Nightwing #107 Review

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Reviewer: Tim Sheridan
Story Title: Criminal

Written by: Devin Grayson
Penciled by: Phil Hester
Inked by: Ande Parks
Lettered by: Phil Balsman
Colored by: Gregory Wright
Editor: Nachie Castro
Publisher: DC Comics

Nightwing is behaving as if he just went though a break up. He’s making all the wrong decisions, he’s rebelling against what he knows is good and right and healthy for him, and he’s hurting himself more than anyone else. In short, he’s joined the mob. And Dick, I feel for you man, but you gotta snap out of this. You’re better than this. You know it too.

So Nightwing is on a bit of a self-destructive phase, and it’s all due to what happened before. He has shunned himself from his loved ones, and completely abandoned his life. He used to be an upstanding cop, superhero, and boyfriend. But his gal (the former Batgirl) left him, he was fired from his job, and then was involved in a super-villain’s death. So yeah, I can sort of understand this path he’s taken. He’s not well.

The comic itself is not bad. This is the first issue with a new art team, brought in from Green Arrow, and they fit perfectly here. This series has been plagued with fill in artists, and ones who don’t stick around too long, so I hope this will establish some stability for the book.

Devin Grayson’s writing is great for those who have not picked up the book before, this is a nice jumping on point, as we get a few hints as to Dick’s past, and what brought him to the point he is now. It’s not entirely clear, but for a first issue, it’s enough.

The only problem I had with the issue was some of the dialogue. It seemed like it was just cliche gangster talk at times, and it detracted from the enjoyment somewhat.

But that’s all minor. As I’ve stated in past reviews for the series, Nightwing is one of my favorite characters, and it’s always exciting to see him on a new path. This is quite different than the Nightwing we’ve seen for…well, forever. He’s in a family setting, but it’s with the bad guys. I can’t wait to see how this one unfolds.

I just want the healing process to begin for him.