HopeLantern
02-11-2009, 08:23 PM
This is a great, great issue. Spoilers below.
The issue begins with members of the JSA helping Dick to clear out his former HQ in preparation for the return move back to Gotham. This clearly takes place in the aftermath of Final Crisis and Bruce's "death". Dick feels that Gotham now needs his attention 24/7 and that he owe's Gotham and Bruce's memory that much and more. He decides to take the train from NY to Gotham to be reminded of the people he's there to protect. After meeting Alfred at the train station, Dick spots a blown night light on the car trip home. This is clearly to show that while in Gotham, Dick is not going to miss a thing. Even the smallest detail will catch his eye. Later, in the Batcave, Tim, is helping Dick and Alfred find the gigantic penny, which was lost in one of the lower ravines of the cave. I think this happened in the "Heart of Hush" storyline a while back. Dick is about to give up and call Supes for help when Tim spots it! They lift it upright in an attempt to make the Batcave "home" again. Dick decides to go on patrol and Tim tells him to be sure to check the computer so that he knows about all the "hotspots" around town that will require his attention. Tim seems really happy and leaves. Dick mentions to Alfred that Tim seems to be in denial over what has happened. Alfred mentions that Tim has seen many crazy things already (Superman dying, Hal Jordan being possessed by Parallax, Green Arrow being killed, and the return of Barry Allen). Because each of these fallen heroes has come back, Alf thinks that Tim feels that Bruce will "walk through the front door everyday". Dick begins weeping as his heart tells him Bruce is not coming back from this. Tim over hears this while on the steps out the batcave, then quickly makes his get away. Dick goes upstairs and opens a box. It holds the candle that was lit the night he took the oath with Bruce. He reflects on how the Wayne family name means public service and that it is HIS responsibility to protect Gotham now. We next cut to Grayson fixing that broken street light from before. Turns out that Dick is in Crime Alley, in the same spot where Joe Chill "created" Batman by killing his parents. Dick realizes how alike he and Bruce really are. Both lost their parents at a young age. Dick symbolically lights the candle on the same spot where Bruce's parents fell. The light that burns does not just help Dick to see clearly... it provides light for wounded souls. Dick lay sad, just as Bruce did when his parents were taken from him. Someone helped Bruce. Then Bruce helped Dick. So Joe Chill's bullet in a way created both of them. Nightwing stares remembering how Bruce placed his hands on his shoulder and was there for him to help him through his pain. He ends by giving a heartfelt "Thank you, Bruce" and notes that Gotham City will always have hope. Gotham City will always have Nightwing.
It seems that this issue leads directly into BFTC, depending on what happens in Robin next week. By far the best issue of Nightwing I have ever read. There's also an "Origins and Omens" back up story where Dick tries to surprise Barbara for her birthday. She proves how much of a detective she is by telling Dick what he's doing and asking questions even though she's blindfolded. The one thing she didn't expect: Dick is taking her skydiving! Happy Birthday, Barbara! Scar goes over future images from Dick's life and states that he like everyone else is going to be torn by hope and fear, love and hate, and rage and solace. He, too will be consumed by the war of light. Some of the things shown as "Omens" include Dick, in a Nightwing outfit kissing Batgirl, Nightwing about to fight a Batman perched atop a streetlight, Nightwing beaten and bleeding with a gun pointed at his head, and held by someone wearing one of Batman's gloves, and an image of two people training. I can't tell if it's a young Bruce training a young Dick Grayson... or the current Dick Grayson training Damien. These seem to be heavy BFTC hints .
This was a perfect send off to an awesome character. I think the point is that Dick is more than ready to take the mantle. The point of BFTC will be does he really want it? Can anyone really replace Bruce as THE symbol of justice in Gotham? My take from reading this is that Nightwing wants to honor Bruce by being "Nightwing" and doing as well a job as "Batman" would have done. Bruce and Batman are both irreplaceable. But Nightwing is the next best thing. Plus Tim's reaction is kinda suspect... he does seem a bit overly happy right now given what just took place. Which is a great set up for Robin next week.
In the mean time, I kinda took from the "Origins and Omens" back up that Bruce's body might be reanimated as a Black Lantern. I don't know if that's a false interpretation or not given that O & O is in every book pretty much this week. What do you think?
