Benjamin Taylor, also known as Darkwing II, and formerly known as Nightboy, is a superhero, debuting from Season 2 to 3.
Quick Answers
How did growing up in Midnight City shape Darkwing II's character and trust issues?
Who are the individuals that Darkwing II trusts and why?
How does Darkwing II differ from the original Darkwing in terms of appearance and character traits?
Who is the voice actor for Darkwing II in the Invincible series?
Appearance[]
Darkwing II's build similar to the original Darkwing, except his cape consists of this dark bluish color, along with a trianglular pattern on his upper chest, and has an eye mask that consists of brown eyes.
Personality[]
Having grown up in the harsh streets of Midnight City, Darkwing II has proven himself paranoid and almost incapable of trusting anyone but those who prove themselves to him, such as his predecessor. Unlike his predecessor, however, he was more than willing to murder anyone that he perceives to be a criminal or an enemy. This routine drove him to him becoming borderline psychotic with delusions of grandeur, as he even began to see himself as a hero despite the atrocities he committed. Yet, for all his amorality and willingness to cross moral lines, he would cower in the face of death as proven when Invincible threatened to have him fed to the monsters of the Shadow-Verse. Following his capture and Cecil rehabilitating him, Darkwing has displayed great remorse over his actions as he desired to redeem himself by working with the G.D.A and the Guardians of the Globe.
History[]
Background Information[]
While little is known of the second Darkwing, he actually had another name called Nightboy, and was also the original Darkwing's assistant, who taught him hand to hand combat, and even a technique that Darkwing was able to access, but not entirely. Following the original Darkwing's demise, he took over protection of Midnight City. Unlike his predecessor, he didn't have any moral line as he was more than willing to kill anyone he would perceive as a criminal.
Nightboy was able to fully access the shadow verse and discover various creatures living inside the dark realm, and steered away from them. For many periods of months of keeping Midnight City safe, Nightboy would undergo mental struggles even to the point where he'd hear voices, no doubt from his endless usage of the shadow verse when defeating criminals.
Battle With Invincible[]
Darkwing II assaults a man.
Darkwing II traps Invincible in the Shadow-Verse.
In early 2023, Darkwing violently killed various innocents, and chased down a pink haired punk man. When beating said punk to death, Invincible flew in, separating him from the delinquent. Darkwing II informed him how he was the original Darkwing's assistant before Invincible's father killed him.
The two fought, with Invincible dominating Darkwing until the latter trapped Invincible in the Shadow-Verse, to which he explained that he could trap him in for eternity. But when Darkwing II arrogantly entered the dimension, Invincible petrified him by grabbing his arm and warning him that if he didn't get the two of them out, he would have the monsters hidden in the dimension feast on his flesh, to be more convincing he began to mimic his father in his threatening tone. Having left no choice, Darkwing takes them both out of the realm, as he attempts to continue the fight, Invincible delivered a swift karate chop to the neck, rendering him unconscious.
Redemption[]
Darkwing II stops Seismic.
At some point, after being incarcerated to GDA prison, Cecil was able to rehabilitate Darkwing II from his time at Midnight City, and currently trains him secretly to hone his abilities with the Shadow-Verse. During Doc Seismic's grand attack on America, Darkwing II was sent to save all of the captured heroes, with the aid of several ReAnimen.
Once several members of the Guardians left the group, Cecil placed Darkwing II in the group to aid them in protecting the planet from all existential threats, he helped the guardians the fight Maulers, however unlike his predecessor, was unable to best them, and witnessed Kid Omni-Man kill the duo.
Later, along with The Immortal and Shapesmith, escorted the crazed Powerplex to GDA custody.
Invincible War[]
Darkwing II's Last Stand.
During the Invincible War Darkwing II, along with The Immortal, Shapesmith, Black Samson and Dupli-Kate fought an Invincible variant at the headquarters for the Guardians of the Globe. During the battle he was initially injured by the variant, but was later able to trap the variant and himself within the Shadow-Verse, sacrificing himself for his teammates.
Darkwing makes the ultimate sacrifice.
Darkwing didn't return to help fight the other Invincibles or the following threat, leaving his current status is unknown. The only suggestions are he either succumbed to the monsters within the Shadow-Verse or was beaten to death by the Invincible, but it is assumed by Cecil and Samson that he had died during the war.
