kara that with Earth-Two destroyed, the universe has unsuccessfully been trying to integrate her into the main universe. She is in fact Kryptonian.

Kara trusts Clark enough to ask him for advice. When she wants to go serious with her company Starware, she asks Clark how to handle her secret identity (Power Girl (2009) #22-#23).

Damian Wayne (Injustice)

When Lois Lane is killed by the Joker, Clark’s ideology regarding criminals changes. He’s in favour of harsh punishments even leading to death. Damian shares this opinion early on due to his upbringing. When Nightwing dies during a prison break, his stance against his father’s softer methods only solidifies (Injustice: Gods Among Us #6).

Damian works as a spy and footsoldier to Superman in the second year. The third year he spends imprisoned, Bruce pleading with him and the others to switch sides, Damian refuses. He’s still convinced Clark is right. Even when Alfred discusses with him that Clark has gone way too far his opinion doesn’t change (Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five #13).

It’s not until he has his father’s death to answer for, that he breaks his ties to Clark and his ideology, setting out to liberate Earth from the remaining regime. (Injustice 2 (Video Game), Injustice vs. Masters of the Universe)

In the video game Injustice, one possible ending causes Damian to betray Clark and defeat him.

Van Zee Van-Zee is one of many Kal-El doubles existing on Kandor (Superman Family (1974) #185). Their relationship has a bit of a rocky start when Van-Zee falls in love with Lois over a distance (Superman's Girl Friend, Lois Lane (1958) #15). Regardless, Clark helps him and Kandor whenever he can (Superman Family (1974) #183). Van-Zee sometimes has to remind Clark to not overexert himself (DC Retroactive: Superman The 70s (2011) #1).

Jason Todd Jason and Clark met while he was Robin. Same as Dick, Jason hero worshipped Clark quite a bit, and Clark thought he was a good Robin successor. (Action Comics (1938) #556). Clark doesn’t have a favourable opinion on Red Hood. He lets Jason walk free as a favour to Bruce. He’d prefer to see him charged and convicted. (Red Hood and the Outlaws (2011) #14).

[lonestarfangirl2014]

Van zee and ak var

oh how I love you

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Jean Michel Basquiat por James Van Der Zee

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Hello, it's been a while! Here's some fan art of Ruby and Chelsea~

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Victoria, I confess. This morning I was terrified of marriage. But then on meeting you, I felt I should be with you always, and that our wedding could not come soon enough.

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"JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT: III" JAMES VAN DER ZEE // 1982 [gelatin silver print | 10 x 8"]

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1924, A family in Harlem, New York City, photo by James Van Der Zee

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Wedding Day, James Van Der Zee, 1926

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NIGHTWING (& Flamebird) CHRONOLOGY

the original nightwing & flamebird in all their glory:

this is what Clark (& Jimmy) named themselves after in Kandor.

After a few adventures with Jimmy, Clark's cousin and Clark's cousin's nephew-in-law became the new Nightwing & Flamebird

Ak-Var has dark brown hair and no fredkles. Clark and Van-Zee look almost identical

The next Nightwing is probably the most known one:

it's Dick Grayson

After COIE, Bette was reintroduced as never being Bat-Girl (I think YJ98 recanonized it?) so instead she's flamebird:

they also flanderized her a lot in Wolfman's titans things iirc

COIE also erased a lot of Krypton stuff so now we get a new kryptonian Nightwing

he's more based on Dick Grayson. This is the only kryptonian nightwing without a flamebird

Also in the 90s they start trying to bring back the superior Pre-crisis Krypton lore back so Clark and Lois go into the past and visit Krypton

it later was retconned to be a brainiac plot

After Infinite Crisis two more people use the Nightwing mantle over in Nightwing

Jason Todd,

who becomes a tentacle monster

and also Cheyenne Freemont becomes a Nightwing for a bit

I think she has some telekinetic blast powers or something

the next Nightwing & Flamebird is Kara and Karen (I don't think she's kryptonian again yet)

The yellow one is Flamebird (Kara)

The red one is Nightwing (Karen)

the next duo were originally intended to be Kon & Linda

but they changed them to Chris and Thara Ak-Var (we don't know the exact reason why)

This is also when we get our third explanation for Nightwing's name and is also our final Flamebird

Nightwing (Kryptonian god)

Flamebird (Kryptonian god)

(As a sidenote, the different incarnations of Krypton all have different religions some of which evolve into entirely new ones)

And then there's only one group left

The Nightwings who tried to keep up as Nightwing when the whole Ric situation was happening

[nightwing60thanniversary]

It's the last of the favorite polls we've got for you. It’s time to choose which is your favourite lesser-known Kryptonian power. Weigh up the pros and cons for each and feel free to let us know your opinion behind your vote 👀

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James Van Der Zee | Untitled, 20th Century

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At the beach, 1920s.

Photo: James van der Zee via MoMA