DC’s New Nightwing Trademark Almost Certainly Maybe Definitely Means… Something

All it takes is one little trademark, and everyone loses their minds! DC (not Warner) has filed a trademark for an image/logo to be slapped all over merchandise that is described as “Nightwing on bat,” which sounds like the comic’s current logo. Marketing preparation likely means something for Nightwing, and we’ve got a few theories.

Here are some of the things the logo is planned to be used for, as reported by Bleeding Cool:

Toys and sporting goods, including games and playthings–namely, action figures and accessories therefor; play sets for action figures; plush toys; balloons; bathtub toys; ride-on toys; equipment sold as a unit for playing card games; toy vehicles; dolls; flying discs; hand held units for playing electronic games other than those adapted for use with an external display screen or monitor; game equipment sold as a unit for playing a board game, a card game, a manipulative game, a parlor game and an action type target game; stand alone video output game machines; jigsaw and manipulative puzzles; paper face masks; skateboards; ice skates; water squirting toys; balls–namely, playground balls, soccer balls, baseballs, basketballs; baseball gloves; swimming floats for recreational use; kickboard flotation devices for recreational use; surfboards; swim boards for recreational use; swim fins; toy bakeware and toy cookware; toy banks; toy snow globes; paper party hats; and Christmas tree ornaments.

Of course, the big conclusion everyone is going to jump to here is that Nightwing will appear in the Man of Steel sequel we currently know only as Batman vs. Superman. While it’s easy to get carried away after Warner registered some domain names that might give us an insight into the movie’s (potentially awful) title, it’s important to remember that DC registered the Nightwing trademark, which is a lot less conclusive as to where he’ll show up.

That’s not to say that it’s impossible that this is related to the Batman vs. Superman movie, but you might want to hold off getting the party hats out just yet. Although, we did recently see a tweet from Warner film producer Daniel Alter that makes us think that Nightwing would be more likely to appear in the movie than a traditional Robin, at least.

Can’t wait for #BatmanvsSuperman.. #batfleck semi-retired/not speaking to Robin anymore.. Controlling drones from the batcave.

— Daniel Alter (@DAlter007) November 15, 2013

If the two being estranged is a plot point in the film worth mentioning, there’s a chance he might show up, and showing up as Nightwing would make a lot more sense at that point. Of course, their relationship could just be mentioned in the movie, which would set up for Nightwing to have his own film as the DC film universe expands. Either way, this might not be the proof we’ll get Nightwing in a movie we were hoping, but it certainly doesn’t rule it out.

However, we’re starting to think this might have something to do with a possible Nightwing appearance on Arrow, which we’d be more excited about than Nightwing in Man of Steel 2, but less excited about than a Nightwing movie. (Don’t hate us. We want to see Nightwing on the big screen. We just don’t want Batman vs. Superman to get overblown.)

Arrow recently tied into the Batman mythology by introducing the League of Assasins. Then, actor Steven McQueen recently tweeted this, which we’re not sure whether he means he’s definitely playing Nightwing, or that he’s trying to tell them he’d like to. Who could blame him for trying?

Nightwing training @ARROWwriters @GBerlanti @KyleDHiggins @RapaportCasting pic.twitter.com/1YN5IrBVC4

— Steven McQueen (@McQueeninchains) November 9, 2013

So… yeah. Securing the trademark to slap a Nightwing logo all over everyone’s stuff probably means DC is expecting something to stir interest in the character. It’s still unclear what, since the trademark is coming from DC, and they already, you know, own Nightwing.

(via Bleeding Cool, image via DC Comics)

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