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Nightwing (2011)
Nightwing, Volume 1: Traps and Trapezes
A New York Times Best Seller!
As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics - The New 52 event of September 2011, Dick Grayson flies high once more as Nightwing in a new series from hot new writer Kyle Higgins (BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and artist Eddy Barrows (SUPERMAN)!
Haley's Circus, the big top where Dick once performed, makes a stop on its tour in Gotham City - bringing with it murder, mystery and superhuman evil. To uncover more clues as to why a mysterious assassin is targetting him, Nightwing joins the Haley's Circus tour in order to find more clues and protect those he loves. But as Dick becomes closer acquainted with the big top he grew up with, he discovers there's a much deeper, darker secret to be discovered.
As a part of the acclaimed DC Comics - The New 52 event of September 2011, Dick Grayson flies high once more as Nightwing in a new series from hot new writer Kyle Higgins (BATMAN: GATES OF GOTHAM) and artist Eddy Barrows (SUPERMAN)!
Haley's Circus, the big top where Dick once performed, makes a stop on its tour in Gotham City - bringing with it murder, mystery and superhuman evil. To uncover more clues as to why a mysterious assassin is targetting him, Nightwing joins the Haley's Circus tour in order to find more clues and protect those he loves. But as Dick becomes closer acquainted with the big top he grew up with, he discovers there's a much deeper, darker secret to be discovered.
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 16, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 366 reviews
October 27, 2025
(B+) 77% | Good
Notes: Plot proficient but charm deficient, it lacks the patina of idiosyncrasy that enlivens characters and details personality.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #1-2 ◦ Issues #3-4
Notes: Plot proficient but charm deficient, it lacks the patina of idiosyncrasy that enlivens characters and details personality.
*Progress updates: Preamble ◦ Issues #1-2 ◦ Issues #3-4
October 31, 2016
NIghtwing joins the circus looking for some sort of closure about his mom and dad getting blown up and instead is subjected to this freak show of a storyline.
Nightwing (formerly, Robin, the Boy Wonder) is supposed to be the light-hearted, quippy member of the Bats family, but even he’s worn down by this loose tie-in to the “Owls” storyline from the Batman titles.
Why do a majority of DC’s New 52 titles get plotted with storylines that would seem quaint and dated back in 1990? One reason: According to the credits on this volume, Geoff Johns is/was (?) the creative brains behind much of DC’s output. If there’s something out there by Johns, that rates more than three stars, please don’t tell me. It would just shatter my view of him as a mediocre hack.
This isn’t a horrible story/treatment, but when you compare it with the some of the things Marvel is doing or some of the more adventurous output at DC (Snyder’s Batman, Swamp Thing, Animal Man) it just melts away like an ice cream cone left out in the sun. But by that time, it’s too late, I’ve already gotten brain freeze.
Blechhh!
Nightwing (formerly, Robin, the Boy Wonder) is supposed to be the light-hearted, quippy member of the Bats family, but even he’s worn down by this loose tie-in to the “Owls” storyline from the Batman titles.
Why do a majority of DC’s New 52 titles get plotted with storylines that would seem quaint and dated back in 1990? One reason: According to the credits on this volume, Geoff Johns is/was (?) the creative brains behind much of DC’s output. If there’s something out there by Johns, that rates more than three stars, please don’t tell me. It would just shatter my view of him as a mediocre hack.
This isn’t a horrible story/treatment, but when you compare it with the some of the things Marvel is doing or some of the more adventurous output at DC (Snyder’s Batman, Swamp Thing, Animal Man) it just melts away like an ice cream cone left out in the sun. But by that time, it’s too late, I’ve already gotten brain freeze.
Blechhh!
December 6, 2012
Traps and Trapezes didn't blow me away, but it is definitely a really solid story.
This is not a Nightwing origin story, even though this is part of the re-boot. No, it's just Dick going back to being Nightwing after his stint as Batman, which is interesting enough in it's own right.
Halys circus comes back to Gotham, and with it comes a forgotten part of Grayson's past.
Well, we all know the poor guy can't resist a redhead.
It all ties into Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls. So if you haven't read that title yet, you may want to check it out first.
This is not a Nightwing origin story, even though this is part of the re-boot. No, it's just Dick going back to being Nightwing after his stint as Batman, which is interesting enough in it's own right.
Halys circus comes back to Gotham, and with it comes a forgotten part of Grayson's past.
Well, we all know the poor guy can't resist a redhead.
It all ties into Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls. So if you haven't read that title yet, you may want to check it out first.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2019
Okay, so I’d read Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls before this, which means I had some idea of where the story was headed. Nightwing is by far one of the better New 52 titles; It’s right up there with Aquaman, Vol. 1: The Trench.
First of all, the Nightwing story isn’t a reboot. There is mention of his tenure as Batman, and how it changed (matured) him; he’s in terrific crime-fighting shape here. Which brings me to Saiko: the fighting scenes in here are nothing short of spectacular. Much like The Talon is such a good foil for Batman in Court of Owls, Saiko gives Nightwing a run for his money in Traps and Trapezes. And that, by the way, isn’t just a clever title for a Nightwing story; it has a fundamental bearing on the plot. Expect some twists.
As you may have guessed, it has to do with the circus, and with Dick Grayson’s very origins. Those of you who have been reading the Batman series dealing with the Court of Owls will know what fate had in store for Dick Grayson. What you won’t know, is just how far this reaches. Is Dick Grayson the most dangerous man (or fiercest killer) in Gotham? Considering who else roams the city at night, that’s quite a claim. The answer to this question could well cost Dick his life. It’s a tale of betrayal and legacy which even takes time out for some voodoo (OK – admittedly this particular scene, where Dick goes up against a conjured Demon, is one of the weaker parts of the story).
Nightwing’s history is obviously altered in this storyline, but it’s not a retcon. It’s just a case of secrets being revealed. Traps and Trapezes is also pretty damn tense, something that I seldom experience when reading graphic novels. Needless to say, this book kicks ass.
I would recommend that you read Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls first. It details an important aspect of this story, namely: where was Batman when this was going down?
First of all, the Nightwing story isn’t a reboot. There is mention of his tenure as Batman, and how it changed (matured) him; he’s in terrific crime-fighting shape here. Which brings me to Saiko: the fighting scenes in here are nothing short of spectacular. Much like The Talon is such a good foil for Batman in Court of Owls, Saiko gives Nightwing a run for his money in Traps and Trapezes. And that, by the way, isn’t just a clever title for a Nightwing story; it has a fundamental bearing on the plot. Expect some twists.
As you may have guessed, it has to do with the circus, and with Dick Grayson’s very origins. Those of you who have been reading the Batman series dealing with the Court of Owls will know what fate had in store for Dick Grayson. What you won’t know, is just how far this reaches. Is Dick Grayson the most dangerous man (or fiercest killer) in Gotham? Considering who else roams the city at night, that’s quite a claim. The answer to this question could well cost Dick his life. It’s a tale of betrayal and legacy which even takes time out for some voodoo (OK – admittedly this particular scene, where Dick goes up against a conjured Demon, is one of the weaker parts of the story).
Nightwing’s history is obviously altered in this storyline, but it’s not a retcon. It’s just a case of secrets being revealed. Traps and Trapezes is also pretty damn tense, something that I seldom experience when reading graphic novels. Needless to say, this book kicks ass.
I would recommend that you read Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls first. It details an important aspect of this story, namely: where was Batman when this was going down?
January 10, 2013
Dick Grayson sheds Batman's cowl and slips back into the cape-less, newly re-coloured Nightwing outfit. Dick's old stomping ground, Haly's Circus, is back in town and the past comes crowding back as familiar faces bring haunted memories of the night he lost his parents - The Flying Graysons - in an acrobatic disaster. But mystery shrouds everything as a vicious figure with claws - talons? - is hunting Nightwing, enigmatically labelling Grayson "Gotham's fiercest killer". And Dick's about to find out his beloved circus has a dark, dark past...
First off, Dick Grayson as Batman was a great step forward and I would've liked to see him continue in that role. Bruce as figurehead of the Batman Inc., globetrotting and overseeing the construction of a massive, non-superpowered global crime-fighting organisation with Dick as the Batman of Gotham in his absence is a fantastic setup. I know the Batman Inc. story continues but seeing Dick take off the cowl and go back to his Nightwing persona feels like a step back even if Dick doesn't seem to mind. But I think he would mind - he was Batman! Now he's Nightwing with a much more limited arsenal and a smaller status. Kyle Higgins doesn't really explore this though and launches straight into the series with barely a nod to the events of the last 2 years - it feels vastly underwritten.
While there is potential in exploring Dick's past with the circus, I hate how DC feel the need to go back and muddy the waters with their characters' histories. They love making their past “dark” and “gritty” and do it all the time, to excess. Dick's life in the circus was a good one, that's why his loss is so tragic. But by going back and making the circus seem like a hellish ground where horrible things were done to children, it doesn't seem so tragic. While the loss of his parents is sad, in light of the revelations in this book it could be seen as a positive as he was definitely better off out of that place! Especially as if he had stayed, he would've ended up as a severely damaged adult, if not dead.
The Haly's Circus-gone-wrong angle ties in with Scott Snyder's "Court of Owls" without really adding much to that story arc. The events in "Owls" is repeated, the only real addition being Haly's Circus' involvement with the Court - which only throws up more questions. And how is it, in the 21st century, circuses are so popular that this many people would show up to watch acrobats? This isn't "Cirque du Soleil", this is a straight-up old-school circus with acrobats, clowns, and even a bearded woman! I just don't buy that thousands of people, in this day and age, would pay to see that.
Anyway, it's a solid start to the series if not a particularly brilliant book. The meandering story sags a bit in the middle while the ending is predictably bombastic with no real surprises. Kyle Higgins has written some good books in "Batman: Gates of Gotham" and "Deathstroke: Legacy" but I found "Nightwing" to be a very ordinary book for a character whose background and recent history has the potential to produce a far more enticing book. Like Grayson stepping down from Batman to Nightwing, I feel that DC have done the character a disservice and by giving him a formulaic superhero storyline instead of a braver, more interesting direction to develop him further. "Nightwing" is a missed opportunity in the end, and after a superlative turn as Batman in "The Black Mirror", I feel he deserved better than this.
Oh, and Alfred's comb-over in this book should be arrested, it's so bad!
First off, Dick Grayson as Batman was a great step forward and I would've liked to see him continue in that role. Bruce as figurehead of the Batman Inc., globetrotting and overseeing the construction of a massive, non-superpowered global crime-fighting organisation with Dick as the Batman of Gotham in his absence is a fantastic setup. I know the Batman Inc. story continues but seeing Dick take off the cowl and go back to his Nightwing persona feels like a step back even if Dick doesn't seem to mind. But I think he would mind - he was Batman! Now he's Nightwing with a much more limited arsenal and a smaller status. Kyle Higgins doesn't really explore this though and launches straight into the series with barely a nod to the events of the last 2 years - it feels vastly underwritten.
While there is potential in exploring Dick's past with the circus, I hate how DC feel the need to go back and muddy the waters with their characters' histories. They love making their past “dark” and “gritty” and do it all the time, to excess. Dick's life in the circus was a good one, that's why his loss is so tragic. But by going back and making the circus seem like a hellish ground where horrible things were done to children, it doesn't seem so tragic. While the loss of his parents is sad, in light of the revelations in this book it could be seen as a positive as he was definitely better off out of that place! Especially as if he had stayed, he would've ended up as a severely damaged adult, if not dead.
The Haly's Circus-gone-wrong angle ties in with Scott Snyder's "Court of Owls" without really adding much to that story arc. The events in "Owls" is repeated, the only real addition being Haly's Circus' involvement with the Court - which only throws up more questions. And how is it, in the 21st century, circuses are so popular that this many people would show up to watch acrobats? This isn't "Cirque du Soleil", this is a straight-up old-school circus with acrobats, clowns, and even a bearded woman! I just don't buy that thousands of people, in this day and age, would pay to see that.
Anyway, it's a solid start to the series if not a particularly brilliant book. The meandering story sags a bit in the middle while the ending is predictably bombastic with no real surprises. Kyle Higgins has written some good books in "Batman: Gates of Gotham" and "Deathstroke: Legacy" but I found "Nightwing" to be a very ordinary book for a character whose background and recent history has the potential to produce a far more enticing book. Like Grayson stepping down from Batman to Nightwing, I feel that DC have done the character a disservice and by giving him a formulaic superhero storyline instead of a braver, more interesting direction to develop him further. "Nightwing" is a missed opportunity in the end, and after a superlative turn as Batman in "The Black Mirror", I feel he deserved better than this.
Oh, and Alfred's comb-over in this book should be arrested, it's so bad!
April 19, 2013
written by Kyle Higgins & art by Eddy Barrows
Of all the characters -- villains and heroes -- within Batman's sphere of influence, it is Dick Grayson, specifically Dick Grayson as Nightwing, who is the most important to our reading of Batman himself.
Many, if not most, would argue that the pride of this place goes to Joker. He is often seen as Batman's opposite: the dark to Batman's light, the crazy to batman's sane, the chaos to Batman's order. But that's not the case, as many great comic book writers have been quick to show us. Batman and Joker, who they are and their actions, are but shadowy reflections of one another, they are too similar to be opposites. They are both dark, both crazy, both chaotic, and if there is any difference at all it is the difference of motivation and what that does to their consciences, which is where Batman manages to separate himself from the Clown Prince of Crime.
