Review: Nightwing #99

Overview: In Nightwing #99, Tony Zucco returns in an attempt to seize hold of the power vacuum in Blüdhaven!

Synopsis (spoilers ahead): Nightwing #99 begins across the country, as mass arrests are being carried out towards both the politically powerful and the openly criminal. With Blüdhaven safer than it’s ever been from crime, Mayor Melinda Zucco gets a visit from her “father,” Tony. He proposes they team up on intel concerning valuable jewels that will amass them a considerable fortune. Melinda informs Dick, who then tracks down Zucco’s movements as Nightwing later that night.

Nightwing follows Zucco and his bodyguards out to the Old Fishing District, which looks to contain more than it seems on the outside. Zucco’s entourage is revealed to be Aliki and Margot Marceau, a.k.a. Double Dare – old enemies from the past. After attacking the doorman, they proceed into the Lighthouse, now revealed to be a cavernous cave-like dwelling known as the Hold. Zucco demands to the Quartermaster that he gain access to the contents of Safe 78, which contains the Eye of Kahndaq. Zucco shoots out the eye of the Quartermaster, who threatens that the Hold does not forgive or forget trespasses on its premises. Before Zucco permanently blinds the man, Nightwing jumps in and battles Double Dare before following Zucco outside to his car. As he’s apprehending him, Dick is set upon by an offshore security ship full of armed men who demand custody of Zucco.

Dick is momentarily torn between justice and vengeance before the Quartermaster clears the air and declares Zucco rightfully under Nightwing’s custody. The next day, Melinda informs Zucco at his private prison that she’s changing her surname to Grayson-Lin. Later that evening, a voice informs Zucco that his stay behind bars will be short, alongside the KGBeast.

Analysis: Nightwing #99 is harmless and decently entertaining, but I didn’t love it. Once again, the escape of tension that’s permeated throughout Taylor’s run is present here, with more frequency in a single issue than usual.

I’m having a problem with the speed and ease of everything Nightwing’s been able to do, resulting in sweeping crime clearance country-wide. I understand that it’s what he’s after, and his approach is meant to be different from Bruce’s, but it’s not that different. He’s really only fighting back mafia guys and fronting his money towards charitable services. Everything feels too pat, too neat. I would’ve liked to have seen at least a mention of lawyers tying up the crooks’ legal issues in courts, so it’s not just a giant domino effect. Likewise, everything with Melinda is very one-note, and she’s not really being much of a character as a plot device. Now, it’s been a while since we got her backstory, but she rightfully hates Zucco. I feel, however, that that antipathy came across as less intense than it should’ve. Similar to Dick, albeit less so. This man ruined their lives, and we don’t focus on their emotions much at all. More time is spent on this new idea of the Hold and treasures, which he muscles his way into.

I have a problem with Zucco being around, period. Like Sal Maroni, this character is just a means to an end for the sake of an origin story. Zucco’s either been sent to the Electric Chair (Detective Comics #38, 1940), shot dead (Batman: Year Three), or died of a heart attack (Batman: Dark Victory). That he’s not only alive but let out on “good behavior,” and Melinda has to make it, so the deaths of the Graysons are re-investigated…I don’t like that. It’s crowbarring the character in this story for its own sake, but Zucco’s utilization is little more than…do we call this fanservice? It’s becoming now that all of these classic gangster characters blur with each other, as what really differentiates him from Maroni in the previous few issues?

And there’s also the kid gloves handled with his evil here in Nightwing #99. He shoots out the eye of the Quartermaster, resulting in Double Dare going, “Aw, you didn’t have to do that; he wouldn’t have said anything.” First of all, where was Nightwing when Zucco got that shot off? More so, I didn’t like Double Dare speaking out loud that Zucco is needlessly evil. You can illustrate that better with looks of shock and anger on their faces or have Nightwing burst out and attack. Also, the guy should’ve died from a shot like that, but we need him, in the end, to make everything nice and easy for Nightwing to bring Zucco back to Blüdhaven.

And Melinda changes her name to Melinda Grayson-Lin at the end. Is that something you can do within mere hours?

The problem here is the emotional focus. Dick has internal monologues about hating Zucco and being tempted to let him get the worst of what’s coming to him, but he overcomes it easily. I like that he does, but the conflict was hardly a real factor. I’ve never been shy about my dislike of the live-action Titans show, but credit where credit is due – that series illustrated how much Dick hates Zucco into adulthood, and much of that came down to Brenton Thwaites’ acting. But anger and resentment should’ve been the driving factor for this story, not some rando treasure hunt plot.

Nightwing #99 isn’t a bad issue, though. I love Double Dare returning, they’ve always been classic Nightwing villains, and they deserve to be more prominent as characters. Their double-page splash fight with Nightwing was fun, almost too short, if I’m being honest. I also appreciated the lack of Oracle in this, which isn’t to say I dislike her in the book, but it’s been pretty lovey-dovey for a while, and there wasn’t room for that vibe for this story.

But I don’t like Zucco being brought back for a story lesser than the weight of his inclusion. I don’t like the way in which he’s brought back. I don’t like how Dick and Melinda shake their fists at him but little else. I don’t like how easily Nightwing is let off the hook by a guy who should’ve been killed. A more believable cliffhanger would’ve been Nightwing having to deal with them on his own and learning there’s more to Blüdhaven than he thought. But no, turns out everyone’s nice to him, and it’s all good.

Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with a copy of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Comixology through Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.