Powers And Abilities[]
Powers[]
- Shadow-Verse Connection: While not shown entirely, Darkwing II is able to access the Shadow-Verse, allowing him to trap people into that dimension. It is a different dimension and impossible to escape without him.
- Shadow Teleportation: By opening portals, Darkwing II is able to teleport around his enemy by traveling through the Shadow-Verse and coming back to his dimension. Thanks to these portals, he is capable to teleport people with him and to leave them in the darker dimension, where they would be vulnerable to the entities living there.
- Hearing of the Shadow-Verse: Darkwing II is also able to listen in to the events in the Shadow-Verse.
- Bionic Enhancement
- Enhanced Strength: Thanks to his exoskeleton suit, Darkwing II has enhanced strength thanks to an exoskeleton built into his suit designed to match beings like Invincible. He was able to punch and kick to hurt Invincible, but really harm him beyond feeling some pain. He also was able to throw Invincible into the Shadow-Verse.
- Enhanced Durability: Compared to his predecessor, Darkwing II is more durable and can withstand violent attacks from stronger opponents than him like Viltrumites. During the Invincible War, he survived being thrown against the ground by an Invincible variant, with only a broken leg as a result. In comparison, the original Darkwing got obliterated when Omni-Man did the same attack on him.
Abilities[]
- Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: Since he was mentored by the original Darkwing, it is assumed that Darkwing II is a skilled fighter, as he was able to fight various criminals in Midnight City.
- Master Acrobat: To better face more powerful adversaries, Darkwing II completes his fighting abilities with acrobatic techniques, enabling him to dodge attacks and to raise his chances of unpredictability during a fight.
Equipment[]
- Exoskeleton Suit: Darkwing II was given an exo suit to better enhance fighting capabilities with adversaries nearly on the level of Omni-Man, and the Mauler Twins.
- Shoryuken: Much like his predecessor, Darkwing II arms himself with shoryukens, most notably he used a few on Doc Seismic and his underground monster pawns.
Sightings[]
| Season 2 | ||||||||||||
| 1. "A Lesson For Your Next Life": | Absent | 5. "This Must Come as a Shock": | Absent | |||||||||
| 2. "In About Six Hours, I Lose My Virginity to a Fish": | Appears | 6. "It's Not That Simple": | Absent | |||||||||
| 3. "This Missive, This Machination!": | Absent | 7. "I'm Not Going Anywhere": | Absent | |||||||||
| 4. "It's Been a While": | Absent | 8. "I Thought You Were Stronger": | Absent | |||||||||
| Season 3 | ||||||||||||
| 1. "You're Not Laughing Now": | Appears | 5. "This Was Supposed To Be Easy": | Absent | |||||||||
| 2. "A Deal With The Devil": | Appears | 6. "All I Can Say Is I'm Sorry": | Non-speaking | |||||||||
| 3. "You Want A Real Costume, Right?": | Appears | 7. "What Have I Done?": | Appears | |||||||||
| 4. "You Were My Hero": | Absent | 8. "I Thought You'd Never Shut Up": | Absent | |||||||||
Trivia[]
- Darkwing II/Nightboy, is based on Dick Grayson, the first Robin who later became Nightwing as he turned older.
- Him taking the mantle as Darkwing is similar to Dick Grayson taking on the Batman title after Bruce Wayne died
- Darkwing II is widely known for psychopathic lust for killing in the comics as he actually killed an innocent woman off-panel. This, however, was not shown in the animated series.
- Darkwing II was be the third antagonist of Invincible to work for Cecil Stedman, others being: Omni-Man and D.A Sinclair.
- His power of the Shadow-Verse is very reminiscent of that of “Cloak” from the Marvel team Cloak and Dagger and his Darkforce Dimension.
- In the comics, Darkwing II disappeared into the Shadow-Verse upon taking one of the Invincible variants with him and then reappeared many years later in the epilogue of the story, having survived there all that time. It is unknown if this will happen in the animated series though.
- In the comics, Darkwing (without his mask) had a discussion to Black Samson about his growth in the Guardians and that he concurred with Invincible that he has not changed about his attitude and that he should be locked up because of how Samson and the Immortal see him. But that is merely speculation as Samson believed he walked a mile high in a man's shoes and turned into a hero not a psycho.