Again, this is easily second best comic of the week, behind the Gaiman/Kupert Batman story.
The issue begins with members of the JSA helping Dick to clear out his former HQ in preparation for the return move back to Gotham. This clearly takes place in the aftermath of Final Crisis and Bruce's "death". Dick feels that Gotham now needs his attention 24/7 and that he owe's Gotham and Bruce's memory that much and more. He decides to take the train from NY to Gotham to be reminded of the people he's there to protect. After meeting Alfred at the train station, Dick spots a blown night light on the car trip home. This is clearly to show that while in Gotham, Dick is not going to miss a thing. Even the smallest detail will catch his eye. Later, in the Batcave, Tim, is helping Dick and Alfred find the gigantic penny, which was lost in one of the lower ravines of the cave. I think this happened in the "Heart of Hush" storyline a while back. Dick is about to give up and call Supes for help when Tim spots it! They lift it upright in an attempt to make the Batcave "home" again. Dick decides to go on patrol and Tim tells him to be sure to check the computer so that he knows about all the "hotspots" around town that will require his attention. Tim seems really happy and leaves. Dick mentions to Alfred that Tim seems to be in denial over what has happened. Alfred mentions that Tim has seen many crazy things already (Superman dying, Hal Jordan being possessed by Parallax, Green Arrow being killed, and the return of Barry Allen). Because each of these fallen heroes has come back, Alf thinks that Tim feels that Bruce will "walk through the front door everyday". Dick begins weeping as his heart tells him Bruce is not coming back from this. Tim over hears this while on the steps out the batcave, then quickly makes his get away. Dick goes upstairs and opens a box. It holds the candle that was lit the night he took the oath with Bruce. He reflects on how the Wayne family name means public service and that it is HIS responsibility to protect Gotham now. We next cut to Grayson fixing that broken street light from before. Turns out that Dick is in Crime Alley, in the same spot where Joe Chill "created" Batman by killing his parents. Dick realizes how alike he and Bruce really are. Both lost their parents at a young age. Dick symbolically lights the candle on the same spot where Bruce's parents fell. The light that burns does not just help Dick to see clearly... it provides light for wounded souls. Dick lay sad, just as Bruce did when his parents were taken from him. Someone helped Bruce. Then Bruce helped Dick. So Joe Chill's bullet in a way created both of them. Nightwing stares remembering how Bruce placed his hands on his shoulder and was there for him to help him through his pain. He ends by giving a heartfelt "Thank you, Bruce" and notes that Gotham City will always have hope. Gotham City will always have Nightwing.
It seems that this issue leads directly into BFTC, depending on what happens in Robin next week. By far the best issue of Nightwing I have ever read. There's also an "Origins and Omens" back up story where Dick tries to surprise Barbara for her birthday. She proves how much of a detective she is by telling Dick what he's doing and asking questions even though she's blindfolded. The one thing she didn't expect: Dick is taking her skydiving! Happy Birthday, Barbara! Scar goes over future images from Dick's life and states that he like everyone else is going to be torn by hope and fear, love and hate, and rage and solace. He, too will be consumed by the war of light. Some of the things shown as "Omens" include Dick, in a Nightwing outfit kissing Batgirl, Nightwing about to fight a Batman perched atop a streetlight, Nightwing beaten and bleeding with a gun pointed at his head, and held by someone wearing one of Batman's gloves, and an image of two people training. I can't tell if it's a young Bruce training a young Dick Grayson... or the current Dick Grayson training Damien. These seem to be heavy BFTC hints .
This was a perfect send off to an awesome character. I think the point is that Dick is more than ready to take the mantle. The point of BFTC will be does he really want it? Can anyone really replace Bruce as THE symbol of justice in Gotham? My take from reading this is that Nightwing wants to honor Bruce by being "Nightwing" and doing as well a job as "Batman" would have done. Bruce and Batman are both irreplaceable. But Nightwing is the next best thing. Plus Tim's reaction is kinda suspect... he does seem a bit overly happy right now given what just took place. Which is a great set up for Robin next week.
In the mean time, I kinda took from the "Origins and Omens" back up that Bruce's body might be reanimated as a Black Lantern. I don't know if that's a false interpretation or not given that O & O is in every book pretty much this week. What do you think?
Again, this is easily second best comic of the week, behind the Gaiman/Kupert Batman story.