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Nightwing (1996) (Original Trades) #7
Nightwing: On the Razor's Edge
Bludhaven has seen its share of battles between its costumed protector, Nightwing, and various criminals. But when an army of ninjas arrives, its only a harbinger of the deadliest threat yet. Shrike, long thought dead, is back, and he wants revenge on his childhood pal Nightwing. Shrikes current master, Blockbuster, would be only too happy to see the vigilante destroyed, but Shrike wants to see to Nightwing destroyed personally.
A thrilling collection featuring NIGHTWING #52 and 54-60!
A thrilling collection featuring NIGHTWING #52 and 54-60!
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Chuck Dixon
3,432 books1,034 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."
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 28, 2022
(B+) 77% | Good
Notes: Wherein big names play bit parts, and its lead villain’s formidability lies in besting hitherto ineffectual henchpersons.
Notes: Wherein big names play bit parts, and its lead villain’s formidability lies in besting hitherto ineffectual henchpersons.
August 31, 2019
Greg Land finishes his Nightwing run up with Shrike, a villain returning from Robin: Year One. The arc looks fantastic, Shrike is a cool villain, all in all a great story. Then Rick Leonardi and Mike Lilly step in as the fill in artists for a couple of one-off stories. Jesse Delperdang's inks make Rick Leonardi's typically sketchy art shine. Then Scott McDaniel returns to Nightwing for a story where Dick is framed by fellow police officers for the brutal beating of some kids. Trevor McCarthy comes on board in the final issue as the new artist. His art is awful and if I remember correctly we'll be stuck with him for awhile.
I thought all in all this was a fun group of stories. Say what you will about Chuck Dixon but I think his run on Nightwing is superior to the current Nightwing: Rebirth book by Tim Seeley.
I thought all in all this was a fun group of stories. Say what you will about Chuck Dixon but I think his run on Nightwing is superior to the current Nightwing: Rebirth book by Tim Seeley.
March 5, 2012
More great stories of Nightwing from the mind of Chuck Dixon.
March 2, 2024
In Bludhaven, the head of its criminal element is the massively strong super villain Blockbuster. Thanks to some surgical enhancements, Blockbuster is a lot smarter than from his first appearances that pitted him against Batman. He's still as unstable as ever and even more ruthless and cruel. He's also at his wit's end. Since his arrival in town, Nightwing has taken an impressive bite out of Blockbuster's empire. To stop this, Blockbuster is testing out some new talent to pit against Nightwing: the assassin Shrike, who has some history with the hero from his days as the Boy Wonder.
Meanwhile, Dick Grayson has finally made it to the ranks of the Bludhaven Police Department. It's long been Grayson's goal to clean up the BPD which rivals Gotham's police department as the most corrupt law agency in the country. Now if the rookie cop could only get an 'in' with the dirty cops on the force. Grayson thinks he might have that opportunity when his new partner, Officer Any Rohrbach, invites him to meet a special group of people. Only, this group of cops is unlike anything Dick Grayson was expecting. They're honest!
In the middle of all this is some pent up sexual tension. First, Nightwing encounters Catwoman in town to commit a heist against a very powerful crime lord. If there was ever a way that Dick Grayson could ever irrevocably betray Bruce Wayne, it would be hooking up with Selena Kyle. This story very well could be the flame that leads to a powerful explosive of passions.
Then Oracle, with assistance of Black Canary, comes to Nightwing's rescue after escaping the clutches of Shrike. Babs Gordon and Dick Grayson have always been made for each other. This story proves just that. When will DC finally give the readers what they want and have Dick and Barbara get married?!
Chuck Dixon's writing on Nightwing is phenomenal as ever. I wish I could say the same about the art of Greg Land. Some pages, he's fantastic. In others, I feel like I'm watching scenes from the X-Man Beast's family reunion. It's so inconsistent! Especially in the action-packed scenes.
Another gem I inherited from my late, great best friend.
