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Nightwing (1996) (Original Trades) #2
Nightwing: Rough Justice
Attempting to create his own life and forge his own destiny, Nightwing has begun anew in the city of Blüdhaven. Leaving behind his adolescent days as Robin, the vigilante confronts his own rogues gallery as he faces off against the deadly threats of underworld kingpin Blockbuster, the half-creature, half-human Man-Bat, and the lethal assassin Deathstroke. But even distance and time will not allow him to escape his past, as Nightwing finds himself once again battling the fear-inducing Scarecrow and working side-by-side Batman, when his mentor pays him an unwelcome visit to check up on him.
Collects Nightwing #9-18
Collects Nightwing #9-18
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1999
6 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Dixon
3,436 books1,040 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 36 reviews
October 8, 2022
(B+) 77% | Good
Notes: It’s about the uncertain in-between of transition: looking at liminality through fear, introspection and transfiguration.
Notes: It’s about the uncertain in-between of transition: looking at liminality through fear, introspection and transfiguration.
January 2, 2019
One thing Chuck Dixon knows is how to make Nightwing fun. Lots of action, short, funny moments with the supporting cast, and simple but enjoyable plots. Blockbuster is a great foil, turning him into a Kingpin type after he went through Underworld Unleashed. The issues with Batman are great, Dixon gets their dysfunctional relationship. I still like Scott McDaniel's art on Nightwing but I did notice it was overly busy. Some pages are really difficult to make out because there's just too much crap on the page.
August 24, 2019
I liked the story, but I wasn't a huge fan of the art style.
October 31, 2017
So good. Chuck Dixon is the best.
March 7, 2012
This book series keeps getting better as we become invested in an independent Richard Grayson.
July 12, 2022
Diquinho Grayson à solta em Alvora... digo... Bludhaven.
Tem umas porcarias, Diquinho contra o Espantalho e aquela bobagem dos traumas do Duas Caras; Diquinho casa com uma loira linda, mas dorme no sofá porque no Universo DC até quem casa não faz sexo - parece bem realista.
Contudo tem umas pancadarias bem tri, especialmente na história do Morcego Humano e do "novo" Exterminador com um uniforme azulão que não só tem ombreiras como também tem cotoveleiras.
Sério, cotoveleiras.
Essa história contra o Exterminador tem uma página de pancadaria num barco que o Scott McDaniels arrasa no desenho, algo realmente brilhante.
Tem também uma história sobre uma visita do Batman; Bruce e Diquinho tem aquele relacionamento idiota em que ninguém pode dizer que se preocupa com o outro, ou seja, uma bosta, mas, também, bastante popular até hoje.
Tem umas porcarias, Diquinho contra o Espantalho e aquela bobagem dos traumas do Duas Caras; Diquinho casa com uma loira linda, mas dorme no sofá porque no Universo DC até quem casa não faz sexo - parece bem realista.
Contudo tem umas pancadarias bem tri, especialmente na história do Morcego Humano e do "novo" Exterminador com um uniforme azulão que não só tem ombreiras como também tem cotoveleiras.
Sério, cotoveleiras.
Essa história contra o Exterminador tem uma página de pancadaria num barco que o Scott McDaniels arrasa no desenho, algo realmente brilhante.
Tem também uma história sobre uma visita do Batman; Bruce e Diquinho tem aquele relacionamento idiota em que ninguém pode dizer que se preocupa com o outro, ou seja, uma bosta, mas, também, bastante popular até hoje.
January 17, 2014
Chuck Dixon writes a good comic and there's no two ways about it. I love the idea of Grayson as a cop and I love the dynamic between Nightwing and Barman or Babs. The crimes and investigation are spaced out well and the art changes from vol 1 but is still great.
December 11, 2016
In this volume, Nightwing continues his existential angst over his relationship to Batman, but seems to finally resolve it before the end of the book. Thanks to Oracle and Alfred for helping this out. Hope this ends it.
Along with the big bad villain carried over from vol 1, Scarecrow is utilized by the villain and his cop stooge, which leads to an interesting examination of Nightwing's fears.
