Nightwing and The Flash are best buds, as evidenced in past issues of Nightwing, and this week’s Nightwing #91 reinforces that. Not only are they featured on the cover, but they’re also working together to stop Blockbuster from sending one of the most dangerous assassins out after Dick Grayson. Nothing a little speed force and a killer smile can’t accomplish, right?
This issue opens with Nightwing and Flash taking on KGBeast and his goons. Given Flash is incredibly powerful, one can imagine they will make short work of the bad guys. Writer Tom Taylor is well aware Flash should be able to take out bad guys with guns with ease, which plays into a deterrent for types like Flash later. Generally speaking, the two work well fighting off the bad guys with Flash essentially speeding up the process of defeating and tying up villains. He ends up giving the story a faster pace because they can zip off to places with ease.
Taylor is also good at infusing some realism and self-reflecting humor in the narrative. In one scene, for instance, Flash asks Nightwing if he’d like to be carried via piggyback or cradle. Rightfully, Nightwing asks him how he hasn’t developed a new way to carry his super friends. There are a few other moments like this, which add up to fun moments comics fans have likely wondered about themselves.
When you fight with Flash some things are just easier.
Credit: DC
There’s a very human element depicted via Flash’s family and Flash’s concern for Nightwing which grounds things as well. It’s also nice to see Nightwing make choices that show it’s not his fighting abilities that make him a superhero, but his ethics and morals. There’s a clever decision made later on that plays into his keen mind to defeat villains rather than going it alone. He’s no loner.
These character moments elevate the reading experience, making for a good look at who these superheroes are. The general gist of the story is a bit of a pit stop, so to speak, with the ending setting up a showdown. One could see the events of this issue being more of a side quest as the stakes are never very high. This issue is more focused on is Flash and Nightwing’s relationship, which is so strong one could imagine Taylor kicking off a Super-Friends comic at some point.
Geraldo Borges draws the issue with colors by Adriano Lucas. Borges is great at making the action easy to follow, especially in a double-page layout with Nightwing going one on one with a villain. The general style is less hyper-realistic than some superhero books, but the costumes are well rendered.
Nightwing #91 is a good example of how even with lower stakes a superhero book can excel with good character exploration. Flash and Nightwing are the best of friends and it’s shown here. There’s also good fight scenes and a showdown brewing between Nightwing and Blockbuster that should not be missed.
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