Sorry Batgirl Fans, But Nightwing’s Love Triangle is Never Going to Die

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Fans who pair Nightwing with Barbara Gordon (DickBabs shippers) might not be thrilled to hear this, but it looks like Nightwing will always be caught between two loves. Throughout his history, Dick Grayson has had two main romantic interests: Barbara Gordon, a longtime friend and ally as Batgirl, and Starfire, his teammate and former fiancé. While many people enjoy Nightwing’s stories, fans tend to strongly prefer one romantic partner over the other. Recently, he’s been in a relationship with Barbara.

I’ll be honest, I’ve always been a fan of Nightwing and Starfire as a couple – I watched the Teen Titans show growing up! But when DC seemed to be pushing for a relationship between Dick Grayson (Nightwing) and Barbara Gordon, I accepted it. Nightwing and Starfire haven’t really been together since their breakup in the early ’90s, beyond a few sweet moments. Still, we keep getting hints and teases that suggest this Nightwing/Starfire romance isn’t truly over, and it feels like this love triangle will continue indefinitely.

Nightwing and Starfire’s Relationship is Part of the Titans’ ‘Cycle’

The latest issue of New Titans, #33, kicks off a fresh direction for the popular superhero team. However, the Titans are stuck in a strange loop – a simulated reality where they repeatedly go through the same day. They wake up, share a normal morning, fight a familiar enemy like Terra or Brother Blood, and win. But they don’t realize they’re destined to repeat this cycle endlessly. This issue, from creators Tate Brombal, Sami Basri, Adriano Lucas, and Tom Napolitano, sets the stage for a mysterious new storyline.

The team isn’t stuck fighting the same villains repeatedly, but they are caught in a loop of recurring personal problems. Raven constantly battles her inner darkness, Cyborg questions his own humanity, and Roy and Donna Troy’s relationship is a never-ending cycle of ups and downs. Everyone else seems oblivious, but Nightwing begins receiving strange warnings – through the team’s coffee machine, of all places – telling him to stop drinking the coffee. When he finally listens, Nightwing realizes something is seriously wrong with the reality he and his friends are sharing.

Soon after Dick stops drinking the coffee, he realizes the moon is perpetually full. While pondering their situation, Nightwing confides in Starfire about feeling stuck in a repetitive loop of old enemies and problems. Starfire offers him comfort, surprising him with a kiss. The moment passes without further discussion, but the pattern continues. As the Titans repeatedly face the same challenges, Nightwing finds himself caught up in more romantic complications with Starfire.

The Cycle is Being Broken, But Nightwing’s Past with Starfire is Too Big to Leave Behind

Just to be clear, Starfire’s kiss with Nightwing in this issue isn’t because she actually has feelings for him. Like the other Titans, she’s being controlled by the forces creating this fake reality and through the mind-altering coffee. But looking at the bigger picture, this highlights how important Nightwing and Starfire’s past relationship is to the Titans’ story – just as iconic as villains like Deathstroke and Terra’s betrayal. This repeating cycle isn’t just a plot device; it’s a way of showing how certain elements are fundamentally tied to these heroes and their history.

The story really comes together when the new Titans team—including characters like Jon Kent and Spoiler—steps in to save the original lineup. This feels like a deliberate choice by the writers to move away from old storylines and explore fresh ideas, which as a Titans fan, I really like. However, after reading comics for two decades, I know certain themes tend to reappear. Just like Raven’s father, Trigon, always coming back, the complex history between Nightwing and Starfire will likely be revisited in future stories.

I don’t expect Nightwing to suddenly leave Batgirl for Starfire, especially since Dick seems very committed to his current relationship. However, the show keeps hinting at Nightwing and Starfire’s history, which keeps fans hoping they’ll get back together. I know some people would prefer DC to drop this storyline entirely, but it’s hard to ignore how important Nightwing and Starfire’s relationship is to the overall story of Titans, and I think it will continue to be a source of tension and discussion for a long time.

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2026-03-20 17:41