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Nightwing (1996) (Original Trades) #1
Nightwing: A Knight in Blüdhaven
Growing up as Robin, the Boy Wonder, Dick Grayson fought crime alongside his mentor and father figure, Batman. But as the adolescent sidekick became an adult hero, he stepped out of the Dark Knight's shadow and took the idenity of Nightwing. In this fast paced and action packed adventure, Dick becomes the protector of Gotham's sister city, Blüdhaven, after Batman asks him to investigate the murder of twenty-one gangsters in the crime-ridden town. But as Nightwing begins his investigation, he soon learns that the police force is as corrupt as the city's criminals and that he is now a vigilante without friend or ally.
Collects Nightwing #1-8
Collects Nightwing #1-8
192 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1998
12 people are currently reading
891 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Dixon
3,429 books1,031 followersCharles "Chuck" Dixon is an American comic book writer, perhaps best-known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s.
His earliest comics work was writing Evangeline first for Comico Comics in 1984 (then later for First Comics, who published the on-going series), on which he worked with his then-wife, the artist Judith Hunt. His big break came one year later, when editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' The Savage Sword of Conan.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy with artist Tim Truman. Continuing to write for both Marvel and (mainly) Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He also produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989.
His Punisher OGN Kingdom Gone (August, 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal (and later, more monthly and occasional Punisher titles), and also brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Denny O'Neil, who asked him to produce a Robin mini-series. The mini proved popular enough to spawn two sequels - The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992) - which led to both an ongoing monthly series (which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics), and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644-738 through the major Batman stories KnightFall & KnightsEnd (for which he helped create the key character of Bane), DC One Million , Contagion , Legacy , Cataclysm and No Man's Land . Much of his run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman-writer in the mid-1990s (rivalled perhaps in history by Bill Finger and Dennis O'Neil) - in addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin , Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101) and Batgirl , as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey .
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics (and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover), he also found time to launch Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He also wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow , regularly having about seven titles out each and every month between the years 1993 and 1998.
In March, 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, salthough he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One. For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the out-going Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March '03), The Silken Ghost (June '03) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct '03), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He also wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November '03 and April '04, the last released shortly before CrossGen's complete collapse forced the cancellation of all of its comics, before which Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May '04). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity."
His earliest comics work was writing Evangeline first for Comico Comics in 1984 (then later for First Comics, who published the on-going series), on which he worked with his then-wife, the artist Judith Hunt. His big break came one year later, when editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' The Savage Sword of Conan.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy with artist Tim Truman. Continuing to write for both Marvel and (mainly) Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He also produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989.
His Punisher OGN Kingdom Gone (August, 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal (and later, more monthly and occasional Punisher titles), and also brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Denny O'Neil, who asked him to produce a Robin mini-series. The mini proved popular enough to spawn two sequels - The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992) - which led to both an ongoing monthly series (which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics), and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644-738 through the major Batman stories KnightFall & KnightsEnd (for which he helped create the key character of Bane), DC One Million , Contagion , Legacy , Cataclysm and No Man's Land . Much of his run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman-writer in the mid-1990s (rivalled perhaps in history by Bill Finger and Dennis O'Neil) - in addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin , Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101) and Batgirl , as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey .
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics (and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover), he also found time to launch Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He also wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow , regularly having about seven titles out each and every month between the years 1993 and 1998.
In March, 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, salthough he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One. For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the out-going Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March '03), The Silken Ghost (June '03) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct '03), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He also wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November '03 and April '04, the last released shortly before CrossGen's complete collapse forced the cancellation of all of its comics, before which Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May '04). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity."
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
October 4, 2022
(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: Art full of youth and whimsy, but so stylized that action scenes require Magic Eye levels of perception to break down.
Notes: Art full of youth and whimsy, but so stylized that action scenes require Magic Eye levels of perception to break down.
July 23, 2019
Chuck Dixon begins his definitive run on Nightwing here. This is 20 years old now and still the best Nightwing has ever been. Dixon keeps the stories simple while packing in lots of action and double crosses. Some people have a problem with Scott McDaniel's art. It is highly stylized with odd points of view. What I really like about it is that Nightwing is always on the move. He's the first artist I can remember that really captured Nightwing's acrobatic element. Nightwing flips through each panel as he traverses the city. It's full of kinetic energy as you visually see Nightwing move across each panel.
March 5, 2012
This starts off a new stage in the life of the original Robin, and does it quite well.
February 6, 2017
A very interesting story line that shows Nightwing taking on the Bludhaven crime all by himself. It was cool to see how he does by himself, although he was fairly more aggressive than what I have seen him be (although, Bludhaven is a tougher place than Gotham). You see his (incredible) skills as a fighter but not much of his detective skills which I was waiting to see. Overall, a good story to kick off Nightwing's solo adventures!
