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DC Universe: Rebirth
Nightwing: Rebirth (2016) #1
He’s been Robin, Batman, a spy, a ghost. Now, Dick Grayson returns to Gotham City to reclaim the life that was taken from him. But when a new evil threatens those he loves most, Nightwing faces being torn away from home once again in order to destroy the dark force once and for all. Powerhouse artist Yanick Paquette (BATMAN, SWAMP THING) joins series writer Tim Seeley (GRAYSON, BATMAN & ROBIN ETERNAL) to return Nightwing to the DC superhero stage!
26 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 13, 2016
20 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Tim Seeley
1,651 books609 followersTim Seeley is a comic book artist and writer known for his work on books such as G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, The Dark Elf Trilogy, Batman Eternal and Grayson. He is also the co-creator of the Image Comics titles Hack/Slash[1] and Revival, as well as the Dark Horse titles, ExSanguine and Sundowners. He lives in Chicago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 9, 2025
(A-) 80% | Very Good
Notes: A sprightly mood and attitude (fun, optimistic, bright), it's a back-to-glory wrap-up story: adieus and team-up fights.
*Progress update
Notes: A sprightly mood and attitude (fun, optimistic, bright), it's a back-to-glory wrap-up story: adieus and team-up fights.
*Progress update
August 18, 2016
Nightwing is back and the world is a safer place. Welcome back Dick.
January 5, 2017
Not bad, but Nightwing has also never really appealed to me. Seeley knows Grayson's voice, and the artwork is solid, but I've never been a fan of the whole Grayson-is-a-spy schtick.
October 10, 2016
Just so you guys know, I love Dick Grayson. I really do. I first encountered him from Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls, if I remembered it correctly. He wasn't the main character in that one, but I really enjoyed all the scenes he was it. I wanted to know more about him, which is why I read Grayson, Volume 1: Agents of Spyral, which I ended up liking. Nightwing: Rebirth #1, however, was a bit disappointing.
It does follow some of the things that transpired from Grayson, so I'd probably recommend reading the first volume of that first before delving into this. The Court of Owls, or as they call it here, the Parliament of Owls, I think would play a major role in this story line, which I liked. Someone really need to put a stop to that creepy secret society.
I wasn't really impressed with the story. I should like it because it had elements from graphic novels I've already read and loved, but for some reason, I just wasn't buying it. Maybe, it wasn't the story, but the dialogue that didn't work for me. I dunno.. I just didn't enjoy it as much.
October 8, 2016
Actual rating: 3.75 stars.
This was cool, but since I didn't read the Agent 37 material, I didn't know anything about the Parliament of Owls (who's name is much cooler than the Court) nor about Midnighter or Hunteress (or should I say Helena). Still, it was cool is see my favorite member of the Batman in the blue suit.
Hopeful the mainline issues will be more self-contained until I can get my hands on the Grayson trades.
This was cool, but since I didn't read the Agent 37 material, I didn't know anything about the Parliament of Owls (who's name is much cooler than the Court) nor about Midnighter or Hunteress (or should I say Helena). Still, it was cool is see my favorite member of the Batman in the blue suit.
Hopeful the mainline issues will be more self-contained until I can get my hands on the Grayson trades.
July 14, 2016
I liked the back and forth between Grayson and Damien, after looking up this Tim Seeley fellow, and finding out he wrote Hack/Slash I could see character interaction being his strong suit. I'll look forward to reading more Nightwing in that respect. The teaser for our future villiains seem like they're just going to be more of an annoyance than anything else.
Either way I'll stick with the series.
Either way I'll stick with the series.
July 28, 2016
Dick has to get his old ID back. He doesn't want to be Agent 37 anymore, but leaving the spy world is not that easy. I thought it was a great jumping off point for the next Nightwing.