Subplots galore! Said cop stooge now a paraplegic mess, a flirty landlord, a true vigilante on Nightwing's street, plus the original Tarantula shows up (Jonathan Law) as a tenant in Dick's building, AND, Nightwing scores some new wheels along with a trust fund he apparently never knew about (huh?).
Criticism of the art stands as from before. Plus those 90s fashions look a lot more like they're from the 80s, TBH.
Along with the big bad villain carried over from vol 1, Scarecrow is utilized by the villain and his cop stooge, which leads to an interesting examination of Nightwing's fears.
Subplots galore! Said cop stooge now a paraplegic mess, a flirty landlord, a true vigilante on Nightwing's street, plus the original Tarantula shows up (Jonathan Law) as a tenant in Dick's building, AND, Nightwing scores some new wheels along with a trust fund he apparently never knew about (huh?).
Criticism of the art stands as from before. Plus those 90s fashions look a lot more like they're from the 80s, TBH.
November 4, 2025
Ich weiß, ich weiß - Chuck Dixon ist DER Klassiker.
und hey, ich BIN Chuck Dixon dankbar dafür, dass er Nightwing eine eigene Reihe gegeben hat und ihn weg von den Titans als street-level Helden etabliert hat.
Aber leider find ich den ganzen Run trotzdem sehr anstrengend zu lesen. Chuck Dixon versucht SO hart Nightwing zu einer Art Batman 2.0. zu machen, und betont an jeder sich bietenden Stelle dass Dick genauso gut ist wie Batman, genauso gut alleine klar kommt und niemanden braucht, was.... überhaupt nicht nötig ist, weil Dick ein ganz anderer Mensch ist und anders tickt. Und das ist auch gut so.
Also ich lese es vor allem wegen dem Nostalgiefaktor und weil ich ein Nightwing-Completionist bin, der irgendwann mal behaupten will, dass er wirklich ALLEs gelesen hat.
und hey, ich BIN Chuck Dixon dankbar dafür, dass er Nightwing eine eigene Reihe gegeben hat und ihn weg von den Titans als street-level Helden etabliert hat.
Aber leider find ich den ganzen Run trotzdem sehr anstrengend zu lesen. Chuck Dixon versucht SO hart Nightwing zu einer Art Batman 2.0. zu machen, und betont an jeder sich bietenden Stelle dass Dick genauso gut ist wie Batman, genauso gut alleine klar kommt und niemanden braucht, was.... überhaupt nicht nötig ist, weil Dick ein ganz anderer Mensch ist und anders tickt. Und das ist auch gut so.
Also ich lese es vor allem wegen dem Nostalgiefaktor und weil ich ein Nightwing-Completionist bin, der irgendwann mal behaupten will, dass er wirklich ALLEs gelesen hat.
May 10, 2019
More exciting than the previous volume with some decent resolutions.
July 9, 2021
Read as: Nightwing Volume 2: Rough Justice.
What I liked about this volume:
I liked the first two issues of the volume (#9 & #10) with Dick hallucinating under Scarecrow's fear toxin. The art was a little wild at parts (matching the story), but Dick comparing and failing against his "neighbor" Bruce Wayne was very trippy & good storytelling.
From having read on I know Soames and Tad are creepy fixtures in the next volumes. I like the slow build and continuity here of Chick Dixon building this story and putting in these recurring characters. Blockbuster is also a great character (as everyone else has named him here, he's "a good Kingpin" like villain). Without their continuity I think this volume would have read like a bunch of one off stories put together in a volume, which reads a bit weak for me.
I LOVED the middle issues (#13-#15) with Batman and Nightwing. They were so emotionally charged with Nightwing resentful and awkward and nervous that Batman had come to Bludhaven to check up on him (and afraid he'll be found wanting!). I think that all came out so well here! And despite all the *feelings*, they work so well together! They are great partners no matter that Nightwing left Gotham to get out from underneath Batman's wing.
And in addition to Batman's friendly face, I liked issues #17 & #18 with Nightwing trying to save Man-Bat from Deathstroke. Having a handful of old Gotham fixtures in this volume is a fun way to ease Nightwing into his new city with its new baddies.
