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Nightwing (1995) #1-4
Nightwing: Ties That Bind
The tragic death of Dick Grayson's parents happened a long time ago. Those responsible had been punished. It was a chapter of his life he felt was closed. He'd mourned and he'd let go.
He had moved on. He joined Batman in his crusade against crime as the costumed hero Robin. In time, Dick passed the mantle of Robin on to another and created his own identity as Nightwing.
Now, new information about his parents' death has come to light, and Nightwing is drawn into a complicated web of political intrigue in a foreign land.
He's asking questions he'd never thought to ask and wondering whether he'll live long enough to find the answers.
He has no choice.
Collects Alfred's Return #1, Nightwing mini series #1-4.
He had moved on. He joined Batman in his crusade against crime as the costumed hero Robin. In time, Dick passed the mantle of Robin on to another and created his own identity as Nightwing.
Now, new information about his parents' death has come to light, and Nightwing is drawn into a complicated web of political intrigue in a foreign land.
He's asking questions he'd never thought to ask and wondering whether he'll live long enough to find the answers.
He has no choice.
Collects Alfred's Return #1, Nightwing mini series #1-4.
144 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 1997
3 people are currently reading
219 people want to read
About the author
Alan Grant
1,716 books144 followersAlan Grant was a Scottish comic book writer known for writing Judge Dredd in 2000 AD as well as various Batman titles during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is also the creator of the character Anarky.
Alan Grant first entered the comics industry in 1967 when he became an editor for D.C. Thomson before moving to London from Dundee in 1970 to work for IPC on various romance magazines. After going back to college and having a series of jobs, Grant found himself back in Dundee and living on Social Security. He then met John Wagner, another former D.C. Thompson editor, who was helping put together a new science fiction comic for IPC, 2000 A.D., and was unable to complete his other work. Wagner asked Grant if he could help him write the Tarzan comic he was working on; so began the Wagner/Grant writing partnership.
The pair eventually co-wrote Judge Dredd. They would work on other popular strips for the comic, including Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog using the pseudonym T.B. Grover. Grant also worked on other people's stories, changing and adding dialogue, most notably Harry Twenty on the High Rock, written by Gerry Finley-Day. Judge Dredd would be Grant's main concern for much of the 1980s. Grant and Wagner had developed the strip into the most popular in 2000AD as well as creating lengthy epic storylines such as The Apocalypse War. Grant also wrote for other IPC comics such as the revamped Eagle.
By the late 1980s, Grant and Wagner were about to move into the American comic market. Their first title was a 12-issue miniseries called Outcasts for DC Comics. Although it wasn't a success, it paved the way for the pair to write Batman stories in Detective Comics from issue 583, largely with Norm Breyfogle on art duties across the various Batman titles Grant moved to. After a dozen issues, Wagner left Grant as sole writer. Grant was one of the main Batman writers until the late 1990s. The pair also created a four issue series for Epic Comics called The Last American. This series, as well as the Chopper storyline in Judge Dredd, is blamed for the breakup of the Wagner/Grant partnership. The pair split strips, with Wagner keeping Judge Dredd and Grant keeping Strontium Dog and Judge Anderson. Grant and Wagner continue to work together on special projects such as the Batman/Judge Dredd crossover Judgement on Gotham. During the late 1980s, Grant experienced a philosophical transformation and declared himself an anarchist. The creation of the supervillain Anarky was initially intended as a vehicle for exploring his political opinions through the comic medium. In the following years, he would continue to utilize the character in a similar fashion as his philosophy evolved.
Grant's projects at the start of the 90s included writing Detective Comics and Strontium Dog, but two projects in particular are especially notable. The first is The Bogie Man, a series co-written by Wagner which was the pair's first venture into independent publishing. The second is Lobo, a character created by Keith Giffen as a supporting character in The Omega Men. Lobo gained his own four issue mini series in 1990 which was drawn by Simon Bisley. This was a parody of the 'dark, gritty' comics of the time and proved hugely popular. After several other miniseries (all written by Grant, sometimes with Giffen as co-writer), Lobo received his own ongoing series. Grant was also writing L.E.G.I.O.N. (a Legion of Super-Heroes spin-off) and The Demon (a revival of Jack Kirby's charac
Alan Grant first entered the comics industry in 1967 when he became an editor for D.C. Thomson before moving to London from Dundee in 1970 to work for IPC on various romance magazines. After going back to college and having a series of jobs, Grant found himself back in Dundee and living on Social Security. He then met John Wagner, another former D.C. Thompson editor, who was helping put together a new science fiction comic for IPC, 2000 A.D., and was unable to complete his other work. Wagner asked Grant if he could help him write the Tarzan comic he was working on; so began the Wagner/Grant writing partnership.
