In Nightwing #113, a big day is brewing for Dick Grayson from the people of Blüdhaven, but Nightwing’s nighttime hours may cause him to cancel his alter ego’s plans!
Nightwing #113 by Marv Wolfman, Tom Taylor, Michael W. Conrad, Daniele di Nicuolo, Howard Porter, Bruno Redondo, Adriano Lucas, HI-FI & Wes Abbott (courtesy of DC Comics)
Title: Nightwing #113 (Legacy #300)
Writer: Tom Taylor, Marv Wolfman & Michael W. Conrad
Artist: Daniele Di Nicuolo, Bruno Redondo & Howard Porter
Colors: Adriano Lucas & HI-FI
Letters: Wes Abbott
Main Cover: Bruno Redondo
Variant Covers: Bruno Redondo, Dan Mora, Jamal Campbell, Serg Acuna & Jim Lee with Brad Anderson
Release Date: April 16, 2024
Please note: This comic book review contains spoilers.
Nightwing, Robin (Tim Drake), and Robin (Damian Wayne) have intercepted and foiled a weapons shipment on the Gotham City docks. Interrogating one of the receivers, the Costumed Crusaders (caped or otherwise) learn that the shipment was originally intended for Blüdhaven but couldn’t make it through that city’s shores. Nightwing has his hunches, but he is reminded by the Robins that he has a big day scheduled for tomorrow and that his crime fighting duties shouldn’t make him miss it.
Following a scene between Dick and Babs where we learn that the day in question is Dick’s birthday (in which he gifts unto many people without protest), Nightwing follows up on his suspicions from the previous night and goes to visit the Crew of the Crossed Keys. Captain Blud a.k.a. Bea discuss how the arms shipment was indeed intercepted by her crew, but they later found a body underwater branded with what appeared to be Heartless’ insignia. Nightwing then pursues the address of the intended drop shipment, finding once more a Heartless’ symbol. The investigation stalled, Dick is free to attend what turns out to be a public ceremony in Blüdhaven where both he and Barbara are given keys to the city for their efforts in social and urban development that has had a profound effect on Blüdhaven’s populace. While the former Boy Wonder takes everyone out to eat at Marv and George’s 24hr Pizza, Heartless has declared to Tony Zucco and his manservant that it’s time for Dick Grayson to finally fall.
Nightwing #113 by Marv Wolfman, Tom Taylor, Michael W. Conrad, Daniele di Nicuolo, Howard Porter, Bruno Redondo, Adriano Lucas, HI-FI & Wes Abbott (courtesy of DC Comics)
This is an anniversary issue, celebrating Nightwing’s 300th comic book title appearance if we’re counting the original 1996-2009 series and the new 52 series in 2011. Anniversary issues, more often than not, tend to be celebratory and often reflect their intent with generally low stakes wedded with the character’s in-universe birthday. While this served as the smallest tincture of plot development gearing up for the climax of the Heartless saga, it’s perfectly serviceable in achieving what it’s intended to accomplish. Speaking briefly about the wordless backup story (with artwork by Howard Porter that I did not love and wish had been done by someone else), that actually lets the occasion down by being a run-of-the-mill chase scene. Do stories like this require flashbacks to Dick’s time as Robin, recounting “THE FIRST TIME” something happened in his crime fighting career? Not exactly, that’s definitely been done before. But it would’ve been more momentous to have a more interesting story than a backup that could’ve been featured in any issue with bad artwork.
What helps this issue is it’s mid-grade stakes and brisk pacing. In Nightwing #112, I spent much of the review describing how I superficially enjoyed the story but couldn’t get past my hang-ups of Tom Taylor’s writing style. He’s too optimistic, Dick’s rendered to optimally heroic, everyone loves him and nobody hates him. This month, those qualities actually augment the story’s intent because it’s clearly setting up a major fall. That gave this story space to be light and breezy without robbing it of substance. Additionally, I think Tom Taylor writes Dick in character 99% of the time, so details like him wanting to do things for his friends or sharing credit with Babs when receiving the key to the city are nice character touches. I also enjoyed the brief appearances by Bruce and Jim Gordon, and the flashes of the various friends and hero characters in their lives. The Red Hood panel was pretty amusing.
This is also the first appearance of Marv and George’s 24hrs Pizza depicted after George Perez’s passing, and I enjoyed how sentimental Taylor rendered it. Having Bruno Redondo back for the scene gave it the right touch, but more than that – I think it’s nice that Taylor gives so much deference to creators that aren’t strictly the people who invented the character. Yes, Wolfman and Perez have been publicly credited as Nightwing’s creators in various media such as Batman: Brave and the Bold and Young Justice. But I feel that’s still a fairly recent thing. Even if it’s not, the sentiment was nice to see. We never know how much time these creators have left on Earth (this issue ended with a dedication to the late, great Ramona Fradon – a pioneer in women comic book artists as well as Metamorpho’s co-creator), so we must prioritize showing our appreciation while we can.
The last thing to mention is the return of Daniele Di Nicuolo on art, notably last seen during the Nite-Mite two-parter. I enjoy his style, but at the same time feel it’s a touch too stylized for this kind of book to fall back on regularly. I definitely preferred him to Porter in the backup, but I think that his work was better presented during the Nite-Mite arc because that story was zany and cartoony. This one issue isn’t really, and while the style didn’t repel me, it did distract at times. Damian in the opening scene looked particularly odd with his low-rendered mouth.
Editor’s Note: DC Comics provided TBU with an advanced of this comic for review purposes. You can find this comic and help support TBU in the process by purchasing this issue digitally on Amazon or a physical copy of the title through Things From Another World.
