Nightingale

Nightingale © Juke Box Productions AstroFacts Status: Active Earliest Appearance: 1982 Affiliation: partnered with Sunshrike (1980s) partnered with Sunbird (1990s onward) Base of Operations: Astro City Personal Data InfoDump Appearances (in Publication Order): Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol.1 #5 Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol.2 #1, 21 Astro City #44 Event Timeline 1982/03/04     Dialog E.A.G.L.E. loans Omni-Flux Energy Sample to SunShrike and Nightingale. 1982/03/04     Current Sunshrike anf Nightingale Strategize Plans to Rescue Rosie Chavez. 198?/??/??     Headline Darklings Crushed by Sunhawk and Nightingale. 1995/12/12     Current Techsperts Hitting Museums Again. 1996/09     Current Nightingale and Sunbird Thwart Otter Robbing the AstroBank. 2000/03     Current Nightingale Disapproves of Her Appearances in Bulldog Comics. Nightingale A dark and moody hero, Nightingale is rarely seen alone, either partnered in her early years with Sunshrike, and then later, with her new teammate, Sunbird. History Her dual partnerships are unique. She was the younger sidekick to Sunshrike, but seems to be the strong mentor and motherly companion to Sunbird. In the early 1980s, a cat was also a part of their entourage, seen many times roaming the streets with them. Something not atypical of the species, but according to creator Kurt Busiek, the feline doesn't seem to be much of a team player. Powers In addition to being a skilled acrobat and martial artist, Nightingale can project a mist-like field of darkness, blinding her adversaries. Nighteningale describes it as "shadow powers". Observations According to Nightingale's first teammate, Sunshrike, there are only the two members of this avian-themed team active at any one time. One representing the "bird of light" and the other the "bird of shadow". This suggests they are legacy characters, with new women taking the roles in an alternating fashion, one a mentor, the other the learning sidekick. Given the age differences, it seems to be generational. Nightingale is the younger in the 80s with Sunshrike, and she gains experience and matures to become the elder in the 90s with Sunbird. There is also speculation a familial connection might be in play with who takes up the legacies. Sunshrike also thinks it wouldn't be allowed for them to have a cat as part of the team, hinting that some external agency may be involved with sponsoring this pair of avian heroes. Speculations, Theories There seems to be an informal camaraderie among many of Astro City's street fighting superheroes. A common core of them associate with each other on many occasions. Crackerjack, Jack-in-the-Box, Quarrel, Sunbird, and Nightingale cross paths often. Depending on the time-range, you might also include Street Angel in the mix, along with the Irregulars. A cat and a couple of birds don't seem to be the most compatible of partnerships, and shrikes, despite their small size, are known to be carnivorous.