December 31, 2023
Scott McDaniel’s art is something truly to behold - balletic, kinetic, addictive - this was the series at its absolute peak and “Batman” comics at their most formatively inventive in the 90s, graphically.
October 27, 2025
Ein etwas schwieriger Start für mich. Der Stil von Scott McDaniel ist gewöhnungsbedürftig, sehr kantig, aber tatsächlich sehr dynamisch.
Die anfänglichen Ermittlungsarbeiten fand ich etwas zäh. Soames der zwielichtige Polizist ist bisher der mit Abstand interessanteste Charakter. Schön war auch das team-up mit Robin (Tim Drake) und ihr Gespräch auf dem Dach darüber was für unterschiedliche Robins sie sind.
Langsam werde ich mit diesem Run warm. Aber +150 Bände ist halt auch echt eine Hausnummer...
Die anfänglichen Ermittlungsarbeiten fand ich etwas zäh. Soames der zwielichtige Polizist ist bisher der mit Abstand interessanteste Charakter. Schön war auch das team-up mit Robin (Tim Drake) und ihr Gespräch auf dem Dach darüber was für unterschiedliche Robins sie sind.
Langsam werde ich mit diesem Run warm. Aber +150 Bände ist halt auch echt eine Hausnummer...
April 21, 2025
Quickly establishes both scene and characters: sleazy, secretive Bludhaven, a once prosperous whaling town now ruled by drug lords and mob kingpins in the dark, and Dick Grayson, a man looking to get out of the shadow cast by Batman
April 29, 2009
What I learned from this book:
Dick looks SO MUCH BETTER without that weird ponytail. And, please, how can that ponytail be that long anyway? That is so strange.
This volume collects Nightwing issues 1-8, and it tells the story of how Dick came to Blüdhaven and tries to make his own way in the world. His relationship with Batman is rather strained, after he didn't ask him to be his replacement during the Knightfall arc, and Dick is looking for somewhere where he's not in Batman's shadow. There is what I suppose is a lot of set up for what's to come; basically all cops in Blüdhaven are corrupt and we find out who the big crime boss is. Dick handles himself well, of course, what with having been trained by the best and being awesome and all. Although he'd see it differently, of course.
All in all, the story is decent, but while some stories are good, I don't read these things because of the story. Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne are utterly fascinating characters, and every bit that sheds some light who they are (and who they are to each other) is worth reading. It's fun, too, because Dick is also the pun wonder, and there's some snappy and cute dialogue. My favourite part was the one where Tim was visiting him. Let's just say I understand some things I've read a lot better now.
Dick looks SO MUCH BETTER without that weird ponytail. And, please, how can that ponytail be that long anyway? That is so strange.
This volume collects Nightwing issues 1-8, and it tells the story of how Dick came to Blüdhaven and tries to make his own way in the world. His relationship with Batman is rather strained, after he didn't ask him to be his replacement during the Knightfall arc, and Dick is looking for somewhere where he's not in Batman's shadow. There is what I suppose is a lot of set up for what's to come; basically all cops in Blüdhaven are corrupt and we find out who the big crime boss is. Dick handles himself well, of course, what with having been trained by the best and being awesome and all. Although he'd see it differently, of course.
All in all, the story is decent, but while some stories are good, I don't read these things because of the story. Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne are utterly fascinating characters, and every bit that sheds some light who they are (and who they are to each other) is worth reading. It's fun, too, because Dick is also the pun wonder, and there's some snappy and cute dialogue. My favourite part was the one where Tim was visiting him. Let's just say I understand some things I've read a lot better now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
gave-up-on
December 9, 2015My Brief Bookshelf Overview: gave-up-before-finishing, story-not-intriguing-enough, unrealized-potential
Additional Notes: This collection contains Nightwing issues #1-8.
I've no problem at all with Dixon's writing ability, but it's too bad he's either got nothing much by way of an interesting plot to work with here or, more likely, he moves at too slow a pace keep maintain the excitement. And for the two and a half issues I read, the art remained a questionable fit.
Additional Notes: This collection contains Nightwing issues #1-8.
I've no problem at all with Dixon's writing ability, but it's too bad he's either got nothing much by way of an interesting plot to work with here or, more likely, he moves at too slow a pace keep maintain the excitement. And for the two and a half issues I read, the art remained a questionable fit.
January 11, 2026
3.5 stars.
May 10, 2019
Like Batman turned up to 11, this is high- octane fun. Lacks a really good villain though.
September 14, 2016
It was a surprise for me to not enjoy the story as I loved Robin and Batgirl Year One, by the same writer. Nightwing lacked substance, he could have been any other vigilante, and without the costume I wouldn't have known it was him. I didn't read the previous runs so I'm not aware of the grudges Dick had against Batman, but he seemed bitter. His installation in a new city was a good way for him to discover the difficulties someone can have to pay the bills, without actually working or being a rich ward. I found nice this addition and Robin/Tim's visit as they added some interest to the character. Otherwise, the story wasn't memorable nor really entertaining. I didn't like the art, I found it messy and crowded. Dick was too much brutish and what the hell with the haircut? He'd probably do good in a Wolverine casting. On another hand, I enjoyed the colors, some parts were nice looking because of them.
February 20, 2011
I'm not a giant comic fan, I like the concept and love the art and story lines, but there's just something about them, I can't really get into; I can't explain it or defend it, that's just how it is.
Be that as it may, I've been in love with Dick Grayson since I was about five-years-old, so when I saw the library had a copy of Nightwing, I knew that I had to get it.
Story-line was, I don't think it's much different than most super hero comics, but I do like the concept of Nightwing breaking out on his own, working to clean up another city, just like Batman before him.
I don't have anything great to say about it, and at the same time nothing bad. The more Nightwing the better, the end.
Be that as it may, I've been in love with Dick Grayson since I was about five-years-old, so when I saw the library had a copy of Nightwing, I knew that I had to get it.
Story-line was, I don't think it's much different than most super hero comics, but I do like the concept of Nightwing breaking out on his own, working to clean up another city, just like Batman before him.
I don't have anything great to say about it, and at the same time nothing bad. The more Nightwing the better, the end.
January 12, 2012
Nightwing gets how own book and town (Bludhaven) and its fun. Dick Grayson is almost completely out of Batman’s shadow and writer Chuck Dixon really lets him develop as a character. The setting, villains, supporting characters, etc., are all new to Nightwing and its great meeting these through his eyes. Scott McDaniel’s art is good but a little frenetic at times. Overall a good fun book.
May 30, 2015
Nightwing was always one of my favourite DC characters and it's been a while since I meant back and read any of his original stories from Bludhaven, I'd actually forgotten must of it.
Dixon does well paced mystery very well and it's complimented by the sketch-like art style. It gives everything a noir feel.
Dixon does well paced mystery very well and it's complimented by the sketch-like art style. It gives everything a noir feel.
March 25, 2019
i am a huge fan of Nightwing Dick Grayson and this book was no exception i loved this book about nightwing moving to bludhaven to fight crime a very enjoyed tale from the DC world. i would highly recommend this book to the fans of the original robin that grew up to be nightwing and branched away from batman and gotham city to the sister city of bludhaven to find his own path and fight crime.
October 27, 2010
Interesting. Nightwing is sent by Batman to solve a crime originating in Bludhaven. It's nothing like Gotham because the police are corrupt and gangs run the streets. Nightwing realises he can make a difference, but worries about letting down Batman. This series has potential.
February 4, 2020
Nightwing is an on-going series published by DC Comics that features Dick Grayson as Nightwing, formerly the first Robin. Nightwing: A Knight in Blüdhaven collects the first eight issues of the 1996 on-going series and has eight interconnecting one-issue storylines.
Bruce Wayne as Batman sends Dick Grayson as Nightwing to Blüdhaven to figure out a mystery of dead bodies washing up on Gotham City's shores with their heads twisted around. Fairly quickly, Grayson learns that Blüdhaven is worse than Gotham City, where the rot and corruption is from the inside-out. Crime runs amok and the Blüdhaven Police Force is just as corrupt as the criminals, which is no wonder that Nightwing’s presence is unwanted. Eventually, Nightiwng discovers the person behind the murders and decides to stay in Blüdhaven to be her protector.
Chuck Dixon penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, Dixon has created a new city in Blüdhaven, her villains, and the overall tone of the city that Nightwing would call home.
Scott McDaniel penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style, slightly dated, but wonderful nevertheless.
All in all, Nightwing: A Knight in Blüdhaven is a wonderful start to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
Bruce Wayne as Batman sends Dick Grayson as Nightwing to Blüdhaven to figure out a mystery of dead bodies washing up on Gotham City's shores with their heads twisted around. Fairly quickly, Grayson learns that Blüdhaven is worse than Gotham City, where the rot and corruption is from the inside-out. Crime runs amok and the Blüdhaven Police Force is just as corrupt as the criminals, which is no wonder that Nightwing’s presence is unwanted. Eventually, Nightiwng discovers the person behind the murders and decides to stay in Blüdhaven to be her protector.
Chuck Dixon penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, Dixon has created a new city in Blüdhaven, her villains, and the overall tone of the city that Nightwing would call home.
Scott McDaniel penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style, slightly dated, but wonderful nevertheless.
All in all, Nightwing: A Knight in Blüdhaven is a wonderful start to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
February 14, 2024
My comment would probably be "curate's egg". I enjoyed Chuck Dixon's writing, albeit that the storyline is slightly simplistic and, in many way, back to comics of the eighties of even the seventies. That alone would not be enough for me to rate this down though - as I said, I enjoyed it.
However, and I know that this will be heretical to many, but I thought McDaniel's artwork was verging on the childish and exceedingly poor - the sort of thing that you would have got many years ago in a low-budget children's cartoon. Thee is no attempt at any sort of anatomical accuracy and people, no many how "enhanced" that are ten feet tall and the same across the shoulders are not scary, they are just silly. Even the artwork for Nightwing showed a callous disregard for anything resembling a human anatomy. And don't tell me "it's just a comic!" the artwork is what makes these things.
Great story, appalling artwork (imo)
However, and I know that this will be heretical to many, but I thought McDaniel's artwork was verging on the childish and exceedingly poor - the sort of thing that you would have got many years ago in a low-budget children's cartoon. Thee is no attempt at any sort of anatomical accuracy and people, no many how "enhanced" that are ten feet tall and the same across the shoulders are not scary, they are just silly. Even the artwork for Nightwing showed a callous disregard for anything resembling a human anatomy. And don't tell me "it's just a comic!" the artwork is what makes these things.
Great story, appalling artwork (imo)
July 16, 2019
Nightwing and Batman find 21 deal bodies and they figure out they washed up in Gotham from Bludhaven. Nightwing heads to Bludhaven alone and finds a city that is worse than Gotham - corrupt and evil and without a Jim Gordon on the entire police force.
When Nightwing starts to investigate, he learns that there is a turf war going on and there are different crime lords fighting for control of the city including Black Mask. Honestly, not a lot happens here except for Nightwing spoiling Black Mask's plans every step of the way.
However, what really happens in these issues of the new Nightwing series (1996) was setting up the former Robin in a new town and away from Batman so he can make it on his own. In that aspect, this was a huge success. Dick Grayson is still finding himself here but this is a great start for Nightwing as his own man
When Nightwing starts to investigate, he learns that there is a turf war going on and there are different crime lords fighting for control of the city including Black Mask. Honestly, not a lot happens here except for Nightwing spoiling Black Mask's plans every step of the way.
However, what really happens in these issues of the new Nightwing series (1996) was setting up the former Robin in a new town and away from Batman so he can make it on his own. In that aspect, this was a huge success. Dick Grayson is still finding himself here but this is a great start for Nightwing as his own man
February 20, 2019
I enjoyed seeing Dick find his way in his new city. It was fun to see how his style of crime fighting is different from Batman’s. He’s much more acrobatic and energetic fighter than Batman and not as cerebral. His fight to get himself out of Batman’s shadow was fun to watch as well. The budding relationship with Clancy experiences the Spider-man-esque normal dude problems in a superhero’s life. I also like how he’s craving but not asking for Batman’s approval. They always had a great dynamic but that doesn’t mean it was always the same.
July 8, 2017
I give it 4 stars because I can not stand the attitude of the Blüdhaven police. But, in my opinion I liked Nightwing: A Knight In Blüdhaven, the plot is entertaining, the script is very good and the illustrations are eye-catching. Of course I recommend this comic.
January 29, 2023
Probably hadn’t read this in like 15-20 years. I’ve long viewed this as the definitive Nightwing run and honestly, it’s still pretty great, both in terms of art and story — even if the current Tom Taylor/Bruno Redondo title is giving it a run for its money. Looking forward to continuing my reread!
January 5, 2018
Nightwing leaves Gotham to Bludhaven to solve the murders of some gangsters.
August 25, 2018
reading this i can tell what the rebirth nightwing was trying to recreate... bludhaven is so much better fleshed out in this one, you can feel the grime. nightwings a bit of an angry boy though
September 22, 2021
The writing's solid but the art is just AWFUL. Was barely able to follow the action.
Loved Dick and Tim's interactions and the cameo from Babs. It really captured the spirit of what makes the Batfamily so endearing.
Loved Dick and Tim's interactions and the cameo from Babs. It really captured the spirit of what makes the Batfamily so endearing.
August 11, 2023
This is a pretty good telling of Nightwing's early days on his own in a rough area near Gotham. Good story.
June 7, 2024
tá sendo mt legal acompanhar o asa noturna em bludhaven e vê ele se adaptando a cidade
May 1, 2025
Esperaba más la verdad, como punto de arranque no pasa de entretenido,y el dibujo no termina de convencerme.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews