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Nightwing (1996) (New Edition Trades)
Nightwing, Volume 5: The Hunt for Oracle
Batman sends Nightwing to Blackgate Prison, one of the most dangerous locations in the Gotham No Man s Land, to try to restore order from the psychotic warden, Lockout. But what started as a simple mission for the Dark Knight Detective ends up with Dick Grayson planning a prison breakout and finding himself beaten and broken at the doorstep of Oracle, who happens to be former Batgirl Barbara Gordon. Now as the two old friends question their rekindled feelings for each other, the Huntress returns to create a deadly love triangle.
Plus, Dick Grayson reluctantly takes Tad, also known as Nite-Wing, as a partner-in-training. Will this be the start of a new dynamic duo or a deadly new adversary? Then, a dying Blockbuster finally makes his move against his greatest enemy Oracle! Will Nightwing and Black Canary be able to stop Blockbuster and his army of mercenary super-villains? Or is this the end of the Birds of Prey?
The veteran NIGHTWING creative team of Chuck Dixon, Scott McDaniel, and Karl Story are joined by the art duo of Greg Land and Drew Geraci, plus BIRDS OF PREY artist Butch Guice for NIGHTWING VOLUME 5: THE HUNT FOR ORACLE collects NIGHTWING #35-46 and BIRDS OF PREY #20-21!"
Plus, Dick Grayson reluctantly takes Tad, also known as Nite-Wing, as a partner-in-training. Will this be the start of a new dynamic duo or a deadly new adversary? Then, a dying Blockbuster finally makes his move against his greatest enemy Oracle! Will Nightwing and Black Canary be able to stop Blockbuster and his army of mercenary super-villains? Or is this the end of the Birds of Prey?
The veteran NIGHTWING creative team of Chuck Dixon, Scott McDaniel, and Karl Story are joined by the art duo of Greg Land and Drew Geraci, plus BIRDS OF PREY artist Butch Guice for NIGHTWING VOLUME 5: THE HUNT FOR ORACLE collects NIGHTWING #35-46 and BIRDS OF PREY #20-21!"
200 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2016
9 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Dixon
3,429 books1,033 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."
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 3, 2024
This was a fun volume and we see the tie-in into the NML event with Dick having to stop the prison thing being taken over by Lock-out and blockbuster and he gets captured and so he has to work with the other villains over there and break out and its a fun story with fun convos between villains and how he stops these villains plus them going insane and all that, and a fun pairing with these new villains and I love the way he breaks out of there and then meeting Oracle and a nice romance fling.. the classic tension of "will they/won't they" evident here.
The next story sees him trying to become police and a fun story with Clancy and then how he teams up with Nite-wing aka Tad who has his own story and them trying to stop Blocbuster and the villain also gets the story as he is dying and he needs a heart and he is on the hunt for oracle and we see all the mercenary villains introduced over the course of this run make a cameo from Stallion, Lady Vic, Brutale and all and how are Nightwing, Black canary and Oracle involved obv. and I love how each of them get an arc and then by the end what's the resolution and how it shows the friendship between Dinah and Barbara and also how Dick rescues her.
Its a high octane emotionally charged story and I love it and how it shows Barbara is still a bad-ass despite what happened to her and yeah this volume really made me like this run overall with recurring characters and a progression of the characters and fun stories and the supporting cast is great and the art continues to be a highlight! I highly recommend it!
The next story sees him trying to become police and a fun story with Clancy and then how he teams up with Nite-wing aka Tad who has his own story and them trying to stop Blocbuster and the villain also gets the story as he is dying and he needs a heart and he is on the hunt for oracle and we see all the mercenary villains introduced over the course of this run make a cameo from Stallion, Lady Vic, Brutale and all and how are Nightwing, Black canary and Oracle involved obv. and I love how each of them get an arc and then by the end what's the resolution and how it shows the friendship between Dinah and Barbara and also how Dick rescues her.
Its a high octane emotionally charged story and I love it and how it shows Barbara is still a bad-ass despite what happened to her and yeah this volume really made me like this run overall with recurring characters and a progression of the characters and fun stories and the supporting cast is great and the art continues to be a highlight! I highly recommend it!
April 11, 2020
I love these big collections but also at times they feel so disconnected because of new "directions" without letting us know.
So first half is Nightwing having to go through prison and help a bunch of villains survive while also not getting killed. It's nothing new but it's damn sure fun. The later half deals a lot more with Nite-Wing, which is both fun and exciting. Dick is more open to a sidekick than Batman and tries a different style. But the Nite-Wing character is unhinged to say the least.
