Nightwing (2016-) #111

Nightwing by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo (single issues)

by Tom Taylor, Sami Basri (inker), Francesco Francavilla (inker)

Something’s very wrong with Nightwing and it’s starting to catch up to him. Can the world’s greatest detective help him figure out what’s going on before it’s too late? The Plague has left 14th Century Europe in chaos, as a young man known only as the Son of Gray hunts the man who killed his father. A story of revenge, told in two parts.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics

34 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2024

About the author

Once a professional juggler and fire eater, Tom Taylor is a #1 New York Times Bestselling, multi-award-winning comic book writer, playwright and screenwriter.

Well known for his work with DC Comics and Marvel, Taylor is the co-creator of NEVERLANDERS from Penguin Random House, SEVEN SECRETS from Boom Studios and the Aurealis-Award-winning graphic novel series THE DEEP. Taylor is also the Head Writer and Executive Producer of The Deep animated series, four seasons of which is broadcast in over 140 countries.

He is perhaps best known for the DC Comics series, DCEASED (Shadow Awards Winner), NIGHTWING (nominated for 5 Eisner Awards), SUPERMAN: SON OF KAL-EL (GLAAD Award Nominee), INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US, SUICIDE SQUAD, EARTH 2 and BATMAN/SUPERMAN as well as Marvel's FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD SPIDER-MAN, ALL NEW WOLVERINE, X-MEN: RED, DARK AGES and SUPERIOR IRON MAN. Taylor is also the writer of many Star Wars series, which include STAR WARS: INVASION and STAR WARS: BLOOD TIES (Stan Lee Excelsior Award winner). Taylor has written for Marvel, DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, IDW Publishing, Boom Studios, Wildstorm, 2000 AD and Gestalt Comics.

He can be followed on twitter @TomTaylorMade.

Reviews

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun Batman/Nightwing team up. It helped reiterate how much Nightwing has grown into his own, and I love the relationship between the two as it stands, now.

There's some leftover issues from the previous storyline(s) so it'll be interesting to see how this affects him going forward. I also liked the cheeky references about other things Batman has been doing with his time.

This is such a solid run, I'm really enjoying it.

[Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would've been a solid 4 stars but the backup was horrendous and let it down.

Main story: 4 ⭐
Backup: 1⭐

[Sid · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh dick really is his special favourite child huh (as he should be)

[Hannah Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5/5

[Colin Post · Rating 4 out of 5]

It seems like this book is hitting its stride again, just in time for a return of Bruno Redondo to interiors! Tom Taylor focuses on the relationships that have made Nightwing who he is, which was always the strength of the storytelling during the first very strong arcs of this story. I love the little moments of intimacy, like Batman calling up Oracle to locate Nightwing…and him being in the shower at her apartment.

For once, the backup story may be just as good as the main story. Sign me up for Francavilla illustrating an alternative historical fiction of Nightwing fighting corrupt papal clowns in the late Middle Ages!!

[cauldronofevil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually do like this cover.

”Issue #111” starts with Heartless killing a victim in Gotham at night. This time Batman arrives at the scene. He finds a child also at the scene. It brings back memories.

We flash back to when Dick Grayson’s parents died. Shelton was there.

Batman calls Oracle looking for Nightwing.

”What’s that noise? It sounds like goons.”

Sam Basri is doing art and I’m enjoying the change of pace.

Nightwing joins Batman to stomp some goons. Batman says that Heartless is in Gotham. Nightwing tells him that he hasn’t been seen since killing Blockbuster. Heartless is probably hiding because the Titans are now in Blüdhaven. Batman also needs Nightwing to talk to the police commissioner - Renee Montoya - something he’s not able to do as easily. They talk to Renee together.

”Thank you for not turning this into a thing, Batman.”

Nightwing is much better with the kid. He waits with him until his uncle comes to get him.

Batman & Nightwing go to investigate the victim’s body at the coroners office. Nightwing tells Batman he’s been afraid of heights for the last few weeks.

Examining the body it looks like a copycat making it look like Heartless did this.

This was really good. It’s always good when those two work a case together.

4 stars

”The Son of Gray: Part 1 of 2“ starts in 14th century Normandy.

It feels like an origin story for the Shining Knight!

Someone shot full of arrows goes to a hut and dies in a young man’s arms. The young man grabs a spear from a dead soldier nearby (?) and puts on the soldiers tabard. The man was apparently a merchant named Grey.

The young man comes across a burning wagon - apparently the merchants’.

I have a punctuation book on my to-read pile, I just haven’t gotten to it yet.

The young man buries the merchant and runs to a church where soldiers are celebrating. He attacks them all.

A priest appears (who has been narrating this whole story) and confronts him.

Meh. I’m not really fond of these ‘every-relative-was-also-a-superhero’ stories and they’ve done it so much that you can’t blame me for being skeptical.

1 star

Together the last story drags this book to 3 stars. I’d much rather have seen more pages on the first story than this - which at 8 pages could easily have been two pages.

[Monita Roy Mohan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why is Nightwing back in Gotham? Why does the story keep meandering off to other places and other arcs? This dang Heartless arc has been going on forever and it’s really beginning to feel like we’re stuck in place.

Everything about this issue felt familiar—will the story actually deal with what happens to a kid who loses their parents and doesn’t get snapped up by a rich dude who makes him an heir? Why is the kid in the midst of this story also rich, and how will his story differ from that of Shelton’s?

I don’t know if any of the Batman comics have dealt with what happens to poor orphans who don’t have Batman in their lives—there may have been one baddie in the past few years, but I didn’t read enough to see if they actually investigated that kind of storyline.

I’m also frustrated that Babs is put on the back burner. Wouldn’t she have been the ideal person to go to to vet Iko’s uncle? Nightwing just trusted this dude and now Iko is probably in a worse state than before. Curiously, Iko totes fits the attributes of the Robins, but I doubt he’ll be a new Robin or taken in by Bruce—what would be the logic in not taking him in if he’s left without any family?

We also have another reminder of Dick being unable to jump. It’s got worse, when I don’t know. Maybe in other titles I haven’t read. There better be a good explanation for this because at the moment it just seems like an annoying contrivance.

The mini story was not for me. I’m glad we have something to remind us of Dick’s Romani heritage, but the idea that he was destined to be a hero fighting with sticks is tired. I don’t like destiny stories, I prefer to know people choose to be the best at what they can do—at least in stories. I also don’t care for the religious angle, even if it’s too highlight the ludicrous nature of religion. Why do we need it at all in this title?

[Kastie Pavlik · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels so good to be reading Nightwing again!! This issue doesn't disappoint with the feels. Another child with a murdered parent. Of course Bruce knows exactly who to go to, and we get Alfred flashbacks to prove it. Not that we need them, but I still miss Alfred so much and love how he's popped up in Damian and Dick's stories as a key player in developing their stability and moral compass. The story itself is also interesting. Not particularly new or hard to see coming, but interesting.

[Steven Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant writing

Fantastic characterization and superb storytelling with beautiful artwork, what more could you ask for with a comic book? My love Nightwing just keeps growing,he's a brilliant character and his soul and spirit always shines out as good and kind. Plus he's very nice to look at with the amazing artist at work here. Great story with lots of detective work!

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thankfully we're past the whole pirate thing. I was pretty bored with it. I was wondering about Heartless, and I wanted to get back to the main story. I think I might have disliked the 'interlude' if it hadn't broken up the main story I was ACTUALLY interested in.

Although I am curious to see if there's any ripple effect from what was in Dick's vault.

[Devin Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're back! Good Nightwing is back!

Tommy, just give me these goosebumpy feel-good meditations on love and such, and you've got me!

The backup is merely unimpressive. I'm not going to give this less than five stars for it.

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even Batman knows Nightwing is better than Batman.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 let down by the extra story but main story was so good

[Nightwing’s Thiccness · Rating 5 out of 5]

It just always feels good nowadays to see Bats and Nightwing together and neither is considered to be the sidekick.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It looks like Heartless has returned. This time, in Gotham!

[Marsh Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dick Grayson is just the big brother to everyone, isn't he? Love that about him. What's going on with Iko and his super sketchy uncle, though?

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25