Meanwhile, Dick Grayson has finally made it to the ranks of the Bludhaven Police Department. It's long been Grayson's goal to clean up the BPD which rivals Gotham's police department as the most corrupt law agency in the country. Now if the rookie cop could only get an 'in' with the dirty cops on the force. Grayson thinks he might have that opportunity when his new partner, Officer Any Rohrbach, invites him to meet a special group of people. Only, this group of cops is unlike anything Dick Grayson was expecting. They're honest!
In the middle of all this is some pent up sexual tension. First, Nightwing encounters Catwoman in town to commit a heist against a very powerful crime lord. If there was ever a way that Dick Grayson could ever irrevocably betray Bruce Wayne, it would be hooking up with Selena Kyle. This story very well could be the flame that leads to a powerful explosive of passions.
Then Oracle, with assistance of Black Canary, comes to Nightwing's rescue after escaping the clutches of Shrike. Babs Gordon and Dick Grayson have always been made for each other. This story proves just that. When will DC finally give the readers what they want and have Dick and Barbara get married?!
Chuck Dixon's writing on Nightwing is phenomenal as ever. I wish I could say the same about the art of Greg Land. Some pages, he's fantastic. In others, I feel like I'm watching scenes from the X-Man Beast's family reunion. It's so inconsistent! Especially in the action-packed scenes.
Another gem I inherited from my late, great best friend.
July 5, 2021
Loved issue #52 Modern Romance, which I'd already read in Nightwing Volume 6: To Serve and Protect. Still made me giggle. ()
I liked the conflict of Dick the police officer responding to a domestic violence call & being unable to do anything about it. You know he's just thinking to himself 'if I were in my costume I'd beat the living daylights out of this lowlife'. Yeah. We're thinking it too.
BUT, Dick wants to make a structural difference in the Bludhaven PD, and I'm still rooting him on.
His partner, Amy, meanwhile is meeting up with some cops in the back of a church, all hush-hush-like. It's super sketchy & totally leading us readers to jump to conclusions. She introduces Dick to them and .
Also, I can't believe I'm still reading about Torque and Tad!! (Longest plot line everrrrr!)
While they plot to escape prison, Nightwing is at the mercy of Shrike. He looks like he's in real trouble when Black Canary comes to the rescue with Barbra not far behind!! (Super badass, Barbra!)
And speaking of scary women, I liked the ending with Madame Minh and her preemie babies. I remembered her from somewhere in the beginning of this series (not sure which volume) when Dick was looking for her husband Freddie Minh. No need to keep looking for him anymore, Dick.
(☉д⊙)
Art is good overall, except for issue #60 (by Trevor McCarthy), in which everyone's faces were kinda fugly. Writing was as great as usual. 4.5 star volume.
I liked the conflict of Dick the police officer responding to a domestic violence call & being unable to do anything about it. You know he's just thinking to himself 'if I were in my costume I'd beat the living daylights out of this lowlife'. Yeah. We're thinking it too.
BUT, Dick wants to make a structural difference in the Bludhaven PD, and I'm still rooting him on.
His partner, Amy, meanwhile is meeting up with some cops in the back of a church, all hush-hush-like. It's super sketchy & totally leading us readers to jump to conclusions. She introduces Dick to them and .
Also, I can't believe I'm still reading about Torque and Tad!! (Longest plot line everrrrr!)
While they plot to escape prison, Nightwing is at the mercy of Shrike. He looks like he's in real trouble when Black Canary comes to the rescue with Barbra not far behind!! (Super badass, Barbra!)
And speaking of scary women, I liked the ending with Madame Minh and her preemie babies. I remembered her from somewhere in the beginning of this series (not sure which volume) when Dick was looking for her husband Freddie Minh. No need to keep looking for him anymore, Dick.
(☉д⊙)
Art is good overall, except for issue #60 (by Trevor McCarthy), in which everyone's faces were kinda fugly. Writing was as great as usual. 4.5 star volume.
