Nightwing’s deadline to turn himself into the Blüdhaven District Attorney is quickly approaching, but that doesn’t seem to be getting in his way of hunting down criminals. With each passing issue, it’s becoming clear that the mental state of Blüdhaven’s protector has deteriorated more and more ever since the car crash he was a part of. With the crimes piling up faster than can be kept up with, Nightwing’s attempts to maintain some semblance of control over the city seem to also be slipping out of his hands. Given that, I’m sure he’s going to very calmly track down a cannibal loose in the city without causing any more legal trouble for himself. Right?
Something that stuck out to me this issue was how quickly the story went by – and that’s not a bad thing. This wasn’t one of those comics where you pay $6 for nothing to happen and then close the book asking yourself, “what was the point of that?” No, instead, this is the comic that makes you remember how cool it is when comics get political. I’m not talking about a quick page that’s made knowing it’s likely to go viral on Tumblr. I’m talking about what people like Dennis O’Neil and Chris Condon are known for: calling out systemic issues that have gone unchecked for a long, long time. It’s at this point in the issue that I found that the highway in Blüdhaven is evil because of what it stands for in our lives. It’s the ever-permeating feeling that no matter what, something in our world is just trying to keep the negativity cloud over our heads. Since the story isn’t over yet, I cannot implore you enough to check this story out if you resonate with a compelling story about injustice.
DC
In this chapter, titled “The Dive,” Nightwing is chasing down a cannibal. With bodies piling up in the water still, this level of inhumanity seems to be one of the final straws for Nightwing. This arc has reminded me a bit of Chip Zdarsky’s Daredevil in all the right ways. Nightwing is often considered to be one of the pillars of the DC Universe, and for good reason. He’s one of the most resilient and inspiring heroes in all of comics. But he’s also one of those heroes who really has the whole guilt complex thing down pat After all, he was raised by Batman.
In this arc, and particularly this issue, Dan Watters throws Nightwing even further down the deep end. If this arc opened with all of us thinking “Nightwing would never do that!” then this issue is made to remind everyone how isolating life can be. And here, the linework of Denys Cowan, inks from Norm Rapmund, and colors from Francesco Segala drive this motif home. I actually can’t imagine what this book would be like without such a well-rounded team of creatives who constantly give attention to every little detail. I mean, Denys Cowan’s linework is somehow both as sharp as glass but as rough as sandpaper. It’s from this range in art style that I feel like the story is actually shouting at me, screaming “don’t miss this.” Then, we have moments where the shading and colors from Norm Rapund and Francesco Segala make the story look as timeless as Batman: Year One and then shift to feeling ripped right out of a Neo-Blüdhaven we’d see in Batman Beyond. Moreover, because I don’t think I have the words to describe how intense this issue is, I’ll simply ask you to look at it.
DC
By now, I’m sure you can imagine what I think of this issue. But really, it’s not just this individual story I’m jiving with; it’s the entire trajectory Dan Watters has taken the title. Nightwing to me is the epitome of perseverance. And given everything he’s been gone through, I have to believe things are going to work out. That said, Dick Grayson has a long road ahead of him before things are likely to get sunshine and rainbows. But that’s okay – who needs that when we’re getting such good drama?!
Dearest reader, I’ll leave you with this: Nightwing #140 takes the message from that other story, I won’t say its name but you know the one, but this time actually has a moving story showing of how “one bad day” can change someone’s life (and this story didn’t leave a sour taste in my mouth). Altogether, I think this story is a top contender to argue why Dan Watters may become The Dick Grayson Writer.
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