On With The Show: Reviewing ‘Nightwing’ #119

Change is an inevitable thing. No matter what, change will happen. Sometimes though, that change comes with explosions and violence.

That’s the reality that Dick Grayson must face as gang war takes to the streets in Nightwing #119, the start of a new era for the high-flying vigilante with a heart of gold. Ushering in that new era is Dan Watters, Dexter Soy, Veronica Gandini, and the returning Wes Abbott.

While change is inevitable, it’s not always well-received or overall ‘good’ in some senses. I won’t beat around the bush here: this was a change that was very well received. As much as I liked a large part of the previous era, there is a certain spark here that I not only find intriguing but exciting.

I quite like the way that Watters approaches things as a writer, and his approach to Grayson is spot on. Right away we feel the warmth, the tenacity, the steadfastness, the flamboyance, and the heart that pounds strong in the chest of the DC Universe. Nightwing is a character that takes a lot of the good of Batman and takes it up multiple notches because of a far more personal and open approach.

As noted in the issue, the Batman way is face-punching while, currently, Nightwing is over face-punching all the time.

One of the things that really stands out is how this is very much a traditional type of book takeover. The story slides right into the established status quo and then does its own thing, rather than present a wholesale reinvention. Gangs are at war because of the void left by Blockbuster’s death in the previous run. It gives Watters runway to do a story he wants to do, adding a new shadowy group with circus ties that seems to be pulling some strings.

Also, the fact that Mayor Grayson-Lin — Dick’s half-sister introduced in the previous run — is still around gets high marks too. I love a good continuity carry-over and expansion rather than tossing out the bathwater and the tub approach. Additionally, the fact that she is now semi-opposed to Nightwing in the sense that she has to make public moves to stem the flow of violence, lest she lose her office and risk someone corrupt getting it again, is a nice touch.

Since the series focuses more on the gang war beat, and street-level stuff, Soy’s artwork fits things perfectly.

It’s so fluid and dynamic with a great pinch of roughness baked right into the whole thing. Sharper edges that really accentuate the tough nature of what Grayson is facing and feels he must do. At the same time, there is tons of really detailed depth, weight, and even a bit of a whimsical energy that is floating around.

Dick Grayson is really emotional, compared to his mentor, and that needs to be seen and felt on the page. Soy really taps into that well as the facial expressions and body language are smooth and natural. Same goes for the choices in paneling, really giving things a depth and weight as well as true movement feeling. Blüdhaven has a personality that is similar but also vastly different from Gotham City; the brightness hiding the darkness rather than wallowing in the perpetual dark. Even though we don’t see a ton of the city in this issue, that unique energy is very much present in what we do see.

Gandini is a colorist that I got to see a bunch of over in Catwoman over the years, and I’m glad to see her remaining in the Bat-family space. Employing colors that are really colorful and smooth, with the right natural tones blended into the whole affair. Much like with Selina Kyle’s book, Gandini is able to bring the heavier shadowy colors over to help the book’s street-level energies rise higher.

Plenty of really vibrant bold tones are painted throughout, since Nightwing is one of the most colorful figures (despite the blackness of his costume). Keeping the fantastical edge to things while reveling in the darker tones that befit the eerie shadow beings keeping watch over Grayson, and the darker tone of the gang war (there are numerous off panel murders going down after all).

While the provider of the words has changed, the proverbial voice of Nightwing remains strong. That’s because Abbott has stayed on board as the letterer, continuing to bring the same emotionally resonant and strong tonal work. Allowing the voices to really stand out on the page, capturing the right volume and tone through visual modifications and placement. Showing off his keen eye for how all the lettering should flow around the rest of the artwork, really enhancing and bordering what is already there. Helping guide us through the pages even better.

Truly this is a solid creative debut issue, as it hits the ground running using the paths already there to go in their own direction.

Nightwing #119 is now available from DC Comics.