July 15, 2016
Prior to buying this book I had unfortunately seen reviews for this book on IGN and Newsarama and they were pouring their love all over this issue sadly I cant agree with them , sure the Comics bought back the good memories of Nightwing ,set up Birds of Prey with Huntress and by the end u get the feeling that Nightwing will have all the good thing of the old Nightwing and all the good thing from Grayson and yet it felt dull , with barely anything happening and mere pages of montages passing through
Also if we are indeed going back back than why not get the Barbara Dick love angle back?
Also if we are indeed going back back than why not get the Barbara Dick love angle back?
January 26, 2017
I love Dick Grayson and this didn't turn me off but it didn't turn me on, either? (This sounds a bit weird)
It's the first issue so I'll give it a bit of a pass but I wasn't wowed by anything.
I like the premise of him having an in with the Court of Owls. I like him going "home" to see Damian and Bruce. I liked the concept of him and Babs being a couple again even though Rebirth Babs is nothing to write home about. The art is okay.
That's the problem with this book. Everything is just okay. Anyway, it looks like Raptor will be an interesting antagonist/eventual teammate(?) for Dick.
It's the first issue so I'll give it a bit of a pass but I wasn't wowed by anything.
I like the premise of him having an in with the Court of Owls. I like him going "home" to see Damian and Bruce. I liked the concept of him and Babs being a couple again even though Rebirth Babs is nothing to write home about. The art is okay.
That's the problem with this book. Everything is just okay. Anyway, it looks like Raptor will be an interesting antagonist/eventual teammate(?) for Dick.
August 1, 2016
I like Tim Seely and all, but I could never really get into his Dick Grayson comics, and this was no exception...
April 3, 2020
This wasn't too bad. I liked the dialogue in this, it was not cringe worthy or cheesy. I liked that Nightwing was drawn very gracefully and not overly muscular. I felt like he was drawn properly like an acrobat. Batman was drawn horribly and looked like a RA at a college dorm with a 5 pm shadow and then I realized that he and Nightwing had a similar face and if they weren't wearing their costumes I wouldn't know who was who. Also he and Batgirl a thing? Eh not a fan. Intriguing first issue but not enough for me to want to continue.
September 2, 2024
I’m happy this is the issue Dick steps back into Nightwing, but I’m glad Tom Taylor takes over later in the series. I get why the writing was over explaining in some places since this was a lot of people’s reintro into DC, it could’ve sounded more natural. Even editors notes could’ve benefitted.
September 3, 2017
"Eternally reborn to start anew."
4/5
4/5
Read
July 18, 2016Ah man. What happened with this one?
Don't get me wrong, Dick Grayson is one of my favorite DC characters. And like a lot of people, I was excited that he was going to be Nightwing again, back in blue and everything. So I was excited to read this issue.
But man oh man, the writing is bad. Like, I was cringing during parts of it. I believe at one point Dick compares Helena to a Chinese finger trap made of Ikea directions. What does that even mean?
The worst dialog was Damian. I mean, jeez, he might be self-important and arrogant, but he's not an automaton!
Who talks like that?
And as for this being a "rebirth," it really misses the mark. All the best issues of Rebirth I've read so far really carry through with the theme, but despite this issue's attempts (lots of references to the legendary Nightwing being a symbol of rebirth), it doesn't really pull through. For all that Dick is putting on the old costume again, it seems like nothing's really changing. He's just going to be a spy. Again. In a plot that they failed to introduce very well, in what seems to just be a continuation of Grayson. It's annoying and doesn't feel like much of a rebirth at all, despite the costume change.
I'm beginning to wonder if that point has come, as often does in comics, where the character I love lives only in back issues and isn't much related to the current iteration. I really hope that's not the case, but I'm beginning to worry.
Don't get me wrong, Dick Grayson is one of my favorite DC characters. And like a lot of people, I was excited that he was going to be Nightwing again, back in blue and everything. So I was excited to read this issue.
But man oh man, the writing is bad. Like, I was cringing during parts of it. I believe at one point Dick compares Helena to a Chinese finger trap made of Ikea directions. What does that even mean?
The worst dialog was Damian. I mean, jeez, he might be self-important and arrogant, but he's not an automaton!
Who talks like that?
And as for this being a "rebirth," it really misses the mark. All the best issues of Rebirth I've read so far really carry through with the theme, but despite this issue's attempts (lots of references to the legendary Nightwing being a symbol of rebirth), it doesn't really pull through. For all that Dick is putting on the old costume again, it seems like nothing's really changing. He's just going to be a spy. Again. In a plot that they failed to introduce very well, in what seems to just be a continuation of Grayson. It's annoying and doesn't feel like much of a rebirth at all, despite the costume change.
I'm beginning to wonder if that point has come, as often does in comics, where the character I love lives only in back issues and isn't much related to the current iteration. I really hope that's not the case, but I'm beginning to worry.
August 16, 2016
Tim Seeley was continues right were he left off in the Grayson series from the New 52. This issue bridges the gap from Dick Grayson's time working for Spyral coming to an end to him becoming Nightwing again. Dick goes back to Gotham and has some interactions with Damian and Bruce. Towards the end of the issue, Seeley sets up the villains for the first arc of the series. Since Seeley has had a while to get comfortable with the character of Dick Grayson, he transitions from the New 52 universe to this story without missing a beat. I know that Tom King is no longer helping Seeley plot out the stories, but I don't think there will any dip in terms of quality in this new series. Seeley has shown that he is more than capable of writing great stories for Dick Grayson. Now he has the opportunity to show that he can do the same for the Nightwing persona. Writing gets 5 stars.
I just recently discovered artist Yanick Paquette's work in the New 52 Swamp Thing series. He's fantastic at drawing horrifying images and I hope he gets the opportunity somewhere down the line to tackle characters like Scarecrow, Killer Croc, and some of the supervillains that have more horrific aspects to them. Hopefully writer Tim Seeley puts Nightwing in situations where Paquette can really doing some trippy artwork because that is where he really shines. This issue has none of that because it is a mundane transitional period, but one came hope that something like that comes along in the future. Paquette's art gets 4.5 stars.
Writing and art scores average out to a 4.75 star total score for the book. It's not perfect , but it is damn close. If you enjoyed the Grayson series at all, you should be reading this series.
I just recently discovered artist Yanick Paquette's work in the New 52 Swamp Thing series. He's fantastic at drawing horrifying images and I hope he gets the opportunity somewhere down the line to tackle characters like Scarecrow, Killer Croc, and some of the supervillains that have more horrific aspects to them. Hopefully writer Tim Seeley puts Nightwing in situations where Paquette can really doing some trippy artwork because that is where he really shines. This issue has none of that because it is a mundane transitional period, but one came hope that something like that comes along in the future. Paquette's art gets 4.5 stars.
Writing and art scores average out to a 4.75 star total score for the book. It's not perfect , but it is damn close. If you enjoyed the Grayson series at all, you should be reading this series.
July 17, 2016
This one felt more like a bookend to "Grayson" than anything else. Since I've only read the first issue of that series, I can only speculate on Seeley's job of wrapping things up but despite my lack of knowledge it was enjoyable and not too hard to follow. I'm a HUGE fan of fellow Québécois Yannick Paquette but even I have to admit that this isn't his best work. Still, middle of the road Paquette is better than most. Overall I had a good time but I guess I'll have to wait after the proper first issue to decide if I'll keep up with Nightwing or not.
July 14, 2016
3.5/5
This was a nice and fun way to bridge the gap between New 52's Dick Grayson and the new Rebirth status quo. I haven't been following Nightwing so this probably didn't mean as much to me as it might to others, but it was still an enjoyable read (though probably not one I'll need to get in single issues, but I'll give the regular #1 a try first). I am a little disappointed that Paquette isn't continuing on the book, but I can't say I've seen any of Javier Fernandez's work, so it could also be fantastic.
This was a nice and fun way to bridge the gap between New 52's Dick Grayson and the new Rebirth status quo. I haven't been following Nightwing so this probably didn't mean as much to me as it might to others, but it was still an enjoyable read (though probably not one I'll need to get in single issues, but I'll give the regular #1 a try first). I am a little disappointed that Paquette isn't continuing on the book, but I can't say I've seen any of Javier Fernandez's work, so it could also be fantastic.
July 14, 2016
Slow start but...
It is still good. This issue wrapped up secret agent Grayson and did several flashbacks to tell a story of why Dock Grayson would put the Nightwing costume back on.
It is still good. This issue wrapped up secret agent Grayson and did several flashbacks to tell a story of why Dock Grayson would put the Nightwing costume back on.
July 15, 2016
Frankly a little disappointed with this one, but maybe that'll change when the plot gets going.
http://pop-break.com/2016/07/15/night...
http://pop-break.com/2016/07/15/night...
July 28, 2016
it feels like theyre bringing dick/babs back and idk how to feel about it. the bruce and damian scenes made me sooo happy and the blue-black suit is back:') bless
April 16, 2018
I love Nightwing.
July 8, 2025
I have more morning and more coffee left on Nightwing Tuesday. So I guess I’ll start Rebirth. It didn’t last very long. I’ll probably go back to reading the Chuck Dixon series because I didn’t finish it and there was a lot of other writers in that same series that I never read. I guess it depends on how fast I read this one!
It starts with two lousy covers and a lousy new costume.
Dick and Damian are at an video game arcade. Because I guess they are in the 70s?
Flashback to Dick at St. Hadrian’s School for Girls. Dick is trying to say goodbye to Helena Bertinelli but she’s locked herself in her room, saying she’s not feeling well. And then we get to see her horrible costume redesign.
Flashback to him saying goodbye to the Tiger King of Kandahar. It looks like we’re tying up all those Grayson loose ends.
Flashback to Grayson and Midnighter (a Batman clone) and a mission to kill a monster. Midnighter gives Grayson a device to pull a bomb out of Damien’s nose.
At the bat cave, he does just that. The Batman arrives.
Then we go to an island in Greece where the Parliament of Owls is meeting to switch masks from white to black.
Batman and Dick talk about Dick getting back into action. They have a case with a completely unrecognizable Robin costume in it.
Dick tells them he’s going back to being Nightwing.
Well. Okay then. This was more a less a screen wipe of the old Grayson stuff so Dick could go back to being Nightwing. As such it was really a clip show more than a story.
The art is okay. Not great, not the worst. Some good pages, some not so good pages. No real action to speak of.
I’m giving it 2 stars.
July 25, 2017
"I'm not into superheroes." That's what I told the lady at the LCBS when I got my son into comic books to become a reader. But I wanted to read comics too. She helped me find some series that were up my alley.
The comic book thing has grown, and in an effort to get things organized, I have taken control of my son's comics, which are everywhere. Organizing them, I recall he wanted Nightwing, but the LCBS did not have #1. Well, I am a completist. As I file and organize these things, I am reading them too. When I came to Nightwing, well, how can I read it if we don't have #1?
DC is not nearly as with it as Marvel is with the online stuff. But I eventually made the digital purchase so I could get the ball rolling on reading this. Yeah, still not a superhero fan.
Dick Grayson, the ward of Bruce Wayne, is all grown up now and off on his own. He has dropped hs silly boy costume in favor of being the Nightwing. He has a thing for Barbara Gordon. He has had disagreements with Batman. He seems to be mixed up somehow with a criminal gang. Sensing he isn't loyal, they partnered Nightwing with the Raptor. Nightwing and the Raptor tangle a little before this ends.
Eh. I'll finish what we have, but this doesn't look promising to me.
The comic book thing has grown, and in an effort to get things organized, I have taken control of my son's comics, which are everywhere. Organizing them, I recall he wanted Nightwing, but the LCBS did not have #1. Well, I am a completist. As I file and organize these things, I am reading them too. When I came to Nightwing, well, how can I read it if we don't have #1?