February 18, 2020
Nightwing: On the Razor's Edge picks up where the previous trade paperback left off and collects eight issues (Nightwing #52, 54–60) of the 1996 on-going series.
Half of the trade paperback has Dick Grayson as Nightwing taking on the usual suspects of his new Rouge Gallery. Roland Desmond as Blockbuster has hires many assassins to take Nightwing out once and for all. One particular assassin, Shrike takes center stage as he and Nightwing shared a past (Nightwing #54–58). Shrike knew Nightwing back when he was just Robin. The outlier issue has Dick Grayson as Nightwing teaming up with Selina Kyle as Catwoman to stop buglers from robbing a casino (Nightwing #52).
Chuck Dixon penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, albeit the kiss between Selina Kyle as Catwoman and Dick Grayson as Nightwing bothered me in many ways. Despite that, the introduction of Boone as Shrike was wonderfully added as he and Dick Grayson, know to him as Freddy Loyd then, were once in the same group when he briefly resigned as Robin (Robin: Year One). Hopefully, we would see him again, as Shrike is one of the better villains created for Nightwing since Blockbuster.
Greg Land (Nightwing #52, 54–56), Rick Leonardi (Nightwing #57 and 59), Mike Lilly (Nightwing #58) and Trevor McCarthy (Nightiwng #60) penciled the entire trade paperback. For the most part, the penciling was well done, but their styles complemented each other rather nicely while remaining distinctive, which made the trade paperback visually pleasing to read with a hiccup here and there.
All in all, Nightwing: On the Razor's Edge is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
Half of the trade paperback has Dick Grayson as Nightwing taking on the usual suspects of his new Rouge Gallery. Roland Desmond as Blockbuster has hires many assassins to take Nightwing out once and for all. One particular assassin, Shrike takes center stage as he and Nightwing shared a past (Nightwing #54–58). Shrike knew Nightwing back when he was just Robin. The outlier issue has Dick Grayson as Nightwing teaming up with Selina Kyle as Catwoman to stop buglers from robbing a casino (Nightwing #52).
Chuck Dixon penned the entire trade paperback. For the most part, it is written rather well, albeit the kiss between Selina Kyle as Catwoman and Dick Grayson as Nightwing bothered me in many ways. Despite that, the introduction of Boone as Shrike was wonderfully added as he and Dick Grayson, know to him as Freddy Loyd then, were once in the same group when he briefly resigned as Robin (Robin: Year One). Hopefully, we would see him again, as Shrike is one of the better villains created for Nightwing since Blockbuster.
Greg Land (Nightwing #52, 54–56), Rick Leonardi (Nightwing #57 and 59), Mike Lilly (Nightwing #58) and Trevor McCarthy (Nightiwng #60) penciled the entire trade paperback. For the most part, the penciling was well done, but their styles complemented each other rather nicely while remaining distinctive, which made the trade paperback visually pleasing to read with a hiccup here and there.
All in all, Nightwing: On the Razor's Edge is a wonderful continuation to what would hopefully be a wonderful series.
January 14, 2026
3.5 stars.
Ok, first of all, I didn’t read issue #52 because I have been told Catwoman, to make Batman jealous, seduces Nightwing BATMAN’S SON and that’s so disgusting to me and really OOC too. Another case of misogynistic writing I preferred to avoid.
Issue #54-60 were much better, Shrike was a good villain. I also loved the part Oracle and Black Canary played in helping Nightwing, the three of them were such a great team, I enjoyed reading it a lot.
Ok, first of all, I didn’t read issue #52 because I have been told Catwoman, to make Batman jealous, seduces Nightwing BATMAN’S SON and that’s so disgusting to me and really OOC too. Another case of misogynistic writing I preferred to avoid.
Issue #54-60 were much better, Shrike was a good villain. I also loved the part Oracle and Black Canary played in helping Nightwing, the three of them were such a great team, I enjoyed reading it a lot.
August 24, 2017
I don't normally go for corny comic books or graphic novels, but there's something about Chuck Dixon's light touch with Nightwing that makes it fun without being too absurd or silly. It's corny but just enough. Think of him as Batman with a damn sense of humor.
December 29, 2010
I took another foray into DC Comics with Nightwing Vol 7: On the Razor's Edge. I've previously read the first three volumes so I knew a lot of the players from Bludhaven. This volume was, of course, a bit further in the timeline. It includes issues 52 and 54 through 60. Issue 52 is a little bit with Catwoman that seemed a bit more fluff than moving the story forward. The rest deal with the coming of Shrike, who knew Nightwing as Robin. Blockbuster auditions him by having him go against the villains that had previously failed to take out Nightwing, then sends him after Nightwing. Shrike manages to capture Nightwing and takes him to an undisclosed location. But Nightwing isn't without resources. First, Oracle (whose relationship with Dick/Nightwing is progressing nicely) is alerted to Nightwing's plight when Shrike attempts to run Nightwing's prints. She and Black Canary are able to track down where Nightwing is being held. Meanwhile, Nightwing is able to use his ingenuity to free himself. There's the typical fight between Nightwing and Shrike where they leave things somewhat unresolved. There's a secondary plot where Dick is continuing his attempt to get into Bludhaven's Police force. His mentor and superior, Amy, not only brings him in as an officer but brings him into a secret society that was formed to battle the corruption within the police.
I really enjoyed reading this one. I'm loving finding out about various DC heroes, their strengths and weaknesses. The story was well balanced between Dick Grayson's travels and Nightwing's. The artwork is, as always, fantastic. I definitely recommend it for those who like DC comics, though I'd start with some of the earlier graphic novels to get up to speed on Who's Who in Bludhaven.
I really enjoyed reading this one. I'm loving finding out about various DC heroes, their strengths and weaknesses. The story was well balanced between Dick Grayson's travels and Nightwing's. The artwork is, as always, fantastic. I definitely recommend it for those who like DC comics, though I'd start with some of the earlier graphic novels to get up to speed on Who's Who in Bludhaven.
April 6, 2020
It's always nice to see my old pal Dick Grayson. I haven't read Nightwing in a while so it was good to check back in. This was a pretty solid collection overall. I liked the Catwoman issue, even though it was irrelevant to the plot. I always like the cop stuff and it was nice to have the Birds of Prey get in on the action. I still hate Dudley though.
For more (much, much more) on Dick Grayson, tune in to a special spotlight over on the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...
For more (much, much more) on Dick Grayson, tune in to a special spotlight over on the All the Books Show: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...
October 6, 2011
I've always been a big fan of Nightwing, and the Dick Grayson character in general, but this was my first time to read his solo stuff. I really liked it. The writing was great, and the style of the artwork was a good fit for the character as well. Even though it is volume 7, it was easy for a new reader to get into, because it starts with a brief history for each character that plays a part in this story.
March 31, 2009
On the lesser side of 3 1/2 stars. I liked that this was a handful of shorter stories as opposed to one long one. I liked seeing Nightwing in a variety of different situations, and seeing how he reacted differently to different types of problems. Fast and enjoyable read.
January 22, 2015
There are a couple of good/memorable moments, but the story is beyond disjointed and rushed and the art is horrendous in some pages. There are panels where Dick's face loooks different that it did in the panel before!
December 22, 2010
Greg Land is, by far, my favorite of the artists to pencil Nightwing, and some of his best work of the series is in this volume.
January 26, 2011
Good volume. Lots of sinterlinking stories. Grayson finally gets to be a cop, and his relationship with Barbara deepens.
July 28, 2011
Good reading Nightwing not at his top but near
August 12, 2015
Pure fantasy. Fascinating detection. Great action. Lovable, realistic, dramatic characters. A fun, fucking afternoon read!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews