As Dan Watters and Dexter Soy’s first arc on Nightwing draws to a close, things are looking bleak in the ‘Haven. Polls are down for Mayor Lin-Grayson, Spheric Solutions is still supplying violent weapons to the BPD to combat the uptick in gang violence, and Nightwing is about ready to flip his lid. In issue #123, there’s an unexpected distress call from one of the emergency systems Nightwing set in place with the city’s gangs. From there, things only get more topsy-turvy.
DC
What I’ve loved the most about Dan Watters writing Nightwing is how real the threats feel. This story has been a bit of a mystery, added with some grimdark horror elements, with just enough wit and charm to knock your socks off and be exactly the kind of book Nightwing should be. Here, the story truly puts Nightwing on his own. Naturally, a distress call from a city gang is going to be more than what one would expect, but the twists and turns Watters takes are what truly elevates the story. Not only does this story pull from previous events, even ones you might not expect, but it does so in a way that adds enough context for longtime readers to appreciate without taking anything away from newer readers. I always find this to be a great balance when done; it allows the story to flourish for all kinds of readers while never relying too heavily on anything that’s come before.
Lastly, the story also does a great job wrapping up the first arc of this new run by setting up what’s yet to come while providing a small sense of closure to the first arc. Things are far from resolved, but this issue does a great job adding some finality to everything thus far- kind of like the first act in a play. Altogether, the story continues to be just as riveting as before while preparing readers for the next arc without making anything feel drawn out.
DC
Dexter Soy and Veronica Gandini deliver perhaps one of their best collaborations in this issue. Soy has continuously found creative ways to showcase Nightwing’s’ acrobatic fighting style, maintaining a gritty undertone to the book, and making each action sequence feel as intense as a raging fire. Meanwhile, Gandini always finds ways to elevate these moments with sharp colors that play off the issue’s intended tone, helps the book feel alive, and always provides a moment of pure electricity. While this issue is no different, the pair deliver one of my favorite creations: an unexpected upgrade to Nightwing’s suit, and one that makes complete sense narratively and logistically. Through their combined creativity, the story continues to feel as riveting as ever while the pair seem to always raise the bar for what readers can expect.
DC
Altogether, Nightwing #123 is a great story. It pushes Nightwing into an even tighter corner than he’s already been placed in, all while keeping a strong narrative flow. This issue couldn’t be any more visually stunning, with Dexter Soy and Veronica Gandini delivering another spectacular issue built off of their excellent teamwork. Nightwing #123 is a perfect ending to “On With the Show”, the creative team’s first outing together.
You must be logged in to post a comment.