What I liked about this volume:
I liked the first two issues of the volume (#9 & #10) with Dick hallucinating under Scarecrow's fear toxin. The art was a little wild at parts (matching the story), but Dick comparing and failing against his "neighbor" Bruce Wayne was very trippy & good storytelling.
From having read on I know Soames and Tad are creepy fixtures in the next volumes. I like the slow build and continuity here of Chick Dixon building this story and putting in these recurring characters. Blockbuster is also a great character (as everyone else has named him here, he's "a good Kingpin" like villain). Without their continuity I think this volume would have read like a bunch of one off stories put together in a volume, which reads a bit weak for me.
I LOVED the middle issues (#13-#15) with Batman and Nightwing. They were so emotionally charged with Nightwing resentful and awkward and nervous that Batman had come to Bludhaven to check up on him (and afraid he'll be found wanting!). I think that all came out so well here! And despite all the *feelings*, they work so well together! They are great partners no matter that Nightwing left Gotham to get out from underneath Batman's wing.
And in addition to Batman's friendly face, I liked issues #17 & #18 with Nightwing trying to save Man-Bat from Deathstroke. Having a handful of old Gotham fixtures in this volume is a fun way to ease Nightwing into his new city with its new baddies.
May 22, 2013
The Chuck Dixon/Scott McDaniel run on Nightwing is one of the best things to ever happen in the modern age of comics. It's rare to see art & story mesh so perfectly.
December 12, 2014
Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel had the best run on Nightwing.!Some of the best storytelling I've ever read!
February 6, 2020
Nightwing: Rough Justice picks up where the previous trade paperback left off and collects the next ten issues (Nightwing #9–18) of the 1996 on-going series and covers ten semi-interconnecting one-issue stories.
"Die Trying", "The Neighbourhood", and "Fear Takes Flight" is a three interconnecting one-issue storyline (Nightwing #9–11) that has Dick Grayson as Nightwing taking on not just the criminal element in Blüdhaven but also visiting villain Jonathan Crane as The Scarecrow from Gotham City.
"Mutt", "Shadows Over Blüdhaven" , "Dead Meat", and "Warrior Two" are four interconnected one-issue story line (Nightwing #12–15) that has Nightwing teaming up with his mentor, Bruce Wayne as Batman as they team up to take care of the criminal element in Blüdhaven, such as Blockbuster, Dudley Soames, and Tad Ryerstad.
"The Wheels", "The Stalking Skies" and "The Hunting Moon" are three interconnecting one-issue storylines (Nightwing #16–18) that has Nightwing taking on Slade Wilson as Deathstroke – his long time arch-nemesis with cameos of Kirk Langstrom as Man-Bat.
Chuck Dixon penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, Dixon has expanded the new city in Blüdhaven, its villains by extending the rouge’s gallery for Nightwing, the predicatable visit from Batman, and an old foe that is just happening to visit Blüdhaven.
Scott McDaniel penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style, slightly dated, but wonderful nevertheless.
All in all, Nightwing: Rough Justice is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
"Die Trying", "The Neighbourhood", and "Fear Takes Flight" is a three interconnecting one-issue storyline (Nightwing #9–11) that has Dick Grayson as Nightwing taking on not just the criminal element in Blüdhaven but also visiting villain Jonathan Crane as The Scarecrow from Gotham City.
"Mutt", "Shadows Over Blüdhaven" , "Dead Meat", and "Warrior Two" are four interconnected one-issue story line (Nightwing #12–15) that has Nightwing teaming up with his mentor, Bruce Wayne as Batman as they team up to take care of the criminal element in Blüdhaven, such as Blockbuster, Dudley Soames, and Tad Ryerstad.
"The Wheels", "The Stalking Skies" and "The Hunting Moon" are three interconnecting one-issue storylines (Nightwing #16–18) that has Nightwing taking on Slade Wilson as Deathstroke – his long time arch-nemesis with cameos of Kirk Langstrom as Man-Bat.
Chuck Dixon penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, Dixon has expanded the new city in Blüdhaven, its villains by extending the rouge’s gallery for Nightwing, the predicatable visit from Batman, and an old foe that is just happening to visit Blüdhaven.
Scott McDaniel penciled the entire trade paperback. Since he was the main penciler, the artistic flow of the trade paperback flowed exceptionally well. For the most part, I enjoyed his penciling style, slightly dated, but wonderful nevertheless.
All in all, Nightwing: Rough Justice is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
February 20, 2019
A solid continuation to the building of Nightwing's solo enterprise. I felt that having Dick's father leave him some money was a clunky plot device. I think it would have been better to have Dick not have the cash to make all his cars.
I also didn't like the Dudley subplot. Getting his head all turned around didn't work for me.
I did like the Tad subplot. It'll be interesting to see where that goes.
Getting Batman's approval needed to happen but I'm disappointed they had to team up. I think the guest star weakens the story. He should be able to stand on his own.
It's definitely still finding its way, but overall, I like the collection.
I also didn't like the Dudley subplot. Getting his head all turned around didn't work for me.
I did like the Tad subplot. It'll be interesting to see where that goes.
Getting Batman's approval needed to happen but I'm disappointed they had to team up. I think the guest star weakens the story. He should be able to stand on his own.
It's definitely still finding its way, but overall, I like the collection.
July 8, 2022
Collecting Nightwing #9-#18 with Annual #1. Dick hallucinates, teams up with Batman, continues to fight Blockbuster and his many henchmen, and his landlady takes an interest in him but he's just too busy fighting crime. The issues with Batman are good as Dick struggles with being a sidekick again or can he finally be an equal partner in fighting crime? Man-Bat, Scarecrow, and Terminator also make appearances.
June 15, 2019
The stories continued to be more or less average, with uninteresting villains. The issues with Batman were a good idea, but if they helped to build the new relationship between Dick and Bruce, they lacked development. I still didn't like the art, but McDaniel's style improved during the volume and the last chapters were more pleasant to look at.
February 20, 2022
really enjoying reading this run of Nightwing as I’m still getting new to comics. Love the story and how Dick is written, though the art style isn’t my most favorite. Still, it isn’t too bad and I don’t mind it that much.
May 12, 2025
Scott McDaniels steps up his game in this second vol - there’s a lot going on but it’s not confusing like it was in the first few issues. I like the inclusion of Batman, man-bat, and Deathstroke but missed Soames.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2026
Loved Batman and Nightwing teaming up, loved how Batman trusted Nightwing to defeat Blockbuster. The fact Dick thought Bruce would tell him he can’t handle working solo instead Bruce was SO PROUD oh I love them so bad.
January 7, 2018
Nightwing continues his quest to bring down Blockbuster.
January 12, 2019
An incredible read that really analyzes the relationship between Dick Grayson and Batman and created the greatest Nightwing villains
August 15, 2023
I'm not a big fan of the art style but I'm so invested in the story and I'm SO in love with nightwing
March 19, 2017
Better than the first volume, I'm starting to get more into the story.
I also love the interaction between Oracle and Nightwing, I hope to see more of it
I also love the interaction between Oracle and Nightwing, I hope to see more of it
July 28, 2017
This collection of the former Robin’s trials and tribulations in his new stomping grounds of Bludhaven was a little too chaotic to really enjoy. It seemed like there were about a two dozen storylines that Chuck Dixon wanted to tell and he crammed it in these ten issues. While some elements were good, others are washed out or completely rushed. Scott McDaniel’s art was the same way. It was so frantic that the action was hard to follow at times. Overall, a disappointment.
October 29, 2010
Nightwing is starting to find his own feet. Batman pays him a visit and he finally overcomes some of his issues. Bludhaven is still interesting, and Nightwing has to work harder that batman does in Gotham to put criminals away.
July 27, 2015
So I have all the individual issues, so I don't know what happens in this one, but I'm still gonna say it is the best. Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel are the best, they are what made Nightwing my favorite superhero. Now if there could have only been a Nightwing/Backlash crossover.
December 15, 2015
This volume was much better than the first one. the stories were much more engaging and interesting, actually having character development and demonstrating inner psychology not just pounding on the bad guys. The art is still not to my liking and find it confusing at times.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews