In this review of Nightwing #121, Nightwing faces off against the Teddy gang as his plans against the Spheric Solutions company take an unexpected turn down memory lane.
Nightwing #121 main cover by Dexter Soy
Nightwing #121
Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Dexter Soy
Colors: Veronica Gandini
Main Cover: Dexter Soy
Variant Covers: Dan Panosian, Gleb Melnikov, Chrissie Zullo-Umiga
Release Date: December 18th, 2024
This review contains spoilers
Nightwing #121 begins as Dick meets with Olivia Pearce, head of Spheric Solutions, pretending to be interested in investing, but really trying to find a weakness in Bludhaven’s new supplier of super weaponry. He plants a bug as Olivia monologues about the Teen Titans, human escalation, etc.
Meeting with Babs later, Dick rants a bit, then gives Babs the clone of Olivia’s hard drive he made. Going out as Nightwing, he plans to discourage the Teddy gang from recruiting children. He beats down a group of Teddies, but the kid whose brother was killed last issue says the Teddies saved their lives, which is why they joined. Dispirited, Dick and the Teddy lieutenant are at an impasse when the cops show up. Dick leads the Teddies to safety, beating down the cops, and giving them use of one of his super high tech safe houses (with his new bunny).
That morning, Nightwing gets a call from Babs, who says Olivia may have been a Gotham villain he knew as Robin.
Analysis
After a slight letdown last issue, Dan Watters brings back the plotting, characterization, and worldbuilding strengths that made the first issue a solid hit with his work in Nightwing #121. Showing Dick and Babs working as a smooth team taking on the threats of the gangs and Spheric Solutions facing Bludhaven, building up the texture and motivations of the Teddy gang, and adding some solid action pieces, the issue reads quite well. The slightly tired cliche stolen from the X-Men of the villain monologuing about how superheroes are causing criminals to escalate is a bit annoying in the opening scene, but hopefully the hinted backstory at the end of the issue will give her more depth.
I am very curious to see where Watters goes with the Teddy gang – he clearly wants us to be sympathetic to them, though he also rightly has Dick angry that they’re putting children in harm’s way. Putting them in Nightwing’s safehouse is a huge danger, and potential burning of resources – though of course I think at this point we’re supposed to act like Dick has the same basically limitless money that Bruce does.
A nice addition of future complications through this storyline – I hope the other three gangs Watters has created will get at least some of the same kind of depth – adds to the complexity of the moral dilemmas Dick faces. The Teddy lieutenant arguing that the Batfamily is just a might-makes-right gang against poorer and less well equipped gangs is an interesting point, though I hope Watters also points out that the Batfamily isn’t interested in their own good at the expense of others.
Interior artist Dexter Soy once against provides nicely moody, expressive art with plenty of high energy action. The two fight setpieces of the issue are nicely laid out, though I’m a bit confused at how Dick is able to take down all the flying cops. Colorist Veronica Gandini continues to complement Soy extremely well, with very nice shadows and lighting effects that always enhance the mood of the scenes.
Dexter Soy’s main cover shows Nightwing fighting a gang of Teddies, standing in a sort of battle pyramid – very fitting for the events of the issue, and emphasizing the Five Nights at Freddy’s feeling of this gang’s gimmick. Soy also provides a moody, intense sketch of Nightwing’s face for the 1 in 25 incentive variant. Dan Panosian’s smiling Nightwing with fun negative space color design graces the first of the main variants. Gleb Melnikov’s stunning Nightwing over sparkling blue light city takes the second cover spot. Lastly, Chrissie Zullo-Umiga’s holiday variant has a kid Nightwing wrapping presents in the Batcave for some cute Christmas fun!
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Final Thoughts
Watters brings the stronger plotting and worldbuilding sense back from his first issue back with Nightwing #121, while Soy continues the exciting action artwork for a solid issue.