And it is in the realm of conscience that Dick Grayson plays his fundamental role in the life of Batman. Dick is the Horatio to Bruce's Hamlet. Like Hamlet, Bruce's parent(s) are murdered and his actions from then on are motivated by vengeance. Like Hamlet, Bruce is a prince above the peasantry, a man untouched by the constraints of lesser men. Like Hamlet, Bruce is brilliant, makes connections others can't, and is capable of deep love and emotional pain. Like Hamlet, Bruce needs a Horatio. He needs Dick to be objective when he cannot, needs Dick to criticize his behaviour when others won't, needs Dick to offer opinions when Bruce fails to see something important, needs Dick to protect him from himself.
It is Dick who is uncomfortable with Bruce's more brutal moments; it is Dick who is most against Batman's relationship with Catwoman; it is Dick who will receive a request to join the Justice League from his benefactor and have the guts to say no; it is Dick who will step in to maintain the presence of Batman when Bruce is missing; it is Dick, even more than Alfred, who will turn his back on Bruce when he/Batman has gone too far. He'll always come back, sure, but he will stand by his principles even in the face of the man who took him in and made him who he is.
So Nightwing was one of the New 52 I was most excited to read.
Traps and Trapezes (Vol 1), the first arc of the series by Kyle Higgins & Eddy Barrows (whose pencils are fantastic in this arc), is glorious when it comes to Dick Grayson: it lets Nightwing be Nightwing, lets Dick be Dick, without Batman (at least until the last possible moment in issue #5). The influence of Bruce is all around Dick, of course. But for five issues we get Dick on his own, on his own and dealing with some pretty serious shit.
Haly's Circus is back in Gotham, the circus Dick was in as a boy, as one of the Flying Graysons. It is the big top under which his parents fell to their deaths, and Dick finds himself inheriting the circus from a family friend at the same time as he is being hunted -- as himself rather than his alter ego -- by an assassin named Saiko (think a pissy Wolverine-lite).
It all builds up to an arc-closing confrontation with Bruce in the Batcave and some serious revelations about what Dick was being groomed for before the death of his parents and his moving in to Wayne Manor.
There's nothing groundbreaking about the plot, the action or the dialogue. It's pretty tame stuff, although all those elements have enough quality to do their job. The arc is strong, however, when it comes to character, and that's what matters to me when I am reading a Nightwing comic. If I want deep plots I go to Detective Comics; if I want killer action and dialogue I go to Batman; but if I want to spend some time with the Bat-characters, I go to Nightwing, which is precisely where this arc excelled. We were given a touch of Barbara Gordon, a hint of Bruce and Alfred, and plenty of Dick.
And who would turn down plenty of Dick if given half a chance? (sorry ... how could I resist)
Of all the characters -- villains and heroes -- within Batman's sphere of influence, it is Dick Grayson, specifically Dick Grayson as Nightwing, who is the most important to our reading of Batman himself.
Many, if not most, would argue that the pride of this place goes to Joker. He is often seen as Batman's opposite: the dark to Batman's light, the crazy to batman's sane, the chaos to Batman's order. But that's not the case, as many great comic book writers have been quick to show us. Batman and Joker, who they are and their actions, are but shadowy reflections of one another, they are too similar to be opposites. They are both dark, both crazy, both chaotic, and if there is any difference at all it is the difference of motivation and what that does to their consciences, which is where Batman manages to separate himself from the Clown Prince of Crime.
And it is in the realm of conscience that Dick Grayson plays his fundamental role in the life of Batman. Dick is the Horatio to Bruce's Hamlet. Like Hamlet, Bruce's parent(s) are murdered and his actions from then on are motivated by vengeance. Like Hamlet, Bruce is a prince above the peasantry, a man untouched by the constraints of lesser men. Like Hamlet, Bruce is brilliant, makes connections others can't, and is capable of deep love and emotional pain. Like Hamlet, Bruce needs a Horatio. He needs Dick to be objective when he cannot, needs Dick to criticize his behaviour when others won't, needs Dick to offer opinions when Bruce fails to see something important, needs Dick to protect him from himself.
It is Dick who is uncomfortable with Bruce's more brutal moments; it is Dick who is most against Batman's relationship with Catwoman; it is Dick who will receive a request to join the Justice League from his benefactor and have the guts to say no; it is Dick who will step in to maintain the presence of Batman when Bruce is missing; it is Dick, even more than Alfred, who will turn his back on Bruce when he/Batman has gone too far. He'll always come back, sure, but he will stand by his principles even in the face of the man who took him in and made him who he is.
So Nightwing was one of the New 52 I was most excited to read.
Traps and Trapezes (Vol 1), the first arc of the series by Kyle Higgins & Eddy Barrows (whose pencils are fantastic in this arc), is glorious when it comes to Dick Grayson: it lets Nightwing be Nightwing, lets Dick be Dick, without Batman (at least until the last possible moment in issue #5). The influence of Bruce is all around Dick, of course. But for five issues we get Dick on his own, on his own and dealing with some pretty serious shit.
Haly's Circus is back in Gotham, the circus Dick was in as a boy, as one of the Flying Graysons. It is the big top under which his parents fell to their deaths, and Dick finds himself inheriting the circus from a family friend at the same time as he is being hunted -- as himself rather than his alter ego -- by an assassin named Saiko (think a pissy Wolverine-lite).
It all builds up to an arc-closing confrontation with Bruce in the Batcave and some serious revelations about what Dick was being groomed for before the death of his parents and his moving in to Wayne Manor.
There's nothing groundbreaking about the plot, the action or the dialogue. It's pretty tame stuff, although all those elements have enough quality to do their job. The arc is strong, however, when it comes to character, and that's what matters to me when I am reading a Nightwing comic. If I want deep plots I go to Detective Comics; if I want killer action and dialogue I go to Batman; but if I want to spend some time with the Bat-characters, I go to Nightwing, which is precisely where this arc excelled. We were given a touch of Barbara Gordon, a hint of Bruce and Alfred, and plenty of Dick.
And who would turn down plenty of Dick if given half a chance? (sorry ... how could I resist)
January 19, 2022
This was an interesting read!
We see Nighwting reunite with his Haly's circus people particularly Raya and then we follow what happens to Mr Haly the owner and Dick having to fight this new enemy Saiko whose after him for reasons unknown and we follow the mystery and various goings on until finding the reasons for it and its such a great motive and leads to Court of Owls story arc really well and its personal and full of action and challenges Nightwing unlike anything and I loved it plus lots of detective elements too.
Also some side stories where he has to team up with Batgirl to fight the villain Spinebender or help out one of his circus friends fight some Zohna and her demon and that was a whacky love story and some others which add to the fun element of this volume.
So yeah overall a good read and it introduces new villains and is personal and all and leads to the next arc with Court of Owls really well! Plus the art by Barrows is SO GOOD! Makes for an amazing read.
We see Nighwting reunite with his Haly's circus people particularly Raya and then we follow what happens to Mr Haly the owner and Dick having to fight this new enemy Saiko whose after him for reasons unknown and we follow the mystery and various goings on until finding the reasons for it and its such a great motive and leads to Court of Owls story arc really well and its personal and full of action and challenges Nightwing unlike anything and I loved it plus lots of detective elements too.