The first half feels like what volume 1-4 were. Very over stylistic art and fun nightwing adventure. The second half has all new art and feels a lot more down to earth and a bit grittier. This might have been leading up to things like Identity crisis and such, but the tone shifts for sure. That isn't to say it's bad, I like the 2nd half a lot, but it feels disjointed. Overall though, Dixon still does the character justice.
The weakest plotline is probably the Oracle one. While interesting I never felt she was in danger.
Overall, this is easily the best Nightwing run for me still. A 4 out of 5.
So first half is Nightwing having to go through prison and help a bunch of villains survive while also not getting killed. It's nothing new but it's damn sure fun. The later half deals a lot more with Nite-Wing, which is both fun and exciting. Dick is more open to a sidekick than Batman and tries a different style. But the Nite-Wing character is unhinged to say the least.
The first half feels like what volume 1-4 were. Very over stylistic art and fun nightwing adventure. The second half has all new art and feels a lot more down to earth and a bit grittier. This might have been leading up to things like Identity crisis and such, but the tone shifts for sure. That isn't to say it's bad, I like the 2nd half a lot, but it feels disjointed. Overall though, Dixon still does the character justice.
The weakest plotline is probably the Oracle one. While interesting I never felt she was in danger.
Overall, this is easily the best Nightwing run for me still. A 4 out of 5.
August 21, 2019
The best volume of Nightwing so far. First, Batman sends Nightwing to take back Blackgate Prison from Lockup in a No Man's Land tie-in. It's a ton of fun. Scott McDaniel leaves the book an issue or two later for all you McDaniel haters. Say what you will but the guy's a beast at meeting deadlines. 45+ issues in a row without a fill-in artist. Greg Land and Drew Geraci come on board for an issue before Patrick Zircher and Jose Marzan Jr. have to pitch in for three issues and bail Land out. However, their styles are so similar, it's not even noticeable. Blockbuster tries to hunt Oracle down in a crossover with Birds of Prey and it's action packed. Dixon really turns the action up a notch throughout this book while Land and Zircher make Nightwing fly through the air with the greatest of ease.
July 18, 2018
Batman has a mission for Nightwing. Same ol', same ol', right? Wrong. He wants him to break into Blackgate Penitentiary and wrest control back from the supervillains that have overrun it. Thanks, Bruce. Then Blockbuster makes his move against Oracle, and only Dick and Black Canary can save her! All this, plus the returns of Nite-Wing, and Torque...again.
Now we're getting somewhere! This volume amps up the action, moves the plot along, and seems to be building and building towards a conclusion which is nice. Some of the same plots are repeated, again, but at least they're incorporated in different ways this time - the developments with Nite-Wing for example feel like an actual progression rather than just treading old ground. He's been dancing around Dick's world for so long without actually taking part in it, so it's nice to get some movement there.
The Blackgate story is just plain fun, and then the aftermath from that with Barbara and Oracle is a high pressure story that manages to feel claustrophobic and action packed all at once. There's a nice breather issue set between that and the Hunt for Oracle in which we get some background on John Law, one of the other background characters from the run, which I also really liked even if prose in comics is always hit or miss.
The Hunt For Oracle itself isn't bad, but it feels a bit disconnected. Chuck Dixon is writing both books, but it's definitely a Nightwing story - he doesn't even meet the Birds Of Prey at all during the story, and it only really impacts them right at the end. It's a great Nightwing story, with some amazing sequences for Barbara, but I'm not sure if it warranted a proper crossover.
Scott McDaniel says farewell in this issue to be replaced by Greg Land, who, I am surprised to say, continues to be the stronger of the two anyway. He gets some help from Patrick Zircher to start off with, but Land's got a good sense of action and framing, and his characters have a weight that McDaniel's never really had.
An art team shake-up and a renewed focus on story progression make this the strongest Nightwing volume yet. It's taken a while, but I can see what all the fuss was about now.
Now we're getting somewhere! This volume amps up the action, moves the plot along, and seems to be building and building towards a conclusion which is nice. Some of the same plots are repeated, again, but at least they're incorporated in different ways this time - the developments with Nite-Wing for example feel like an actual progression rather than just treading old ground. He's been dancing around Dick's world for so long without actually taking part in it, so it's nice to get some movement there.
The Blackgate story is just plain fun, and then the aftermath from that with Barbara and Oracle is a high pressure story that manages to feel claustrophobic and action packed all at once. There's a nice breather issue set between that and the Hunt for Oracle in which we get some background on John Law, one of the other background characters from the run, which I also really liked even if prose in comics is always hit or miss.
The Hunt For Oracle itself isn't bad, but it feels a bit disconnected. Chuck Dixon is writing both books, but it's definitely a Nightwing story - he doesn't even meet the Birds Of Prey at all during the story, and it only really impacts them right at the end. It's a great Nightwing story, with some amazing sequences for Barbara, but I'm not sure if it warranted a proper crossover.
Scott McDaniel says farewell in this issue to be replaced by Greg Land, who, I am surprised to say, continues to be the stronger of the two anyway. He gets some help from Patrick Zircher to start off with, but Land's got a good sense of action and framing, and his characters have a weight that McDaniel's never really had.
An art team shake-up and a renewed focus on story progression make this the strongest Nightwing volume yet. It's taken a while, but I can see what all the fuss was about now.
April 8, 2021
Review of Nightwing: The Hunt for Oracle: Man, am I not used to comic archs like this. They just seem to go on forever!
I kind of love the continuity (same baddies in Vol. 2 as in Vol. 5 with lots of good character development) but I'm also starting to get a little antsy. It's been three volumes already, and somehow all these villains are still in play: Torque (Seriously! Seriously?! How is this guy still alive?!), Blockbuster (but I kind of love him, don't know why), and Lady Vic (Blech. I just find her so lame.)
BUT, Nite-Wing and Nightwing finally meet (again) and Dick finally sees what a psychopath Tad is. Finally!
Now, Dick just has to get him.
I do love in this volume how hard Dick is trying to become a Blüdhaven police officer (trying is the keyword). And I love that he's being blocked out because he's a good guy. <3
The ending with Oracle was super high gear & I love how Robin (Tim) & Alfred came down from Gotham to try and help Barbra too.
Solid 4-star volume.
P.s. The was some art in this volume that was all over the place, especially at the end.
During Tad & Dick's team-up, Dick specifically says that he's glad Nite-Wing took the lettering off his jersey (since they both can't be "Nightwing"/"Nite-Wing"), but in every other frame, the letters were drawn back on, like the artists & editors forgot it was supposed to be blank. Awk. :-/
I kind of love the continuity (same baddies in Vol. 2 as in Vol. 5 with lots of good character development) but I'm also starting to get a little antsy. It's been three volumes already, and somehow all these villains are still in play: Torque (Seriously! Seriously?! How is this guy still alive?!), Blockbuster (but I kind of love him, don't know why), and Lady Vic (Blech. I just find her so lame.)
BUT, Nite-Wing and Nightwing finally meet (again) and Dick finally sees what a psychopath Tad is. Finally!
Now, Dick just has to get him.
I do love in this volume how hard Dick is trying to become a Blüdhaven police officer (trying is the keyword). And I love that he's being blocked out because he's a good guy. <3
The ending with Oracle was super high gear & I love how Robin (Tim) & Alfred came down from Gotham to try and help Barbra too.
Solid 4-star volume.
P.s. The was some art in this volume that was all over the place, especially at the end.
During Tad & Dick's team-up, Dick specifically says that he's glad Nite-Wing took the lettering off his jersey (since they both can't be "Nightwing"/"Nite-Wing"), but in every other frame, the letters were drawn back on, like the artists & editors forgot it was supposed to be blank. Awk. :-/
August 3, 2025
This volume finds its groove and sticks in it till the end. From No Man's Land to The Hunt For Oracle, great stuff all.
October 25, 2025
i can't stand this "nite-wing" guy.
March 23, 2017
I really, really enjoyed this volume of Chuck Dixon's Nightwing. The first few issues overlap with Nightwing a Darker Shade of Justice from the previous printing, but here they are presented with two issues taking place during No Man's Land, when, in the wake of an earthquake, Gotham is abandoned. Batman sends Nightwing into Blackgate prison to get rid of the warden, Lock-up. Nightwing's plan to go undercover is immediately uncovered and he's dropped in a hole with a number of villains that he and Batman had previously faced and captured. Later, the hole begins to fill with water. Nightwing manages to get the villains to work together enough to blow a wall between the hole and the next chamber so the water has someplace to go. Nightwing is also captured by Lock-up again - who has discovered the rumors of his death are exaggerated. The prison is back under Batman's control, and a broken and beaten Dick Grayson shows up at Barbara Gordon's.
Barbara begins to care for Dick, taking care of him, when her Oracle's nest is attacked by the GCPD. The police get closer and closer, walking in to every one of her traps. Eventually, Dick and Barbara have to escape. They are nearly caught in the parking garage but Huntress arrives to help her former Birds of Prey team-mate.
After all that, Dick decides to return to Blüdhaven. Dick returns to the police academy and graduates. He also discovers that Clancy had always wanted to go to med school but she couldn't afford college and she was too intimidated to apply for a scholarship. Dick encourages her to apply for a WayneTech Scholarship, which she of course gets. Clancy goes to med school. But when Dick applies for a job as a police officer in Blüdhaven, he's told he isn't qualified. Another student, whom Dick has reason to suspect of being not that honest, gets the job instead. The corrupt chief of police makes this other "cop" his enforcer.
Meanwhile the same police chief has arrested Tad, alias Nite-Wing, but provides him with information to start taking down some of Blüdhaven's connected criminals, mostly as a means of disrupting Blockbuster's gang and eliminating competition. Our Nightwing notices this, and takes Nite-Wing under his wing, so to speak, to train him. Dick's first suggestion: change your name and get a better costume. The two are captured by Blockbuster's henchmen. Immediately separated, Blockbuster threatens torture. But the minute he leaves, his chief enforcer gets the twins threatening Nightwing out of the way and reveals himself to be a Federal agent investigating Roland (Blockbuster). Nite-Wing, meanwhile, had a ton of documentation to take down Blockbuster from the chief of police. It's in his car, though Dick had started to FAX it to Oracle. Dick tells Cisco Blaine (the Federal agent), he will get the info while Blaine releases Nite-Wing. Tad, though, being a bit of an idiot, kills the agent, thinking he's a henchman and enforcer for Blockbuster. Dick is really upset by this, obviously.
Blockbuster meanwhile sends his hired villains after Oracle, including Mouse and Giz.
The remainder of the book is "The Hunt for Oracle" as Blockbuster's goons chase Black Canary and go after Oracle. Both Black Canary and Nightwing try to get to Barbara to help her. Black Canary doesn't actually know who Oracle is - only knowing her as a voice on her comms. It's a chase, and a good one. Not going to spoil the end.
I loved this book. The writing was both sharp and fun. Dixon's characterization of Dick Grayson is perfect - smart, caring, loyal, and with a driving need to help others - whether that's helping Clancy get in to med school by encouraging her to apply for a scholarship, or training Tad. The opening Blackgate/No Man's Land sequence is full of action - as is the closing chase, but the Nightwing series shines when it focuses on characters - Dick Grayson and his friends. Even a villain like Blockbuster is given some humanity - his extraordinary size has caught-up with him and he's facing heart trouble or a possible stroke. His private doctor even talks to Roland about a heart transplant with an artificial heart, or a heart from an animal. Blockbuster rejects the idea of a pig's heart, but has the doctor investigate the use of ape heart from Gorilla City.
I highly, highly recommend this book and the rest of the series. It's an enjoyable read. The book is beautifully written and the characterization is spot-on.
Update: Nightwing Vol. 5 The Hunt for Oracle features Nightwing #35-46 and Birds of Prey #20-21.
Barbara begins to care for Dick, taking care of him, when her Oracle's nest is attacked by the GCPD. The police get closer and closer, walking in to every one of her traps. Eventually, Dick and Barbara have to escape. They are nearly caught in the parking garage but Huntress arrives to help her former Birds of Prey team-mate.
After all that, Dick decides to return to Blüdhaven. Dick returns to the police academy and graduates. He also discovers that Clancy had always wanted to go to med school but she couldn't afford college and she was too intimidated to apply for a scholarship. Dick encourages her to apply for a WayneTech Scholarship, which she of course gets. Clancy goes to med school. But when Dick applies for a job as a police officer in Blüdhaven, he's told he isn't qualified. Another student, whom Dick has reason to suspect of being not that honest, gets the job instead. The corrupt chief of police makes this other "cop" his enforcer.
Meanwhile the same police chief has arrested Tad, alias Nite-Wing, but provides him with information to start taking down some of Blüdhaven's connected criminals, mostly as a means of disrupting Blockbuster's gang and eliminating competition. Our Nightwing notices this, and takes Nite-Wing under his wing, so to speak, to train him. Dick's first suggestion: change your name and get a better costume. The two are captured by Blockbuster's henchmen. Immediately separated, Blockbuster threatens torture. But the minute he leaves, his chief enforcer gets the twins threatening Nightwing out of the way and reveals himself to be a Federal agent investigating Roland (Blockbuster). Nite-Wing, meanwhile, had a ton of documentation to take down Blockbuster from the chief of police. It's in his car, though Dick had started to FAX it to Oracle. Dick tells Cisco Blaine (the Federal agent), he will get the info while Blaine releases Nite-Wing. Tad, though, being a bit of an idiot, kills the agent, thinking he's a henchman and enforcer for Blockbuster. Dick is really upset by this, obviously.
Blockbuster meanwhile sends his hired villains after Oracle, including Mouse and Giz.
The remainder of the book is "The Hunt for Oracle" as Blockbuster's goons chase Black Canary and go after Oracle. Both Black Canary and Nightwing try to get to Barbara to help her. Black Canary doesn't actually know who Oracle is - only knowing her as a voice on her comms. It's a chase, and a good one. Not going to spoil the end.
I loved this book. The writing was both sharp and fun. Dixon's characterization of Dick Grayson is perfect - smart, caring, loyal, and with a driving need to help others - whether that's helping Clancy get in to med school by encouraging her to apply for a scholarship, or training Tad. The opening Blackgate/No Man's Land sequence is full of action - as is the closing chase, but the Nightwing series shines when it focuses on characters - Dick Grayson and his friends. Even a villain like Blockbuster is given some humanity - his extraordinary size has caught-up with him and he's facing heart trouble or a possible stroke. His private doctor even talks to Roland about a heart transplant with an artificial heart, or a heart from an animal. Blockbuster rejects the idea of a pig's heart, but has the doctor investigate the use of ape heart from Gorilla City.
I highly, highly recommend this book and the rest of the series. It's an enjoyable read. The book is beautifully written and the characterization is spot-on.
Update: Nightwing Vol. 5 The Hunt for Oracle features Nightwing #35-46 and Birds of Prey #20-21.
July 5, 2021
I've noticed the volumes in this series tend to start smack dab in the middle of a conflict, which I think has both positive and negative qualities. It does keep things fresh in a sense, but it can also be a little disorienting to be thrown into a situation with no context every single time. The first arc in this volume (where Batman recruits Nightwing to infiltrate Blackgate) was a bit confusing, and even by the end I wasn't quite sure what the point of it was. There was a lot of action, which was good but I think it needed more of a purpose.
Dick also adopts Tad Ryerstad, or Nitewing as his protege in this volume, which I think could have been a really interesting dynamic. Tad has an extremely black and white view of crime in Blüdhaven, so I think Nightwing could be a great influence on him as long as A) Tad is willing to learn and B) Nightwing is willing to give him space to grow. I personally don't like Tad as a character thus far, but I think giving him the opportunity to grow would serve the story well.
One thing I wasn't a fan of was how much of a player Dick was in this volume. I have no issue with his promiscuity or flirtatiousness, but here he seemed to be manipulating people's emotions and taking advantage of them a bit too much. He's obviously interested in Barbara, but he completely leads Clancy on to believing he's interested in her too. The rejection scene out of context seems perfectly appropriate, but now that I've read the build up of their relationship, it seems a bit cruel that Dick led her on for so long when he knew he really wanted Barbara. Also, I'm tired of Huntress being treated like the "homewrecker" of DickBabs. She's a really interesting character on her own and it just doesn't make sene to me for her to be chasing after Dick. Her conflicting morals add a level of complexity to the typical hero (and I love that it's being done with a female hero for a change), and the love triangle is just unnecessary drama. I think Dick and Helena could work as a one night stand (or even eff buddies (sorry I don't know a nonswear word for that, as I dont think they have the "friends" component of friends with benefit down).
Lastly we had the main plot of this volume, the hunt for Oracle. I really love that Oracle is seen as a major player in the war on crime (because honestly she is the backbone of both the Batfamily and Birds of Prey) and it was great seeing Dinah in this issue. Personally, I felt like Oracle was letting Dinah hang out to dry a bit and that wasn't properly acknowledged, but otherwise it was great seeing their friendship build. If you follow me on Instagram, you already know how problematic and over sexualized I think the image of their first in person meeting is, but otherwise it was a good arc. I also loved
Dick also adopts Tad Ryerstad, or Nitewing as his protege in this volume, which I think could have been a really interesting dynamic. Tad has an extremely black and white view of crime in Blüdhaven, so I think Nightwing could be a great influence on him as long as A) Tad is willing to learn and B) Nightwing is willing to give him space to grow. I personally don't like Tad as a character thus far, but I think giving him the opportunity to grow would serve the story well.
One thing I wasn't a fan of was how much of a player Dick was in this volume. I have no issue with his promiscuity or flirtatiousness, but here he seemed to be manipulating people's emotions and taking advantage of them a bit too much. He's obviously interested in Barbara, but he completely leads Clancy on to believing he's interested in her too. The rejection scene out of context seems perfectly appropriate, but now that I've read the build up of their relationship, it seems a bit cruel that Dick led her on for so long when he knew he really wanted Barbara. Also, I'm tired of Huntress being treated like the "homewrecker" of DickBabs. She's a really interesting character on her own and it just doesn't make sene to me for her to be chasing after Dick. Her conflicting morals add a level of complexity to the typical hero (and I love that it's being done with a female hero for a change), and the love triangle is just unnecessary drama. I think Dick and Helena could work as a one night stand (or even eff buddies (sorry I don't know a nonswear word for that, as I dont think they have the "friends" component of friends with benefit down).
Lastly we had the main plot of this volume, the hunt for Oracle. I really love that Oracle is seen as a major player in the war on crime (because honestly she is the backbone of both the Batfamily and Birds of Prey) and it was great seeing Dinah in this issue. Personally, I felt like Oracle was letting Dinah hang out to dry a bit and that wasn't properly acknowledged, but otherwise it was great seeing their friendship build. If you follow me on Instagram, you already know how problematic and over sexualized I think the image of their first in person meeting is, but otherwise it was a good arc. I also loved
February 19, 2018
This trade paperback picks up where the previous volume left off, collecting the next dozen issues (35–46) of the 1996 on-going series with two issues from the Birds of Prey series (20 & 21).
In the midst of his police training, Batman directs Nightwing to help out at Blackgate Prison, which is in dire straits because of the 7.6 earthquake that hit Gotham City. Nightwing eventually restore order battling the villain Lockout to do it. Battered and tired he arrives at Barbara Gordon's to convalesce and the two begin to question whether to further their relationship when they were interrupted by a rogue GCPD task force and the Huntress.
Grayson returns to Blüdhaven and he graduates from the Police Academy with high marks. However finding a placement for him is being problematic because of the crooked nature of the Blüdhaven Police Department. His vigilante life is just as problematic with the additional complication in taking Nite-Wing as a partner-in-training.
The Hunt for Oracle crossover story line teams up Nightwing with Black Canary to protect Oracle from Blockbuster and his army of mercenary super-villains. They lead each other on a rather well written chase and thankfully they added the chapters from the Birds of Prey side or the story arc wouldn't feel complete.
All in all, I really enjoyed this trade paperback. I really liked how Dixon writes Barbara Gordon and her emerging relationship with Dick Grayson. I'm looking forward to reading the next trade paperback.
In the midst of his police training, Batman directs Nightwing to help out at Blackgate Prison, which is in dire straits because of the 7.6 earthquake that hit Gotham City. Nightwing eventually restore order battling the villain Lockout to do it. Battered and tired he arrives at Barbara Gordon's to convalesce and the two begin to question whether to further their relationship when they were interrupted by a rogue GCPD task force and the Huntress.
Grayson returns to Blüdhaven and he graduates from the Police Academy with high marks. However finding a placement for him is being problematic because of the crooked nature of the Blüdhaven Police Department. His vigilante life is just as problematic with the additional complication in taking Nite-Wing as a partner-in-training.
The Hunt for Oracle crossover story line teams up Nightwing with Black Canary to protect Oracle from Blockbuster and his army of mercenary super-villains. They lead each other on a rather well written chase and thankfully they added the chapters from the Birds of Prey side or the story arc wouldn't feel complete.
All in all, I really enjoyed this trade paperback. I really liked how Dixon writes Barbara Gordon and her emerging relationship with Dick Grayson. I'm looking forward to reading the next trade paperback.
April 19, 2022
Honestly I picked this volume up because 1) I have been thinking about No Man's Land lately and 2) Oracle!!!! but it was genuinely one of the most chaotic volumes of super-heroics I have ever read and that's not a positive OR a negative.
First: extremely hilarious to me that throughout Nightwing's 1996-2009 arc it was mostly Batman being like "hey can you do me a favor" and then the favor was an EXTREMELY difficult and life-threatening task. Love that for him
Second: Babs and Dick playing will-they-won't-they AND having the nerve to get offended when the other develops a romantic interest during the "won't they" period. "Hey Babs, I have a question for you....Who is Jason Bard?" top ten easily most sassy phrases uttered by Richard J. Grayson.
Third: The characterization of Huntress in this volume ESPECIALLY knowing how her character would later develop in Birds of Prey is literally insane to me. Chuck Dixon I have so much respect for you, but that was a job for Gail Simone. As much as I actively, deeply loathe any kind of "two-women-fighting-over-one-guy-love-triangle" I think it's hilarious Huntress makes an entrance as Oracle's sort-of nemesis and finishes it rescuing her and Nightwing.
Fourth: Love that Dick Grayson briefly has a lil mentee of his own during his Blüdhaven years, and that we see him genuinely embracing and loving Blüdhaven despite it being somehow better and worse than Gotham City after a world-altering earthquake.
First: extremely hilarious to me that throughout Nightwing's 1996-2009 arc it was mostly Batman being like "hey can you do me a favor" and then the favor was an EXTREMELY difficult and life-threatening task. Love that for him
Second: Babs and Dick playing will-they-won't-they AND having the nerve to get offended when the other develops a romantic interest during the "won't they" period. "Hey Babs, I have a question for you....Who is Jason Bard?" top ten easily most sassy phrases uttered by Richard J. Grayson.
Third: The characterization of Huntress in this volume ESPECIALLY knowing how her character would later develop in Birds of Prey is literally insane to me. Chuck Dixon I have so much respect for you, but that was a job for Gail Simone. As much as I actively, deeply loathe any kind of "two-women-fighting-over-one-guy-love-triangle" I think it's hilarious Huntress makes an entrance as Oracle's sort-of nemesis and finishes it rescuing her and Nightwing.
Fourth: Love that Dick Grayson briefly has a lil mentee of his own during his Blüdhaven years, and that we see him genuinely embracing and loving Blüdhaven despite it being somehow better and worse than Gotham City after a world-altering earthquake.
Read
February 9, 2020This book kicks off with a No Man’s Land tie-in story where Nightwing, on orders from Batman, infiltrates Blackgate to wrest control from the villains. Then he helps Oracle elude Petit’s rogue GCPD gang. After that we get stories about Tarantula, Nite-Wing, and Dick being a new cop, before the tense “Hunt for Oracle” crossover with Birds of Prey. As a collection, this is likely the peak of Dixon’s Nightwing. I’ve liked the series fine until now and this is the first volume I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. The action is more exciting and meaningful than before, while Nightwing’s story moves forward in more ways than one. We also get development from Tad who has largely been treading water until now. And finally - finally! - someone realizes that Dick and Barbara make a great couple. They’re not there yet, but the moments of them hinting at their feelings are pitch perfect. These two are arguably the heart of the Bat family and they share so much history together. It makes sense that they not only have affection for one another, but work great as a couple.
Elsewhere, Scott McDaniel retires pencil duties at issue 40. I never got into his style, but what an accomplishment going that long without a single fill-in artist. Greg Land and Patrick Zircher take over, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Land’s art looks really good here.
Elsewhere, Scott McDaniel retires pencil duties at issue 40. I never got into his style, but what an accomplishment going that long without a single fill-in artist. Greg Land and Patrick Zircher take over, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Land’s art looks really good here.
February 8, 2023
Another "it's fine" Bat Family book. The good news is that Scott McDaniel stopped the illustrations half way through this volume, so the art no longer looks like a small child is drawing with his off-hand; Greg Land's illustrations demonstrate actual artistic merit, which instantly increases the readability. Story wise, it's Dixon doing the Bat Family. He gets what makes the family tick, and he knows how to write Dick / Nightwing. Much of the volume was collected in No Man's Land, so there's some re-tread here. After that, the volume gets into the Dick becomes a cop story, which doesn't do much for me, at all. The volume ends with The Hunt for Oracle, a good cross-over story with Birds of Prey that actually moves along well and has some decent tension in it.
Overall, another book that's entirely skippable in the grand scheme of the Bat Family, unless you're a fan of Dixon or Nightwing, then it's worth reading.
Overall, another book that's entirely skippable in the grand scheme of the Bat Family, unless you're a fan of Dixon or Nightwing, then it's worth reading.
April 18, 2023
4/5 ✩
• Volume 5 is a strong continuation of previous arcs - specifically the "Nite-wing" and Blockbuster stories - but I'm hoping they come to a conclusion soon to make way for new ideas, as they're beginning to feel less engaging
• the titular story arc was so engaging and exciting, it felt a little more elevated than previous arcs in the Nightwing series; it was a strong climactic note to end on
• the change in art style made me very happy - McDaniel's style was one I never enjoyed, so the style of Land is a welcome change that I think better suits Nightwing and his adventures
• Volume 5 is a strong continuation of previous arcs - specifically the "Nite-wing" and Blockbuster stories - but I'm hoping they come to a conclusion soon to make way for new ideas, as they're beginning to feel less engaging
• the titular story arc was so engaging and exciting, it felt a little more elevated than previous arcs in the Nightwing series; it was a strong climactic note to end on
• the change in art style made me very happy - McDaniel's style was one I never enjoyed, so the style of Land is a welcome change that I think better suits Nightwing and his adventures
April 18, 2018
Scott McDaniel's outstanding pencils end with issue 40, about halfway through this volume. The story arc suffers slightly from yet another couple of crossovers, specifically Batman with No Man's Land, and Birds of Prey with the Hunt for Oracle. Both are good on their own, however, and Dick does grouse at Batman that he's leaving things up in the air to go help out in Gotham. Plus, watch what happens when Dick decides to train his own sidekick!
