Nightwing has entered the circus—specifically, the Cirque du Sin. Finally preparing to face off against Zanni, it seems Nightwing will have to play some sort of deadly game to prevent lives from being lost. Here, writer Dan Watters and artist V. Ken Marion continue the final stages of Nightwing’s showdown against his first major threat since taking down Heartless. But when the dust settles, how will things fare for Nightwing? And what about Bryce Moran, a.k.a. Nightwing-Prime—what’s really going on there?
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Generally, the issue moves at a good pace. Things don’t move too fast, and the conflict between Nightwing and Zanni picks up nicely. That said, I found the overall purpose of the story a bit confusing for much of the issue, and by the time Watters has Nightwing catch Zanni by surprise, I was already feeling a little lost. Still, I do like how the conflict in the Fifth Dimension has immediate repercussions; it’s one of the most creative uses of that concept I’ve read so far. Showing the consequences of that conflict affecting Blüdhaven helps illustrate just how impactful this arc is intended to be.
If I had to point out any other issue, it would be the inclusion of Martian Manhunter. While it logically follows that Dick would need a psychic hero to kickstart events, it’s a bit perplexing that he didn’t reach out to a member of the Titans, like Raven. The unexpected use of the Justice League, rather than Dick’s own team, feels slightly out of place. Altogether, the story feels somewhat scattered, but it ultimately builds toward a well-earned conflict set in the circus, which makes for a fun juxtaposition for Nightwing.
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V. Ken Marion continues handling art duties in this issue in place of Dexter Soy. While his style is sharper and carries a noticeably different tone than Soy’s, it works quite well here. Given that Nightwing spends much of the issue in what is essentially a dreamscape, Marion’s approach translates effectively to the visuals, emphasizing depth to help bring the scenes to life. A great example of this comes when Nightwing and Zanni face off inside a circus tent featuring a trapeze. Marion’s angling makes the scene feel as though we’re looking down on the pair from above, heightening the sense of danger and creating a striking perspective.
Additionally, Veronica Gandini continues to excel on the title. I especially appreciated how she layers shadows and incorporates touches of grayscale in moments with a mysterious or supernatural tone, something that works particularly well here. This approach is perfectly contrasted by the muted palette of the Fifth Dimension against the vibrance of Blüdhaven. The strong use of color helps clearly differentiate the two worlds and underscores how much control Zanni exerts over the Fifth Dimension. Overall, the issue is beautifully illustrated and does a great deal to enhance the story’s sense of intrigue.
Overall, Nightwing #134 is a solid issue that largely overcomes its obstacles. While the conflict between Nightwing and Zanni has been building for some time, this chapter does much of the heavy lifting in establishing just how different a threat Zanni is compared to Nightwing’s usual foes. At times, the issue can feel a bit confusing and hard to follow, but it remains engaging and succeeds in keeping the reader curious. As this arc moves toward its conclusion, readers will want to stay tuned to see how everything ultimately comes together.
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