The pair eventually co-wrote Judge Dredd. They would work on other popular strips for the comic, including Robo-Hunter and Strontium Dog using the pseudonym T.B. Grover. Grant also worked on other people's stories, changing and adding dialogue, most notably Harry Twenty on the High Rock, written by Gerry Finley-Day. Judge Dredd would be Grant's main concern for much of the 1980s. Grant and Wagner had developed the strip into the most popular in 2000AD as well as creating lengthy epic storylines such as The Apocalypse War. Grant also wrote for other IPC comics such as the revamped Eagle.
By the late 1980s, Grant and Wagner were about to move into the American comic market. Their first title was a 12-issue miniseries called Outcasts for DC Comics. Although it wasn't a success, it paved the way for the pair to write Batman stories in Detective Comics from issue 583, largely with Norm Breyfogle on art duties across the various Batman titles Grant moved to. After a dozen issues, Wagner left Grant as sole writer. Grant was one of the main Batman writers until the late 1990s. The pair also created a four issue series for Epic Comics called The Last American. This series, as well as the Chopper storyline in Judge Dredd, is blamed for the breakup of the Wagner/Grant partnership. The pair split strips, with Wagner keeping Judge Dredd and Grant keeping Strontium Dog and Judge Anderson. Grant and Wagner continue to work together on special projects such as the Batman/Judge Dredd crossover Judgement on Gotham. During the late 1980s, Grant experienced a philosophical transformation and declared himself an anarchist. The creation of the supervillain Anarky was initially intended as a vehicle for exploring his political opinions through the comic medium. In the following years, he would continue to utilize the character in a similar fashion as his philosophy evolved.
Grant's projects at the start of the 90s included writing Detective Comics and Strontium Dog, but two projects in particular are especially notable. The first is The Bogie Man, a series co-written by Wagner which was the pair's first venture into independent publishing. The second is Lobo, a character created by Keith Giffen as a supporting character in The Omega Men. Lobo gained his own four issue mini series in 1990 which was drawn by Simon Bisley. This was a parody of the 'dark, gritty' comics of the time and proved hugely popular. After several other miniseries (all written by Grant, sometimes with Giffen as co-writer), Lobo received his own ongoing series. Grant was also writing L.E.G.I.O.N. (a Legion of Super-Heroes spin-off) and The Demon (a revival of Jack Kirby's charac
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 28, 2022
(B) 74% | More than Satisfactory
Notes: Disposable, unambitious and lazy, its paper tiger villains may as well be cardboard standees for all the fight in them.
Notes: Disposable, unambitious and lazy, its paper tiger villains may as well be cardboard standees for all the fight in them.
August 23, 2017
Dennis O'Neil spins a good yarn. His take on Nightwing is pretty good and he makes Dick a character you can identify with as he goes through his "dark night of the soul."
The problem here is that O'Neil tries to take on too many story lines at one time. Is Dick the wounded warrior searching for an identity? Is Dick social crusader, tackling issues of social injustice, while trying to clean up Gotham? Or, is Dick battling international intrigue and working to topple a foreign regime dedicated to ethnic cleansing? In "Ties That Bind," Dick is all three, and none of the stories satisfy since none of them is explored in depth. Each story is rushed through and then in one or two pages the story is quickly concluded and tied up with a nice pink ribbon until we get the bonding moment with Dick and Bruce.
My biggest complaint here is not with the writing, but with the art work. Dick is drawn terribly. Is he the newest Thunder Cat?
A Billy Ray Cyrus clone with mullet and excessively hairy forearms?
Or, Fabio?
February 25, 2020
This version includes Alfred's Return but I read that separately from this series;
Nightwing: Alfred's Return
This comic contained the first short volume of the Nightwing series. I enjoyed seeing him try to figure out his place and what he wanted to be, apart from Batman. We also see him investigate an event that has haunted him for 15 years. It's interesting to see his journey and how his thought process is almost the same as Batman's. Overall, a good comic if you want to start reading more Nightwing stories that don't specifically include Batman.
Nightwing: Alfred's Return
This comic contained the first short volume of the Nightwing series. I enjoyed seeing him try to figure out his place and what he wanted to be, apart from Batman. We also see him investigate an event that has haunted him for 15 years. It's interesting to see his journey and how his thought process is almost the same as Batman's. Overall, a good comic if you want to start reading more Nightwing stories that don't specifically include Batman.
March 5, 2012
A story from the Batman master as he deals with a grown up Robin in his new guise as Nightwing.
January 11, 2026
Both the plot and the art sucked ngl. The plot specifically was so full of misogyny and racism I was going crazy.
The only thing that saved this comic is the last convo between Batman and Nightwing, very emotional.
The only thing that saved this comic is the last convo between Batman and Nightwing, very emotional.
December 9, 2016
This book collects an Alfred story that also features Nightwing, and the four issue Nightwing mini series from the mid-90s.
The Alfred story takes place after he has left the employ of Bruce Wayne. Nightwing follows him to Europe, where they get involved in a military coup attempt against the British government.
In the Nightwing mini, Dick Grayson decides he wants to be a normal guy, but that doesn't work out. He realizes that Batman and Alfred gave him the best life he could have had. Yay!
Meh. None of this was all that memorable, story-wise. Mawkish at best. I guess there was the intent to flesh out Dick Grayson's relationship with both Alfred and Bruce Wayne/Batman, and it does that, but after reading about Dick Grayson/Robin/Nightwing for a long time before this, it's not all that revealing of anything new. It seems a bit like filler, to be honest. Also, after reading this, it's just even more difficult to buy into Scott Snyder's Court of Owls bullshit.
The art in the Alfred story is by Dick Giordano, who is a DC legend, but it's not his best work. The mini-series features art by Greg Land, and it's atrocious 90s art with skewed body proportions and long hair. Nightwing has a pony tail as well as Fabio-like hair here, and it had to have been godawful even 20 years ago. Seriously bad, terrible art by Mr Land.
This book leads into Nightwing's first solo series, so it's a bit of a must for that (he gets his new costume here, after putting aside the George Perez "disco" uniform). These issues may be included in DC's new Nightwing editions, but I'm reading the original collected books, not the newer ones that are ten issues or so long.
The Alfred story takes place after he has left the employ of Bruce Wayne. Nightwing follows him to Europe, where they get involved in a military coup attempt against the British government.
In the Nightwing mini, Dick Grayson decides he wants to be a normal guy, but that doesn't work out. He realizes that Batman and Alfred gave him the best life he could have had. Yay!
Meh. None of this was all that memorable, story-wise. Mawkish at best. I guess there was the intent to flesh out Dick Grayson's relationship with both Alfred and Bruce Wayne/Batman, and it does that, but after reading about Dick Grayson/Robin/Nightwing for a long time before this, it's not all that revealing of anything new. It seems a bit like filler, to be honest. Also, after reading this, it's just even more difficult to buy into Scott Snyder's Court of Owls bullshit.
The art in the Alfred story is by Dick Giordano, who is a DC legend, but it's not his best work. The mini-series features art by Greg Land, and it's atrocious 90s art with skewed body proportions and long hair. Nightwing has a pony tail as well as Fabio-like hair here, and it had to have been godawful even 20 years ago. Seriously bad, terrible art by Mr Land.
This book leads into Nightwing's first solo series, so it's a bit of a must for that (he gets his new costume here, after putting aside the George Perez "disco" uniform). These issues may be included in DC's new Nightwing editions, but I'm reading the original collected books, not the newer ones that are ten issues or so long.
February 2, 2020
Nightwing is a limited series published by DC Comics that features Dick Grayson as Nightwing, formerly the first Robin. Nightwing: Ties that Bind collects all four issues of the 1995 limited series and the one-shot special: Nightwing: Alfred's Return.
"The Britannia Coup" is a one-issue special (Nightiwng: Alfred's Return) that has Dick Grayson as Nightwing go after Alfred Pennyworth has quit his job as Bruce Wayne's butler, aide, and confidant. After a dalliance with an old flame, his probably son, and criminals that would want to do harm to Great Britain, Alfred Pennyworth returns to Gotham City with Nightwing.
"The Resignation", "The Renewal", "The Oubliette", and "Dead Simple" are one-issue interconnecting story (Nightwing #1–4) where Dick Grayson decides to retire from vigilantism, which doesn't last long because soon afterwards he discovered evidence that the murder of his parents may not have been what he had always thought. Taking up a new uniform, Grayson infiltrates the fictional country of Kravia to find his answers. Afterwards, Grayson decides to stay as Nightwing to continue his fight on crime.
With the exception of one issue: Nightwing: Alfred's Return, which was written by Alan Grant, Dennis O'Neil penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, these experiments with the special and limited series had practically launched the long lasting on-going series.
Again, with the exception of one issue: Nightwing: Alfred's Return, which was penciled by Dick Giordano, Greg Land 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: Ties that Bind is a rather good series for a simple and quick introduction to Dick Grayson as Nightwing – at least in this particular continuity.
"The Britannia Coup" is a one-issue special (Nightiwng: Alfred's Return) that has Dick Grayson as Nightwing go after Alfred Pennyworth has quit his job as Bruce Wayne's butler, aide, and confidant. After a dalliance with an old flame, his probably son, and criminals that would want to do harm to Great Britain, Alfred Pennyworth returns to Gotham City with Nightwing.
"The Resignation", "The Renewal", "The Oubliette", and "Dead Simple" are one-issue interconnecting story (Nightwing #1–4) where Dick Grayson decides to retire from vigilantism, which doesn't last long because soon afterwards he discovered evidence that the murder of his parents may not have been what he had always thought. Taking up a new uniform, Grayson infiltrates the fictional country of Kravia to find his answers. Afterwards, Grayson decides to stay as Nightwing to continue his fight on crime.
With the exception of one issue: Nightwing: Alfred's Return, which was written by Alan Grant, Dennis O'Neil penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, these experiments with the special and limited series had practically launched the long lasting on-going series.
Again, with the exception of one issue: Nightwing: Alfred's Return, which was penciled by Dick Giordano, Greg Land 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: Ties that Bind is a rather good series for a simple and quick introduction to Dick Grayson as Nightwing – at least in this particular continuity.
May 10, 2022
The early 90s coloring is hard on the eyes, but this is still readable. The Alfred one-shot is better than the limited series. Maybe for its brevity. I liked how Nightwing quickly gets into his iconic black and blue look, but unfortunately he still has that early 90s ponytail. No man has ever looked good in a ponytail. Objective fact.
The stories are very rote and inconsequential but there are a few good moments. Especially in the end, there’s a good scene between Dick and Bruce that makes sense and resolves the conflict of the setup and the whole “discovering family” story. I hate when their dynamic is “you’re not my real dad anyway, I’ll never be like you!” It rings true as a temporary storyline, as seen here, but I’ve seen it so often I’m thinking maybe it was the status quo. I’ll find out in Nightwing’s first ongoing series, which I hope is better than this.
(I can’t believe there’s no Omnibus collecting old Nightwing stories. Seems a no-brainer.)
The stories are very rote and inconsequential but there are a few good moments. Especially in the end, there’s a good scene between Dick and Bruce that makes sense and resolves the conflict of the setup and the whole “discovering family” story. I hate when their dynamic is “you’re not my real dad anyway, I’ll never be like you!” It rings true as a temporary storyline, as seen here, but I’ve seen it so often I’m thinking maybe it was the status quo. I’ll find out in Nightwing’s first ongoing series, which I hope is better than this.
(I can’t believe there’s no Omnibus collecting old Nightwing stories. Seems a no-brainer.)
May 17, 2022
Yikes, this was just a mess chile. Like what was the point of Miggy, why was there this convoluted coup plot made by the Prime Minister, why did the villain literally do nothing, why was Duck such an a-hole, there’s just so much wrong with this. It tries to tell a story kinda like Made in the USA did, except it fails because it’s just doing too much. Like we didn’t need all that just to have two terribly written twists, cmon now…
Low 6
Low 6
June 13, 2022
Oh such heavily 90s influence, which makes sense as this storytline came out in 1995, when Nightwing first came out. Alfred is featured prominently as he left Bruce. Dick gets to the bottom of the death of his parents.
January 5, 2026
Very cool comic, but I don't quite understand the moral. (Dick Grayson is incredibly handsome.)
October 24, 2024
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
I'm finally going through my physical tv, film etc. tie in library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.
I'm only adding one book per author and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
I'm finally going through my physical tv, film etc. tie in library owned book list, to add more older basic reviews. If I liked a book enough to keep then they are at the least a 3 star.
I'm only adding one book per author and I'm not going to re-read every book to be more accurate, not when I have 1000s of new to me authors to try (I can't say no to free books....)
First time read the author's work?: Yes
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
July 6, 2012
In this collection of some early adventures of Nightwing we get to see him deal with things on his own without Batman’s guidance. The plotline is decent if not a little hokey. While I have always disliked most of Nightwing’s early looks the art here is pretty good considering the time period. Overall a decent Dick Grayson story.
February 18, 2013
Nightwing pondering retirement but then leads back to "Kravia" and prevents ethnic cleansing and his connection to the Kravian prince. This was the mini-series that set up the Nightwing stand alone series.
July 20, 2016
Pretty good for the first collection. I really liked learning more about Alfred like I got to in the first one. I don't actually know a ton about Robin but I did wonder if him leaving had left a rift between he and Batman and I got to see that explored in this book.
December 3, 2008
Made our list of 20. Its (part of) the story of Dick Grayson, aka Robin, the boy wonder, in his adult persona. Also includes some personal background on the stoic butler.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews