Nightwing Annual #2 is canon: the truth DickKory shippers refuse to admit
I’m writing this article after reading a Tumblr post that misrepresents events from the comics. I won’t name the author or provide hyperlinks, so that the person isn’t subjected to online harassment. However, I hope to receive the same respect that I’m showing here.
The post in question denies the events of Nightwing Annual #2 because the story reveals an instance of infidelity involving Dick Grayson. While he was engaged to Kory (Starfire), he had sex with Barbara Gordon. The author of the post makes three incorrect claims: that Dick doesn’t engage in casual relationships, that he loves Kory, and that his affair with Barbara isn’t canon.
The fact is that disagreeing with a story’s direction doesn’t make it non-canon. No source connected to DC Comics states that Nightwing Annual #2 isn’t part of the original canon of that continuity (taking into account the multiple versions of reality that the publisher creates within its universe). There are alternate versions with different outcomes for Dick, Barbara, and Kory, some considered canon and others not. However, the authority to determine whether a version is canon ultimately belongs to DC Comics. Fans may prefer some versions over others, but they can’t distort the facts simply to fit their personal preferences.
Saying that Dick doesn’t engage in casual relationships means denying events that were shown in the comics. Did Dick love Cheyenne Freemont? Bridget Clancy? Raven? Sonia Zucco? Elise? Catwoman? Official sources confirm that he’s had many casual romantic and sexual involvements. He didn’t love every woman he flirted with, kissed, or even had sex with.
I agree with something a person said on Instagram: most DickKory shippers only support the pairing because they were introduced to the story through the 2003 Teen Titans animated series, whereas people who read the comics know that Dick and Barbara's story is much longer and more significant than his story with Kory. And this second part of the statement can be verified in the comics themselves. Dick has never cheated on Barbara (unlike what he did with other girlfriends, according to official sources). He’s admitted to Kory that he doesn’t love her in an eternal sense, and he's referred to Barbara as his “true love.”
Fans aren’t obligated to ship the canon couple. However, canon events shouldn’t be denied—or misrepresented in a way that misleads others—simply because someone disapproves of them. Regardless of a fan's opinion on whether Kory or Barbara is the better match for Dick, it’s important to distinguish between official material and headcanon.