Also some side stories where he has to team up with Batgirl to fight the villain Spinebender or help out one of his circus friends fight some Zohna and her demon and that was a whacky love story and some others which add to the fun element of this volume.
So yeah overall a good read and it introduces new villains and is personal and all and leads to the next arc with Court of Owls really well! Plus the art by Barrows is SO GOOD! Makes for an amazing read.
July 17, 2025
Halys Circus involved with the Court of Owls! 2 75 🌟
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 10, 2012
I never read much Nightwing in the past, so I had essentially no baggage going into the New 52 version. Of course, being a Bat book, very little, if anything, was changed.
I wish Higgins had spent maybe a few more pages dealing with Grayson's adjustment from Batman back to Nightwing. Is it a demotion? Dick doesn't seem to think so, and I get his point. At this point, being Batman would essentially require doing a fairly convincing Bruce-as-Batman impression on top of fighting crime, and as Nightwing Dick can be himself. Well, himself-as-Nightwing, which amounts to more or less the same thing. Because he didn't get rebooted, this is not an origin story, though it does deal heavily with Dick's origin. Dick gets drawn back into the circus he'd spent his childhood in, and learns some dark truths. (If you hadn't read Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls before, you really need to afterwards.)
The art is fantstic. There's a lot of detail, especially in expressions. And I have to give Eddy Barrows a big hand for not making the two redheads essentially identical. How many comics have one face for every female character? Not so here, thank goodness.
I wish Higgins had spent maybe a few more pages dealing with Grayson's adjustment from Batman back to Nightwing. Is it a demotion? Dick doesn't seem to think so, and I get his point. At this point, being Batman would essentially require doing a fairly convincing Bruce-as-Batman impression on top of fighting crime, and as Nightwing Dick can be himself. Well, himself-as-Nightwing, which amounts to more or less the same thing. Because he didn't get rebooted, this is not an origin story, though it does deal heavily with Dick's origin. Dick gets drawn back into the circus he'd spent his childhood in, and learns some dark truths. (If you hadn't read Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls before, you really need to afterwards.)
The art is fantstic. There's a lot of detail, especially in expressions. And I have to give Eddy Barrows a big hand for not making the two redheads essentially identical. How many comics have one face for every female character? Not so here, thank goodness.
June 7, 2019
I know a lot of N52 books are a toss up for some fans but this series is a great introduction to Dick Grayson. It's not the overall best series for Dick but it goes over his origin and how he came to work with Batman. Dick's pretty well characterized and it features enough action and excitement to keep my attention. I recommend it to anyone that wants an easy introduction to Nightwing.
April 2, 2022
Very Slow in the Beginning But Ramps Up After
OVERALL RATING: 4 stars
Art: 4.5 stars
Prose: 4 stars
Plot: 4.25 stars
Pacing: 3.5 stars
Character Development: 4.25 stars
World Building: 4.25 stars
The tying in of Grayson around a major Batman related event was really well done.
OVERALL RATING: 4 stars
Art: 4.5 stars
Prose: 4 stars
Plot: 4.25 stars
Pacing: 3.5 stars
Character Development: 4.25 stars
World Building: 4.25 stars
The tying in of Grayson around a major Batman related event was really well done.
August 7, 2023
A read that flows fairly well, but one that doesn't offer up the most engaging story. The focus on the past would work more in the story's favour if the characters were more noteworthy in nature. Instead, it is a decent Nightwing narrative that does good character work for the titular man whilst leaving the side characters out to dry.
June 24, 2014
Pretty good start but the whole old friend turned villain thing has been done to death in my opinion. That said I did like how they tied it all together with Snyder's court of owls arc (which I read a lifetime ago so the details are a bit fuzzy).
March 23, 2019
Was closer to 4 than 3. Enjoyed the story but felt at times it was a little predictable.
February 23, 2019
I knew I always liked Robin 'The Boy Wonder'/Nightwing. This comic was great. I really liked Dick Grayson from when I first saw him in Haly's Circus in the Batman Chronicles to now. I don't really connect with superheroes who have the closest thing to a perfect life. Grayson had it rough and those are the characters most of us relate to. I liked how Grayson learned from his misfortunes and didn't let them drag him down but learned from them and used them to help himself grow stronger.
"I used to think my past was my greatest strength, tragedy and all, because it's what defined me. But I realize now that's not true--we're not defined by our tragedies or our turning points. We're defined by the choices we make in the face of them. We're defined by how we choose to react to being challenged. And in a place like Gotham, the only thing you can really count on is that there will always be something to challenge you." --Dick Grayson/Nightwing
This was a great start to this series and I'm excited to continue it!
"I used to think my past was my greatest strength, tragedy and all, because it's what defined me. But I realize now that's not true--we're not defined by our tragedies or our turning points. We're defined by the choices we make in the face of them. We're defined by how we choose to react to being challenged. And in a place like Gotham, the only thing you can really count on is that there will always be something to challenge you." --Dick Grayson/Nightwing
This was a great start to this series and I'm excited to continue it!
March 19, 2018
Second time reading. Rating around 2.5.
Art isn't great.
I didn't enjoy the art by Eddy Barrow or Trevor McCarthy. Raya and Babs have the same face (in South Beach Connection drawn by Trevor McCarthy). They are even wearing the same green eyeshadow.
Writing-wise, Raya's relationship with Dick reads lazy. There just isn't any work put into making them a believable couple. I didn't feel any attraction in the writing or see it in the art. Dick and Raya just get together and we're supposed to believe that there was love there at age 10 & now deep feelings of intimacy sprout because they're adults and are both attractive & fit.
I love Nightwing. I love Spider-Man. But even this volume has too much inner dialogue for me.
It is too wordy/chatty. And it isn't cute.
*spoilery*
The only redeeming part of the volume is the betrayal by Raya and Raymond. The heartbreak and disappointment of that kind is unique to a Nightwing story, and I thought it was well done.
Art isn't great.
I didn't enjoy the art by Eddy Barrow or Trevor McCarthy. Raya and Babs have the same face (in South Beach Connection drawn by Trevor McCarthy). They are even wearing the same green eyeshadow.
Writing-wise, Raya's relationship with Dick reads lazy. There just isn't any work put into making them a believable couple. I didn't feel any attraction in the writing or see it in the art. Dick and Raya just get together and we're supposed to believe that there was love there at age 10 & now deep feelings of intimacy sprout because they're adults and are both attractive & fit.
I love Nightwing. I love Spider-Man. But even this volume has too much inner dialogue for me.
It is too wordy/chatty. And it isn't cute.
*spoilery*
The only redeeming part of the volume is the betrayal by Raya and Raymond. The heartbreak and disappointment of that kind is unique to a Nightwing story, and I thought it was well done.
