Nightwing‘s ongoing feud with Blüdhaven-based crimelord Blockbuster bleeds into the world of the Birds of Prey. He’s also about to make an ally of copycat crimefighter Nite-Wing. Out of costume, Dick Grayson’s flirtation with Barbara Gordon is about to become more complicated, while Bab’s fellow Bird of Prey, Black Canary, still has no idea who Oracle really is…
Related Events: The storylines told in Birds of Prey and Nightwing are separate, but begin to converge in the build-up to THE HUNT FOR ORACLE event.
Spoilers: The issue descriptions and fallout section contain spoilers, so be warned!
Previous events that directly impact this story:
- JLAPE: GORILLA WARFARE (1999) – Nightwing shuts down Grimm’s illegal activities
- NO MAN’S LAND (1999-2000) – Grimm & Blockbuster make a deal
- NUCLEAR ROULETTE (2000) – Nightwing meets Jason Bard
Want to keep it simple? Here’s the chronological reading order without story descriptions, or spoilers:
- Nightwing #41-43
- Birds of Prey #18
- Nightwing #44
- Birds of Prey #19
| Must Read | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Nightwing #41 Dick Grayson finally returns to the Police Academy (after disappearing to Gotham during NO MAN’S LAND, 1999-2000) and successfully graduates. Dick’s landlord Bridget Clancy celebrates with him as the two of them get closer. Nite-Wing takes out Blockbuster’s goons for Chief Redhorn. 1st appearance: Phil Addad |
| ✔ | Nightwing #42 Nite-Wing kills Blockbuster’s right-hand man, Ricky Noone. Blockbuster orders Chief Redhorn to investigate. Dick Grayson gets turned down when he applies to a precinct in Blüdhaven, while dubious fellow-graduate Mac Arnot is quickly made Inspector. Nightwing asks Oracle (Barbara Gordon) about Jason Bard after she steers him towards Intergang lawyer Alistair Bendal-White who’s moving in on Blockbuster’s turf. That night, Nightwing runs into Nite-Wing in Bendal-White’s office, but Torque shows up to kill them both… |
| ✔ | Nightwing #43 Nightwing and Nite-Wing narrowly escape Torque’s explosives. Unaware of Nite-Wing’s murderous tendencies, Nightwing offers to train him. Grimm agrees to follow through on his deal with Blockbuster (made during NO MAN’S LAND, 1999-2000) and show him the way to Gorilla City. Clancy makes a move on Dick, but he tells her he’s gotten serious with an old friend again (referring to Barbara). Torque holds Bendel-White hostage and offers to become Intergang’s ambassador to Blüdhaven… |
| Must Read | Title, Issue & Synopsis |
| ✔ | Birds of Prey #18 Black Canary is on a mission in war-torn Transbelvia where the Krasny-Volnans regularly mortar the Belvian citizens. She witnesses the impact of war on regular people. Contacting Oracle, Canary calls her “Babs” thanks to Nightwing letting her name slip. Jason Bard contacts Barbara, but she wants to keep their relationship strictly professional. Elsewhere, Blockbuster realises Oracle’s been taking millions from his accounts… |
| ✔ | Birds of Prey #19 (pp.1-19) Robin (Tim Drake) helps Oracle test her VR training room. Dick Grayson visits with flowers and pizza, just before Ted Kord shows up. Oracle receives an update from Black Canary on the weapons lab she’s investigating in Hasaragua. When Jason Bard comes knocking, Barbara meets him on the street and, despite his blindness, he can tell she’s in a wheelchair. |
| ✔ | Nightwing #44 Nite-Wing confronts Chief Redhorn over betraying him and offers to spare his life in exchange for files on Blockbuster. Oracle gives Nightwing info on Mac Arnot’s criminal connections. Torque contacts Intergang directly. Redhorn leaves town. Nite-Wing gives Nightwing the files, which are then sent to Oracle. The two ‘Wings confront Blockbuster in his home, but they’re quickly taken out by Grimm… |
| ✔ | Birds of Prey #19 (pp.20-21) In Hasaragua, Canary is attacked by Brutale and Lady Vic… |
| Must Reads | Issue(s) & Fallout | Event/ Crossover |
| ✔ | Nightwing #45 (2000) Nightwing and Nite-Wing are taken prisoner; Black Canary’s fate is revealed. Birds of Prey #20-21 (2000) Nite-Wing makes a decision that will forever alter his relationship with Nightwing; Blockbuster’s vendetta against Oracle comes to a head. | THE HUNT FOR ORACLE |
| ✔ | Birds of Prey #22-26 (2000-2001) Blockbuster travels to Gorilla City with Grimm to obtain the heart of another gorilla to replace his own; Ted Kord returns to his role as the Blue Beetle. | |
| ✔ | Nightwing #48-50 (2000) Fellow Blüdhaven Police Officer Amy Rohrbach begins to suspect Dick Grayson is on the take due to his secret life. | |
| Birds of Prey #31-32 (2001) Jason Bard is revealed to have gone through several surgical procedures to restore his eyesight; Bard offers Barbara Gordon a job, hoping to rekindle their relationship, but she continues to reject him. | ||
| Robin #96 (2002) Bridget Clancy and the Blue Beetle (Ted Kord) hook up. | JOKER: LAST LAUGH | |
| JLA #69 (2002) Nightwing joins the Justice League. | ||
| ✔ | Nightwing #83 (2003) After realising Dick Grayson is also Nightwing, Amy Rohrbach forces Dick Grayson to hand in his badge. |
| Collected Edition Title | Collects… |
| Birds of Prey vol.3 (2016) | Birds of Prey #12-21 Nightwing #45-46 |
| Nightwing: The Hunt for Oracle (2003) | Birds of Prey #20-21 Nightwing #41-46 |
| Nightwing vol.5: The Hunt for Oracle (2016) | Birds of Prey #20-21 Nightwing #35-46 |
| Nightwing: A Knight in Blüdhaven Compendium vol.2 (2025) | Action Comics #771 Batman Annual #23 Nightwing #26-59 Birds of Prey #8, 20-21 Nightwing Secret Files #1 Nightwing 80-Page Giant #1 Nightwing: The Target #1 |
Reading Order © Omniverse Comics Guide 2025
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