As Nightwing by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo reaches its penultimate issue, there is one theme for this story: leaping. Dick Grayson is afraid of heights, and it’s rough. For someone who has lived his whole life soaring, only to become this averse to heights, creates a strong contrast with the story delineated here. Meanwhile, there’s a new Nightwing in town, and he’s got pointy ears. But this is still the second to last issue of an acclaimed run; so, how enjoyable is it really?
Courtesy of DC Comics.
The issue basically has Deadman trying various ways to help Dick overcome his fear of heights. But, exposure therapy, relaxation, and everything else Deadman has in store wouldn’t be enough on its own. This change has to come from within, it seemed. Whether or not Dick was poisoned, or if there’s something deeper, doesn’t seem to matter anymore because he’s running out of time. That said, how Dick suddenly became afraid of heights is properly explained in this issue. And, to keep up with the theme, it falls a bit flat. Hearing that one of the most experienced superheroes, with one of the most keen detective skills, say that that they “didn’t think much of it” (meaning the situation in which he was poisoned) feels a bit…unbelievable.
However, as the issue progresses, it’s shown that there is something deeper than this that caused Dick’s fear. And this moment is one that not only changes the very origin of Dick Grayson but also sees him accept his place because of that process. Altogether, while part of the understanding of Dick’s fear of heights feels a bit shoehorned, the other part of this story explains it with a much more impactful and meaningful explanation that salvages the whole thing.
Courtesy of DC Comics.
That said, this off-putting moment is balanced quite well with how Dick overcomes this fear. The sequence itself is quite beautiful. When Dick gets his groove back and leaps toward his fears, instead of running from them, it creates a series of events that perfectly set up the finale of this story. That said, the final sequence is in part only as glorious as it is through the brilliant artwork of Bruno Redondo and Adriano Lucas. Seeing Nightwing return in the way that he does ends up being one of the most stunning moments in the duo’s tenure on the series. The paneling works to perfectly center the focus on Nightwing by creating an incredible action sequence that seems to also be a callback to the cover for Detective Comics #38. This is further elevated by Lucas’ thick and sharp colors, which make the entire page pop. Altogether, this well-earned and exciting moment is masterfully depicted through the incredible teamwork of two spectacular artists.
Courtesy of DC Comics.
Aside from this, there is another elephant in the room to talk about. Nightwing can’t leave Blüdhaven, even if Dick Grayson does. Seeing how Tom Taylor fits Bruce into this role is rather enjoyable. Taylor seems to understand the key differences between the two: how they approach superhero-ing. Even when assuming this new role, Bruce is still Batman. This is, ironically, very similar to how Dick Grayson assumes the role and makes it his own whenever he’s forced into the role of Batman. It’s a brief moment that doesn’t do much to move the story, but is sure to be a fun moment for readers to enjoy. This portion of the issue, which although a bit jarring, feels like it is meant to shock the reader through its unnatural appearance, and therefore succeeds in its own right.
Altogether, Nightwing #117 is a good issue that ends on an enticing note. While readers will have to wait a little longer for the finale to Taylor and Redondo’s tenure on Nightwing, it’s apparent that the duo intend to go out with a bang. While there are a few moments here that feel misplaced, the greater story doesn’t suffer too much if readers are OK going along for the ride. Moreover, it’s clear that this issue was intended to be the buildup to a great send-off to Nightwing, and seems poised to do just that.
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