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Nightwing (1996) (New Edition Trades)
Nightwing Vol. 1: Bludhaven
Dennis O'Neil introduces Dick Grayson's brand new costume and career in Nightwing's first solo series!
Nightwing flies solo as Dick Grayson uncovers new facts about the murder of his parents--evidence suggesting there was far more to their deaths than he ever suspected. But shadowy forces have strong reasons for keeping the truth buried and send assassins to silence him forever.
Collecting NIGHTWING #1-4, NIGHTWING #1-8.
Nightwing flies solo as Dick Grayson uncovers new facts about the murder of his parents--evidence suggesting there was far more to their deaths than he ever suspected. But shadowy forces have strong reasons for keeping the truth buried and send assassins to silence him forever.
Collecting NIGHTWING #1-4, NIGHTWING #1-8.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
80 people are currently reading
771 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Dixon
3,426 books1,029 followersCharles "Chuck" Dixon is an American comic book writer, perhaps best-known for long runs on Batman titles in the 1990s.
His earliest comics work was writing Evangeline first for Comico Comics in 1984 (then later for First Comics, who published the on-going series), on which he worked with his then-wife, the artist Judith Hunt. His big break came one year later, when editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' The Savage Sword of Conan.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy with artist Tim Truman. Continuing to write for both Marvel and (mainly) Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He also produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989.
His Punisher OGN Kingdom Gone (August, 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal (and later, more monthly and occasional Punisher titles), and also brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Denny O'Neil, who asked him to produce a Robin mini-series. The mini proved popular enough to spawn two sequels - The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992) - which led to both an ongoing monthly series (which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics), and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644-738 through the major Batman stories KnightFall & KnightsEnd (for which he helped create the key character of Bane), DC One Million , Contagion , Legacy , Cataclysm and No Man's Land . Much of his run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman-writer in the mid-1990s (rivalled perhaps in history by Bill Finger and Dennis O'Neil) - in addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin , Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101) and Batgirl , as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey .
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics (and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover), he also found time to launch Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He also wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow , regularly having about seven titles out each and every month between the years 1993 and 1998.
In March, 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, salthough he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One. For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the out-going Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March '03), The Silken Ghost (June '03) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct '03), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He also wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November '03 and April '04, the last released shortly before CrossGen's complete collapse forced the cancellation of all of its comics, before which Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May '04). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity."
His earliest comics work was writing Evangeline first for Comico Comics in 1984 (then later for First Comics, who published the on-going series), on which he worked with his then-wife, the artist Judith Hunt. His big break came one year later, when editor Larry Hama hired him to write back-up stories for Marvel Comics' The Savage Sword of Conan.
In 1986, he began working for Eclipse Comics, writing Airboy with artist Tim Truman. Continuing to write for both Marvel and (mainly) Eclipse on these titles, as well as launching Strike! with artist Tom Lyle in August 1987 and Valkyrie with artist Paul Gulacy in October 1987, he began work on Carl Potts' Alien Legion series for Marvel's Epic Comics imprint, under editor Archie Goodwin. He also produced a three-issue adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit for Eclipse with artist David Wenzel between 1989 and 1990, and began writing Marc Spector: Moon Knight in June 1989.
His Punisher OGN Kingdom Gone (August, 1990) led to him working on the monthly The Punisher War Journal (and later, more monthly and occasional Punisher titles), and also brought him to the attention of DC Comics editor Denny O'Neil, who asked him to produce a Robin mini-series. The mini proved popular enough to spawn two sequels - The Joker's Wild (1991) and Cry of the Huntress (1992) - which led to both an ongoing monthly series (which Dixon wrote for 100 issues before leaving to work with CrossGen Comics), and to Dixon working on Detective Comics from #644-738 through the major Batman stories KnightFall & KnightsEnd (for which he helped create the key character of Bane), DC One Million , Contagion , Legacy , Cataclysm and No Man's Land . Much of his run was illustrated by Graham Nolan.
He was DC's most prolific Batman-writer in the mid-1990s (rivalled perhaps in history by Bill Finger and Dennis O'Neil) - in addition to writing Detective Comics he pioneered the individual series for Robin , Nightwing (which he wrote for 70 issues, and returned to briefly with 2005's #101) and Batgirl , as well as creating the team and book Birds of Prey .
While writing multiple Punisher and Batman comics (and October 1994's Punisher/Batman crossover), he also found time to launch Team 7 for Jim Lee's WildStorm/Image and Prophet for Rob Liefeld's Extreme Studios. He also wrote many issues of Catwoman and Green Arrow , regularly having about seven titles out each and every month between the years 1993 and 1998.
In March, 2002, Dixon turned his attention to CrossGen's output, salthough he co-wrote with Scott Beatty the origin of Barbara Gordon's Batgirl in 2003's Batgirl: Year One. For CrossGen he took over some of the comics of the out-going Mark Waid, taking over Sigil from #21, and Crux with #13. He launched Way of the Rat in June 2002, Brath (March '03), The Silken Ghost (June '03) and the pirate comic El Cazador (Oct '03), as well as editing Robert Rodi's non-Sigilverse The Crossovers. He also wrote the Ruse spin-off Archard's Agents one-shots in January and November '03 and April '04, the last released shortly before CrossGen's complete collapse forced the cancellation of all of its comics, before which Dixon wrote a single issue of Sojourn (May '04). Dixon's Way of the Rat #24, Brath #14 and El Cazador #6 were among the last comics released from the then-bankrupt publisher.
On June 10, 2008, Dixon announced on his forum that he was no longer "employed by DC Comics in any capacity."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
March 22, 2015
Another buddy-read with my shallow comic readin' pals!
DC’s latest re-release of old the old Nightwing series starts here. This one collects the 4 issue Nightwing miniseries by Denny O’Neil and Greg Land and the first 8 issues of the original Nightwing ongoing series by Chuck Dixon, Scott McDaniel, and Karl Story.
So let’s get this outta the way. Denny O’Neil definitely doesn’t do it for me. Even when I was a lot less critical back in the day his stuff was bad. Dick calls a guy “Bucko”. I haven’t heard that shit since the Fonz. That said, I can see why it was collected here as it intros the then “new” suit (replacing the God-awful “disco” Nightwing getup) and explains why Dick makes the jaunt down to Bludhaven to set up shop. The dialogue is just painful. And Greg Land. Woof. Never been a favorite of mine and boy did he carve that into stone with Grayson’s polka dot shirt, Hammer pants, and mullet. Fugly stuff. Land fits right in with the rest of the “Liefeld” generation of 90’s artists. Sorry to all you Land fans. Bright side. The covers were nice and I like the new suit.
Now the good news. This is probably the best stuff Chuck Dixon has ever written. He really nailed the youthful, fun-loving, and optimistic attitude that sets Nightwing apart from Batman. Dixon got a brand new playground with Bludhaven and gets settled in quick. Chuck introduces a whole new supporting cast that provided the depth that this series needed to get a good foothold early. New villains (to Nightwing anyway), new haircut, and a mystery worthy of his mentor. The pieces just felt into place for me. Really enjoyed the visit from Tim Drake too. Their interactions felt natural and I really bought into their sense of brotherhood.
Finally, Scott McDaniel and Karl Story owned this title for 40 issues. I love the dark line work, acrobatic page layouts, and great use of perspective in these issues. While I definitely enjoyed McDaniel’s work on Daredevil: Fall From Grace, the addition of Story’s inks make this the best work he has ever produced. It still kicks ass 20 years later. I'm a huge fan of the work these guys put into this series.
So who should pick this one up? I would say that this book is a lock for Nightwing fans or admirers of McDaniel’s artwork. Both Dixon and McDaniel were at the top of their game with this series.
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May 12, 2023
This one was actually a pretty fun read!
You get to see Nightwing trying to find his own identity after Knightfall and well something calls him to the country of Kravia and maybe there is something there connected with his parents death and its one heck of a story and I love it, the way he has to fight against the prince there and the assassin hired by him and the story has a good twist and talking about politics of the time and often the nature of darkness inflicted upon us.. that was so well done and in the end the moment between Bruce and dick was everything!
Then shifting to Bludhaven, you see him going against BPD and almost everyone, just showing how corrupt this city is.. even more so than Gotham and the challenges Dick has to face here, dealing with the mob forces of Marin and Minh and maybe even Black mask is involved, and people he thought he could trust aka Torque.. maybe not so and I love the conflict with that. It gives Dick a real challenge here and how will he save this city!
And then facing off against Lady Vic, whose actually such a cool villain and has a pretty fun design and I like how their battle goes, it makes for some real challenge for Dick and tests his mettle multiple times and seems like there is a subplot developing that will be answered in a few issue but I liked that and plus Blockbuster!
This is one volume which does so well to establish this new series and challenge for Dick Grayson as he tries to start his new life, move away from Batman's shadow and also save Blud-haven in the process too! Its a volume filled with so much great *new* energy and great starting point for new comic readers!!
You get to see Nightwing trying to find his own identity after Knightfall and well something calls him to the country of Kravia and maybe there is something there connected with his parents death and its one heck of a story and I love it, the way he has to fight against the prince there and the assassin hired by him and the story has a good twist and talking about politics of the time and often the nature of darkness inflicted upon us.. that was so well done and in the end the moment between Bruce and dick was everything!
Then shifting to Bludhaven, you see him going against BPD and almost everyone, just showing how corrupt this city is.. even more so than Gotham and the challenges Dick has to face here, dealing with the mob forces of Marin and Minh and maybe even Black mask is involved, and people he thought he could trust aka Torque.. maybe not so and I love the conflict with that. It gives Dick a real challenge here and how will he save this city!
And then facing off against Lady Vic, whose actually such a cool villain and has a pretty fun design and I like how their battle goes, it makes for some real challenge for Dick and tests his mettle multiple times and seems like there is a subplot developing that will be answered in a few issue but I liked that and plus Blockbuster!
This is one volume which does so well to establish this new series and challenge for Dick Grayson as he tries to start his new life, move away from Batman's shadow and also save Blud-haven in the process too! Its a volume filled with so much great *new* energy and great starting point for new comic readers!!
June 11, 2017
Nightwing has always been a character I enjoyed. He reminded me of a more serious Peter Parker, and Peter is my favorite hero of all time. So I never really read much of his solo adventure. I did read Black Mirror, in which Nightwing becomes Batman after Bruce died, and LOVED it. Then I jumped on Grayson and did NOT like it much at all. So saw that they were releasing Nightwing comics in a big format and it goes back to the 90's (maybe 80's?) and I said "Why not!" and grabbed this title. Was it worth it? Let's find out.
What I liked: I love dick. No...you dirty minds out there. I'm talking about Dick Grayson! He's fun, he's serious when needs be, his fighting style is similar to Batman but so very different. I also love his interaction with people because he goes along with whomever he's with. I really dug the storyline here. The first arc is based on Nightwing's younger days and his parents killers. This story is pretty good but the art is pretty bad. The second arc has better art and a interesting "mystery" bad guy taking over. It's actually more about Bludhaven and it's terribleness that makes this story different. Also Robin and Nightwing teamup <3
What I didn't like: The story can be a bit messy. Sometimes a little too hard to follow. Also everyone is like super evil in Bludhaven to the point of comedic. Oh and the fight scenes can be REALLY hard to follow sometimes. Also that haircut in the first 5 issues is a no-no. Just a big fat NO NO!
Overall this was a lot of fun. It really lands between a 3 and a 3.5. It's a little uneven and feels like it's finding it's ground. I think future volumes will capture that. So off I go to order more volumes.
What I liked: I love dick. No...you dirty minds out there. I'm talking about Dick Grayson! He's fun, he's serious when needs be, his fighting style is similar to Batman but so very different. I also love his interaction with people because he goes along with whomever he's with. I really dug the storyline here. The first arc is based on Nightwing's younger days and his parents killers. This story is pretty good but the art is pretty bad. The second arc has better art and a interesting "mystery" bad guy taking over. It's actually more about Bludhaven and it's terribleness that makes this story different. Also Robin and Nightwing teamup <3
What I didn't like: The story can be a bit messy. Sometimes a little too hard to follow. Also everyone is like super evil in Bludhaven to the point of comedic. Oh and the fight scenes can be REALLY hard to follow sometimes. Also that haircut in the first 5 issues is a no-no. Just a big fat NO NO!
Overall this was a lot of fun. It really lands between a 3 and a 3.5. It's a little uneven and feels like it's finding it's ground. I think future volumes will capture that. So off I go to order more volumes.
July 12, 2018
Ah, the 90s. When everything was grim and gritty, when characters like Venom, Punisher, and Ghost Rider were everywhere, and when the epic Nightwing mullet was all the rage. It was also when Nightwing struck out on his own in his first solo mini-series, as well as his own solo ongoing, the beginnings of which are collected here.
We open with the mini, which feels very 90s right off the bat, no pun intended. Nightwing discovers a secret that may shed some light on his past, and heads off across the world to try and resolve it. Denny O’Neill writes, Greg Land (before all the porn face) draws, and it’s a solid little story. It’s not particularly revolutionary for the character, but it gives him the springboard to go off on his own without Batman, and see how he operates alone. The strange subplot featuring a potential love interest doesn’t really go anywhere, but it’s again more of a learning experience for Dick than anything else.
The solo series itself is written by Chuck Dixon, with art by Scott McDaniel. These first eight issues focus on Dick moving to Bludhaven to try and solve a mystery for Batman, and finding himself up to his eyeballs in the ‘Haven’s corruption instead. The story meanders a little as Dick finds dead end after dead end, and it’s mostly just nameless thugs that he’s beating up so it gets a bit tedious. A late game appearance by Lady Vic livens things up a bit though, as does the eventual reveal of the mastermind behind it all, who I really should have remembered but completely blanked on.
If you’ve read any Scott McDaniel comic, you know what the art’s going to look like. Crazy proportions, lots of blocky characters, and the colourist seems to have an obsession with yellow, but it’s oddly appropriate for Nightwing if a bit fast and loose. Greg Land’s art on the mini is decidedly better (not a sentence you see very day) and I have to reiterate Dick’s glorious, glorious mullet (which turns into a horrible rat’s tail, but that soon gets remedied in one of the funnier scenes of the ongoing).
This series is finding its feet in these early issues. Dick builds up a little supporting cast and the beginnings of a rogues gallery of his own, so the seeds are planted for a longer-form story, but it takes a little while to get to the initial point. Still, I expect it’s going to be worth sticking around.
We open with the mini, which feels very 90s right off the bat, no pun intended. Nightwing discovers a secret that may shed some light on his past, and heads off across the world to try and resolve it. Denny O’Neill writes, Greg Land (before all the porn face) draws, and it’s a solid little story. It’s not particularly revolutionary for the character, but it gives him the springboard to go off on his own without Batman, and see how he operates alone. The strange subplot featuring a potential love interest doesn’t really go anywhere, but it’s again more of a learning experience for Dick than anything else.
The solo series itself is written by Chuck Dixon, with art by Scott McDaniel. These first eight issues focus on Dick moving to Bludhaven to try and solve a mystery for Batman, and finding himself up to his eyeballs in the ‘Haven’s corruption instead. The story meanders a little as Dick finds dead end after dead end, and it’s mostly just nameless thugs that he’s beating up so it gets a bit tedious. A late game appearance by Lady Vic livens things up a bit though, as does the eventual reveal of the mastermind behind it all, who I really should have remembered but completely blanked on.
If you’ve read any Scott McDaniel comic, you know what the art’s going to look like. Crazy proportions, lots of blocky characters, and the colourist seems to have an obsession with yellow, but it’s oddly appropriate for Nightwing if a bit fast and loose. Greg Land’s art on the mini is decidedly better (not a sentence you see very day) and I have to reiterate Dick’s glorious, glorious mullet (which turns into a horrible rat’s tail, but that soon gets remedied in one of the funnier scenes of the ongoing).
This series is finding its feet in these early issues. Dick builds up a little supporting cast and the beginnings of a rogues gallery of his own, so the seeds are planted for a longer-form story, but it takes a little while to get to the initial point. Still, I expect it’s going to be worth sticking around.
August 16, 2025
Nightwing’s solo start in Blüdhaven has plenty of grit and energy, with Dixon and McDaniel laying the groundwork for Dick Grayson’s life outside Gotham. It doesn’t reach the heights of the Taylor/Redondo run—which still feels like the definitive Nightwing to me—but it’s a stronger, more engaging ride than Grayson. A solid read that shows why Nightwing thrives best in his own city.
September 16, 2025
I loved this. The more I know Dick, the more I love him. I'm glad I can finally know more of him as Nightwing rather than Robin.
December 17, 2014
This was an awesome place to start reading Nightwing. Not only is this my first Nightwing comic, I believe it was his first stand-alone title. I am familiar with his character thanks to movies, Google and the snatches I got of him during Batman's New 52 comics, but being a new reader of comics, have never really gotten to know exactly who Dick Grayson is on the inside. Bludhaven gave me the insight to Nightwing that I wanted and also left me almost as enamored with him as I am with Batman. He's a more light-hearted, positive hero to Batman (which is surprising considering all that has befallen him) yet still bears the physicality required to beat-down criminals and villains, and a keen mind for solving crimes. Bludhaven also shows how resilient a hero he is, considering Bludhaven is supposed to be worse than Gotham. No matter how many times the city beats Nightwing down, he still gets back up again.
Bludhaven is a great read. I can't wait to read more Nightwing comics.
Now, where is my Nightwing movie, DC?
Bludhaven is a great read. I can't wait to read more Nightwing comics.
Now, where is my Nightwing movie, DC?
April 16, 2022
This was great! Amazing even! Spectacular!
We get to see Dick try and find his own footing in new and not so amazing Bludhaven. Which, I'm not going to lie, I absolutely love. It's a town that's basically the opposite of Gotham in the way that its crime functions, and it's so interesting to read about. Everyone knows that the mob exists, no one knows how it functions, who leads it. As opposed to Gotham, where we know all of the crimelords and whoever is in power at any given moment, Bludhaven is closed off, is scheming, it keeps all of its secrets close to its chest, collected in a web of corruption (apparently there exists police more corrupt than in Gotham). All of the characters are reversals, none of them are what they seem or who we think they are, and that is why it's so amazing to read about, especially since it's done well. Even the random side character of the landlord has her own little reversal.
Which means that this is a town perfect for Dick. He's still trying to get over what he sees as not being good enough for Bruce during the Knightfall era, and now he's desperately trying to prove himself to Bruce. His entire world hangs by this thread that is figuring out what happened with the 25 people killed in Bludhaven. He also gets a job which is a great insight into the city with all of the local gossip, but also into his character. He could fully ask Bruce to give him money to sustain himself but he wants to do it all by himself to prove that he is capable. And on the night Tim visits and they have a small brotherly chat, I fully thought I might cry. They envy each-other in such different ways, and Tim really just spends two pages psychoanalysing Dick's relationship with Bruce. "You wanted to be a hero. I wanted to be Robin" what if I wanted to cry. I did indeed sign up for brotherly angst but I didn't expect to get it here. And then Tim almost dies (again) and it makes Dick reconsider everything and it's the push he needs to unveil the mysteries of the town because it pushes him to realise that what he wants isn't to prove to Bruce that he can do it, but to prove to himself that he can be as good at protecting innocents as Bruce.
I'd also like to use this last paragraph to mention how much I like the artstyle for this one. I'm not a huge fan of the classical comic style but this one takes it and stylises it to the point where it's so much fun to look at. Also the colouring. It too is spot on.
We get to see Dick try and find his own footing in new and not so amazing Bludhaven. Which, I'm not going to lie, I absolutely love. It's a town that's basically the opposite of Gotham in the way that its crime functions, and it's so interesting to read about. Everyone knows that the mob exists, no one knows how it functions, who leads it. As opposed to Gotham, where we know all of the crimelords and whoever is in power at any given moment, Bludhaven is closed off, is scheming, it keeps all of its secrets close to its chest, collected in a web of corruption (apparently there exists police more corrupt than in Gotham). All of the characters are reversals, none of them are what they seem or who we think they are, and that is why it's so amazing to read about, especially since it's done well. Even the random side character of the landlord has her own little reversal.
Which means that this is a town perfect for Dick. He's still trying to get over what he sees as not being good enough for Bruce during the Knightfall era, and now he's desperately trying to prove himself to Bruce. His entire world hangs by this thread that is figuring out what happened with the 25 people killed in Bludhaven. He also gets a job which is a great insight into the city with all of the local gossip, but also into his character. He could fully ask Bruce to give him money to sustain himself but he wants to do it all by himself to prove that he is capable. And on the night Tim visits and they have a small brotherly chat, I fully thought I might cry. They envy each-other in such different ways, and Tim really just spends two pages psychoanalysing Dick's relationship with Bruce. "You wanted to be a hero. I wanted to be Robin" what if I wanted to cry. I did indeed sign up for brotherly angst but I didn't expect to get it here. And then Tim almost dies (again) and it makes Dick reconsider everything and it's the push he needs to unveil the mysteries of the town because it pushes him to realise that what he wants isn't to prove to Bruce that he can do it, but to prove to himself that he can be as good at protecting innocents as Bruce.
I'd also like to use this last paragraph to mention how much I like the artstyle for this one. I'm not a huge fan of the classical comic style but this one takes it and stylises it to the point where it's so much fun to look at. Also the colouring. It too is spot on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2025
the bigger they are...the bigger they are
October 13, 2020
Sometimes it's good to start from the beginning.
And while the art (and the clothes and the hair!!!!) was a little rough in 1995, I liked seeing the growth of Dick's character and overall (Nightwing) storytelling over two years, to the issues at the end of the volume, written in 1997.
Dick in 1995 is still the same caring, naïve, and all over the place/not reliable/spread-too-thin(?) hero that I know from comics in 2020. (I love character consistency and continuity!)
Great example: In issues #1-4 (from 1995) Dick is a total caring and naïve nincompoop who saves this young woman Miggy from a kidnapping & then visits her in the hospital because he has nothing better to do (which would be kinda creepy, but it's Dick from 1995 & he's a a totally caring and naïve nincompoop!). After she buys him a coffee to thank him for saving her, she asks him to spend the rest of the day with her (he can't)... She then offers to go back and clean his apartment for him (!!), and he says no. So then she invites him for dinner... And Dick just thinks she's really into him! *eyeroll* Turns out Miggy's father is physically abusive & Miggy has been trying to do anything she can to not go back home and be with him.
A day or so later, Dick goes off on a personal mission to Kravia (regarding the murder of his parents) and gets back too late to help Miggy after she calls him for help (poor girl has no one else to call she calls the stranger that saved her...). This starts Dick's viscous cycle (as far as I can tell in the comics I read currently) of caring for those he tries to help & getting there too late.
I did love the end of issue #4. Nightwing and Batman have a great rooftop chat after Miggy's story wraps up (Dick does most of the talking lol), which reminds me a lot of Dick's chat with Bruce in S2:E01 of Titans.
The rest of the volume is one long (and a bit sloppy) mob story. There's a ton of confusing action, crooked cops & the art starts to change (yay)! Robin (Tim) comes to Bludhaven for a visit & Dick knocks heads with Blockbuster at the end, which was cool.
Overall, the volume is a 3/3.5 stars of enjoyable but flawed storytelling.
And while the art (and the clothes and the hair!!!!) was a little rough in 1995, I liked seeing the growth of Dick's character and overall (Nightwing) storytelling over two years, to the issues at the end of the volume, written in 1997.
Dick in 1995 is still the same caring, naïve, and all over the place/not reliable/spread-too-thin(?) hero that I know from comics in 2020. (I love character consistency and continuity!)
Great example: In issues #1-4 (from 1995) Dick is a total caring and naïve nincompoop who saves this young woman Miggy from a kidnapping & then visits her in the hospital because he has nothing better to do (which would be kinda creepy, but it's Dick from 1995 & he's a a totally caring and naïve nincompoop!). After she buys him a coffee to thank him for saving her, she asks him to spend the rest of the day with her (he can't)... She then offers to go back and clean his apartment for him (!!), and he says no. So then she invites him for dinner... And Dick just thinks she's really into him! *eyeroll* Turns out Miggy's father is physically abusive & Miggy has been trying to do anything she can to not go back home and be with him.
A day or so later, Dick goes off on a personal mission to Kravia (regarding the murder of his parents) and gets back too late to help Miggy after she calls him for help (poor girl has no one else to call she calls the stranger that saved her...). This starts Dick's viscous cycle (as far as I can tell in the comics I read currently) of caring for those he tries to help & getting there too late.
I did love the end of issue #4. Nightwing and Batman have a great rooftop chat after Miggy's story wraps up (Dick does most of the talking lol), which reminds me a lot of Dick's chat with Bruce in S2:E01 of Titans.
Nightwing: "I'll never know. And it doesn't matter because I've gotten something more valuable -- something I didn't realize I needed. Something about my own childhood."
Batman: "I'd like to hear that."
Nightwing's text box: Another first.
Nightwing: "What I've gotten is the realization that you did the best you could with what you had. You weren't a perfect father but that's okay because -- Probably because nobody's a perfect father. No family is perfect, either.
I was lucky. I was privileged. Not because of the big house and the money, but because you gave me a lot of yourself. You taught me, you showed me, you encouraged me -- you never lied to me and you never demanded that I be anything I'm not.
I didn't imitate you because you insisted that I do so, but because I wanted to. Of all the mean I knew, you were most worthy of imitation.
Then I blamed you for letting me be who I was. Pretty dumb."
Batman: "Dick, I don't-"
Nightwing: "Hold it. I've got one more thing to say. You and Alfred gave me a home and you gave me what we don't mention. The L word.
You were the best family I could have had. Thanks."
Batman: "You have any plans?"
Nightwing: "Yeah, I'm going to use what I've been given. The world is full of Miggy Websters --lost and desperate people who have no one to ask for help. From now on, they'll have me."
The rest of the volume is one long (and a bit sloppy) mob story. There's a ton of confusing action, crooked cops & the art starts to change (yay)! Robin (Tim) comes to Bludhaven for a visit & Dick knocks heads with Blockbuster at the end, which was cool.
Overall, the volume is a 3/3.5 stars of enjoyable but flawed storytelling.
August 30, 2016
4.5 stars really
This book had more ass shots than the "Anaconda" music video. Much appreciated.
I adore Dick Grayson so I had to check this out. For the most part, I enjoyed it. The art is what made me mark it lower than 5 stars. Usually it worked for me (aside from Dick's ridiculous ponytail. I love my son, but why??) but sometimes it was really hard to tell what was going on. It was usually perfect for giving us a feel for how Dick's acrobatics worked.
The storylines were hit or miss for me. The first 4 part story was good. There's an interesting subplot where Dick is still trying to figure out the details of his parents deaths and another subplot where he's flirting/dating(??) Mizzee, a woman he saved from a kidnapping.
The relationship between Dick and Batsy is always an interesting dynamic. For all intents and purposes, Bruce is like a father to Dick. He came into his life shortly after Dick lost his parents and Bruce knew what it was like to lose your parents at such a young age.
The second part was a different plot. 21 bodies were found floating in from Bludhaven to Gotham and Batman entrusts Dick to go settle things and find out who did it.
Here, Dick has this thought in the back of his mind that Bruce doubts his abilities and he tells Tim about that towards the end. Like all father/son relationships, Dick tells Bruce that he could have done a better job with him. When other kids were playing baseball or going to dances, Dick was training and going out every night to fight crime. He calls Bruce out on that because he's seen Mizzee's family and (on the surface) they appear very normal and loving. It turns out that the father is an abusive drunk and here's this really heartfelt moment where Dick tells Bruce that he knows he did the best he could and he loves him. That in addition to Bruce offering to come help Dick in Bludhaven multiple times tells you how much he cares about Dick.
There's a bit of a messy storyline after with Dick trying to find out who's running the corruption in Bludhaven. It has some interesting fight scenes and I'm always a fan of Dick's banter but it didn't grab me.
Dick was quite girl crazy here and that was fun to a point. Can't wait to read the next volume!
This book had more ass shots than the "Anaconda" music video. Much appreciated.
I adore Dick Grayson so I had to check this out. For the most part, I enjoyed it. The art is what made me mark it lower than 5 stars. Usually it worked for me (aside from Dick's ridiculous ponytail. I love my son, but why??) but sometimes it was really hard to tell what was going on. It was usually perfect for giving us a feel for how Dick's acrobatics worked.
The storylines were hit or miss for me. The first 4 part story was good. There's an interesting subplot where Dick is still trying to figure out the details of his parents deaths and another subplot where he's flirting/dating(??) Mizzee, a woman he saved from a kidnapping.
The relationship between Dick and Batsy is always an interesting dynamic. For all intents and purposes, Bruce is like a father to Dick. He came into his life shortly after Dick lost his parents and Bruce knew what it was like to lose your parents at such a young age.
The second part was a different plot. 21 bodies were found floating in from Bludhaven to Gotham and Batman entrusts Dick to go settle things and find out who did it.
Here, Dick has this thought in the back of his mind that Bruce doubts his abilities and he tells Tim about that towards the end. Like all father/son relationships, Dick tells Bruce that he could have done a better job with him. When other kids were playing baseball or going to dances, Dick was training and going out every night to fight crime. He calls Bruce out on that because he's seen Mizzee's family and (on the surface) they appear very normal and loving. It turns out that the father is an abusive drunk and here's this really heartfelt moment where Dick tells Bruce that he knows he did the best he could and he loves him. That in addition to Bruce offering to come help Dick in Bludhaven multiple times tells you how much he cares about Dick.
There's a bit of a messy storyline after with Dick trying to find out who's running the corruption in Bludhaven. It has some interesting fight scenes and I'm always a fan of Dick's banter but it didn't grab me.
Dick was quite girl crazy here and that was fun to a point. Can't wait to read the next volume!
January 10, 2021
I am getting back into DC (comics and animated universe), and decided to get back into reading Nightwing.
I am giving it a really generous 4/5 stars, because I am a biased little fangirl biatch. The first half of this volume includes a 4-part series, which really, really, can be done without. Quite frankly, anything that has Greg Land involved should just be put in a garbage chute. The artwork is so bad, and the writing is pretty meh-bordering on 80s college frat boy (the damsel in distress who is a total babe/sexual object -- once her glasses are off). The whole thing has aged poorly.
Unfortunately, I think the same can be said for the main issue (the Bludhaven storyline). The artwork is not holding up well by today's standards. There is too much blacks/shadows, and weird choices with framing and how to portray action. Ultimately the whole artwork becomes quite indecipherable at times (having said that, I have just finished re-watching Young Justice, so that could be clouding my judgement, because the artwork in that show is top shit).
The writing is... okay. It has its bad moments, namely as it tries to set the story up -- who are the villains, where is the conflict, what is the mystery, who are the "good" players and love interest. Given the artwork making things a bit hard to read, it can get confusing trying to remember who is who. The story doesn't really pick up until Blockbuster is revealed, because I know he is going to be a long-term baddie we are going to be dealing with.
Someone else said this before, but I agree that this series is mainly for the die-hard fans, of Nightwing or the Bat-Family in general. Definitely pick up a copy from Bookdepository for like $20, because it is not worth the $35-60 I have seen it on sale for in proper stores.
I am giving it a really generous 4/5 stars, because I am a biased little fangirl biatch. The first half of this volume includes a 4-part series, which really, really, can be done without. Quite frankly, anything that has Greg Land involved should just be put in a garbage chute. The artwork is so bad, and the writing is pretty meh-bordering on 80s college frat boy (the damsel in distress who is a total babe/sexual object -- once her glasses are off). The whole thing has aged poorly.
Unfortunately, I think the same can be said for the main issue (the Bludhaven storyline). The artwork is not holding up well by today's standards. There is too much blacks/shadows, and weird choices with framing and how to portray action. Ultimately the whole artwork becomes quite indecipherable at times (having said that, I have just finished re-watching Young Justice, so that could be clouding my judgement, because the artwork in that show is top shit).
The writing is... okay. It has its bad moments, namely as it tries to set the story up -- who are the villains, where is the conflict, what is the mystery, who are the "good" players and love interest. Given the artwork making things a bit hard to read, it can get confusing trying to remember who is who. The story doesn't really pick up until Blockbuster is revealed, because I know he is going to be a long-term baddie we are going to be dealing with.
Someone else said this before, but I agree that this series is mainly for the die-hard fans, of Nightwing or the Bat-Family in general. Definitely pick up a copy from Bookdepository for like $20, because it is not worth the $35-60 I have seen it on sale for in proper stores.
May 25, 2017
Yeah, so Dennis O'Neil is not the writer for me. Also, Greg Land's Dick Grayson was way over the top. It seems he used Fabio as a model, took Jim Lee's eye for detail, and slapped Rob Liefeld's proportioning on top of it all.
However, Chuck Dixon's storyline was a lot more interesting. It had a cohesiveness that O'Neil's lacked, a bit more sensibility. The art was still...well. It was the 90's, wasn't it. I think that says it all.
However, Chuck Dixon's storyline was a lot more interesting. It had a cohesiveness that O'Neil's lacked, a bit more sensibility. The art was still...well. It was the 90's, wasn't it. I think that says it all.
December 2, 2014
Any doubts I had about a Nightwing solo series was quickly put to rest by this masterpiece. The concept is great, the story is great, and the adult Dick Grayson is just done right. I cannot recommend this book enough.
June 21, 2022
Dicão da massa.
Solo.
Em Bludhaven.
Peraí, tinha uma mini série do Dennis O'Neil com desenhos do Greg Land antes?
Por que ninguém me avisou?
Ah, porque é ruim de doer.
Sério, Greg, Dicão com camisa de bolinhas, mocassins e mullets? Ele é o Magnum?
Essa mini ela pega o kit básico "reinventando personagens nos anos 90" e faz o que todo mundo fazia naquela época; novo uniforme, traços grossos e pouco inventivos, cabelo num rabo de cavalo ridículo, revelações sobre o passado do personagem - o Batman esqueceu de ler um pedaço do dossiê "adote um órfão" -, um país fictício em guerra civil, um vilão ridículo que nunca mais aparece, dúvidas morais sobre o que o conhecido personagem deve fazer e o Haroldão.
Eu entendo que o O'Neil tem crédito na parada, mas aqui ele gasta um pouco desse crédito, e o Greg Land, bom, nunca fui fã e não é agora que vai mudar.
Contudo, depois de umas quatro edições, a coisa começa de verdade com Chuck Dixon e Scott Mcdaniel em oito edições bem bacaninhas apresentando Alvorada... digo... Bludhaven, a prima suja, pobre e meio vagabundinha de Gotham City. Um lugar tão barra pesada que o Coringa prefere ficar em Gotham perseguindo morcegos gigantes.
Uns mafiosos aparecem mortos no porto de Gotham e a maré diz que vieram de Bludhaven, Dicão olha pro Morcego e diz: "Deixa pra mim que eu sou canhoto." E vai pra Bludhaven, sozinho, sem lenço nem documento. A história não é nada revolucionária, Dicão precisa se ambientar numa cidade corrupta, cheia de policiais, bandidos, mafiosos em que um novo Chefe tá tomando conta do pedaço, também tem um novo interesse amoroso - quem diria que Dicão curte um sotaque irlandês? Acho que ele nunca viu o filme do Leprechaun -, um ou outro novo inimigo, uma visita do Robin, um flerte bem-vindo com a Oráculo e por aí vai.
Eu acredito que a ideia não é a história, mas mostrar o dia-a-dia do personagem solo, ele não é o parceiro do Batman, ele não é o líder chorão dos Titãs, Dicão é o Asa Noturna, o único personagem legado da DC que não voltou para trás. Wally West, Kyle Rayner, Connor Hawke foram ótimos personagens e tem grandes histórias, mas, hoje em dia, nem coadjuvantes são; nem vamos falar na legião de personagens que substituíram o Superman, a Mulher Maravilha, o Batman por uma semana e nunca mais ninguém deu bola. Dicão nunca voltou a ser Robin, e aqui é quando ele começa a ser o Asa Noturna que faz tanto sucesso hoje em dia.
Solo.
Em Bludhaven.
Peraí, tinha uma mini série do Dennis O'Neil com desenhos do Greg Land antes?
Por que ninguém me avisou?
Ah, porque é ruim de doer.
Sério, Greg, Dicão com camisa de bolinhas, mocassins e mullets? Ele é o Magnum?
Essa mini ela pega o kit básico "reinventando personagens nos anos 90" e faz o que todo mundo fazia naquela época; novo uniforme, traços grossos e pouco inventivos, cabelo num rabo de cavalo ridículo, revelações sobre o passado do personagem - o Batman esqueceu de ler um pedaço do dossiê "adote um órfão" -, um país fictício em guerra civil, um vilão ridículo que nunca mais aparece, dúvidas morais sobre o que o conhecido personagem deve fazer e o Haroldão.
Eu entendo que o O'Neil tem crédito na parada, mas aqui ele gasta um pouco desse crédito, e o Greg Land, bom, nunca fui fã e não é agora que vai mudar.
Contudo, depois de umas quatro edições, a coisa começa de verdade com Chuck Dixon e Scott Mcdaniel em oito edições bem bacaninhas apresentando Alvorada... digo... Bludhaven, a prima suja, pobre e meio vagabundinha de Gotham City. Um lugar tão barra pesada que o Coringa prefere ficar em Gotham perseguindo morcegos gigantes.
Uns mafiosos aparecem mortos no porto de Gotham e a maré diz que vieram de Bludhaven, Dicão olha pro Morcego e diz: "Deixa pra mim que eu sou canhoto." E vai pra Bludhaven, sozinho, sem lenço nem documento. A história não é nada revolucionária, Dicão precisa se ambientar numa cidade corrupta, cheia de policiais, bandidos, mafiosos em que um novo Chefe tá tomando conta do pedaço, também tem um novo interesse amoroso - quem diria que Dicão curte um sotaque irlandês? Acho que ele nunca viu o filme do Leprechaun -, um ou outro novo inimigo, uma visita do Robin, um flerte bem-vindo com a Oráculo e por aí vai.
Eu acredito que a ideia não é a história, mas mostrar o dia-a-dia do personagem solo, ele não é o parceiro do Batman, ele não é o líder chorão dos Titãs, Dicão é o Asa Noturna, o único personagem legado da DC que não voltou para trás. Wally West, Kyle Rayner, Connor Hawke foram ótimos personagens e tem grandes histórias, mas, hoje em dia, nem coadjuvantes são; nem vamos falar na legião de personagens que substituíram o Superman, a Mulher Maravilha, o Batman por uma semana e nunca mais ninguém deu bola. Dicão nunca voltou a ser Robin, e aqui é quando ele começa a ser o Asa Noturna que faz tanto sucesso hoje em dia.
August 3, 2022
This book portrays very well the corruption and scumminess of Bludhaven (the city where the comic takes place). It really defeats the argument "wEll iF bATMAn REaLLy wAnteD tO heLp he shOUlD DoNaTE tO cHaritY". The city is so dark and twisted on every level that the book convinces the reader that vigilantes are really the only possible solution. However, that's about the only positive thing I can say.
This comic was written QUITE a while ago. As such, the art and writing are off. I don't like how the artist draws face and hair, especially in the first two issues. Some of the action scenes are also confusing to follow. The fights where Nightwing is just fighting normally are ok, but whenever there are multiple factors, like explosions, vehicles, or broken glass, the page can get cluttered very fast. The writing is also lackluster. While I enjoy the personality of Nightwing, and how he interacts with Tim Drake, the story itself isn't particularly exciting or well written. I get that Dick is trying to solve a complex mystery to find out who is running the criminal underground of Bludhaven, but it's just not written well. The names start getting confusing to keep track of. I don't think the issue is that there are too many characters, the issue is how they unfold.
This comic was written QUITE a while ago. As such, the art and writing are off. I don't like how the artist draws face and hair, especially in the first two issues. Some of the action scenes are also confusing to follow. The fights where Nightwing is just fighting normally are ok, but whenever there are multiple factors, like explosions, vehicles, or broken glass, the page can get cluttered very fast. The writing is also lackluster. While I enjoy the personality of Nightwing, and how he interacts with Tim Drake, the story itself isn't particularly exciting or well written. I get that Dick is trying to solve a complex mystery to find out who is running the criminal underground of Bludhaven, but it's just not written well. The names start getting confusing to keep track of. I don't think the issue is that there are too many characters, the issue is how they unfold.
June 26, 2022
Since the current Nightwing series is enjoyable, thought I'd delve into the past and start from the beginning. This collects the four issue mini-series and the first eight issues of the regular series from way back in the late 1990s. Dick stakes his claim in Bludhaven to clean crime up. But of course it's not going to be easy with schemes from gangs and even law enforcement. Scott McDaniel's art I'm so digging.
December 7, 2014
It was really great reliving these stories! The creative team was perfect! Chuck Dixon is a great action writer. The art from Scott McDaniel has a fluidity to it. Perfect for Nightwing! His layouts have a sense of motion to them. Both a great read and great to just browse through.
April 18, 2022
3.5 stars with the .5 for Dick Grayson being thrilled about having a "real job" for the first time in his whole life at age like 25...good job pal. His optimism about bartending despite NEVER doing it before in his life is adorable.
While I know a lot of this story is a product of its time (cue Dick's '80s Nightwing costume COMPLETE with long skinny ponytail) it's also important to see him starting out in Blüdhaven as his own hero. Mid-way through this volume there's a few panels where he and Bruce have an open conversation about how despite their rocky relationship when Dick moved out, he appreciates that Alfred and Bruce provided him with a home as best they could. He also notes that Bruce wouldn't have pushed him so hard if he hadn't known he had the talent for crimefighting in him, and while they don't exactly exchange sappy love confessions, it's a good attempt at a Father's Day reconciliation.
Because it's only Dick's first year as Nightwing on his own, there's a lack of attachment for me to the characters and the plot lines. Dick fights mob bosses and Black Mask who is "franchising" his mob operation from Gotham (good for him????) while also trying to figure out what the heck to do now that he's not in Gotham City.
While I know a lot of this story is a product of its time (cue Dick's '80s Nightwing costume COMPLETE with long skinny ponytail) it's also important to see him starting out in Blüdhaven as his own hero. Mid-way through this volume there's a few panels where he and Bruce have an open conversation about how despite their rocky relationship when Dick moved out, he appreciates that Alfred and Bruce provided him with a home as best they could. He also notes that Bruce wouldn't have pushed him so hard if he hadn't known he had the talent for crimefighting in him, and while they don't exactly exchange sappy love confessions, it's a good attempt at a Father's Day reconciliation.
Because it's only Dick's first year as Nightwing on his own, there's a lack of attachment for me to the characters and the plot lines. Dick fights mob bosses and Black Mask who is "franchising" his mob operation from Gotham (good for him????) while also trying to figure out what the heck to do now that he's not in Gotham City.
August 7, 2022
Getting to see Dick Grayson spread his wings (get it? Wings?) was ALMOST worth the headache I got from the artwork. From that frak-awful ponytail (thank God that only lasted a couple issues!) to the jumbled confusion of the later fight scenes I couldn't interpret, this town doesn't just "need an enema," it needs a class in composition and color theory!
But we get Dick playing detective in a town so twisted it makes West Virginia roads look lime rulers; a truly touching moment between the original Robin and Tim Drake; and more action than a Michael Bay movie. Definitely worth the read.
But we get Dick playing detective in a town so twisted it makes West Virginia roads look lime rulers; a truly touching moment between the original Robin and Tim Drake; and more action than a Michael Bay movie. Definitely worth the read.
March 31, 2022
5 stars
Enjoyed seeing Dick's move to Bludhaven. Interesting to know who the new mob boss is.
Enjoyed seeing Dick's move to Bludhaven. Interesting to know who the new mob boss is.
March 24, 2024
I'm reading Nightwing for an upcoming essay I'm going to write, but I'm really enjoying the twists and turns of this series, especially when Chuck Dixon took over from Dennis O'Neill.
August 21, 2025
princeee <3
September 12, 2023
What a suit
November 9, 2024
I love him!!!! Such an amazing book
August 3, 2025
Great introduction to a new series. Interesting side characters. Dynamic art that compliments the action and Nightwing's acrobatic antics.
April 16, 2022
This could be a fantastic comic, and I hate to say it, but I’m one of those people that can’t get past an art style. It’s not even bad just really old and dated. I did like the Babs diary entry at the beginning though, I thought it was really cute.
But why on gods green earth is his hair like that. It’s a huge mullet when he’s a civilian, and a long, slicked back ponytail when he’s Nightwing. It’s finally cut at the end, but it looks so strange from the side view. Every other angle is so normal except the side. Why?
What was it about the 80s that made it impossible to understand consistant hairstyles with angle changes? And that polka dot shirt. Dude. I cannot take Nightwing seriously when he looks like this.
Bonus points for cute brother moments, even if Tim broke into his apartment and tackled him.
But why on gods green earth is his hair like that. It’s a huge mullet when he’s a civilian, and a long, slicked back ponytail when he’s Nightwing. It’s finally cut at the end, but it looks so strange from the side view. Every other angle is so normal except the side. Why?
What was it about the 80s that made it impossible to understand consistant hairstyles with angle changes? And that polka dot shirt. Dude. I cannot take Nightwing seriously when he looks like this.
Bonus points for cute brother moments, even if Tim broke into his apartment and tackled him.
March 28, 2015
Nightwing: Blüdhaven is two graphic novels in one. It includes a solo Dick Grayson mini-series from 1995 and the first eight issues of Nightwing from 1996-1997. Everything has been updated to heavy, glossy paper, and gorgeous colors. The art is excellent, especially the drawings of Dick in both his costumes - Dick Grayson is hot, absolutely. He's built, strong and muscular and gorgeous to boot. Plus, Dick doesn't have the arrogance of so many superheroes - if anything he's constantly doubting himself, constantly worrying about Bruce (Batman) Wayne's approval, and in both series he's trying to break away from his foster father's shadow and become his own man.
The first Nightwing story I really liked. Dick, having been Batman for awhile and hating it, retires completely and hands his old Nightwing costume to Bruce. However, he quickly needs to go back to being Nightwing and Alfred has Bruce's costumer build him a new costume. This is the one I associate with Nightwing, a tight, black, form-fitting, leotard with a blue V on the chest that continues up the shoulder and down to the finger tips. And yes it compliments Dick well. Some of the best panels throughout the book show multiple Nightwings, each in a slightly different position, illustrating Dick's remarkable acrobatic and gymnast skills, and I really like how it shows the fluidity of Nightwing's movements. Dick then travels to a foreign country to find out about his parent's past. He gets somewhat involved in a struggle between a corrupt but jailed prime minister and an even more corrupt dictator-king. The situation does not go well, and it's even sad. But I liked it - the story really shows Dick's character, and his past, his parents - there's even flashbacks to his parents teaching him how to fly on the trapeze and his mother calling him Robin.
Dick returns home, and heads to Blüdhaven - actually, the second series starts with Dick in a perilous situation, and nearly dying - and flashes back to he and Batman finding 21 dead mobsters in an estuary and the trial leads to Blüdhaven. In Blüdhaven, Dick discovers he has a problem - he doesn't "really" exist. He has no birth certificate, no prove of employment, no previous bill paying history, no job history, no credit. Even getting his electrical service turned on in his cheap apartment will cost him $1000.00. Still, he does find a cheap apartment, and even gets a job at a nearby cop's bar so he can pick-up news and gossip. And at night, he goes out on his second job - as Nightwing. Nightwing investigates the killings in Gotham, and a mob war in Blüdhaven. I also liked the second series, which is part of the new Nightwing series. He has a less definitive end because it's part of an on-going story, but I plan on getting the next volume. Robin, Tim Drake, makes an appearance for one issue. And at the end, Dick meets up with Batman, who actually tells him he thinks he's doing a good job - something Dick desperately needs to hear.
Dick Grayson is a great hero - he has some insecurity about his position vis-a-vis Bruce Wayne, and a different method of working. The two stories in Nightwing: Blüdhaven showcase his story - first in a self-contained mini-series, then in the beginning of a new series (both from the 1990s). This volume is copyright 2014 by DC Comics, and is therefore a reprint. I think it was smart to include both stories in the compilation. I highly recommend it!
The first Nightwing story I really liked. Dick, having been Batman for awhile and hating it, retires completely and hands his old Nightwing costume to Bruce. However, he quickly needs to go back to being Nightwing and Alfred has Bruce's costumer build him a new costume. This is the one I associate with Nightwing, a tight, black, form-fitting, leotard with a blue V on the chest that continues up the shoulder and down to the finger tips. And yes it compliments Dick well. Some of the best panels throughout the book show multiple Nightwings, each in a slightly different position, illustrating Dick's remarkable acrobatic and gymnast skills, and I really like how it shows the fluidity of Nightwing's movements. Dick then travels to a foreign country to find out about his parent's past. He gets somewhat involved in a struggle between a corrupt but jailed prime minister and an even more corrupt dictator-king. The situation does not go well, and it's even sad. But I liked it - the story really shows Dick's character, and his past, his parents - there's even flashbacks to his parents teaching him how to fly on the trapeze and his mother calling him Robin.
Dick returns home, and heads to Blüdhaven - actually, the second series starts with Dick in a perilous situation, and nearly dying - and flashes back to he and Batman finding 21 dead mobsters in an estuary and the trial leads to Blüdhaven. In Blüdhaven, Dick discovers he has a problem - he doesn't "really" exist. He has no birth certificate, no prove of employment, no previous bill paying history, no job history, no credit. Even getting his electrical service turned on in his cheap apartment will cost him $1000.00. Still, he does find a cheap apartment, and even gets a job at a nearby cop's bar so he can pick-up news and gossip. And at night, he goes out on his second job - as Nightwing. Nightwing investigates the killings in Gotham, and a mob war in Blüdhaven. I also liked the second series, which is part of the new Nightwing series. He has a less definitive end because it's part of an on-going story, but I plan on getting the next volume. Robin, Tim Drake, makes an appearance for one issue. And at the end, Dick meets up with Batman, who actually tells him he thinks he's doing a good job - something Dick desperately needs to hear.
Dick Grayson is a great hero - he has some insecurity about his position vis-a-vis Bruce Wayne, and a different method of working. The two stories in Nightwing: Blüdhaven showcase his story - first in a self-contained mini-series, then in the beginning of a new series (both from the 1990s). This volume is copyright 2014 by DC Comics, and is therefore a reprint. I think it was smart to include both stories in the compilation. I highly recommend it!
May 25, 2021
Nightwing used to be one of my favourite DC heroes, but in the last five TPBs he's come off as a bit of a jerk. I picked up this volume with the hopes of remembering why I loved him in the first place. It sort of worked.
In Nightwing Vol 1, Dick's first thought upon seeing a girl's head smashed into a brick wall is "Wow she's beautiful without her glasses." Though he chastises himself for that thought, he still proceeds to visit her in the hospital and accept and invitation to get coffee with her because she "kind of owes him." This came off as extremely unethical, bordering on sleazy, and is a good reminder of why vigilantism isn't technically legal. There are no ethical regulations to stop heroes from taking advantage of people in emotional states. In addition, when asked if he regrets not feeding a man who was proven innocent of killing the Graysons to rats, he responds "No. You're innocent too." While I am not disputing that this was the noble thing to do, the very same man admitted to mutilating his own son's face and life for power and to murdering another child not long earlier. It almost sounds like Nightwing's definition of innocence is dependent on how his own life is affected by one's acts.
On the other hand, Dick also referred to Alfred Pennyworth as his best friend, threw himself on top of Tim to protect him from a car bomb, recognized that Bruce, while far from father of the year, did the best he could to raise Dick and saved (or thought he was saving) a number of kids in this volume. So he's greatly flawed, but not a bad person by any means.
Some things I liked, aside from Nightwing's personality:
1) The choice to open the story with pages from Barbara's journal. Barbara is someone who intimately knows and clearly loves Dick, and having her introduce the story shed a positive light on the story.
2) Clancy being a Chinese-Irish immigrant! I love seeing racial representation in books, and was happy to see this in a book from the 90s.
3) The way Nightwing's ponytail gets sliced off. It was funny but also relieving moment for those of us who don't love mullets.
4) I love the comparisons of the BPD to the GPD. While Gotham's police force obviously doesn't have a very good handle on crime in Gotham, they are led by Jim Gordon who is indisputably a force of good. Bludhaven's force is corrupt from top to bottom, and I like that we got to figure that out with Dick.
5) The nightmares of not being able to saving the falling child as Robin. Just as Batman was birthed when his parents were murdered in Crime Alley, Robin was born when those trapeze ropes snapped on his parents so many years ago. I like how Dixon shows us that Nightwing is still affected by this trauma, and I was drawn in enough to be disappointed every time he wakes up before the dream ends.
6) Dick's friends! The main separating factor between Batman and Nightwing is that Nightwing acknowledges and relies on his friends. It was great seeing Babs, Wally, Bruce and Tim in this volume and I hope to see more of them. I have read some arcs from this series already, so I'm also looking forward to seeing how his relationships with Bludhaven locals (like Amy Rohrbach and Helzinger) develop.
Dick definitely has a lot of room for growth in this series, and I'm excited to see him grow into the man that becomes the heart of DC.
In Nightwing Vol 1, Dick's first thought upon seeing a girl's head smashed into a brick wall is "Wow she's beautiful without her glasses." Though he chastises himself for that thought, he still proceeds to visit her in the hospital and accept and invitation to get coffee with her because she "kind of owes him." This came off as extremely unethical, bordering on sleazy, and is a good reminder of why vigilantism isn't technically legal. There are no ethical regulations to stop heroes from taking advantage of people in emotional states. In addition, when asked if he regrets not feeding a man who was proven innocent of killing the Graysons to rats, he responds "No. You're innocent too." While I am not disputing that this was the noble thing to do, the very same man admitted to mutilating his own son's face and life for power and to murdering another child not long earlier. It almost sounds like Nightwing's definition of innocence is dependent on how his own life is affected by one's acts.
On the other hand, Dick also referred to Alfred Pennyworth as his best friend, threw himself on top of Tim to protect him from a car bomb, recognized that Bruce, while far from father of the year, did the best he could to raise Dick and saved (or thought he was saving) a number of kids in this volume. So he's greatly flawed, but not a bad person by any means.
Some things I liked, aside from Nightwing's personality:
1) The choice to open the story with pages from Barbara's journal. Barbara is someone who intimately knows and clearly loves Dick, and having her introduce the story shed a positive light on the story.
2) Clancy being a Chinese-Irish immigrant! I love seeing racial representation in books, and was happy to see this in a book from the 90s.
3) The way Nightwing's ponytail gets sliced off. It was funny but also relieving moment for those of us who don't love mullets.
4) I love the comparisons of the BPD to the GPD. While Gotham's police force obviously doesn't have a very good handle on crime in Gotham, they are led by Jim Gordon who is indisputably a force of good. Bludhaven's force is corrupt from top to bottom, and I like that we got to figure that out with Dick.
5) The nightmares of not being able to saving the falling child as Robin. Just as Batman was birthed when his parents were murdered in Crime Alley, Robin was born when those trapeze ropes snapped on his parents so many years ago. I like how Dixon shows us that Nightwing is still affected by this trauma, and I was drawn in enough to be disappointed every time he wakes up before the dream ends.
6) Dick's friends! The main separating factor between Batman and Nightwing is that Nightwing acknowledges and relies on his friends. It was great seeing Babs, Wally, Bruce and Tim in this volume and I hope to see more of them. I have read some arcs from this series already, so I'm also looking forward to seeing how his relationships with Bludhaven locals (like Amy Rohrbach and Helzinger) develop.
Dick definitely has a lot of room for growth in this series, and I'm excited to see him grow into the man that becomes the heart of DC.
February 11, 2024
Nightwing is one of the most loved DC characters, even though he started off as only a sidekick. Some fans even like him more than Batman. I’m not one of those, but I can see why. Nightwing is just a more lovable and positive person. Nightwing, Vol. 1: Blüdhaven collects Nightwing 1-4 (the 1995 Mini-Series) and Nightwing (1996) 1-8. It starts with Oracle’s journal, which gives a recap of what happened to Nightwing and why he chose to go to Blüdhaven.
In 1995, DC decided to give Nightwing his own mini-series, written by Dennis O’Neil and illustrated by Greg Land. The story was just okay. It was not campy at all. It’s Dennis O’Neil providing social commentary on child abuse. This is also where Nightwing surrenders his discowing outfit to Batman and dons his traditional blue and black costume. The best part of the story, for me, is Nightwing’s heart-to-heart talk with Batman at the end of the story. As for the art, this is your typical '90s art. I thought Greg Land did a good job with the art despite the outdated '90s hairstyles and outfits.
This mini-series paved the way for the Nightwing on-going series, which was released in 1996. These first 8 issues, collected in this book, were written by Chuck Dixon and illustrated by Scott McDaniel. In this on-going series, Nightwing decides to part ways with Batman and be his own man. He gets rid of that atrocious ponytail and heads to Blüdhaven, a city worse than Gotham. I didn’t know that was possible. However, this is the perfect city for Nightwing to shine. It's fun to see Nightwing be the boss in his own town. It's also enjoyable to see his life as Dick Grayson as he tries to look for a job. I also like the characters introduced in this story like Bridget Clancy, Dudley Soames, and Chief Delmore Redhord, who is nothing like Commissioner Gordon. You can really see that Dixon had a plan here. I really like the issue when Tim Drake visits Blüdhaven. These two are truly brothers, even though not by blood.
I think Scott McDaniel is the perfect artist to illustrate Nightwing and showcase his acrobatic abilities, but sometimes, I have no idea what is going on within the panels. I’m also not a fan of the colors. I don’t know if it is just my copy, but the colors are yellowish.
My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page
In 1995, DC decided to give Nightwing his own mini-series, written by Dennis O’Neil and illustrated by Greg Land. The story was just okay. It was not campy at all. It’s Dennis O’Neil providing social commentary on child abuse. This is also where Nightwing surrenders his discowing outfit to Batman and dons his traditional blue and black costume. The best part of the story, for me, is Nightwing’s heart-to-heart talk with Batman at the end of the story. As for the art, this is your typical '90s art. I thought Greg Land did a good job with the art despite the outdated '90s hairstyles and outfits.
This mini-series paved the way for the Nightwing on-going series, which was released in 1996. These first 8 issues, collected in this book, were written by Chuck Dixon and illustrated by Scott McDaniel. In this on-going series, Nightwing decides to part ways with Batman and be his own man. He gets rid of that atrocious ponytail and heads to Blüdhaven, a city worse than Gotham. I didn’t know that was possible. However, this is the perfect city for Nightwing to shine. It's fun to see Nightwing be the boss in his own town. It's also enjoyable to see his life as Dick Grayson as he tries to look for a job. I also like the characters introduced in this story like Bridget Clancy, Dudley Soames, and Chief Delmore Redhord, who is nothing like Commissioner Gordon. You can really see that Dixon had a plan here. I really like the issue when Tim Drake visits Blüdhaven. These two are truly brothers, even though not by blood.
I think Scott McDaniel is the perfect artist to illustrate Nightwing and showcase his acrobatic abilities, but sometimes, I have no idea what is going on within the panels. I’m also not a fan of the colors. I don’t know if it is just my copy, but the colors are yellowish.
My Batman Collected Editions Instagram page
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