December 17, 2020
A solid collection of Nightwing issues. Grayson is a fun character to follow. Whether he is butting heads with his nemesis Blockbuster, engaging in complicated affairs with women, or teaming up with allies like Robin or Huntress, his stories are enjoyable. I do think that these issues feel disconnected at times, like many issues pass without one of these plot points coming up, but that's to be expected. The Hunt for Oracle was solid stuff.
January 11, 2022
Pretty damn good but I gotta admit I’m missing the old art style… unpopular opinion, I know. The hunt for Oracle is a great arc. Babs is a badass and I love the implication that she’s stealing money from villains to fund her own operations. I am NOT a fan of Dick Grayson’s new career as a cop but I do have to admit, it does make sense for his character since the BPD is so corrupt he’s basically going undercover. That’s how I’m rationalizing it. Don’t take this from me.
March 25, 2024
loving the lesbian e-dating realness between babs and dinah
“I just realized. I don’t even know what you look like.”
“Well, im not exactly at my best right now.” mind u she’s being hunted down and is hiding in a submarine “But you should see the other guy.”
“Attagirl.” dinah u are literally giving off homo vibes rn
And the “Barbara. Call me Barbara.” scene…. ARE U KIDDING ME? DINAH HOLDING HER AND PULLING BACK HER WET HAIR…. THE ARM ACROSS HER CHEST…BARBARAS ARM RESTING ON DINAHS HIP…
“I just realized. I don’t even know what you look like.”
“Well, im not exactly at my best right now.” mind u she’s being hunted down and is hiding in a submarine “But you should see the other guy.”
“Attagirl.” dinah u are literally giving off homo vibes rn
And the “Barbara. Call me Barbara.” scene…. ARE U KIDDING ME? DINAH HOLDING HER AND PULLING BACK HER WET HAIR…. THE ARM ACROSS HER CHEST…BARBARAS ARM RESTING ON DINAHS HIP…
December 30, 2016
I gave this a 4 even though I'm not sure the whole thing deserves it. Everything covering No Man's Land was awesome - and I did like the DickBabs interactions in this whole story line. There were other things I didn't love - or that felt unnecessary. Regardless, I do love how Chuck Dixon writes my girl.
March 8, 2021
Grading on a curve this is one of the better outings for Dixon/McDaniel but I don’t like McDaniel’s art and the Oracle stuff is dreadful. The Blackgate jaunt in No Man’s Land is fun but inessential. I think Nite-Wing is great.
December 27, 2025
second half of the book (finally) introduced a new artist and i am now wondering if maybe me disliking the art style before this has been playing a bigger part in me hating on this run than i thought
March 7, 2018
I really like how the artwork ramped up in the latter half of this volume. The crossover with Birds of Prey in the "Hunt for Oracle" story line was enjoyable too.
January 29, 2020
Probably one of my favourite volumes of Nightwing so far. Greg Land's art is to die for, and The Hunt for Oracle was super fun to read.
January 28, 2021
Fun if a trifle repetitive
January 20, 2024
Wow, Oracle stuff was great at the end. The development of the Nitewing/Nightwing arc was less interesting to me and I missed McDaniel after his departure in #40.
More great stuff though, recommend.
More great stuff though, recommend.
July 5, 2024
4.5 Stars
February 11, 2017
I really love these comics
Read
March 5, 2022This was mostly good but I despise Tad Ryerstad SO MUCH, and hope he dies choking on a sperm whale’s genitalia (I know he’s got a rough backstory, I just don’t care. He’s still the worst).
March 2, 2017
Five volumes in and Chuck Dixon continues to demonstrate how well he understands Dick Grayson. I really liked having Barbara Gordon involved in this story and she really gets a chance to shine despite not being able to walk. Dick and Babs bring out the best in each other, too, and the romance between them made this even easier to like. On a side note, thank god a new artist finally got involved on this volume, as the previous style wasn't very enjoyable to look at most of the time.
October 23, 2024
Another great read. The crossover even got me to read more Birds of Prey than I meant to.
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