December 28, 2017
Probably more like 3.5 stars, though I'm interested enough to want to read Vol. 2.
Dick Grayson runs away and (re)joins the circus . . .
Well, not exactly like that, but we get to experience Grayson a.k.a. Nightwing temporarily leaving his Gotham beat and traveling to a few different southern locales (via circus train) for his adventures. And like a train, the book is a little slow-moving at first but eventually picks up speed as he pursues a mysterious assassin.
Dick Grayson runs away and (re)joins the circus . . .
Well, not exactly like that, but we get to experience Grayson a.k.a. Nightwing temporarily leaving his Gotham beat and traveling to a few different southern locales (via circus train) for his adventures. And like a train, the book is a little slow-moving at first but eventually picks up speed as he pursues a mysterious assassin.
June 7, 2024
not very good. i can find these same plots in '80s movies. im sick of all the "sexy" people, especially dick's parents in flashbacks/memories (very freudian of the creators). also is it just me or are all the bad guys poc? and like there aren't any poc that are good guys... that's so problematic....
man i am not finding any nightwing comics i like so far
man i am not finding any nightwing comics i like so far
July 12, 2023
Great story with a surprise ending (at least for me). The artwork is classic and the coloring adds a major POP to the story.
The excellent writing goes not only from plot line to story line, but the characters as well.
I enjoyed this one very much as the truth of what happened the night Robin (currently Nightwing) became the ward of Bruce Wayne.
The excellent writing goes not only from plot line to story line, but the characters as well.
I enjoyed this one very much as the truth of what happened the night Robin (currently Nightwing) became the ward of Bruce Wayne.
May 27, 2015
First, I have something to say to get it out of my system.
Dick talks too damn much. I know it's a diversion, but my goodness! In my head, he sounds just like he does in Under the Red Hood (as voiced by Neil Patrick Harris), and it’s just nonstop, aggravating chatter in my head. It’s somewhat funny in a way that I say that, though. I remember thinking the exact same thing about him during the Batman R.I.P. story. On the next couple of pages in that comic, Dick says that he knows he talks too much while fighting, but that he thought he did it because Batman talks so little.
Just like in that story, everyone points out that Dick talks too much in this, too. Maybe that's a running gag with him. I don't read much Nightwing except in the event of crossovers. I can see why a villain would get easily annoyed with Dick. If I were a villain, I'd promise to go to jail without a fight if he'd just shut the #$^& up! End rant. Phew, I feel so much better, and I am so sorry you had to witness that tantrum. Now, let's get on with it, yes?
Traps and Trapezes runs concurrent to the events in Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls. Nightwing has his own Owls related run-in, but in a very different way. Haly’s Circus returns to Gotham for the first time in years, prompting Dick to visit his old friends, even though the thought of visiting in Gotham (he’d visited them other cities) stirs up more painful memories than usual. After spending time with his old family, Dick has an encounter with a Talon-like assassin who claims that he (Dick) is Gotham’s deadliest murderer. This sets up a chain of events that leads to the secrets of the circus becoming known.
Dick’s blabbering aside, I think this is the first Nightwing book I’ve truly enjoyed. Not that the few other Nightwing books I read were bad, but I could never really get into his story before now. Dick doesn’t seem to have changed much from the old books. He’s still upbeat, a bit of a lady’s man, and willing to take a more optimistic view to the hero business than Bruce, but when he’s pressed, he takes on an almost Batman-like seriousness. Just as I mentioned in my review of The Court of Owls, I like that Dick's perspective on helping the city involves him living and breathing among the people of Gotham rather than holed away in the mansion or some plush penthouse. He believes in being among the people you protect. (Okay, and it's partly because he finds living in the heart of things exciting.)
After inheriting the circus from Mr. Haly, Dick travels the country with them hoping to find out who the assassin is and what he wants. What he finds is emotionally harrowing for him. But while Bruce’s run-in with the Owls makes him hyper-vigilant and almost distrustful of the city and his friends (which leads to an ugly confrontation with Dick), Dick’s encounter reaffirms the fact that you can choose your own destiny and break cycles. Bruce chose to live stubbornly with his arrogance that Gotham was his loyal bride, but Dick was willing to change with the situation and accept there are things going on that are beyond him.
I thought Higgins did an excellent job of fleshing out Dick's backstory more and entwining it with the Owls. It made the character feel fresh for me since I wasn’t well versed with his time as Nightwing before the reboot. During the course of this story, Dick finds out what his future could’ve been if Bruce hadn’t become part of his life. Dick’s parents’death and his eventual departure with Bruce had far-reaching implications that affected the lives of people who called him family at one time.
I think I enjoyed this more than Batman's book because it was something fresh where Batman's book felt like a familiar story being retold. Dick's side of things offered a different look at the events unfolding with the Owls.
Dick talks too damn much. I know it's a diversion, but my goodness! In my head, he sounds just like he does in Under the Red Hood (as voiced by Neil Patrick Harris), and it’s just nonstop, aggravating chatter in my head. It’s somewhat funny in a way that I say that, though. I remember thinking the exact same thing about him during the Batman R.I.P. story. On the next couple of pages in that comic, Dick says that he knows he talks too much while fighting, but that he thought he did it because Batman talks so little.
Just like in that story, everyone points out that Dick talks too much in this, too. Maybe that's a running gag with him. I don't read much Nightwing except in the event of crossovers. I can see why a villain would get easily annoyed with Dick. If I were a villain, I'd promise to go to jail without a fight if he'd just shut the #$^& up! End rant. Phew, I feel so much better, and I am so sorry you had to witness that tantrum. Now, let's get on with it, yes?
Traps and Trapezes runs concurrent to the events in Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls. Nightwing has his own Owls related run-in, but in a very different way. Haly’s Circus returns to Gotham for the first time in years, prompting Dick to visit his old friends, even though the thought of visiting in Gotham (he’d visited them other cities) stirs up more painful memories than usual. After spending time with his old family, Dick has an encounter with a Talon-like assassin who claims that he (Dick) is Gotham’s deadliest murderer. This sets up a chain of events that leads to the secrets of the circus becoming known.
Dick’s blabbering aside, I think this is the first Nightwing book I’ve truly enjoyed. Not that the few other Nightwing books I read were bad, but I could never really get into his story before now. Dick doesn’t seem to have changed much from the old books. He’s still upbeat, a bit of a lady’s man, and willing to take a more optimistic view to the hero business than Bruce, but when he’s pressed, he takes on an almost Batman-like seriousness. Just as I mentioned in my review of The Court of Owls, I like that Dick's perspective on helping the city involves him living and breathing among the people of Gotham rather than holed away in the mansion or some plush penthouse. He believes in being among the people you protect. (Okay, and it's partly because he finds living in the heart of things exciting.)
After inheriting the circus from Mr. Haly, Dick travels the country with them hoping to find out who the assassin is and what he wants. What he finds is emotionally harrowing for him. But while Bruce’s run-in with the Owls makes him hyper-vigilant and almost distrustful of the city and his friends (which leads to an ugly confrontation with Dick), Dick’s encounter reaffirms the fact that you can choose your own destiny and break cycles. Bruce chose to live stubbornly with his arrogance that Gotham was his loyal bride, but Dick was willing to change with the situation and accept there are things going on that are beyond him.
I thought Higgins did an excellent job of fleshing out Dick's backstory more and entwining it with the Owls. It made the character feel fresh for me since I wasn’t well versed with his time as Nightwing before the reboot. During the course of this story, Dick finds out what his future could’ve been if Bruce hadn’t become part of his life. Dick’s parents’death and his eventual departure with Bruce had far-reaching implications that affected the lives of people who called him family at one time.
I think I enjoyed this more than Batman's book because it was something fresh where Batman's book felt like a familiar story being retold. Dick's side of things offered a different look at the events unfolding with the Owls.
April 29, 2018
An interesting and decently-executed bit of superhero mystery, but still feels deeply familiar the entire time. Higgins crafts a solid narrative that unfolds at a thrilling pace, trickling out new information exactly when you need it, managing to avoid colliding too much with the events going on in the larger Batman-iverse at this time, while still remaining tied to them in a way that surprised even me, a true comics grump. I really appreciated aspects of this book.
Unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me overall. Higgins' dialogue, while better than some other New 52 series, is still pretty forced and over-abundant. I also just can't tolerate this much narration. Grayson tells you seemingly every minor thought he's having throughout this whole ordeal, and exposure to it makes the medium-stale dialogue feel full-blown stale. There's no style to it, nothing to make it stand apart. It's just a guy's blatant inner thoughts that we really don't even need.
Now, this next critique is an age-old one, but it's always been a pet peeve of mine for superheroes with secret identities. Why in the world would Dick Grayson, who is traveling across the country with a circus, dress up as Nightwing and combat crime in every city along the way? Wouldn't that 100% give away to everyone in the world that Nightwing is in the circus? I mean, Nightwing showing up in any city outside of Gotham is going to raise eyebrows, but multiple cities in a row? It's too much, and I can't get past its logic. Just have him not dress as Nightwing while he's out of town! Oh well.
In any case, I will say the final issue in this collection is pretty great, and reinvested me in the series right when I was starting to get bored of it. It seems like Nightwing is going to play a pretty major part in the upcoming Batman Family stories, and I'm excited to see where Higgins takes it. This book, though, could've used a little panache.
Unfortunately, it just didn't do it for me overall. Higgins' dialogue, while better than some other New 52 series, is still pretty forced and over-abundant. I also just can't tolerate this much narration. Grayson tells you seemingly every minor thought he's having throughout this whole ordeal, and exposure to it makes the medium-stale dialogue feel full-blown stale. There's no style to it, nothing to make it stand apart. It's just a guy's blatant inner thoughts that we really don't even need.
Now, this next critique is an age-old one, but it's always been a pet peeve of mine for superheroes with secret identities. Why in the world would Dick Grayson, who is traveling across the country with a circus, dress up as Nightwing and combat crime in every city along the way? Wouldn't that 100% give away to everyone in the world that Nightwing is in the circus? I mean, Nightwing showing up in any city outside of Gotham is going to raise eyebrows, but multiple cities in a row? It's too much, and I can't get past its logic. Just have him not dress as Nightwing while he's out of town! Oh well.
In any case, I will say the final issue in this collection is pretty great, and reinvested me in the series right when I was starting to get bored of it. It seems like Nightwing is going to play a pretty major part in the upcoming Batman Family stories, and I'm excited to see where Higgins takes it. This book, though, could've used a little panache.
November 2, 2014
This is a pleasant surprise. I keep discovering small hidden pockets of storytelling talent buried under the dung heap that is the New 52. Nightwing is a reasonably fun book with a too-optimistic-for-his-own-good lead character, and a backstory that just seems to flow together like it wasn't just shat out between lunch and a martini.
I really enjoy how natural and not terribly forced the circus backstory feels, that this is deeply convinced these are the most important details to learn about Dick as we get to know the old/new Nightwing. And I'm sold - it's poetic and it's metaphorical, but because Nightwing is such a physical and kinetic character in battle, it's also very grounded.
As with most of the New 52, I have no idea how much of this history is imported and how much of it is new to this incarnation. For all I know this could be a sad ripoff of better ideas from the 90's, and honestly if that's true then I should go grab an omnibus volume right friggin now because this is pleasant.
Normally I hate narration by the main character, but somehow this just works, didn't annoy me even when he narrated over the guest-star appearances. I don't know how Higgins does it, but this is alright.
The guest appearances are good - fleeting in most cases but again somehow they were natural, as if they had little to do with goosing sales of this book and everything to do with showing us that Grayson does not walk alone in this weird life of his.
Which somehow reminds me of the art - especially the sequences where Nightwing is bouncing all over the page. He just looks so graceful, so happy, without being smug or arrogant - the fluid portrayal in the art is pretty.
I'm looking forward to the next books.
I really enjoy how natural and not terribly forced the circus backstory feels, that this is deeply convinced these are the most important details to learn about Dick as we get to know the old/new Nightwing. And I'm sold - it's poetic and it's metaphorical, but because Nightwing is such a physical and kinetic character in battle, it's also very grounded.
As with most of the New 52, I have no idea how much of this history is imported and how much of it is new to this incarnation. For all I know this could be a sad ripoff of better ideas from the 90's, and honestly if that's true then I should go grab an omnibus volume right friggin now because this is pleasant.
Normally I hate narration by the main character, but somehow this just works, didn't annoy me even when he narrated over the guest-star appearances. I don't know how Higgins does it, but this is alright.
The guest appearances are good - fleeting in most cases but again somehow they were natural, as if they had little to do with goosing sales of this book and everything to do with showing us that Grayson does not walk alone in this weird life of his.
Which somehow reminds me of the art - especially the sequences where Nightwing is bouncing all over the page. He just looks so graceful, so happy, without being smug or arrogant - the fluid portrayal in the art is pretty.
I'm looking forward to the next books.
January 16, 2019
Dick is back in bed but with who, starfire? No, babs? No, actually some chick from his old circus
Traps and trapezes - nightwing is done being Batman and is back to being nightwing and the circus he grew up in named halys circus is back in Gotham and dick feels nostalgic and starts screwing the girl he knew when he was young. Aside from that he is being hunted by a murderer named saiko for revenge reasons.
My thoughts - I was skeptical at first about dicks new suit with the black and red but after reading it and looking at the art I really enjoy the black and red, I also liked the batgirl story with dick. Their dialogue is really nice. I also liked the whole betrayal thing with raya. I also really liked the last issue since there was a lot of action and some backstory for saikos character.
Overall great book
Traps and trapezes - nightwing is done being Batman and is back to being nightwing and the circus he grew up in named halys circus is back in Gotham and dick feels nostalgic and starts screwing the girl he knew when he was young. Aside from that he is being hunted by a murderer named saiko for revenge reasons.
My thoughts - I was skeptical at first about dicks new suit with the black and red but after reading it and looking at the art I really enjoy the black and red, I also liked the batgirl story with dick. Their dialogue is really nice. I also liked the whole betrayal thing with raya. I also really liked the last issue since there was a lot of action and some backstory for saikos character.
Overall great book
May 6, 2013
For me, the treatment of Dick Grayson was going to be the litmus test for the New 52. If there is one thing I love as much as the LSH, it is Nightwing.
With the New 52 reboot, writer, Kyle Higgins, has managed to retain most of what fans liked about Dick Grayson in the previous DCU continuity. He is snarky, sarcastic, smart-assed and impertinent; however, as Higgins successfully showcases, all of those traits are a superficial cover-up for Grayson's shortcomings and ineptitudes.
In "Traps and Trapezes", Richard is forced to confront the death of his circus-family head-on, drudging up emotions of failure, abandonment, betrayal, trepidation-- emotions that Dick has never had the chance to reconcile while under the wing of Batman. This introspection is what has always made Nightwing such an interesting character, because, for all of the confidence that he exudes from behind the mask, he has never been able to come to terms with the life he has been asked to lead. With this storyline, he discovers that there was a whole other life he was supposed to lead... talk about identity crisis!
The artwork is quite good, especially the storyboarding and action sequences. The circus themes are fully visually utilized, even though, as a complete package, the supporting cast is somewhat conventional-looking, especially the central villain.
Kyle Higgins was smart. He stuck very close to the canonized Nightwing, even writing in a year where Dick had to take on the identity of Batman because Bruce Wayne mysteriously was not around. Dick still hasn't figured out love-- all he knows about love is that it has red hair; he still feels like he can never live up to expectations; he's still a cocky brat... In fact, the only thing that has really changed about Dick in the New 52 is his costume (although there is a nice nod of appreciation to the old costume).
I didn't love this collection and I definitely felt that it was far from perfect, but as a gauge for the new DCU, I found it satisfying. As a tie-in to what is happening in the word of Batman, I thought it was fantastic! It supplements the Court of Owls storyline wonderfully while also standing on its own legs as an individual story. I look forward to seeing where this heads for Grayson. And I also want to know where Bruce Wayne took off to for a year (way to parent a kid with abandonment issues, Bruce!).
4/5
With the New 52 reboot, writer, Kyle Higgins, has managed to retain most of what fans liked about Dick Grayson in the previous DCU continuity. He is snarky, sarcastic, smart-assed and impertinent; however, as Higgins successfully showcases, all of those traits are a superficial cover-up for Grayson's shortcomings and ineptitudes.
In "Traps and Trapezes", Richard is forced to confront the death of his circus-family head-on, drudging up emotions of failure, abandonment, betrayal, trepidation-- emotions that Dick has never had the chance to reconcile while under the wing of Batman. This introspection is what has always made Nightwing such an interesting character, because, for all of the confidence that he exudes from behind the mask, he has never been able to come to terms with the life he has been asked to lead. With this storyline, he discovers that there was a whole other life he was supposed to lead... talk about identity crisis!
The artwork is quite good, especially the storyboarding and action sequences. The circus themes are fully visually utilized, even though, as a complete package, the supporting cast is somewhat conventional-looking, especially the central villain.
Kyle Higgins was smart. He stuck very close to the canonized Nightwing, even writing in a year where Dick had to take on the identity of Batman because Bruce Wayne mysteriously was not around. Dick still hasn't figured out love-- all he knows about love is that it has red hair; he still feels like he can never live up to expectations; he's still a cocky brat... In fact, the only thing that has really changed about Dick in the New 52 is his costume (although there is a nice nod of appreciation to the old costume).
I didn't love this collection and I definitely felt that it was far from perfect, but as a gauge for the new DCU, I found it satisfying. As a tie-in to what is happening in the word of Batman, I thought it was fantastic! It supplements the Court of Owls storyline wonderfully while also standing on its own legs as an individual story. I look forward to seeing where this heads for Grayson. And I also want to know where Bruce Wayne took off to for a year (way to parent a kid with abandonment issues, Bruce!).
4/5
February 8, 2024
Puntaje: 4.8 Estrellas.
En el 2024 decidí que releería toda la serie de Nightwing de los Nuevos 52, por lo que he empezado con su maravilloso volúmen 1. Ahora bien, este volúmen es la razón por la que este es uno de mis personajes favoritos de los cómics, pues el primer cómic de esta serie fue el primer cómic de DC que leí en mi vida y que me enganchó con este mundo de los superhéroes y las novelas gráficas.
Recuerdo haber leído este cómic en el año 2011. Recuerdo que había elegido este título porque el traje del personaje me llamaba la atención, y porque no recordaba haberlo visto en ninguna otra serie o película de DC (Que a la fecha era mi único acercamiento a estos personajes). Fue leyendo este cómic que aprendí sobre Dick Grayson y su pasado como Robin, la verdad es que no tenía la más mínima idea y me dejó completamente intrigado.
A partir de este cómic empecé a leer los otros títulos de los Nuevos 52 de la Batifamilia, conociendo más a fondo a cada uno de los personajes que conforman toda esta rama de DC Cómics. Y, como dicen por ahí, todo lo demás es historia.
Debo admitir que, más que una relectura, sentí como si estuviera leyendo esta historia por primera vez. Me asombró darme cuenta de que ya no recordaba nada de lo que ocurría en estos cómics y me dejé sorprender una vez más por los giros de trama que nos presenta el autor.
Amé los cameos de personajes como Batgirl, Alfred y Batman, en especial porque demuestran que todas las series que se publicaban en ese momento estaban conectadas entre sí, y creaban el entorno adecuado para que los lectores leyeran las demás series. Pues los personajes hacían referencia a cosas que pasaban en otras series, llamando la atención del lector.
Por supuesto que disfruté las escenas de acción, que nos presentaba este volumen, además del final, el cual nos presenta un abrebocas al primer evento importante de la batifamilia en los nuevos 52: La noche de los búhos.
He quedado completamente satisfecho con esta lectura. No saben lo feliz que estoy de poder tener toda esta serie en físico, pues leer estos cómics impresos es una experiencia completamente nostálgica y emocionante. Recomiendo este cómic a quien quiera iniciar a aventurarse con los cómics, pues al ser el primer volumen en los Nuevos 52, es un excelente punto de partida para nuevos lectores.
En el 2024 decidí que releería toda la serie de Nightwing de los Nuevos 52, por lo que he empezado con su maravilloso volúmen 1. Ahora bien, este volúmen es la razón por la que este es uno de mis personajes favoritos de los cómics, pues el primer cómic de esta serie fue el primer cómic de DC que leí en mi vida y que me enganchó con este mundo de los superhéroes y las novelas gráficas.
