Kickstarter-funded ‘Nightwing’ Series Premieres First Episode

In 2012, Nightwing aficionados and amateur filmmakers Danny Shepherd and Jeremy Le produced a short film called Batman: Nightwing vs. Red Hood that was inspired by Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. The fan film went viral. To date, it’s earned over one million views on YouTube, despite its low budget. The success prompted the duo to imagine what they could do with more resources, so they took to Kickstarter to fund a sequel. Nine hundred backers and $34,000 later, Nightwing: The Series has been produced, and the first episode premiered online this week. Watch it after the jump.

Thanks to GeekTyrant for the heads-up about the release of the first episode of Nightwing: The Series. You can read a series synopsis and view a video embed of the first episode below:

“Nightwing: The Series” follows the story of Batman’s former sidekick, Dick Grayson aka Robin. After a falling out with his mentor, Dick abandons Gotham and everyone in it. Emerging in the City of Bludhaven years later, Dick takes on the guise of “Nightwing” easily defeating the petty criminals who infest it. But he soon realizes he may have bitten off more than he can chew when a mysterious and dangerous assassin only known as ‘Deathstroke, begins targeting Bludhaven citizens. Can he defend his new home and the lives of it’s inhabitants from the most dangerous foe he’s ever faced!? Only time will tell in this epic 5 part mini-series!

The premiere episode, titled “Deathstroke,” is well-crafted and entertaining, and the resources raised as a result of the Kickstarter are apparent. While part of me wishes a villain other than Deathstroke had been used, only because he was already portrayed so well in Arrow, I am curious to see the other DC Comics characters that are introduced over the next four installments.

Nightwing: The Series provides some welcomed focus to the character, and it may be just the start for fans of Batman’s original boy-wonder. He may or may not be making an appearance in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice if you believe some of the early rumors about the film. At the very least, Dick Grayson seems destined for the small screen as a primary player in TNT’s Titans series should that come to fruition. I personally think he would be a perfect fit in the burgeoning DC universe on the CW. He could help further incorporate elements of the larger Bat-universe without including the Caped Crusader in both Arrow and The Flash.

What did you think of the Nightwing: The Series premiere episode? Let us know in the comments below.