Nightwing #53 Review
Writers: Scott Lobdell and Fabian Nicieza
Artists: Travis Moore and Patrick Zircher
Colourist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Andworld Design
I liked this issue. A lot. In order to properly discuss this issue I need to make one thing clear, and that's my position on Nightwing as a character. I've been reviewing this book for a little while so I figure now is a good time to make it known.
I don't like Nightwing. And that's because DC doesn't like him as well. Let me explain.
In all my years of reading comics, I haven't read a single, overall cohesive Nightwing story I've liked. The shadow of Batman lingers over this character way too heavily and it really restricts any proper growth. Tim Seeley's recent run on the character was a disaster, and that's not to say that the writing or the craft behind his issue were bad. The situations he put Nightwing in were very bland and uninteresting and didn't stick.
What the team is doing in this story, and in this issue in particular, is highlighting exactly why Dick Grayson had his time. He's had years upon years of titles, development, and stories, and it's time to move on. The biggest moment in his Nightwing persona might just be that time he was raped by a crazy woman. I realise that this is a controversial opinion, and I also realise that obviously Dick, or Ric, will be back with his old memories and in his classic costume again. I lament this and I'm cherishing every second of this story.
Now, onto the issue! I hate when there are two artists on a book, but these artists aren't shabby at all. Patrick Zircher's pages are very low in number and look very pretty with Tamra Bonvillain's strangely warm colouring, and it works so well. Bonvillain is a great fit for the book. And then we have Travis Moore, who just might be one of the best artists working at DC right now, and I haven't even heard of him until he did that BATMAN issue with Tom King! His style is fantastic and his character work is really fantastic. His art goes really well with Bonvillain's colours and I hope this is a collaboration that lasts a long time.
The plotting of this issue was great too. This will probably sound like a back-handed compliment, but I've been pleasantly surprised by Scott Lobdell and Fabian Nicieza, the former of which plotting and the latter scripting. I liked the way this issue moved and they really have a handle on this story, which is such a breathe of fresh air.
This is a good book and more people should be reading it. My Nightwing hate aside, I think this is the Nightwing story worth telling and I can't wait to read more, despite it heading to a conclusion I'm genuinely dreading. This is also one of the prettiest books this week!
Artists: Travis Moore and Patrick Zircher
Colourist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Andworld Design
I liked this issue. A lot. In order to properly discuss this issue I need to make one thing clear, and that's my position on Nightwing as a character. I've been reviewing this book for a little while so I figure now is a good time to make it known.
I don't like Nightwing. And that's because DC doesn't like him as well. Let me explain.
In all my years of reading comics, I haven't read a single, overall cohesive Nightwing story I've liked. The shadow of Batman lingers over this character way too heavily and it really restricts any proper growth. Tim Seeley's recent run on the character was a disaster, and that's not to say that the writing or the craft behind his issue were bad. The situations he put Nightwing in were very bland and uninteresting and didn't stick.
What the team is doing in this story, and in this issue in particular, is highlighting exactly why Dick Grayson had his time. He's had years upon years of titles, development, and stories, and it's time to move on. The biggest moment in his Nightwing persona might just be that time he was raped by a crazy woman. I realise that this is a controversial opinion, and I also realise that obviously Dick, or Ric, will be back with his old memories and in his classic costume again. I lament this and I'm cherishing every second of this story.
Now, onto the issue! I hate when there are two artists on a book, but these artists aren't shabby at all. Patrick Zircher's pages are very low in number and look very pretty with Tamra Bonvillain's strangely warm colouring, and it works so well. Bonvillain is a great fit for the book. And then we have Travis Moore, who just might be one of the best artists working at DC right now, and I haven't even heard of him until he did that BATMAN issue with Tom King! His style is fantastic and his character work is really fantastic. His art goes really well with Bonvillain's colours and I hope this is a collaboration that lasts a long time.
The plotting of this issue was great too. This will probably sound like a back-handed compliment, but I've been pleasantly surprised by Scott Lobdell and Fabian Nicieza, the former of which plotting and the latter scripting. I liked the way this issue moved and they really have a handle on this story, which is such a breathe of fresh air.
This is a good book and more people should be reading it. My Nightwing hate aside, I think this is the Nightwing story worth telling and I can't wait to read more, despite it heading to a conclusion I'm genuinely dreading. This is also one of the prettiest books this week!
A Look Inside