Recuerdo haber leído este cómic en el año 2011. Recuerdo que había elegido este título porque el traje del personaje me llamaba la atención, y porque no recordaba haberlo visto en ninguna otra serie o película de DC (Que a la fecha era mi único acercamiento a estos personajes). Fue leyendo este cómic que aprendí sobre Dick Grayson y su pasado como Robin, la verdad es que no tenía la más mínima idea y me dejó completamente intrigado.
A partir de este cómic empecé a leer los otros títulos de los Nuevos 52 de la Batifamilia, conociendo más a fondo a cada uno de los personajes que conforman toda esta rama de DC Cómics. Y, como dicen por ahí, todo lo demás es historia.
Debo admitir que, más que una relectura, sentí como si estuviera leyendo esta historia por primera vez. Me asombró darme cuenta de que ya no recordaba nada de lo que ocurría en estos cómics y me dejé sorprender una vez más por los giros de trama que nos presenta el autor.
Amé los cameos de personajes como Batgirl, Alfred y Batman, en especial porque demuestran que todas las series que se publicaban en ese momento estaban conectadas entre sí, y creaban el entorno adecuado para que los lectores leyeran las demás series. Pues los personajes hacían referencia a cosas que pasaban en otras series, llamando la atención del lector.
Por supuesto que disfruté las escenas de acción, que nos presentaba este volumen, además del final, el cual nos presenta un abrebocas al primer evento importante de la batifamilia en los nuevos 52: La noche de los búhos.
He quedado completamente satisfecho con esta lectura. No saben lo feliz que estoy de poder tener toda esta serie en físico, pues leer estos cómics impresos es una experiencia completamente nostálgica y emocionante. Recomiendo este cómic a quien quiera iniciar a aventurarse con los cómics, pues al ser el primer volumen en los Nuevos 52, es un excelente punto de partida para nuevos lectores.
June 16, 2013
If this was my first encounter with Nightwing/Dick Grayson I think I still would've given it 3 stars.
However, it isn't. Yes, the NEW 52 changed the DC Universe, and I'm very surprised how normal Dick Grayson is now. One of the villans states to Nightwing "You're only supposed to be the fiercest killer. Nobody said anything about the greatest detective." And it is so true. This Nightwing has so much more action than crime solving on the page.
I haven't read all the other NEW 52 titles (I remain a sidekick junkie) so I'm not sure how Bruce Wayne's character is, but their relationship also seems very different. Perhaps Dick's upbringing by Bruce is different too because Dick doesn't seem to see Bruce as a father or role model and the ending pages felt awkward. Dick seems emotionally disabled (his parents' murders can still be used to hinder him), and he actually pleads with a woman "Help me understand. . . PLEASE. I need you to help me understand why?" When it's pretty obvious (if he wasn't taking everything so personally).
Probably if I wasn't so confused by this not fully evolved character I would like it better. Hopefully v.2 he will fill out more and get his legs under himself. . . .
However, it isn't. Yes, the NEW 52 changed the DC Universe, and I'm very surprised how normal Dick Grayson is now. One of the villans states to Nightwing "You're only supposed to be the fiercest killer. Nobody said anything about the greatest detective." And it is so true. This Nightwing has so much more action than crime solving on the page.
I haven't read all the other NEW 52 titles (I remain a sidekick junkie) so I'm not sure how Bruce Wayne's character is, but their relationship also seems very different. Perhaps Dick's upbringing by Bruce is different too because Dick doesn't seem to see Bruce as a father or role model and the ending pages felt awkward. Dick seems emotionally disabled (his parents' murders can still be used to hinder him), and he actually pleads with a woman "Help me understand. . . PLEASE. I need you to help me understand why?" When it's pretty obvious (if he wasn't taking everything so personally).
Probably if I wasn't so confused by this not fully evolved character I would like it better. Hopefully v.2 he will fill out more and get his legs under himself. . . .
July 19, 2017
I'm finally getting around to reading the Nightwing New 52 series, and, as expected, I am thoroughly enjoying it. Dick Grayson is one of my favorite comic book characters, whether as Robin or as Nightwing. I like that he manages to have all the drive of Batman, but without the gloom. He is subject to downhearted moments, of course, but he didn't let his childhood trauma darken his spirit the way Bruce did. As such, his character is an interesting compliment to Batman's.
I also enjoy his personal narrative, which is more lighthearted--and even humorous--in comparison to that of other members of the Bat Family that I have read (namely Batman and Batgirl).
In addition, I also really like the over all concept in this volume--of Nightwing accompanying Haly's Circus. It provided for different locales, and therein, different storylines that wouldn't be found in Gotham.
Above all, however, I love how each of the Bat stories are so intricately woven into a larger plot that connects all of them together--in this instance, the Court of Owls. But, at the same time, the Nightwing comics still have their own separate story, with Dick investigating the mystery at Haly's. In short, I'm excited to see what adventures are awaiting Nightwing next.
I also enjoy his personal narrative, which is more lighthearted--and even humorous--in comparison to that of other members of the Bat Family that I have read (namely Batman and Batgirl).
In addition, I also really like the over all concept in this volume--of Nightwing accompanying Haly's Circus. It provided for different locales, and therein, different storylines that wouldn't be found in Gotham.
Above all, however, I love how each of the Bat stories are so intricately woven into a larger plot that connects all of them together--in this instance, the Court of Owls. But, at the same time, the Nightwing comics still have their own separate story, with Dick investigating the mystery at Haly's. In short, I'm excited to see what adventures are awaiting Nightwing next.
October 15, 2012
Really enjoyed this. Whilst the plot isn't anything too special, and there are a few issues mid-arc that feel a little filler-ish, Higgins makes Nightwing an enjoyable protagonist, and his narration keeps the book flowing nicely. I also liked the addition of Batgirl for an issue, and everything comes to a head nicely. The art is also excellent, even with two or three fill-in artists to keep things on target. Eagerly awaiting volume 2.
October 12, 2022
Overall 3.5 stars.
A good beginning to the New 52 version of Nightwing, with tie-ins to the Court of Owls storyline and more background information that fills in the gaps regarding Dick Grayson's early days with family at the circus.
Despite an assortment of artists across the seven issues, the work is consistent - - with the art of Eddy Barrows the most impressive and visually engaging.
A good beginning to the New 52 version of Nightwing, with tie-ins to the Court of Owls storyline and more background information that fills in the gaps regarding Dick Grayson's early days with family at the circus.
Despite an assortment of artists across the seven issues, the work is consistent - - with the art of Eddy Barrows the most impressive and visually engaging.
March 30, 2015
Kyle Higgins did a great job writing nightwing.But i wish it focused more on nightwing than his love life.Basically this volume is the beginning of the court of owls.But i wish they included more members of the batfam, would've been more interesting.I hope in the next volume they focus more on the hero than the guy under the mask.Other than these small flaws it was a great solid story.
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