Nightwing: The Great Leap

Nightwing (1996) (Original Trades) #15

by Peter J. Tomasi (Writer), Don Kramer (Illustrator), Rags Morales (Illustrator)

Stepping out of Batman's shadow, the original Boy Wonder now breaks the circle of crime and corruption on the mean streets of New York City as Nightwing. When the Dark Knight's adversary Two-Face steps in to take a bite out of the Big Apple, it's up to Nightwing to pluck the city from the crazed madman's grasp. NYC's only hope may lie in the hands of an old flame from Two-Face's past--but Nightwing better hurry before an assassin's bullet cuts her down.

Collects NIGHTWING #147-153, the final issues of the series, tying into "Batman: R.I.P."

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

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2009

About the author

Peter J. Tomasi is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, such as Batman And Robin; Superman; Super Sons; Batman: Detective Comics; Green Lantern Corps; and Superman/Wonder Woman; as well as Batman: Arkham Knight; Brightest Day; Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors; Nightwing; Black Adam, and many more.

In the course of his staff career at DC Comics, Tomasi served as a group editor and ushered in new eras for Batman, Green Lantern, and the JSA, along with a host of special projects like Kingdom Come.

He is also the author of the creator-owned titles House Of Penance with artist Ian Bertram; Light Brigade with artist Peter Snejbjerg; The Mighty with Keith Champagne and Chris Samnee; and the critically acclaimed epic graphic novel The Bridge: How The Roeblings Connected Brooklyn To New York, illustrated by Sara DuVall and published by Abrams ComicArts.

In 2018 New York Times best-selling author Tomasi received the Inkpot Award for achievement in comics.

Reviews

[Jayson · Rating 3 out of 5]

(B+) 78% | Good
Notes: A big-time send-off in scope and scale, it’s aggrandizement by association, direct comparison and breadth of burden.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Two-Face story is terrific. Back in these days, Dixon retconned some of Robin's history to make Two-Face a Nightwing villain just as much as a Batman one. I loved the interactions between Nightwing and Two-Face and how the story twists and turns. We also get a couple of great issues dealing with Batman's death over in Grant Morrison's Batman: R.I.P. I'm sad to see this Nightwing title go, but if it must, Nightwing becoming Batman is a pretty great reason why.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first Nightwing story I read, and it's what made me love Dick as much as I do. I feel lucky that I managed to read this one first, because unlike in many other Nightwing books, Dick is really likable and awesome and fun and emotional and everything that makes Dick Dick, you know? It was a pity that Tomasi's run was more or less stopped short because of the events of Batman R.I.P. etc, because I think his plans for Dick were great. Sigh. But at least now we have Scott Snyder's Detective Comics. Until September, that is.

[Liz.Loki · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

LOVED THIS!! Might be my favourite Nightwing comic I’ve read so far.

The plot was very engaging and full of emotional moments. Also the fact that Two-Face was the main villain is a really good choice; he and Dick have a long history behind them that makes this last volume more impactful. All the plot twists were so good too!

But what really stuck with me are two specific issues that explore Nightwing/Dick as a character.

— About issue #149:

Deep dive into Dick’s worst fears and regrets. Dick, poisoned with fear toxin, hallucinates some of the worst villains he’s faced. They taunt him about not being able to save the innocent people he’s supposed to protect. It shows how afraid he is of failing and consequentially getting people killed in the process.

Especially loved the part where Dick hallucinated Joker taunting him over Jason’s death. Despite knowing Jason is alive now, his death still haunts Dick bc Jason died while wearing Dick’s costume, Dick’s name, and he feels terribly guilty for that. His family’s legacy becoming a target for every villain, no matter who wear the costume, must be something so heartbreaking for Dick. He was the first Robin, after all, so he feels responsible every time a Robin gets hurt or dies. A part of his mind will always tell him “that should have been YOU”.

Also loved the part where Dick hallucinates saving his parents from falling and getting to fly with them one more time, even if it was just his imagination. It made me so emotional.

Also heartbreaking that, when Carol got shot, he saw Barbara for a moment and was desperate to save her. Dick always puts so much pressure on himself, even when certain situations are totally out of his control. He’s always blaming himself and it makes me so sad for him.

— About issue #153:

My favourite part was definitely the very last issue. Seeing Dick grieve Bruce hurts my heart, their bond is so special to me. It made me so emotional how Dick lit the candle — the same candle he and Bruce used for the oath when he first became Robin — and promised to Bruce and to himself that he’s always going to be devoted to do good, that there’s always going to be light in the darkness, no matter what.

“Thank you, Bruce. There will always be hope in Gotham City.”

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is older, preceding the Blackest Night storyline, and pulling elements from (what was then) a fresher in the mind release of Robin: Year One, and it's better than I thought it was going to be. The art was Rags Morales, and the plot is a twisty affair. The bridge material at the end that leads into the company-wide event is misplaced as always, but this volume is totally worth your time.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nightwing: The Great Leap continues where the previous trade paperback left off collecting the seven issues (Nightwing #147–153) of the 1996 on-going series and collects three stories: "The Great Leap", "Eminence Front", and "Black Dawn".

"The Great Leap" is a four-issue storyline with an epilogue (Nightwing #147–151) that has Dick Grayson as Nightwing summoned by Harvey Dent as Two-Face, who asks for Nightwing's help to keep Carol Bermingham, an old colleague and love interest, safe from harm. Nightwing doesn't trust completely in Two-Face, but he agrees only because there are innocent lives in peril. Further investigation reveals that Two-Face was hired to kill Bermingham and he hired Nightwing to protect her.

"Eminence Front" is a one-issue tie-in for the Face of Evil event (Nightwing #152) that has Dick Grayson as Nightwing faces of Ra's al Ghul over the death of Bruce Wayne as Batman as Ra's believes that only he was worthy of killing the Detective. "Black Dawn" is a one-issue finale (Nightwing #153) that has Dick Grayson as Nightwing finally decides to move back to Gotham permanently and with help from the JSA, he empties his New York Headquarters in no time. While in Gotham, Dick rebuilds and repairs the damage done to the Batcave and he decides to focus entirely on his crime fighting career in memory of Bruce Wayne.

Peter Tomasi penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well and gives a wonderful nostalgic send-off for Nightwing and the series. Using Harvey Dent as Two-Face is a wise choice as he and Dick Grayson as Nightwing has a long history with each other. While the last issue was a tad quiet – it was filled with nostalgic moments that reinforces how similar both Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson are.

Don Kramer (Nightwing #147, 149–150, 152–153), Rags Morales (Nightwing #148) and Doug Mahnke and Shawn Moll (Nightwing #151) penciled the trade paperback. For the most parts these pencilers have rather different styles, which made the artistic flow rather unpleasant. I wouldn't mind it so much if there were just one penciler for each story for consistency sake.

Overall, this Nightwing series is extremely uneven. It started out really strong with Chuck Dixon who created for Nightwing a unique city of Blüdhaven with a rather distinctive Rouges Gallery for Nightwing, albeit not as long lasting as I would liked.

Things got rather bad with successive writers: Devin Grayson had Dick Grayson turn to darker time by fighting crime by infiltrating it as a villain. Bruce Jones' Nightwing is hardly the kind of guy you'd want to spend time with, Marc Andreyko's Dick Grayson is also pretty sleazy, if well-intention, and Marv Wolfman's interpretation of Dick Grayson as Nightwing being rather listless and lost in this part of the series. Fortunately, Peter Tomasi brought Dick Grayson as Nightwing back to the core, which was a welcome experience as the series ended rather strong.

Missing are also forty or so issues that aren't collected in the trades, which was a tad upsetting and rather perplexing as I thought these issues would be collected along the way.

All in all, Nightwing: The Great Leap is a good continuation to a rather uneven series.

[Riley Pilgrim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly really love Two Face as a Dick Grayson villain more than a Batman one. While I think he works great as a Batman villain at times, the added layer he has with Dick was such a great part of this book. Tomasi does a great job with Nightwing with this run, I wish it was longer, but Batman dying and Dick Becoming Batman sort of explains why his run was short.

The main story here is The Great Leap, and it's about Dick basically protecting this lawyer that Harvey used to be close with, but also protecting her from Two Face as well, which was honestly a great twist. The way Tomasi wrote Two Face during this story was amazing, and overall this story stands out among a lot of the great Nightwing stuff over the years. It was a blast to read.

The final couple issues is Dick coming to terms with Bruce being gone, and a fun Dick and Babs birthday issue which was pretty cute. Idk how available this paperback is anymore, but I recommend people check out Tomasi's work on Nightwing. It's seriously underrated.

[Rowan's Bookshelf (Carleigh) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best, but certainly an entertaining Nightwing so far. I loved Dicks' character (though he's not as chatty as the Year One volume was) and the entire story with Harvey Dent. Love that they include aspects of their relationship from Robin Year One. Good art, no egregious anatomy that I noticed in a quick read through. Loved Alfred's little appearance, too as always.

Complaints are more my problem - but the tie-ins to Batman RIP are minimal but still pretty vague. Bruce is gone but Dick doesn't seem to have a problem with it at all. No Robin to be seen either despite his trip to the Cave. Also there's the same thing of him being too busy with hero stuff to be a good boyfriend, which is tiresome. Still, loved the mainline story.

[Jeff Lanter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the final stop on my tour of "modern" Two-Face comics and it wasn't a bad way to end it. The Great Leap features angry Two-Face who is mad at the world and wants revenge for what has happened to him. He has a surprisingly strong chemistry with Nightwing too. The story is pretty straightforward and only takes up about 2/3's of the issues collected here. The other is about Ra's Al Ghul and Nightwing becoming Batman. These were not as interesting to me as I'm skipping around and reading Two-Face stories exclusively at the moment. There are quite a few artists used in these issues but it still felt pretty cohesive which is a credit to DC. All in all this was a pretty solid set of superhero comics and I enjoyed reading this slice of Nightwing out of context.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tomasi's Nightwing run before New 52 ends here and its a shame. His Nightwing is really good. I really enjoyed the world he was trying to create for Dick. Here, Two-Face convinces Nightwing to protect a witness that Harvey once had feelings for way back. The book shows just how heroic Nightwing is. Its really good. Then we deal with some of the Batman R.I.P. stuff that is okay. There was some extremely good art again from Morales and Kramer. Overall, sad this book couldn't continue.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Interesting, and I liked the Two Face twist at the end, and the Ra's al Ghul fight was very interesting (how Ra's wanted the world to know Batman was dead to give him the honor he deserved...), but there was something missing here for me overall. I'm not 100% sure, but I think it was Nightwing's tone/characterization... And I know this was a transition volume before Dick becomes Batman for a bit, but it was just a little off, maybe?

[John Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nightwing's swan song (this iteration, at least). The arc with Two-Face was a bit convoluted for my liking. But the confrontation with Ra's Al Ghul was satisfying, and the lead up to the Battle for the Cowl and Blackest Night as well. The denouement scenes highlighting Wayne Manor household's loss is gripping, and Grayson's grief for his mentor is appropriately palpable.

[Kenneth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nightwing is up against an old nemesis and later takes up the mantle of Batman.

[Pri Lorenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay those last few chapters really hit orz

[mayleh · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5

[Veronika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Großartiger Showdown zwischen Nightwing und Two-Face. Tomasi muss ich mir als Schreiber echt merken, ich fand ach schon "Born to kill" phantastisch.

[John Wiswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another promising book that feels cut short by editorial. After all Tomasi's work establishing Nightwing as part of a larger world and pushing against the erosion of his personal life, what do we get? Him angsting alone in the wake of Batman's death. His new love interest is kicked out of the series before we've ever seen them bond in a significant way. Before the end, he packs up his stuff and leaves his nifty castle home for Gotham. Certainly a bummer.

This volume still has a good story, though: Two-Face has been hired to kill someone he loved before his accident, and is now at war trying to stop himself. He reaches out to Nightwing hoping to have his own plans thwarted. At its best point, Two-Face gets into an argument with himself in a graveyard over what his true nature is. It's a top-notch handling of this villain.

Dick Grayson is far more rushed. That love interest never develops. He swears to protect Two-Face's victim, only to go Full Angst within pages of her being in jeopardy. His whimsy and social ties are leached for a passé Batman-like pursuit of his more interesting bad guy. Even when his old flame Barbara Gordon drops by, it doesn't have the charm of Freefall's world dynamics (though an epilogue to the book has a very cute moment between him and Barbara). Now heroes appearing feel like bases being covered, closer to random crossovers that fill page space than meaningful parts of his life.

So you read it for the villain, not the hero. Hardly the worst case in a DC Comic.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great Nightwing novel. I don't usually have complaints with Nightwing

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good bow out for Nightwing. Good storyline, characterisations, and a satisfactory conclusion. Well worth a read.

[John Yelverton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is still good, but moving the main character to New York is a weak and quite honestly pathetic move that will probably get the book canned very shortly.

[Beckiezra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad to see the Nightwing series end, kind of a random collection to wrap things up. Some different artists did parts and I liked some artwork better than others.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who needs to be protected... and why. Excellent questions and a very good story, that forces Nightwing into the world a missing Batman leaves behind.

[Gökberk Kaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story takes place after the death o the Bruce Wayne.It has a great story recommended for any Nightwing fans.It also showes how is the Batamily doing ater the death

[Tokio Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing really amazing but enjoyable.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable Nightwing story 4.5 stars