As the final arc of Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo’s Nightwing saga reaches its halfway mark, things couldn’t look worse for Blüdhaven’s protector. Things ended on a bleak note for Dick Grayson, and it’s put him in one of the worst positions possible. Here, things continue to progress, but that doesn’t mean Dick Grayson is in a much better spot than he was last month. Good thing he has his friends and family to help when the going gets tough. But is it a good story?
DC Comics
This issue opens with the immediate address of Dick being accused of being Heartless. Maggie Sawyer is on the case and is clearly doing her best to balance the P.R. and ethics of the situation. The overall theme of the issue is this: it’s a bad day to be Dick Grayson. This makes for a rather interesting read, as there is a tonal shift from the series’ traditional uppity vibe. As the story progresses, Taylor presents an interesting crossroads for Nightwing to face. While one option likely scares readers more than Nightwing, the second option seems like it’ll be what connects Dick to the journey we saw in #114. Moreover, the story finds a good amount of its footing in delivering an interesting story unlike anything Nightwing has ever faced before while forcing him to use resources he never has.
DC Comics
In addition, the issue also explains why Dick has been afraid of heights. While it’s a logical answer to this newfound fear, the idea itself seems too convenient. This plot point has been an ongoing concern since about October, and yet the in-universe handling couldn’t have been sloppier. Given the hyperparanoia of Batman, the practical nature of Nightwing, and the concern from Oracle, it’s surprising this wasn’t something more quickly discovered given how simple in nature it is. On the flip side, this reveal also lessens the severity of an interesting premise; there was truthfully a lot of promise to explore a concept that seems like it will be brushed off quickly. The only plus side to this is the means Dick intends to use to end this problem. Altogether, the explanation of this feels poorly handled given the amount of time there was between the introduction of this to the present time.
DC Comics
In this issue, Bruno Redondo continues to collaborate with Adriano Lucas as the two work to deliver a strong book together. One of their greatest pages in the story is involving Dick and Haly walking a great distance together. This page works so well through brilliant paneling to encapsulate the upward battle Nightwing will have to face while also being a visual beauty. Altogether, the two continue to deliver good work together.
This story is okay. Some of its strength comes in the first opening sequences, then seems to speed by at an accelerated pace to explain away things such as Dick’s fear of heights as we approach the penultimate issue where there will certainly be bigger fish to fry. The big reveal on the final page is not that surprising and feels a bit silly, but the gesture itself is fun and will certainly make for an entertaining issue to depict this. Moreover, this issue is a good follow-up on the last issue’s dramatic cliffhanger but struggles to carry the strong premise this arc began with.
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