DC is not nearly as with it as Marvel is with the online stuff. But I eventually made the digital purchase so I could get the ball rolling on reading this. Yeah, still not a superhero fan.
Dick Grayson, the ward of Bruce Wayne, is all grown up now and off on his own. He has dropped hs silly boy costume in favor of being the Nightwing. He has a thing for Barbara Gordon. He has had disagreements with Batman. He seems to be mixed up somehow with a criminal gang. Sensing he isn't loyal, they partnered Nightwing with the Raptor. Nightwing and the Raptor tangle a little before this ends.
Eh. I'll finish what we have, but this doesn't look promising to me.
January 26, 2017
5.0 - I hope all future Rebirth one-shot writers took notes, because Tim Seely delivered an absolutely perfect comic book in Nightwing: Rebirth.
It was so good that it makes me not only want to read subsequent issues of Nightwing, but I feel compelled to go back to New 52 to read past issues because this comic made them sound so freaking awesome.
Tons of exposition and backstory? Check. Emotional scenes with a protege that weren’t all they seemed to be on first read? Check. Bisexual flirting? Check. Uncharacteristically light, bouncy figurework from Yanick Paquette? Check.
If you’re looking for lightweight, snappy DC reading in Rebirth that’s Batman adjacent, you’ve found your book.
Read More @ http://crushingkrisis.com/2017/01/dc-...
It was so good that it makes me not only want to read subsequent issues of Nightwing, but I feel compelled to go back to New 52 to read past issues because this comic made them sound so freaking awesome.
Tons of exposition and backstory? Check. Emotional scenes with a protege that weren’t all they seemed to be on first read? Check. Bisexual flirting? Check. Uncharacteristically light, bouncy figurework from Yanick Paquette? Check.
If you’re looking for lightweight, snappy DC reading in Rebirth that’s Batman adjacent, you’ve found your book.
Read More @ http://crushingkrisis.com/2017/01/dc-...
May 29, 2017
ik ben helemaal niet bekend met Nightwing dus alles voor mij was nieuw. toen ik las dat hij Robin is geweest wist ik wel iets meer maar nog niet veel. geen verkeerde strip maar weet nog niet of ik er verder mee ga. ben zelf meer van de vrouwelijke superhelden dan van de mannelijke ook al ben ik dol op the flash en de green Arrow maar dan die van de tv-serie want de stripboeken heb ik nog niet gelezen.
February 28, 2023
I'm trying to read the entirety of this 2016- Nightwing series, after loving Leaping Into the Light.
"Trying" being the operative word, based on this issue.
I just don't feel like I gained anything more than trivia from my experience with it. There isn't really a story here. Super underwhelming.
"Trying" being the operative word, based on this issue.
I just don't feel like I gained anything more than trivia from my experience with it. There isn't really a story here. Super underwhelming.
April 28, 2023
This is entirely buildup and background, and fairly necessary, but it doesn't make for a tremendously enjoyable read. I understand its place, and the art and pathing through it are both fine, but there's no substance as a kick-off, it feels like an in-media-res despite being issue one. A weird start.
December 11, 2025
A fun ish! It's always a treat to see some Yanick Paquette art, but even he can't save Dick's terrible New 52 Robin costume! The issue ends with Nightwing putting on a brand-new suit, and I can't help but wonder: How long do the buckled leather gloves last? Plus, POC Huntress!
Best ad: A two-page spread for Greg Rucka's return to Wonder Woman! Get hype!
Best ad: A two-page spread for Greg Rucka's return to Wonder Woman! Get hype!
June 22, 2018
This is a clear, concise entry into the book. Dick Grayson's past is laid out in only a few pages that move along at a fast clip and manage to take some slippery twists and turns along the way. Loved the sequences with Dick and Damian. I always have.
July 13, 2025
This is truly just a transitional issue - getting us from the days of Spyral and on to Dick's next chapter. The dialogue is strong, and the characters are well-crafted. I have faith in Seeley, so let's see what the regular series brings.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews