Nightwing (2016-) #142

by Dan Watters, David Lapham (Artist)

When Gotham is struck by a terraforming disaster, the downwind city of Blüdhaven falls victim to unanticipated side effects. After a truck full of TNT is stolen from a Blüdhaven construction yard, Nightwing learns it’s headed toward Gotham as a form of righteous vengeance for everything the city has done to Blüdhaven…and only he might be fast enough to stop it before things get explosive.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics

Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2026

About the author

Dan Watters is a UK based comic book writer. His first book, LIMBO, was released through Image Comics in 2016. He has since written THE SHADOW at Dynamite Comics, and ASSASSIN’S CREED and WOLFENSTEIN for Titan Comics.

Currently he is writing the relaunch of LUCIFER for Vertigo’s Sandman Universe, as well as DEEP ROOTS for Vault Comics. Deeply rooted in London Town, and firmly of the Devil's party.

Reviews

[Craig Schorling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really powerful issue that plays on the lives of the everyday people caught up in these events. Watters has really been doing great work with Nightwing and this tie-in issue continues that trend.

[Cristhian · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far the best tie-in for this Bad Seeds event

[Lizzy DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally read Nightwing, but this was actually very good!

[Riley Pilgrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damian tease at the end has me excited.

[Cybernex007 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Dan Watters we trust! This was the series I was most worried about crossing over with Bad Seeds, its had such good momentum and a great story going and I was worried an event would disrupt that. I’m sad to see that Cowan’s art isn’t on these two issues but it’s still solid even if Nightwing looks a little chopped at times and the colors are still fantastic. But I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of this story, the way Gotham draws unwilling participants into its threats and the surprising human element I continue to love to find expressed in these issues in the midst of all the chaos. I love these moments where we aren’t worried about the big actions scenes, but the person directly in front of us. This was actually going to be a pretty big night for Nightwing, he was planning on finally going after Bisogni. He noticed Gotham’s blackout but also thought of all the contingency plans batman has to cut the power grid if he needs to, dangerous thing to think that hrs a normal occurrence, lol. Nightwing also got a few reports of sporadic attacks across the city, but felt it wasn’t important enough to draw his attention away from finally taking down the root cause of all the turmoil on Bludhaven…the corrupt mayor. But then he saw the explosion coming from the industrial area, still Nightwing thought first responders could handle it…but he didn’t hear any sirens and knew he could get their first. Forcing himself to go help others then take die Bisogni.

When Nightwing arrived to the blow up highway construction eight, he found a passed out guard who was knocked out separate from the explosion. When he came to he informed Nightwing that the foreman did it, he’s never acted this way before and blew up one of their 2 TNT trucks while taking the other one on the road. Now that man is barreling towards Gotham, as Nightwing hits the road and calls up Maggie. He has been ditching her calls due to his previous mission tonight but she has been trying to get on touch to inform him of the random attacks and the spores floating in from Gotham that is getting into peoples systems. Unfortunately as Nightwing is asking her to look into the guy driving the stolen explosive truck, Maggie is attacked by one of these out of control civilians and knocked out cold. I find it really interesting how the Catwoman bad seeds tie in ended by introducing the concept of spores causing humans to go crazy, only for this tie in to immediately pick up on the idea. Pretty cool. As Nightwing rushes towards the truck in his “nightbird” muscle car, he uses his own CB radio to try and reach out and inform the man of the spore affecting his reasoning and that he needs medical attention. While Nightwing can’t see it, the man’s face remains cold and collected which is fairly different from the raging foaming state the others effected are in. Nightwing reaches out for 10 minutes with no response as he races to catch up with the truck, and then he gets a call on his communicator…it’s not Maggie, it’s Bisogni. When Nightwing gave a communicator to Desmond’s gang a bit back it made its way to Bisogni who has been keeping it for an emergency.

While Bisogni is mainly calling to cover his own ass, to make sure Nightwing gets this job done because it wouldn’t be good for Bludhaven to be accused of telling a terrorist leave their city, he doesn’t also provide some useful information. He had officers go over to the driver’s house, where they found his son dead on the ground after falling through the 8th story window. Sereika was at the scene so at least we know the information was good, as it turns out the driver isn’t infected by the spore…his son was and it killed him. Now his father is set on getting revenge on Gotham. With this new information Nightwing radios back to the driver, Nightwing walks through what he believed happen with the driver’s son loosing control of his body and how he leapt out the window when he lost his sense of self preservation. Nightwing tries to appeal to the man, only to be cut off as the driver finally responds back. This is my favorite part of this issue, the human emotion driving that driver towards Gotham and the revelation of his true goal. He uses to live in Gotham, but when does Gotham not ruin lives? Even from those who try and escape it. He used to live and work there, and his last job was the construction of Arkham Towers. He never wanted that job as he always hated the killers and masked psychos running around ruining every day in the city, and then the towers dedicated to them allowed them to literally loom over the city to match the metaphorical way they loom everyone’s minds. But the driver took the job because he needed the money to finally get him and his son out of Gotham, even if it was only over to the next town. But that sense of security was proved false tonight as Gotham still killed his boy, and now he plans to undo his mistake by blowing up the towers.

Nightwing and the driver have both entered Gotham by now as they travel over the warped conditions of the road. Nightwing finally sees the driver and believes he is close to stopping him, only to be reminded of the bounty Savage put on any of Batman’s associates. A biker gang with masks and guns rush in and begin to shoot at his car as Nightwing is forced to abandon it, jumping in and taking each of the gang members down. But this has let him without a car and completely on foot in this dangerous environment. Nightwing takes to the rooftops where he can see Arkham towers still standing as he races over there. Then he gets a call from the driver, he is outside the towers wired up and ready to blow up. The driver was hoping Nightwing would have caught him, he admits he is scared to die but that’s not going to stop him. He really called because he doesn’t want to be alone when he does. Nightwing tries to convince him that his son wouldn’t want this, but the man doesn’t believe that and goes to click the button…as a batarang flies through. Nightwing arrives in time to find Arkham Towers dedicated protector, Damian, sitting on the truck with the driver knocked out and the explosives disabled. LOL.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a little worried it'd lose itself with Bad seeds coming in as I've loved everything about the road but Watters keeps on theme whilst bringing in the spores.

Point off for the art though, so disappointing they're bringing in Damian and yet it looks like this, should be such a cool moment but looks like an uninspired child drew it

[Annemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one read as if it's better integrated in the regular run, at least as someone who doesn't normally read it. Which makes it less fun to read as an outsider, though I imagine it's more fun for Nightwing readers, which makes sense. I expected more Damian, because they mentioned teaming up in another issue.

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

I dont love the art here.
The story is compelling and full of pathos. Hard not to side with the antagonist.

[Simeon Scott · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Pretty neat tie in that presents a realistic reaction to what's been happening in the Bat books lately without getting too much like a twitter thread.

[katie ⋆˙⟡♡ · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

The art style wasn’t my favourite in this one but I loved the story of how everyday people get dragged into Gotham’s mess. Great tie in the Bad Seeds too while keeping it Grayson!

[Saffron · Rating 3 out of 5]

"you don't call, you don't text..." dick you cannot be using bruce as a role model for how to treat ur siblings babe