“Power Vacuum” – Part Three
Artists: Bruno Redondo, Geraldo Borges, Caio Filipe
Color Artist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Review by Steve J. Ray
The centenary issue is almost here and Nightwing #99 ties up some loose ends, while also leaving some truly delicious breadcrumbs for next month’s milestone… and beyond.
The name Tony Zucco should set off alarm bells in the ears of any Nightwing fan. This man has haunted Dick Grayson for over 80 years of comics history. The fact the he also raised Dick’s sister (the wonderful Melinda, one of the greatest new comics characters of the last decade) adds even more fuel to the fire.
Over the last 21 months Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, and all their wonderful creative collaborators, have made Nightwing one of the greatest comics on the shelves. This is a series that shows us just how great a storytelling medium comics can be. We have human characters that speak and act like real people, action scenes that Hollywood can’t compete against, romance, drama, thrills, spills, heroes and villains.
Nothing on this earth is perfect, but this series comes pretty darned close.
One of Tom Taylor’s greatest strengths is that he throws convention out of the window. In a lesser writer’s hands Melinda Zucco would’ve either betrayed Nightwing, donned a colorful costume, or died a tragic death. The fact that she’s here, fighting for what’s right – but in a human capacity, rather than as a costumed crime-fighter – is absolutely brilliant. This character is so human, so real, and so awesome that I want her to stick around forever.
Caio Filipe has become a real boon to this series, as his inks and Adriano Lucas’ colors help make every issue flow seamlessly, even when guest artists, like the wonderful Geraldo Borges, step in to give Bruno Redondo a breather. This issue looks fantastic! Wes Abbott’s a wonderful letterer, and I bet his eyes light up every time he gets a new issue to work on. Pages 12-13 show what a master of action Bruno Redondo is, and Wes’ letters and sound effects enhance the action and movement. This creative team works together like a well-oiled machine.
Conclusion
Nightwing #99 is another near-flawless issue in a run that’s been as close to perfect as any ongoing series ever could be. I can feel closure coming next month, but with the introduction of a new organization and a mysterious safe with unknown contents being announced, I know that new and huge things are still waiting for us. Oh, and let’s not forget that Heartless is still out there! After finally seeing his origin in last month’s amazing annual, I know that things are reaching boiling-point.
January 2023 and Nightwing #100 cannot come soon enough.
Images Courtesy of DC Entertainment