Review: Nightwing #103

Overview: In Nightwing #103, Nightwing and the Titans proceed down to the Netherworld in their battle against Neron!

Synopsis (spoilers ahead): As Nightwing #103 begins, Nightwing, Cyborg, and Beast Boy are led into the Underworld by Raven, who psychically shields them from the horrors of Hell so they can stay on task to defeat Neron and learn the truth about Olivia Desmond’s background. Meanwhile, Donna Troy and Starfire have brought in Oracle to help spar with Olivia on Themyscira.

The demon Blaze approaches Neron, mocking him for his failure to recapture Olivia, and gets promptly thwacked for her troubles. The Titans find her, and she leads them to where they need to go, which is Hell’s database room. There, Cyborg informs the team that Olivia’s mother is the late Jezebel Jet, last seen decapitated by Talia during the battle with the Black Glove and the League of Assassins.

Neron breaks the Grinning Man out of Iron Heights, who then descends upon Themyscira. With Doctor Polaris and Gorilla Grodd, he disguises himself as Wonder Woman and attacks Olivia, Oracle, and the Titans. When Beast Boy and Cyborg travel to assist, Nightwing is confronted by Neron for a final bargain to regain Olivia’s soul. Dick informs him that he’s signed papers making Olivia his ward, but Neron responds by tempting him with the powers and abilities to change the world. A flash of light fills the room, and Nightwing becomes Super Nightwing!

In the backup story, the lead acrobat Nightwing accuses of cutting the trapeze rope but vehemently denies it, prompting Superman to verify her honesty by reading her biometrics with his super senses. This leaves only one other suspect, the young boy. The two learn that the boy had felt ostracized by his constant ariel training and wasn’t making any friends at school, so he sabotaged the rope, hoping it would convince his mother not to train him anymore. While this solves one mystery, the two heroes still need to learn who set off a bomb at the circus tent.

Analysis: Nightwing #103 is pretty straightforward, and the focus is mostly on plot development rather than major moments. It’s perfectly fine; nothing stands out as either egregious or especially awesome and continues setting up the impending Titans series. I’ve seen some yearning online for this title to return to the main Nightwing adventures, but with this being part three of four, we won’t have to wait long.

What I like most about this is the flourishes of Hell Taylor illustrates here. The bit at the beginning with Raven shielding Dick, Vic, and Gar from the indignities and crimes of Hell because they – as heroes – would be compelled to help was a nice touch. I also liked how she reasoned that there is no altruism in Hell, just levels of trying to get ahead. Blaze is a character from way back during the Superman Triangle era of the 1990s, so it was a fairly deep pull from Taylor that worked in his favor. Along with Neron and arguably Blockbuster himself (as well as Brutale and the Electrocutioner earlier in the run), I’m enjoying seeing the revival of old villains, or at least their return. How Jezebel Jet figures into all of this exactly remains to be seen. It was a surprising reveal, but one that so far works out well enough in my brain to be an explanation.

I’ve little else to say about the issue. The cliffhanger with Super-Nightwing will be fun and interesting, and the initial resolution to the first mystery in the backup was neat. Dick’s too smart to be tempted by Neron, but with the next issue being the last in the story, I wonder if he planned or anticipated that Neron would empower him.

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.