There’s a new dynamic duo in town: meet Nightwing and Nightwing-Prime! After a little hesitancy towards mentoring Bryce Moran, an orphan from the Teddy Gang who gained Kryptonian powers, Nightwing assured the Justice League that things were under control. And they are. Sure. But much like you’d expect, there are sure to be hiccups when suddenly gaining a protege. In this issue, the pair fights one of the most classic Batman rogues who’s decided to move over to Blüdhaven. Not to mention, Zanni makes his biggest move yet. And all of this chaos makes for quite the issue, both for readers to enjoy and for the Nightwing’s to suffer from. Yeah. This one’s going to sting a bit.
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It’s funny, this isn’t the first time we’ve seen Nightwing mentor a new hero, yet it feels different. While Tim, Damian, and over a dozen Titans all speak to his ability to guide heroes toward the light, there’s something different about Bryce. In a way, he’s a bit closer to what fan revisionism of Jason Todd has been referred to as. Similar to Jason, Bryce has a predisposition towards following his instincts, for better or worse, and that will likely dictate how the two Nightwings will approach super-heroics. This makes their back-and-forth feel reminiscent of how we’ve seen Batman and Robin act (and yes, pick a Robin, any Robin, and this applies), which makes their crimefighting escapade all the more fun to read.
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So why does this matter? Because when Dan Watters decided to push Dick Grayson into a corner, I think most readers thought he meant by having the various levels of crime close in on him – not that he’d have to balance that and the life of a brand new hero with the both the naivety and power of Superman without any of the wisdom needed to understand the limitations of himself. Watters’ utilization of this newfound mentorship between the pair shows how something familiar can remain intriguing by adding elements of suspense a reader might not expect. Prior to the start of this arc, I found myself asking, “If we’ve already seen Nightwing guide new heroes, why should this time matter?” I think Watters answered my question quite well here: all of the impending chaos with Olivia Pearce and Zanni bubbling to the surface has caused a reasonable concern that maybe this time Dick Grayson is too in over his head to properly mentor someone. A huge part of the intrigue this issue offers is how Bryce Maron may prove to be the most challenging protege of all that Dick has trained simply because of his desire to help people.
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There’s a lot of angst in this issue. Nightwing-Prime is a little in over his head, Nightwing is a little in over his head, and Killer Moth calls a lot of people a loser. With an issue as grimdark as this, it necessitates art that matches its tone. Thankfully, Dexter Soy and Veronica Gandini are here. One of the best parts of this issue, and its predecessors, is that Dexter Soy continues to provide sharp line work that feels a bit rough around the edges – not in the unrefined way, but in one that feels dynamic. Throughout this issue, Soy’s artwork helps turn things into a more emotional story. Additionally, Gandini’s coloring further emphasizes the angsty nature of this issue. Scenes like a bickering mentor and protege, a grand reveal, or unexpected tragedy all feel more intense thanks to Gandini’s intense colors. Altogether, this issue is spectacularly illustrated and helps make the series of events which unfold feel far more captivating.
Nightwing #131 is an engaging issue that moves pretty fast given how many moving parts it has. But its speed doesn’t diminish from the enjoyment from the story. Watters continues to make a strong argument for being one of the best writers for Nightwing thanks to his ability to craft captivating arcs that don’t feel repetitive or reductive to the character’s growth. Additionally, Dexter Soy and Veronica Gandini deliver another issue that reflects the arc’s intensity into a sharply animated comic book. The book’s cliffhanger also helps maintain reader engagement by offering a shocking ending that likely will leave readers eager to find out what happens next.
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