It’s often said that Batman, with enough preparation, could beat any opponent in the DC Universe, even the most powerful gods and cosmic entities. Whether that’s actually true is up for debate, but Nightwing really needs to hope it is. He’ll need every skill Batman taught him to survive his latest enemy. The Zanni, a mysterious being from another world, has been a threat to Nightwing since the start of Dan Watters’ Nightwing comic in 2016, and has been watching him ever since his time as Robin. Now, the Zanni is finally taking action.
The Zanni is trying to make Nightwing the master of ceremonies for his otherworldly Cirque du Sin, and he’s been carefully orchestrating events and manipulating people to mold Nightwing into the leader he wants. He’s demonstrated immense power by keeping the deceased Columbina alive for over ten years and forcibly changing the fifth-dimensional imp Nite-Mite into a monstrous being he hasn’t been able to recover from. While we’ve already witnessed the Zanni’s incredible abilities, Nightwing #133 definitively revealed just how powerful he is—to a degree that even Superman wouldn’t be able to defeat him.
A Being of Pure Imagination
In past stories, Columbina explored the idea that the Zanni began as a sort of circus deity – the personification of the excitement and otherworldly feeling circuses create. Issue #133 finally revealed the source of the Zanni’s power: he attracted children from Blüdhaven to his strange world using circus music only they could hear. He did this both to draw out Nightwing and to find performers for his circus. Though most people just felt uneasy when the Zanni was near, the powerful telepath Martian Manhunter was able to sense his presence.
He surveyed the city, discovering the source of the Zanni’s abilities and where they were hiding. He shared this information with Nightwing, who had already understood what was happening. Nightwing realized the Zanni wasn’t an imp like Nite-Mite or Mister Mxyzptlk, but a different kind of being created from the pure imagination of the fifth dimension. Nightwing then requested help from Martian Manhunter to reach the Zanni’s dimension. Using the faint thoughts and impressions of everyone in the city, Martian Manhunter created a portal directly to the Zanni’s circus tent within that dimension.
Just before they separated, Martian Manhunter warned Nightwing that he needed to fight the Zanni by himself. The Zanni is a being fueled by imagination, meaning the more someone learns about him, the stronger he becomes. Bringing in other heroes would only amplify his power. To have any hope of saving the missing children, Nightwing had to face the Zanni alone, on his own ground. This suggests the Zanni isn’t just powerful—he could be the most powerful being from the fifth dimension anyone has ever encountered.
A Superman-Tier Threat For a Street-Level Hero
Nightwing is a highly skilled hero, trained by Batman, who has faced incredibly powerful enemies, even cosmic threats like the Great Darkness. He’s a natural leader and a fantastic fighter, but he’s still human – he doesn’t have superpowers like super speed or incredible strength. Despite this, he’s taking on a dangerous creature that would challenge the entire Justice League. This pattern of characters connected to Batman fighting opponents far more powerful than themselves is common, but Nightwing’s potential victory over the Zanni wouldn’t feel illogical or forced.
Despite appearing nearly all-powerful, the key to defeating the Zanni lies in understanding what gives him that power. He’s a creature fueled by fear and the excitement of those who feel like outsiders, meaning Nightwing can’t win through a physical fight. Instead, he needs to defeat the Zanni psychologically – by stripping away the mystery surrounding him and making him seem ordinary. The Zanni isn’t invincible; if he were, he wouldn’t need helpers. Nightwing has a real chance of stopping him, and his best weapons are his compassion and intelligence.
Nightwing #133 is on sale now!
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2025-12-18 21:13