Nightwing #142: Another Solid Issue

[WorstThingUS]

When Peter Tomasi took over I was disappointed because I knew Manhunter scribe Marc Andreyko also wanted the book and did a bang up job on the Annual. But Tomasi has calmed my fears and has dragged Nightwing out of the cellar he's been in since Chuck Dixon left (no, not even Marv Wolfman's run got the job done). We're not up to full steam yet, but this was another step in that direction. And Tomasi should give a class at DC on how to write characters in a unified setting. He compares notes on a case with Superman. The JSA helps him set up his headquarters and Dr. Midnite does an autopsy for him (there's a nice bit with Ma Hunkel about The Flying Graysons). Wally West stops by to talk to his best friend. When he needs a plane he goes to borrow one from Batman and Robin comes along for the ride. There's no need for conflict or drama because these are all people who know one another and work for a common cause. And next issue promises to be action-packed. On a rack filled with overhyped mega-crossover disappointments this continues to be a sublime pleasure.

[gideon]

Agreed, a good issue. I like how the JSA is showing up as well. Nightwing isn't an idiot, and why not utilize such an asset in his city. Bats often used his League connections on cases or when he needed greater information or tools.

Not sure why, but Robin jumping at the chance of coming along, to the point of forgetting his costume, was very funny to me :)

[SpaceBooger]

The best comic last week.
The story reminds me of past comics I loved: singular stories that all tie into the big picture.

[colossus34]

The book is ages above it terms of writing....the only thing that lags it down is the NEAR constant guest appearnces that do nothing but "fluff" up the book and slow down the plot. It was cool in the first issue to establish NW's ties to superhero community at large now its getting a lil trite with 3-4 guest appearnces in every issue. Lets not forget that in order for NW to establish himself as his own he needs his "own" supporting cast not recycling others from every other DC book.

Regardless, Tomasi does have a strong graps on NW's character lets just hope the book shifts into more plot driven NW oriented arc next and we get to see NW actually WIN against a competent foe.

[Spiffy]

This is definitely the strongest the book's been in like... almost forever.

Which is why, like what just happened with Blue Beetle, it's just a matter of time until DC monkeys with it.

[DrewTheXenocide]

This issue had one of the best lines I've read in Nightwing : "Think clean thoughts, chum."

but also one of the worst, "Go kick some butt."

That being said, the book's good, but not super fantastically, Dixon-era great. And I'm not digging the art much, but I haven't liked the art in this book since McDaniel came back for Year One.

[Jack Zodiac]

First, I just want to say, I think Wolfman did some great stuff with the character. Nightwing had been in a slump for a while, between Devin Grayson's end of her run and the horrible, terrible crap from Bruce Jones'. He was a pathetic character anymore, and Marv turned him around. Unfortunately, he didn't do much world-building around Dick, and his run kind of lacked substance for it.

But man, Tomasi's run has, so far, been amazing. He's hitting all of the right notes with the character. He's got Dick's voice down, he's got his relationships with Bruce and Tim solid, and he's building around the character a nice little world of his own with his own supporting cast and scenery. And he didn't just up and dismiss Marv's run, he's got him back in the inner-city gym teaching kids acrobatics. And he's adding nice new elements like the museum curator job/secret headquarters.

Yeah, man, I'm really enjoying this book again. I'm glad they finally found a writer who gets the character and understands how to build a solo series for him after years of missteps.

[SpaceBooger]

Yeah, man, I'm really enjoying this book again. I'm glad they finally found a writer who gets the character and understands how to build a solo series for him after years of missteps.

I think its more of a rebuilding. I loved the Dixion & McDaniel run but it was about Dick becoming his own hero.

Tomasi is not continuing that, Tomasi has turned Nightwing into a full fledged hero deserving his own book. No more is Nightwing "Batman Lite" he now is forging his own way as a hero.

[Jack Zodiac]

Well, yeah, it's a rebuilding. Those years of missteps were the Grayson years and the Jones run before the shaky reconstruction Wolfman started. But yes, after a long time of Nightwing being a sad, pathetic character, Tomasi's turning him back into the hero Dixon made him.