With Brand New History, Nightwing’s Controversial Ex Deserves Her Own Spy Series

Summary

• In
  Nightwing 2024 Annual
  #1, Bea Bennett’s secret origin is unveiled, as DC continues to make her an increasingly more active and central character, after initially introducing her in a civilian supporting role, as a love interest for Nightwing.
• The rich history of Bea Bennett’s character proves she can stand on her own as a strong heroine, beyond just being Nightwing’s ex-girlfriend.
• Whether known as Destiny, the Pirate Queen, or Captain Blud, Bea Bennett has serious potential in the DC Universe, with her family drama, spy world, and sea-faring life all setting her up for her own solo series.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Nightwing 2024 Annual #1!

Nightwing’s ex-girlfriend – from his most controversial era – has returned to DC Comics, and her secret history has been revealed. Bea Bennett debuted in 2018, after Nightwing suffered amnesia and adopted a new identity by the name of Ric Grayson. Though that era ended with their breakup, because Dick wanted to avoid endangering Bea, her reappearance in Nightwing proves that she’s more than equipped to handle the superhero lifestyle.

Nightwing 2024 Annual #1 unveils Bea Bennett’s origin, following her re-emergence for a swashbuckling team-up with Dick. The special issue details Bea’s upbringing with the original name Destiny Alston, her mother’s supposed death, her pirate history with adoptive father Quartermaster, and her double life as a spy.

A stunning splash page illustrates Destiny’s intensive spy training as a teenager to adulthood before she takes on her Bea Bennett identity. Her secret history is divulged along with a retelling of events from the Ric Grayson years from her perspective.

Bea Bennett’s Secret Origin Story Revealed In Nightwing’s 2024 Annual

Nightwing 2024 Annual #1 – Written By Travis Moore; Art By Moore, Ivan Plascencia, & Alex Guimarães

While Bea could’ve remained in a support role, as a civilian, Lois Lane-type, DC has provided an expansive backstory for the character, filled with pirate adventures and undercover espionage.

Originally debuting as a side character for Nightwing, Bea’s new origin gives her a much-deserved spotlight in the DC Universe. Bea Bennett first appeared as a civilian bar-owner in Nightwing (2016) #50, though subsequently her character’s history has significantly recontextualized how readers view her. While she was tough and could handle herself in fights, Bea was mostly relegated to a supportive girlfriend role until Dick regained his memories, eventually breaking her heart in Nightwing #76. However, Nightwing 2024 Annual #1 reveals that while her emotional connection to Dick was real, Bea wasn’t exactly who she seemed.

While Bea could’ve remained in a support role, as a civilian, Lois Lane-type, DC has provided an expansive backstory for the character, filled with pirate adventures and undercover espionage. As a young girl, Destiny and her mother were attacked, and she was presumed orphaned. She spent years unhoused, before being adopted by the pirate king Quartermaster. Destiny later becomes a spy to avenge her mother, and works for an organization called Spyral, who tasked her with investigating Nightwing, leading to her assuming the Bea Bennett identity.

After the Ric Grayson debacle and defeating her mother’s alleged killer, Bea’s mother sneakily watches her retreat from spy to pirate life in a shocking final-page reveal.

The Pirate Queen Has Serious Potential As A DC Universe Hero

First Appearance: Nightwing (2016) #50 – Written By Benjamin Percy; Art ByTravis Moore, Chris Mooneyham, Klaus Janson, Tamra Bonvillain, Nick Falardi, & John Kalisz

The dense Bea Bennett lore drop in
Nightwing 2024 Annual
#1 may surprise readers that followed the Ric Grayson run, but it is an illuminating entry point to the previously-unknown history of a strong new heroine.

Bea’s secret origin boils down what could have been years of storytelling into a single oversized issue, and the rich history that’s built in the issue proves that the character can and should stand on her own beyond Nightwing. Since reappearing as the Pirate Queen in Nightwing #106– by Tom Taylor, Stephen Byrne, and Adriano Lucas – Bea has fully embraced herself as the daughter of Captain Blüd. As she regains control of The Hold and takes her rightful place as heir to her adoptive father’s captaincy, Bea is solidified as an extremely important figure in the current DC Universe.

The dense Bea Bennett lore drop in Nightwing 2024 Annual #1 may surprise readers that followed the Ric Grayson run, but it is an illuminating entry point to the previously-unknown history of a strong new heroine. With her family drama, many aliases, and rich cast of characters filling out her spy world and sea-faring life, the Pirate Queen could very well lead her own DC series. Whether she goes by Destiny, Bea Bennett, or simply Captain Blüd, moving forward, her newly revealed origin combining pirate and spy training proves that she is much more than just Nightwing’s ex-girlfriend.

Nightwing 2024 Annual #1

is available now from DC Comics.