When Marv Wolfman and George Pérez introduced Starfire in 1980, it didn't seem like she and Dick Grayson would share a romance. There was the kiss that Starfire used to learn English, but soon afterward, she started a relationship with another man. Then came the loving relationship between the two members of the Teen Titans.
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It went on for years, with many proclamations of love from either of the two lovebirds. They found themselves together again after Starfire's arranged marriage on her homeworld of Tamaran. Everything fell apart with the dissolution of the New Titans, but fans won't let this couple become just a memory. There are good reasons Nightwing needs to be with Starfire.
10 Teen Titans Animated Shows Continue To Have Robin Crushing On Starfire
The success of the animated series Teen Titans and Teen Titans Go! has put the shipping of Dick Grayson and Starfire into the minds of a new generation. This version of Dick Grayson is still known as Robin, but he transitions to Nightwing when time travel is invoked.
If there's any doubt that this means anything for the comics, Beast Boy and Raven never had a romantic spark until the animated series brought it up. Now those two are shipped all the time. As long as there's another medium putting Nightwing and Starfire together, the comics will reflect it.
9 The DC Animated Universe Has Given Fans A Nightwing/Starfire Relationship
The writers of the DC Animated Universe have leaned in heavily on the Nightwing/Starfire relationship, cementing it in the public zeitgeist. It debuted as a racy phone call in Batman vs. Robin. Their relationship is clearly defined in Justice League vs. Teen Titans before the pair gets proper development.
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The animated film adaptation of The Judas Contract drew a lot from the comics. It also evolved the relationship by having the two move in together. While Justice League Dark: Apokolips War nearly ended the relationship with tragedy, it became clear that this relationship is so deep to survive almost anything.
8 Nightwing And Starfire Are Together In Many Future Timelines
It seems that whenever stories show the future of the DC Universe if Nightwing has gotten married, it has been to Starfire. Kingdom Come by Mark Waid, Alex Ross, and Todd Klein, showed Grayson's daughter Nightstar, whose appearance revealed that her mother was Starfire. The television series Titans has even included this character in the third season episode "Prodigal."
In Nightwing: The New Order by Kyle Higgins, Trevor McCarthy, Dean White and Clayton Cowles, Nightwing and Starfire have a son named Jake. As with Nightstar, Jake inherits powers from his mother. He also brings his parents back together after their split nearly killed the population of Metropolis.
7 Batgirl and Nightwing Have Tried Relationships Before With No Success
2007's Nightwing Annual #2, by Marc Andreyko, Joe Bennett, Jack Jadson, Jason Wright, and Phil Balson, showed the history of Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson trying to pursue a relationship. Dick Grayson's feelings toward Barbara are based on a teenage crush. Before DC lowered Barbara Gordon's age, she saw Dick as a little brother.
Years later, they spent the night together. This was a horrible decision by Nightwing, given that he was engaged to Starfire. They tried engagement before, which ended because Barbara thought Nightwing needed to discover himself before they could get married.
6 Dick And Starfire's First Breakup Devastated Them Both
Starfire's royal status on Tamaran was behind her first split with Nightwing. Starfire had to enter an arranged marriage to stabilize the planet's government. Given that it was strictly political, she offered Nightwing the option to remain on Tamaran as her consort. Nightwing couldn't be the third person in a marriage, even an arranged and loveless marriage.
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He returned to Earth, so devastated that he set out alone to rescue Raven, falling under Brother Blood's control. On Tamaran, Starfire's sister led a successful rebellion, putting Starfire in exile. Her sorrow was channeled into anger that was dealt to her sister. They found their way back to each other, but the break took some time to heal.
5 Starfire and Nightwing Keep Finding Each Other
For a time, Starfire established herself in Key West. During this time, Dick Grayson worked as an agent for Spyral. A mission took him to the Keys, where he met his old girlfriend. She assisted him but instantly had her old feelings for him flooding back.
Dick had some feelings, too, but life as a secret agent didn't allow him to pick back up his relationship with Starfire. They were attacked by agents targeting Dick Grayson. He left Starfire behind with her new life, and Starfire left dwelling on her past with Dick Grayson. However, she had a life to return to, just as he did. All this transpired in Starfire #7-8 by Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti, Emanuela Lupacchino, Mirco Pierfederici, Ray McCarthy, and Sean Parsons.
4 Starfire's Compassion Balances The Suspicion Nightwing Was Raised With
While Starfire is a very powerful alien and a demonstrated warrior, she came from a society that prioritized love and compassion. Nightwing was raised by Batman and saw the worst Gotham City had to offer while growing up. A great couple complements each other with qualities the other lacks.
Some would put Nightwing with Batgirl since they both are members of the Bat Family. This also means that Batgirl has too many of the same qualities as Nightwing. The perfect pairing of Nightwing and Starfire shows whenever the two go into action together, often with Nightwing sporting a smile.
3 Nightwing And Starfire Spent The Night Together When Titans Academy Opened
With the opening of Teen Titans Academy, Starfire took a leadership role as head of the school. Nightwing was dealing with his role in Blüdhaven and the turns that his then-platonic partnership took with Barbara Gordon. This was a sensitive topic for Starfire on the morning after their night together in Teen Titans Academy #2 by Tim Sheridan, Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Alejandro Sánchez, and Rob Leigh.
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Since Nightwing and Barbara became a couple, Starfire has been understanding, but it doesn't change the fact that when there was a chance to rekindle their romance, Nightwing took it. Afterward, he even doubted how he broached the subject of Barbara Gordon with Starfire.
2 Nightwing and Starfire Are Used To Being Partners
Barbara Gordon is used to running the show. As Oracle, she was the behind-the-scenes leader of Birds of Prey. As Nightwing, Dick Grayson has been a solo hero, and Barbara comes across as his support staff. In the Titans, though, he learned the value of teamwork and working alongside other heroes.
While Starfire has had solo adventures, most of her experience has been working in a team. She is used to being a partner, especially with Nightwing. There's a reason that people in marriages refer to their spouses as their partners.
1 Batgirl Doesn't Want To Get Married, But Nightwing Does... Someday
Batgirl has consistently balked at marrying Nightwing. In a story by Cecil Castellucci, Mirka Andolfo, Andrew Dalhouse, and Saida Temofonte in Death Metal: The Last Stories of the DC Universe, Batman forces them to resolve the tension in their relationship. Nightwing is quick to propose marriage, while Batgirl is almost reluctant to be married for one night.
In Nightwing #98, by Tom Taylor, Daniele Di Nicuolo, Adriano Lucas, and Wes Abbott, The fifth-dimensional Nite Mite arranges a wedding for Batgirl and Nightwing. Batgirl quickly belts out, "No!" while Nightwing gives a calm, "Not yet." Batgirl is averse to marrying Nightwing, while Starfire has accepted his proposal whenever he's bent his knee. That's why fans like Nite Mite prefer to ship Nightwing and Starfire.
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