Whilst Batman will always be an engaging and brilliant comic character the Batman books are often pretty dark and gloomy, both in art and tone. Having a dark and brooding Batman might be good, but it can often leave you feeling a little glum yourself. If you want something that has everything good about Batman, the street level heroics, the big names, and the fancy gadgets, but want something with a bit more heart and hope to it Nightwing is the hero for you, and the new issue of the series sets up a fun, heartfelt era for the character.
Coming in off the back of the universe wide relaunch, a lot of books seem to be establishing how things are going to be going forward with the Infinite Frontier, and whilst DC are embracing a lot of what's come before they're making it clear that this can be a fresh start for both characters and readers alike. I think that's probably most evident in Nightwing.
Nightwing begins with a flashback to Dick's childhood in Gotham, following the death of his parents. A group of rich Gotham teens are picking on a kid, and Dick steps in to help him out, alongside Barbara Gordon (turns out this was their first meeting), resulting in Dick knocking a couple of teeth out of the bully's mouth. Despite feeling that he's probably going to be in trouble with Bruce for not keeping his head down Alfred assures him that he did the right thing, that Dick's willingness to stand up against bullies and help those in need, even out of costume, makes him an amazing person.
This is a message that we see reiterated across the issue, as Dick saves a young puppy being abused and about to be shot in Bludhaven, putting his life on the line to help a poor, defenceless animal. Even when facing down a gun, with the threat of being shot over a dog, Dick remains kind and caring, putting others before him. He even keeps on smiling and reassuring the pup after she bites him in fear. Dick has always been one of the best people in the DC universe, one of the kindest and most decent; and this issue really shows it.
Even when Dick has to confront the harsh reality of the death of Alfred when Barbara comes to see him, giving him his inheritance, it's a moment filled with hope and love. Dick has lost his father, but Alfred has left him a letter that tells him how decent a man he is, of how much Alfred loved him, and how proud he was to call him son. It's a tender moment, one that could have been heartbreaking, yet leaves Dick with a smile.
Whilst Batman hides in the shadows and broods over his pain Nightwing swings into the light, embraces what makes life decent, and is a beacon of hope. This seems to be what this issue wants to set up, and it seems like Tom Taylor is going to be taking this part of the character and pushing it to the forefront, giving readers something wonderful and uniquely Dick Grayson.
Part of what makes this issue such a joy to read is the art, provided by artist Bruno Redondo and colourist Adriano Lucas, who make the book bright, bold, and a lot of fun. The scenes are full of colour and brightness, even those that take place at night, with the characters popping out of the page. There's a lot of characterisation in both Dick and Barbara throughout, even in the different time periods, and you can see a lot of small quirks in their facial expressions and body language at both ages that make them instantly identifiable and fun to spend time with. Barbara's reaction to Dick's new puppy friend is a particular highlight.
Nightwing #78 was one of the most enjoyable and fun books in the DC relaunch, and one that I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of. I don't know what the creative team have in mind for the book, but I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun.
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