Nightwing Drops a TOY STORY Reference So Perfect, I Can’t Believe It’s Never Been Done

Warning: Spoilers for Nightwing #114!

A long overdue Toy Story reference works its way into Nightwing. A connection between the DC Universe’s greatest hero and Disney Pixar’s first full-length theatrical movie isn’t an obvious thread to connect. However, in connecting the two together, it makes for a surprisingly perfect marriage between one of the best superheroes and one of the best Pixar movies.

Batman’s former ward finds himself falling (with style) just like the leads of Toy Story in Nightwing #114 by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo. In the first part of “Fallen Grayson,” the final arc of the series, Dick discusses the literal leaps he’s taken since he was an acrobat at Haley’s Circus. He recalls falling from the circus’ platform in his first attempt at making a big leap at seven years old.

Since then, he’s been falling “with a little more style.” The phrasing seems like an oddly specific Toy Story reference, as it echoes the iconic line “That’s not flying, that’s just falling with style.” But the reference is also oddly perfect for his character, especially given Dick Grayson’s recent fear of taking leaps.

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Nightwing, an Acrobat Since Childhood, Loves “Falling with Style”

Just Like Toy Story‘s Woody and Buzz

If “falling with style” had to be associated with any DC superhero, it would have to be Nightwing. This iconic line doesn’t feel out of place being uttered out of Nightwing’s own mouth, especially when so many of Nightwing’s quotes are already about falling and flying being one and the same. Case in point: one of his more famous quotes from Secret Origins #13 (in a story by Dan Mishkin and Erik Larsen) comes when he says “You will never know if you can fly unless you take the risk of falling.” In isolation, that line already has so many layers related to Grayson’s journey.

When readers compare that quote to the one at the center of Nightwing #114, the new iteration of the line holds even more significance — and even more so when bringing up the Toy Story quote. His entire superhero career, Nightwing has often fallen with style and managed to soar in the process. It was risky when he leaped for the first time at seven years old. He paid for it. But, Dick also took risks when he formed the Teen Titans, and then when he went solo as Nightwing after leaving Batman’s side. Looking at where he is now, those risks paid off.

Could Quoting Toy Story Be Foreshadowing for Nightwing’s Future?

How This Reference Ties into Nightwing’s Current Journey

In Nightwing #107 (by Taylor and Stephen Byrne), the title character gains a sudden fear of heights. As Nightwing #114 goes to show, he still has yet to overcome that fear or understand why it’s suddenly stricken him. This spin on the classic Toy Story line could be the key to Dick understanding how to overcome his latest ailment. It could foreshadow that to get over this fear, Nightwing has to, indeed, fall with style. How that happens remains to be seen, but Nightwing may need to take a lesson out of Toy Story’s book to get back to his old self.

Nightwing #114 is available now from DC Comics.

NIGHTWING #114 (2024)
	Writer: Tom Taylor Artist: Bruno Redondo Colorist: Adriano Lucas Letterer: Wes Abbott Cover Artist: Bruno Redondo

Toy Story

Pixar’s first feature film release sees Woody (Tom Hanks), a cowboy doll, confronted by the nightmare of being replaced as his owner Andy’s favorite toy jeopardized when his parents buy him a Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) action figure. Stricken by anxiety, Woody hatches a plan to remain the favorite, kicking off a race against time for the toys to be reunited with their owner before his house move makes them permanently Lost Toys.

Director

John Lasseter

Release Date

November 22, 1995

Writers

Joss Whedon , Alec Sokolow , Joel Cohen , Andrew Stanton

Runtime

81 minutes

Budget

$30 million

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