Batman’s Sister is The Perfect Choice For DC’s Next Nightwing

As was always the case with Bruce Wayne, the Future State version of Batman, Jace Fox, is at his worst when working alone. In his new mission to reinvent Batman and inspire a world that hates ‘Masks’, it’s already clear that he is in need of a trusted friend or partner. But what The Next Batman needs isn’t a Robin or a Batgirl… it’s a brand new Nightwing. And his younger sister, Tiffany, perfectly fits the bill.

Tiffany Fox is first introduced as a costumed vigilante in New 52: Futures End as part of the League of Batgirls, alongside Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown and Cassandra Cain. She later appears in Batman: Black and White #3 in the story ‘The Calvary’ by John Ridley and Olivier Coipel. Coming to the aid of her brother, Future State Batman, Tiffany acts more as a partner than a sidekick, demonstrating her capabilities as she takes out sixteen men while her brother tackles their leader. Tiffany has ditched the Batgirl costume for this issue, donning a half-face mask and wielding a pair of escrima sticks. These sticks are, of course, most commonly associated with another Batman-related hero: Nightwing.

In I Am Batman #8, by John Ridley, Christian Duce and Rex Lokus, Tiffany meets with her older brother while he’s letting off some steam on a punching bag. When she catches Jace’s attention, Tiffany moves into a fighting stance, feet apart and two red sticks raised. “Wanna go a round?” she offers. Not in the mood, Jace tries to push her away but Tiffany insists that he hear her out. While he’s distanced himself from the Fox family, his mother’s been trying to make amends with the family fortune, and Tiffany’s been helping their sister, Tam, in physical therapy. “Maybe you want to check in with this family every once in a while.”

I Am Batman, while focusing on the Batman identity, is a deeply Fox family-centric story. It highlights the struggles of Lucius and Tanya when working with the government and the consequences of their actions, leading to resentment on Jace’s part. Additionally, the weight of these consequences loom over the family with the reminder that Tamara may never live the same way again. Despite being the youngest of the Fox children, Tiffany acts as the glue of the family, checking in when she can and reminding her brother that he doesn’t have to fix everything on his own. Dick Grayson displays similar traits in the Batfamily, attempting to make peace between Tim and Damian, frequently checking in on Jason, and reminding Bruce of the support network he has. The role of Nightwing is both separate from Batman but also a core part of his family dynamic.

Tiffany Fox just might be the only one who can help Jace reconcile with his family. Not only that, but she’d be an awesome partner in his cause. No other DC character has truly shown the potential to fill Nightwing’s shoes—and it’s not like he’s disappearing anytime soon—but Tiffany has opened up the possibility for a similar role in the Next Batman mythos.