25th May2022

‘Nightwing #92’ Review (DC Comics)

by Dean Fuller

Written by Tom Taylor | Art by Bruno Redondo | Published by DC Comics

These days you can get your comics info in all manner of ways. Publisher previews, sneak peeks from creators themselves, industry exposes, and so on. I put the greatest trust in the good old-fashioned word of mouth. Most of the books I didn’t know much about, or wasn’t aware of what was going on in them, I ended up picking up because of word of mouth and nothing else. If the buzz is good from people I know, and whose opinion I trust, that’s good enough for me. Which is why I’m sat here reading and reviewing Nightwing. I’ve been told that Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo have been hitting home runs on this book virtually every month, so I’ve come to see what all the fuss is about.

Overrated? Justified praise? Let’s take a look.

If you want to get me onside quickly, give me a bit of retro action. Tom Taylor dials up exactly the right play, as we open with Batman, Robin (the young Dick Grayson flavour), and classic Batgirl dealing with blackout riots in Gotham. This is a very young, very raw Dick Grayson, and a very idealistic and impulsive Robin. Despite being told by Batman to hold back, he takes on the rioters to help save someone, and takes a savage beating for his troubles. Alfred gets to him in time, and talks Bruce down from laying into Robin, emotionally speaking, while still angry. The six panels on that one page sum up Bruce and Alfred’s relationship perfectly, and just why Alfred is every bit as part of Bat history and lore as everyone else in the Bat Family. This intro also sums up the fundamental difference between Bruce and Dick, pragmatism, and idealism. Bruce always sees what he can achieve, Dick what he should achieve. Beautifully written and drawn scenes.

Present day Bludhaven, and Dick is as idealistic as ever. His mission to make Haven exactly what the name suggests directly comes from those past experiences. The nod to background characters Marv Wolfman, George Perez, and Len Wein (selling pizza and giving away free books respectively) in the full-page spread is also lovingly done, and much appreciated by this fanboy. As is ever the way, Dick meets Bruce, in the shadow of the statue dedicated to Alfred. This, remember, is a humbled Bruce Wayne, no longer the rich billionaire playboy. Before too much catching up can take place, Roland Desmond arrives, as Blockbuster one of the main crime-lords in Bludhaven. He’s never met a veiled threat he didn’t like apparently.

Him and the corrupt city government want to destroy Dick’s Haven and have enlisted a load of masked thugs to cause as much disruption as possible. Graffiti, setting fires, destroying all they can, all under the cover of a mysterious blackout. Another blackout, another time Dick Grayson is alone against the odds. Only this time he’s older, wiser, more focused, and better. He’s Nightwing. And, thanks to Bruno Redondo’s gorgeous splash page, he’s never been better. I like the fact he makes a point of unmasking every thug he defeats, wanting the world to know their faces, so they own their actions. Knowing the grief people like Tom Taylor frequently get on social media from trolls, hiding behind their own masks, I think a (very good) point is being made here. Nightwing wins, for now, but judging by that last page, he’s going to have to up his game as a new bad guy is in town, and he’s gunning for Grayson.

This was a great book. Firstly, the creative team are an absolute perfect fit. Taylor’s words and Redondo’s art just mesh perfectly, both in the retro first part and the later part of the book. Taylor always has a deep affection for characters and their histories, and he has a great grasp of Dick Grayson and what makes him tick. There’s a lot of plot threads in the air as well, leaving you as a reader excited about everything that’s going on. Redondo’s art is perfect for Taylor’s tone. Slightly cartoony, but not in a bad way, it catches the eye, and the pacing and wide-open panels and layouts keep you invested in everything going.

This is what I call a ‘pure’ comic book, in tone and look.

It was so good I refused to even make the obligatory ‘Dick’ joke. Just too hard to fit it in.

***** 5/5

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