DC Comics has been prepping comic book fans for the ascension of Nightwing since Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths ended. He’s also had character-changing moments throughout his series (Nightwing by Tom Taylor) and helped save the world during Beast World. Those were great moments from Dick Grayson, but that was the past. Now he has to show true leadership during Absolute Power.
The heroes are without hope and superpowers and their peers are imprisoned. In Absolute Power No. 2 Dick Grayson motivates the resistance with a speech that sends chills down the readers' spines. Nightwing wasn’t done yet. He pulls another miracle out of his hat that saves everyone on Themysicra during Absolute Power No. 3.
When the Brainiac Queen and her controlled Jon Kent show up on Amazon Island, Big Barda prepares to kill him. Nightwing stops her and says he has a plan. Dick goads Jon into attacking him. When Jon lands on the island, the magic in the soil weakens Brainiac Queen's sway over Jon. He doesn't just regain control. Jon shows the Brainiac Queen the truth about heroes and Amanda Waller (read Absolute Power: Ground Zero No. 1 for that story).
This took a lot of foresight from Dick Grayson. He couldn’t tell anyone about his and Mr. Terrific’s plan because Jon’s superhearing would have given things away. As much as Nightwing wanted to keep the Titans and other heroes informed, he had to resist the urge. Sometimes leaders have to keep secrets for the betterment of the team.
Batman plans for the final battle
While Nightwing and the rest of the heroes celebrate their victory and begin planning for the next step, Dick notices that Batman is absent. That’s when readers see The Dark Knight with John Starr and Bruce Wayne isn't happy.
Starr helped Amanda Waller’s Task Force VII gain the ability to take powers (again in Absolute Power: Ground Zero). Of course, Batman knows this and tells Starr that he’s coming with them (the heroes). Bruce knows Starr can help the heroes get their abilities back.
The heroes will need their powers. Amanda Waller is creating a team of superbeings like the Crime Syndicate to help her (this happens in Absolute Power: Task Force VII No. 5). When Batman eventually helps people get their metahuman abilities back, Caped Crusades will report how it occurred.
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