The Court of Owls is frustrating. They have been forced into Dick's past and history so much now. They have completely tainted Haley's Circus and are such an easy go-to when writers need a quick story to get Dick to do something. In theory I don't dislike the Owls and they could be good, but how they have been used, especially in Dick's stories, is just really frustrating if they are meant to be this super important part to his character now.

The problem starts with Snyder's Court of Owls story in his Batman run. It's probably the most defining story of the New 52 era. It was a massive success, but it was very much a Bruce and Batman story throughout. Dick's role in Snyder's Owls story was very mitigated. Bruce is who the Owls cared about. Outside of getting punched in the face by Bruce Dick didn't really do much in Snyder's story. Maybe that was because Dick had his own ongoing book with Higgins writing Dick's view of the Owls story and they figured it would be better to have all of Dick's "important" parts be contained in it, but that is also what makes it frustrating. Since Higgins Owls story doesn't come close to being what Snyder's Owls story was, especially as it was written as a supporting book to Snyder's a bit. I thought it was average at best with characters like Raya or Saiko being completely forgettable, and when Higgins' story is what is supposed to redefine Dick's entire background and history it isn't strong enough to justify such imposing changes.

So we are left with this situation of the Owls being a core part of Dick's background now, but the defining Owls story by Snyder that is now an iconic Batman story Dick doesn't really do much in it outside of playing a small supporting role. You need a iconic or great Owls story with Dick at the center to really justify all these major changes to his history, but we never got that. Then after that Owls story there has been this weird shift with Dick now being this vital thing the Court feels like they NEED to have, but he was never that in Snyder's original story. So writers act like Dick is this super important person the Owls desperately want, but it doesn't really make sense going off the original story.

Plus I wouldn't be surprised if over time they continue to try and add more Owls elements into Dick's character. Such as the Nightwing name coming from the Owls, but I wouldn't be surprised if they eventually have it turn out the Owls are responsible for his parents' death too.

Quote Originally Posted by Aahz View Post
It is not like there was much of a relationship beyond Dick beeing in there in the Batman/Superman crossovers and a few team ups of him and Jimmy Olsen in World's finest in the Silverage.
But this relation was never as close or as important as his relation with the Titans or the rest of the Batfamily.
When Dick first used the Nightwing name the writers and creators at that time grew up on those old Batman, Robin and Superman stories. They were the original Trinity of characters, and there was also the Super Friends cartoon on at that time as well. So Robin/Dick interacting with Superman was still in the public consciousness and the Nightwing name fit better. Now that we are even more decades removed from it the old relationship or dynamic has faded even more probably to where it doesn't make sense to tie Dick's Nightwing name to Superman. It just feels like it will eventually get written out.